Like hundreds of other struggling young actresses, Mitzi (left center) turned to
Frank Sinatra and his "Fighting Females" to help get her career re-started.
MITZI IN HOLLYWOOD
A collection of pictures of Mitzi, friends and opponents from her career.
Like hundreds of other struggling young actresses, Mitzi (left center) turned to
Frank Sinatra and his "Fighting Females" to help get her career re-started.
A studio portrait of young Mitzi showing her dewy innocence before she signed to fight.
It was short-lived, making the picture both rare and interesting.
Frank was one of the first to recognize the benefits of celebrity.
He used pictures of the girls on lids of drink cups sold in the arena.
"Collect all 15 and get a free drink" was the gimmick. Here's young Mitzi's.
A picture of Mitzi vacationing at Lake Tahoe. This shot shows off her powerful thighs.
They made her a formidable adversary in the ring and a strong dancer on stage and in films.
A photo of Mitzi in one of her outrageous fight outfits.
Frank tested several before rejecting them as too expensive and impractical.
Here's one of Mitzi at Frank's birthday party. Looks like they sewed her into it!
Another of Mitzi in a "birthday dress" at Frank's next party.
No wonder everyone talked, she looks sensational!
The actress reacts on hearing she'll fight Rita Moreno for the title!
A classic "pin-up" of Mitzi in bed with a stuffed dog. (Lucky pup!)
This pose emphasized her awesome legs (and other assets).
This picture convinced Frank to invite her to join his league.
Mitzi arrived in Hollywood as a young innocent like many girls.
Early photos reveal an earthy, youthful beauty but studio
make-up artists and hair dressers soon turned her into a sexy glamor girl.
There's no doubt which bountiful asset they thought worthy of exposure. The 20 yr old dancer's
derriere is due to genes although a wag once said it was more likely from
"... being bounced on it during her fights."
It happened often, but always with style, grace and aplomb.
Still in the bloom of vibrant youth, fresh faced Mitzi on one of many covers.
Getting ready for a match. She couldn't resist outlandish costumes.
Dressing as Daisy Mae, probably for a fight with Julie Newmar or Stella Stevens.
At the apex of her career she stopped wearing outlandish costumes for a regular suit.
Even so, you can see the glitter and glamour she loved.
A cover Frank's publicity machine cranked out during her rise to top contender status.
(The "vice" was "underground fighting" - a threat to legitimate leagues like Frank's.)
A rare photo of Mitzi to publicize her armwrestling match with Shirley MacLaine
at Frank's birthday party. This was used years later to publicize a match in Europe.
Mitzi was ecstatic to get the cover of "Silver Screen".
She was irate, however, seeing her name in Audrey Hepburn's article.
Mitzi actually beat Audrey in their only meeting.
Not all of Mitzi's fights were held in glamorous arenas or auditoriums.
Some were "Malibu Beach Fights" - never one of her favorite kind.
But it was on the beach she won the reputation that still stands.
Here an older Mitzi demonstrates her still-terrific looks and her flexibility.
Note she still has those powerful legs!
Near the end of her career, Mitzi again adopted outrageous costumes.
Ostrich feathers surround her voluptuous body like fluffy white clouds.
She flashes her haughty, proud Tartar demeanor in this picture.
Mitzi made no secret of her link to Hungarian royalty.
Her schedule of fighting and filming rarely gave her time to get away to relax.
This rare candid shot shows her in a ships deck chair on her way to Europe.
The object of her longing gaze, perhaps her current lover, is not known.
No matter who the photographer, everyone wanted pictures of her deadly legs.
Near the end of her ring career, she's swathed in another gaudy ring outfit.
Always a beauty! Here's a study of our "flower" with a rose.
In our opinion the rose comes off second best by comparison.
This cover publicized her final televised fight card. Billed as "An Hour with Mitzi."
She fought 4 different opponents in 15 minute time limit bouts, winning 3.
Before or after bouts, Mitzi was swarmed and groped by fans. Here, a lucky guy
gets a handful of her delectable 'caboose.' Many opponents gained a similar grip
but Mitzi's expression was far less agreeable then.
Here's a studio "glamor shot" that shows Mitzi as she was rarely depicted, a sex symbol.
No one who saw her doubted it but she always kept her off screen image "clean cut".
It made the rare fights where she lost some/all of her clothing more arousing for fans.
Still another sexy picture of Mitzi about to climb into the ring.
In one of her most-discussed and certainly most provocative fights,
Mitzi faced bondage model Bettie Page in a 'cathouse catfight' in this costume.