Shirley Levitt

Beirut · October 23rd, 2008, 09:53 AM

I'm shocked - shocked! - that Romanian photographer André de Dienes doesn't show up when we search here. He must have played his cards right, because he was taking pictures of some of the most beautiful ladies in Southern California by the 1940s, 50s and 60s, including the original Playboy nudes of his lover Marilyn Monroe.

Here is a selection of my favourite, Shirley Levitt:

(Shirley also appears to be the name of his second wife, Shirley T. Ellis de Dienes, who now curates his estate. Can anyone confirm that this is the same Shirley? I get the impression he wouldn't be the only glamour photographer who ended up remarrying with his favourite young model - sort of a Petter Hegre/Luba Shumeyko situation. It goes without saying that any adds would, you know, be appreciated.

)

acruett2000 · August 31st, 2009, 06:11 AM

Also from Nude Pattern (1958), according to this book:

**zwaik** · November 7th, 2010, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beirut

... Can anyone confirm that this is the same Shirley ? ...

... Everywhere in the Net she is named Shirley Levitt
... but i don't know if she was the De Dienes wife...

...

**zwaik** · November 7th, 2010, 04:51 PM

**zwaik** · November 9th, 2010, 06:12 PM

**smutwerx** · February 19th, 2011, 10:17 PM

**krixxx** · April 11th, 2012, 06:08 AM

**krixxx** · April 12th, 2012, 06:40 AM

**krixxx** · April 13th, 2012, 07:00 AM

a few upgrades

Beirut · August 3rd, 2013, 08:46 AM

Dumping the pics I've been accumulating. First up, a new photographer for Shirley: Peter Basch.

Found a little account of her and Basch in real life, too - from here.

"Peter Basch pointed out a spectacular nude model and told me her name was Shirley Levitt and that she lived nearby. I recognized her as the only Jewish model for Irving and Paula Klaw and from the cover of NUS magazine from a shoot by Andre de Dienes. Peter laughed and told me how Andre picked her up at a party in Greenwich village. She had arrived on the arm of Marlon Brando and left with Andre. He took her to a beach in Mexico and probably did (in my mind) the greatest nude session ever done except for what Bunny Yeager did of Bettie Page on the back of a boat in the Florida Keys at sunset but that’s another story. When I went to Shirley’s building several days later, I rang the buzzer and she told me to 'come up to 6m like "mistress"'."

So that shoot was in Mexico! She partied with A-listers in Greenwich Village! What do you make of that mistress crack, though: Is that the sound of a smart beatnik bombshell, or something sadder? Why exactly did she end up at Klaw’s studio?

October 23rd, 2008, 09:53 AM	#1
Beirut Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 72 Thanks: 3,015 Thanked 3,464 Times in 83 Posts	Shirley Levitt I'm shocked - shocked! - that Romanian photographer André de Dienes doesn't show up when we search here. He must have played his cards right, because he was taking pictures of some of the most beautiful ladies in Southern California by the 1940s, 50s and 60s, including the original Playboy nudes of his lover Marilyn Monroe. Here is a selection of my favourite, Shirley Levitt: (Shirley also appears to be the name of his second wife, Shirley T. Ellis de Dienes, who now curates his estate. Can anyone confirm that this is the same Shirley? I get the impression he wouldn't be the only glamour photographer who ended up remarrying with his favourite young model - sort of a Petter Hegre/Luba Shumeyko situation. It goes without saying that any adds would, you know, be appreciated. ) Last edited by Beirut; December 11th, 2010 at 01:13 AM.. Reason: As zwaik pointed out, this mystery model now has a name: Shirley Levitt.

August 31st, 2009, 06:11 AM	#2
acruett2000 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 53 Thanks: 42 Thanked 1,437 Times in 55 Posts	Underwater nudes by Andre De Dienes Also from Nude Pattern (1958), according to this book: __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

November 7th, 2010, 04:51 PM	#4
zwaik M.I.A. Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Como , Italy Posts: 3,304 Thanks: 12,781 Thanked 114,561 Times in 3,358 Posts	Shirley Levitt __________________ Rules »» .. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. • To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. • To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. • To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. • To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. .. «« Rules To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

November 9th, 2010, 06:12 PM	#5
zwaik M.I.A. Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Como , Italy Posts: 3,304 Thanks: 12,781 Thanked 114,561 Times in 3,358 Posts	Shirley Levitt in color __________________ Rules »» .. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. • To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. • To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. • To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. • To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. .. «« Rules To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

April 11th, 2012, 06:08 AM	#7
krixxx no dirt, no lotus Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 26,486 Thanks: 105,142 Thanked 1,929,173 Times in 45,865 Posts	Shirley Levitt __________________ if you find any of my posts that needs repair please let me know by PM, thank you

February 19th, 2011, 10:17 PM	#6
smutwerx Vintage Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 619 Thanks: 2,859 Thanked 21,610 Times in 621 Posts

April 12th, 2012, 06:40 AM	#8
krixxx no dirt, no lotus Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 26,486 Thanks: 105,142 Thanked 1,929,173 Times in 45,865 Posts	Shirley Levitt __________________ if you find any of my posts that needs repair please let me know by PM, thank you

April 13th, 2012, 07:00 AM	#9
krixxx no dirt, no lotus Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 26,486 Thanks: 105,142 Thanked 1,929,173 Times in 45,865 Posts	Shirley Levitt a few upgrades __________________ if you find any of my posts that needs repair please let me know by PM, thank you

August 3rd, 2013, 08:46 AM	#10
Beirut Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 72 Thanks: 3,015 Thanked 3,464 Times in 83 Posts	Dumping the pics I've been accumulating. First up, a new photographer for Shirley: Peter Basch. Found a little account of her and Basch in real life, too - from here. "Peter Basch pointed out a spectacular nude model and told me her name was Shirley Levitt and that she lived nearby. I recognized her as the only Jewish model for Irving and Paula Klaw and from the cover of NUS magazine from a shoot by Andre de Dienes. Peter laughed and told me how Andre picked her up at a party in Greenwich village. She had arrived on the arm of Marlon Brando and left with Andre. He took her to a beach in Mexico and probably did (in my mind) the greatest nude session ever done except for what Bunny Yeager did of Bettie Page on the back of a boat in the Florida Keys at sunset but that’s another story. When I went to Shirley’s building several days later, I rang the buzzer and she told me to 'come up to 6m like "mistress"'." So that shoot was in Mexico! She partied with A-listers in Greenwich Village! What do you make of that mistress crack, though: Is that the sound of a smart beatnik bombshell, or something sadder? Why exactly did she end up at Klaw’s studio?

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