Staying Young
Secaucus, NJ: Lyle Stuart Inc., 1982. 1st Edition. Octavo, publisher’s teal cloth over white cloth, spine stamped in blush, original photo-illustrated dust jacket.
First edition of notorious gangster girlfriend and cult film actress Liz Renay’s self-improvement book. A small town girl from Arizona raised in a Fundamentalist family, Renay rose to fame as a burlesque dancer and stripper before landing a role as Muffy St. Jacques in John Waters's black comedy Desperate Living (1977). After being romanced by mobster Mickey Cohen she gained various bit parts in television shows through his Hollywood ties, although his racketeering soon landed her in prison with a two-year sentence. Later in life she turned to writing, authoring books on sex, scandals, and seduction, all published by maverick publisher Lyle Sturart. Published when she was 56 years old, this guide comprises her idiosyncratic instructions on beauty and "restoring your looks" during middle age with advice on nutrition, exercise, and plastic surgery, along with hobbies, finances, and dating. PSome embrowning to endpapers from binder's glue; unclipped dust jacket with some edgewear and trace of sticker residue to rear panel. Very good. Item #8025
$125.00