The Girl Can't Help It

Jayne at home

Jayne at the wheel of a 1959 Cadillac series 62 convertible

I must have been an odd teenager (or really cool as I prefer to think of myself), both feet planted in the 1950's a decade before my parents experiences, my mother listened to the Beatles, while I maintained that rockabilly was king and no new good music had been made after 1965.

I was obsessed with tail finned Cadillacs and begged my parents to go see each rusty example I could find advertised for sale.

Besides Elvis and Gene Vincent my idols were Mamie Van Doren, Jayne Mansfield, Bettie Page and Wanda Jackson. No not Marilyn, everyone liked her just too common for my tastes. I even met Wanda once and Mamie is still with us.

Poor Jayne was killed in a car accident (Buick Electra not a Caddy) in 1967. We certainly shared a taste in cars if not physical attributes, mores the pity. There are lots of photos around of her with custom pink Cadillacs, Lincolns and even Jaguars.

Her Hollywood house was the Pink Palace and the interior decoration would appeal to anyone with Elvis like sensibilities, so of course I love it! Unfortunately it was demolished in 2002 by some woman who is an investment banker, even the heart shaped poor is gone... unbelievable. Look at the photos I wouldn't change a thing....perfect!

Here is my favourite clip of her walking down the street to the sounds of Little Richard screaming the Girl Can't Help It. Try to imagine how mind blowing this was in 1956.

Hugs,

April