"Gal" Friday! Victoria Vetri

Before she goes away for a legally imposed sabbatical, let's say a fond farewell to a "Classic Cutie" that most of us have seen, in one shape or form, through various media outlets.

Victoria Vetri once turned down the voice dub (singing) for Natalie Wood in West Side Story (1961), not wanting to be known simply as a standby. She also auditioned for the title role in the Stanley Kubrick adaptation of Lolita, but lost the role to Sue Lyon. Using the name Angela Dorian, she was chosen as Playboy's Playmate of the Month for September 1967 and she was subsequently selected as the 1968 Playmate of the Year.

Her major movie credits include Rosemary's Baby and When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth, but she had a longer career on television during the 1960s and 1970s, appearing in such classic TV series as Cheyenne, Wagon Train, McHale's Navy, Bonanza, Perry Mason, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Big Valley, Hogan's Heroes, Death Valley Days, Batman, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Land of the Giants, Daniel Boone, Star Trek and Mission: Impossible.

Sadly, Victoria Vetri (legally known as Victoria Rathgeb) was recently convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison after being charged with attempted murder. She allegedly shot her husband from close range inside their Hollywood apartment.

All I know is that back in the day, Victoria (or Angela) was one seriously smoking hot "gal"; so adios my dear. We'll fondly recall your glory days in the Catacombs, even as you are packed away for a spell.