A WITCH'S BREW OF HUBBA-HUBBA AND HOCUS-POCUS

Actress Veronica Lake (born Constance Frances Marie Ockelman; November 14, 1922 – July 7, 1973) was known as the "Peek-A-Boo Girl" after the way she wore her long, blonde hair that covered one eye. She is most remembered for her numerous sultry roles in film noir moves of the 1940's.

The beautiful Miss Lake is known to us genre fans for her role in I MARRIED A WITCH (1942) opposite Fredric "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" March. She was also in a 1952 episode of the TV series, TALES OF TOMORROW. Her last film role was as Dr. Elaine Frederick in the embarrassing FLESH FEAST (1970).

The image below is a personality poster issued by Paramount pictures in 1944 and was painted by master artist, Robert Soubie. Following are more photos of the angelic Veronica Lake.

Image by the famous portrait photographer George Hurrell.

Various promotional photos by Paramount.

Pages from SHOWMAN'S TRADE REVIEW October 24, 1952.

A one-page feature from MODERN SCREEN August, 1941.

An article from MODERN SCREEN May, 1941.

FRIDAY FEMME FATALE: VERONICA LAKE

Born Constance Frances Marie Ockleman on November 14, 1922, in Brooklyn, New York, the sultry Veronica Lake was a popular actress and pin-up girl in the 1940s. The girl with the trademark "peek-a-boo do" was known for her roles in Preston Sturges' SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS (1941), and film noir classics such as THE BLUE DAHLIA (1946), THE GLASS KEY (1942), and Graham Green's THIS GUN FOR HIRE (1942), Miss Lake also appeared in a few genre films and TV Shows, including the fantasy/comedy, I MARRIED A WITCH (1942), an episode of the LIGHT'S OUT TV series (1950), and a TALES OF TOMORROW episode in 1952.

With the earnings from her autobiography, in 1970 Lake produced and cast herself in the embarrassing horror film, FLESH FEAST. Lensed in Miami Beach by Viking International Pictures, it is a story of a doctor who dabbles in youth experiments using maggots (!). A group of neo-Nazis catches wind of the miracle treatment and want to use it on, well, you-know-who. 

Unfortunately, the beautiful Miss Lake suffered for years with alcoholism. She died on July 7, 1973 of liver and kidney disease.

Below is a unique depiction of Veronica Lake in the form of a French "Personality Poster" with artwork by Roger Soubie.

"Veronica Lake Personality Poster (Paramount, 1944). French Affiche (23.5" X 31.5"). Roger Soubie Artwork.
French artist Roger Soubie masterfully captures the radiant beauty of the ultimate femme fatale, Veronica Lake, "peek-a-boo" mane cascading softly across her eye and down her shoulder. Good looks weren't Ms. Lake's only asset - she was no slouch as an actress, delivering fine performances in important films such as Sullivan's Travels, The Glass Key, and This Gun for Hire. This arresting personality poster was created at the height of her 1940s popularity, and displays nicely after touchup to the folds with a tiny bit of paper loss at the center crossfold. There are some very faint scattered spots in the background and the poster shows light toning. Very Fine on Linen."

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