This week we feature a gal who holds a special place in b-movie history. Although her creature feature resume is rather short, she definitely deserves a mention. And though I’m a giant antimatter space bird, she’s quite dishy for a human female. That’s what Jeff Morrow kept telling me, anyway. She was always charming on the set, and a pleasure to work with. I’m glad I didn’t have to kill her in the movie. I still feel bad enough about Pierre. But that’s another story.
Mara was born Marilyn Joan Watts in Santa Monica, California. Got her start in a chorus, which led to modeling before she signed a contract with Universal-International. The sign of quality. She appeared in many b-movies during her career, but for our purposes, she only appeared in three. She gave up show biz to be the wife of Richard “Nanny & the Professor” Long for 17 years. She was Playboy playmate of the month for October 1958. Also a good friend of Clint Eastwood, who had a small part as a napalm-firing fighter pilot in her hit film Tarantula.
Best wishes,
GC
“Strafing fine communities like yours since 1957”
Mara Corday’s B-Movie Filmography
Tarantula 1955
The Giant Claw 1957
The Black Scorpion 1957