Saturday, September 29, 2007

Mae West: Death of Beauty

Born in the Bronx on 4 March 1933, gorgeous Richard DuBois caught Mae West's eye in 1954. The 6-foot-one stunner who had just won his "Mr. America" title was hired to be the lead bodybuilder for "The Mae West Revue." Off the set, 21-year-old Dick DuBois and the 61-year-old Brooklyn bombshell enjoyed a steamy relationship. (When DuBois left the show, Mickey "Mr. Universe" Hargitay took his place as the lead gladiator.)
• • In 1957, when DuBois was crowned Mr. USA at the Shrine Auditorium, Muscle Power Magazine praised his "good biceps," "well proportioned figure" and "greatly improved posing." Four years earlier, DuBois had won the Amateur Athletic Union Mr. America bodybuilding contest and scooped the Mr. America trophy the next time around.
• • During the 1950s and early 1960s, DuBois was a much sought-after pin-up and physique model who appeared in magazines often.
• • Comes word today that native New Yorker Richard DuBois died in a Santa Monica hospital.
• • This obituary was circulated by The Associated Press.
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• • Richard Dubois, 1950s bodybuilder and pin-up, dies at 74 in California

• • SANTA MONICA, Calif.— Richard DuBois, a bodybuilder whose brawny physique landed him parts in 1950s movies and Mae West's stage act, has died. He was 74.
• • DuBois died Wednesday [26 September 2007] at Saint John's Health Center, his wife Marcy said. She said an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death. He lived in Santa Monica.
• • The winner of Mr. America and the Mr. USA bodybuilding contests in the mid 1950s, DuBois' Herculean frame landed a contract with MGM and a role in the 1954 movie "Athena" with Debbie Reynolds and Jane Powell. He appeared in the musical comedy under the stage name Richard Sabre.
• • DuBois later appeared with Mae West in her nightclub act as it toured across the country.
• • Dubois eventually abandoned his show business pursuits to become an evangelist, his wife said. He spent the last 19 years preaching as pastor of Gospel Lighthouse in West Los Angeles.
• • Besides his wife of 47 years, DuBois is survived by his son Elijah, daughter-in-law Carol, granddaughter Jasmine, and sister Marcy.
• • A memorial service was scheduled for next weekend.
• • Source: The Associated Press
• • Published: 9 September 2007
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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• • Photo: • • Mae West and Dick DuBois • • 1954 • •
Mae West.

2 comments:

  1. Thank you for keeping my dad's legacy alive from elijah

    ReplyDelete
  2. • • You are quite welcome, Elijah DuBois. If you would like to write a commemorative post about your late father, we'll be very happy to consider it!

    ReplyDelete