The American actress with the Irish name, Nellie "Irish" McCalla, is famous for her role in the TV show, SHEENA, QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE. I remember watching her (with fascination) as a kid, along with a number of other "jungle" series like Johnny Weissmuller's JUNGLE JIM, that were popular at the time, due in part to the documentaries about Africa and other "exotic" lands by folks such as Lowell Thomas. The series ran for 26 episodes from 1955-1956.
Blonde, shapely and beautiful, and standing at a statuesque 5' 9"+, McCalla was extremely athletic and performed all of her own stunts until she injured herself and was replaced by male stunt doubles wearing blonde wigs (!).
Before her career as the Queen of the Jungle, McCalla -- like so many other women who became actresses -- spent a few years as a model and pinup girl for magazines like EVE, CAVALIER, SHOW, JEST, and articles about her appeared twice in PLAYBOY. She was even painted by the famous Peruvian pinup artist, Alberto Vargas.
McCalla was also cast in the Richard "Giant from the Unknown" Cunha cheapie, THE SHE DEMONS, in 1958.
Miss McCalla passed away in 2002 at age 73 after suffering a stroke.
Below is the costume that was worn by McCalla when she played the role of Sheena on TV. It was owned by Miss McCalla until she died and was certified at auction by the family as being authentic. When the gavel dropped, Sheena's faux-leopard skin outfit sold for $10,625.00.
Auction Description:
Irish McCalla Sheena: Queen of the Jungle Extensive Screen and Publicity Worn Costume Ensemble (Nassour Studios, 1955). Without question the most iconic and erotically-charged female comic-book character brought to the television screen, most surprisingly at the height of censorship and conservative family values. Blonde Amazon Irish McCalla, at 6 ft. 1 [Heritage's claim] in and sporting an exceptional classic figure for a woman of her stature, was the ideal personification of the golden age comic mythical jungle heroine.
From her own collection come (2) variations, 1-screen-worn and 1-for personal publicity appearances, of her faux-leopard tunic and loincloth complete with 1-belt, 1-scabbard, 1-horn, 2-armbands, 2-chokers and 1-leather moccasin. The screen-worn tunic retains original wardrobe labels, 1-silk yellow-label, "IRISH McCALLA," and 1-maker's bias label, "Designed by Lydia, Hollywood," and the briefs retain Western Costume Co. label with, "IRISH McCALLA/ 10-1373-1."
BONUS! Here's the first issue of Sheena's comic book with her own title (Fiction House Comics, Spring 1942).
BEWARE! PYGMIES AHEAD! READERS WHO ARE OFFENDED BY THE CONTEMPORANEOUS DEPICTION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES SHOULD SCROLL NO FURTHER!
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