’50s Bombshell Went to HP High School, Apparently
Huh. Brad had this about Kathy Bates attending SMU, and here’s another random factoid about a celebrity tied to the Park Cities.
Jayne Mansfield — the 1950s/’60s sex symbol who mothered Law & Order lead Mariska Hargitay and died in an awful car wreck — reportedly attended Highland Park High School, then SMU.
Someone’s even trying to sell a 1949 Highlander yearbook with her picture in it. I saw the photo at left at the Meddlesome Moth, by the way, and started reading about it (and Mansfield’s local roots) there.
A display case just inside the front doors at HPHS shows a bunch of famous graduates. Pretty sure her picture is there.
Dead at the age of 34, yet pushed out 5 kids starting at age 17 and had 3 husbands.
My parents still refer to a house near them as the Mansfield house. I think it’s the house at 2916 Amherst. Dark Gray with a circular drive. All I can tell from DCAD is that it was built in 1941. I’m not sure if Jayne lived there or just her mother later on.
Obviously, the house has changed hands many times since. Briefly while I was growing up, a kid named Reagan Bush lived there. You can pretty well guess when he was born.
khakijack, you are correct about the house on Amherst, although I’m not sure if the number is the correct one. A UP mom who is a friend of mine had a knock on the door several years ago; when she opened it, there stood the gorgeous and talented Mariska Hargitay (Det. Olivia Benson on “Law & Order: SVU” and daughter of Jayne Mansfield & Mickey Hargitay) who introduced herself and asked if she could quickly tour the house, as it had either belonged to her mother Jayne (or her grandmother). Apparently, Mariska was incredibly sweet and friendly. Interesting side note: Jayne had a super-high IQ, although her super-big bosom distracted attention away from her intellect.
for pete’s sake, you are correct.
right house.
and it was her mother’s.