I may have been a little young at the time "Sheena" Queen of the Jungle came along on TV in 1955-56, to appreciate the curvy frame of former pin-up model, Irish McCalla, the blond bombshell that portrayed the Jungle Queen. But I do remember, as a wide-eyed 7 year old, relishing every single one of the 25 episodes made, spell-bound by the daring escapades of the "Jungle Queen."
As campy as it seems now when I watch an episode on the road in my RV I still remember loving it when I was a kid. The show was supposed to have been set in the deepest, darkest heart of Africa! (They were actually filmed in Mexico but back then I didn't care about those kinds of minor details even if I had known about them) Or ask myself stupid questions like some would today – being the politically correct society that we are; how could a barely legal, half naked gal, barefoot, no less, be allowed to expose herself in that manner? Where were her parents when all this was going on and did they know she dressed like this in public? The only question that would have been on my mind was, just how does one get to hang out with this Sheena – she is the coolest!
Even a boy as young as I could appreciate her physical prowess, along with her blue-eyed innocence as she swung from the trees righting the jungle's wrongs. Too young to recognize the emotion of envy, I never debased the idea of a girl being able to do these things but rather I remember feeling like I did when a friend of mine got a new bike or went to Disneyland on vacation. I was happy for them but why couldn't I have a new bike? Why couldn't I go to Disneyland? Regardless, I admired her strength, her independence and Sheena became my first female role model. If Sheena could face all of the demons in the jungle including giant alligators and pythons, I could sure do with my old bike until I could earn a better one.
I understand that she did all of her own stunts until she slammed into a tree swinging from an unsecured vine and broke her arm. Those in the business of producing such shows felt that Irish McCalla gave more than a credible portrayal of Sheena that was totally true to the character from the comic book. The stories which featured Sheena and hunter guide Bob Rayburn fighting all sorts of bad guys in the jungle are largely reminiscent of "B" movies, produced cheaply and with little supporting cast (about 17 of 26 episodes can be found on video with Amazon) but I loved every one of them!
But did you know? McCalla, formerly a Varga Girl model for pinup girl artist Alberto Vargas was born in in Pawnee City, Nebraska. She was one of eight children to father Lloyd, a butcher, and mother Nettie McCalla. The family moved often and at 17 she found work as a waitress in Southern California. It was actually on a beach in Malibu that she was "discovered" by a Nassour Studios Rep. What was she doing to attract their attention – why, throwing a bamboo spear, of course! Impressed by her athletic, 5'10" frame, they knew right away they had found their "Sheena", Queen of the Jungle.
In 1951, she married and had two sons with insurance salesman Patrick McIntyre. Her popularity as a pin-up model soared and by 1952 she and some other models were appearing in a film called River Goddesses, which was basically a bunch of sexy, young, scantily clad (for those days) babes frolicking in the Grand Canyon. Following the disappointment of a one-season Sheena, McCalla appeared in five films from 1958 to 1962, with guest roles on the TV series Have Gun — Will Travel and Route 66. She didn't think much of herself as an actress proclaiming of her role as Sheena, "I couldn't act, but I could swing through the trees". McCalla divorced in 1957, and the following year was married to British actor and James Joyce/Sherlock Holmes scholar Patrick Horgan.
She was pretty much removed from the spotlight by 1963 when she moved from Malibu to Prescott, Arizona. Not much else is known about her from that period until in 1982, aged 73, Irish McCalla died of a stroke and complications from a brain tumor – her fourth.
Carol Hatfield, author of The Realist may have said it best about the impact of the character she portrayed so well. "When I was eight years old, Sheena was the only female portrayed on TV who didn't conform to the fifties stereotype of women. Sheena was a rugged individualist. Watching her struggle with a new adventure every week made me feel more capable at a time when everything was so unexplored. If she could handle the jungle, I felt sure that I could handle my world"
Our Social Security Administration's Press Office kindly allowed me to borrow their "First Baby Boomer Files For Social Security-Online!" headline by way of announcing some good news and some bad news to our boomer audience. The good news is that it is now easier than ever to apply for retirement benefits when you become eligible. The bad news is you have to be almost 62 to apply!
