Lilly Christine(1923-1965)
- Actress
Lilly Christine, a.k.a. "The Cat Girl," was a famous and beloved
burlesque exotic dancer and men's magazine model of the late 1940's up
until the early 1960's with a mesmerizing stage presence, a wild mane
of long peroxide blonde hair, and a simply spectacular 37C-22-35
voluptuous bombshell body. Lilly was born as Martha Theresa Pompender
on December 17, 1923 in Dunkirk, New York. Although there were rumors
that she had a Norwegian father and a Swedish mother, Christine in
reality was actually of Italian-Polish descent. She first began dancing
in 1948 and proved to be a major headliner performing her trademark
voodoo love potion dance at Prima's 500 Club in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Lilly was prominently featured doing her other signature stalking cat
dance in the Broadway stage production of the musical revue "Michael
Todd's Peep Show," which ran from June 28, 1950 to February 24, 1951 at
the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City. Moreover, Christine graced
the covers and/or posed for centerfolds in such adult publications as
"Rogue," "He," "Modern Man," "Gala," "Tempo," and "Cover Girls." She
had uncredited minor parts in the movies "Two Guys from Texas," "My
Wild Irish Rose," "Two Guys from Milwaukee," and "Irish Eyes Are
Smiling." Lilly Christine was still dancing and drawing huge crowds in
nightclubs down south when she died from peritonitis at the tragically
young age of 41 on January 9, 1965 in Broward County, Florida.