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{{short description|American pornographic actress (born 1936)}} {{short description|American pornographic actress (born 1936)}}
{{for|the theatre pseudonym|George Spelvin}} {{for|the theatre pseudonym on which her stage name was based|George Spelvin}}
{{rewrite|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox adult biography {{Infobox adult biography
| name = Georgina Spelvin | name = Georgina Spelvin
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| death_date = | death_date =
| death_place = | death_place =
| spouse = John Welsh (2000–present)<ref name="imdb.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0920557/|title=John Welsh|website=IMDb|access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref> | spouse = {{marriage|John Welsh|2000}}<ref name="imdb.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0920557/|title=John Welsh|website=IMDb|access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref>
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=4}} | height = {{height|ft=5|in=4}}
| alias = Chele Graham,<ref name=people /><ref name=Herald /><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/chele-graham-99051|title=Chele Graham – Broadway Cast & Staff - IBDB|last=The Broadway League|website=ibdb.com|access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref> <br>Shelley Abels, <br>Claudia Clitoris, <br>Tia Von Davis, <br>Dorothy May, <br>Merle Miller, <br>Ruth Raymond, <br>Georgette Spelvin, <br>Ona Tural<!-- When I played a French maid, I was Ona Tural (au natural) --> | alias = Chele Graham,<ref name=people /><ref name=Herald /><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/chele-graham-99051|title=Chele Graham – Broadway Cast & Staff - IBDB|last=The Broadway League|website=ibdb.com|access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref> <br>Shelley Abels, <br>Claudia Clitoris, <br>Dorothy May, <br>Merle Miller, <br>Ruth Raymond, <br>Georgette Spelvin, <br>Ona Tural<!-- When I played a French maid, I was Ona Tural (au natural) -->
| website = | website =
| years_active = 1957–1982 | years_active = 1957–1982
}} }}


'''Shelley Bob Graham'''<ref name="morningrecord"/><ref name="glaws.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.glaws.org/cgi-bin/pmpre3/cgi/pm.cgi?action=display&login=georgina|title=Georgina Spelvin|author=Georgina Spelvin|website=glaws.org|access-date=28 April 2018}}</ref> (born March 1, 1936),<!-- at 2:24 pm in Houston, Texas at ''The Greater Los Angeles Writers Society''--> known professionally as '''Georgina Spelvin''', is a former American actress and ] who is best known as the star of the classic 1973 pornographic film '']'', released during the ] (1969–1984). '''Shelley Bob Graham'''<ref name="morningrecord"/><ref name="glaws.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.glaws.org/cgi-bin/pmpre3/cgi/pm.cgi?action=display&login=georgina|title=Georgina Spelvin|author=Georgina Spelvin|website=glaws.org|access-date=28 April 2018}}</ref> (born March 1, 1936),<!-- at 2:24 pm in Houston, Texas at ''The Greater Los Angeles Writers Society''--> known professionally as '''Georgina Spelvin''', is an American former actress and ], best known as the star of the classic 1973 pornographic film '']'', released during the ] (1969–1984).
==Life and career==


==Early life== === Early life ===
Spelvin was born in ] at 2:24 pm<ref name="glaws.org"/> on March 1, 1936 as Shelley Bob Graham.<ref name=Texas>{{cite book|author=Michael Varhola|title=Texas Confidential: Sex, Scandal, Murder, and Mayhem in the Lone Star State|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0gTdiowLJhYC&pg=PA23 |access-date=14 September 2015|year=2011|publisher=Clerisy Press|isbn=978-1-57860-459-3|pages=24–27}}</ref> Her father was a geophysicist, and the family moved frequently.<ref name="glaws.org"/> She often took dancing lessons during childhood.<ref name="glaws.org"/> She graduated from high school in 1954.<ref name="glaws.org"/> Spelvin was born in ], at 2:24 pm<ref name="glaws.org"/> on March 1, 1936, as Shelley Bob Graham.<ref name=Texas>{{cite book|author=Michael Varhola|title=Texas Confidential: Sex, Scandal, Murder, and Mayhem in the Lone Star State|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0gTdiowLJhYC&pg=PA23 |access-date=14 September 2015|year=2011|publisher=Clerisy Press|isbn=978-1-57860-459-3|pages=24–27}}</ref> Her father was a geophysicist, and the family moved frequently.<ref name="glaws.org"/> She often took dancing lessons during childhood.<ref name="glaws.org"/> She graduated from high school in 1954.<ref name="glaws.org"/>


<blockquote>"At first, I wanted to be an opera singer but my voice wasn't good enough. My second choice was ballerina. After that, it was a series of compromises.""<br>- Georgina Spelvin<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SpiLAgAAQBAJ&q=opera&pg=PA24|title=Texas Confidential: Sex, Scandal, Murder, and Mayhem in the Lone Star State|first=Michael|last=Varhola|date=19 July 2011|publisher=Clerisy Press|isbn=9781578604586|access-date=29 April 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref></blockquote> {{quote|At first, I wanted to be an opera singer, but my voice wasn't good enough. My second choice was ballerina. After that, it was a series of compromises.|Georgina Spelvin<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SpiLAgAAQBAJ&q=opera&pg=PA24|title=Texas Confidential: Sex, Scandal, Murder, and Mayhem in the Lone Star State|first=Michael|last=Varhola|date=19 July 2011|publisher=Clerisy Press|isbn=9781578604586|access-date=29 April 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref>}}


==New York City== === New York City ===
Graham began her professional career as dancer and later as a ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgiespelvin.com:80/page5/page5.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100904161028/http://georgiespelvin.com/page5/page5.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 September 2010|title=Photos|date=4 September 2010|access-date=28 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://famousdude.com/12645-georgina-spelvin@imagegeorgina-spelvin-09.jpg.html|title=image: Georgina Spelvin; FamousDude.com - Famous people photo catalog.|website=famousdude.com|access-date=28 April 2018}}</ref> in '']'', and was featured in the ] productions of '']'',<ref name="auto"/> ''],'' and '']''.<ref name="Georgina">, : Audio interview with Georgina Spelvin</ref><ref name="TM-20050329">{{cite web |last=Corliss |first=Richard |title=That Old Feeling: When Porno Was Chic |url=http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1043267,00.html |date=March 29, 2005 |work=] |access-date=January 27, 2016 }}</ref> During that time she changed the spelling of her name to "Chele Graham" but kept the pronunciation the same as Shelley Graham.<ref name=people /><ref name=Herald /><ref name="auto" /> When performance offers dwindled, she worked in theater production as a choreographer, director, and lighting technician in a number of musicals,<ref name=lewiston1>{{cite news|last1=Robinson|first1=Johnny|title=Chele Graham Released On 10,000 Bail|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IZ8gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hWgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3164%2C3560971|access-date=2 October 2015|publisher=Lewiston Evening Journal|date=July 26, 1974}}</ref> which led to underground film scene. Graham began her professional career as dancer and later as a ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgiespelvin.com:80/page5/page5.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100904161028/http://georgiespelvin.com/page5/page5.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 September 2010|title=Photos|date=4 September 2010|access-date=28 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://famousdude.com/12645-georgina-spelvin@imagegeorgina-spelvin-09.jpg.html|title=image: Georgina Spelvin; FamousDude.com - Famous people photo catalog.|website=famousdude.com|access-date=28 April 2018}}</ref> in '']'', and was featured in the ] productions of '']'',<ref name="auto"/> '']'', and '']''.<ref name="Georgina">, : Audio interview with Georgina Spelvin</ref><ref name="TM-20050329">{{cite magazine |last=Corliss |first=Richard |title=That Old Feeling: When Porno Was Chic |url=http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1043267,00.html |date=March 29, 2005 |magazine=] |access-date=January 27, 2016 }}</ref> During that time, she changed the spelling of her name to "Chele Graham", but kept the pronunciation the same.<ref name=people /><ref name=Herald /><ref name="auto" /> When performance offers dwindled, she worked in theater production as a choreographer, director, and lighting technician in a number of musicals,<ref name=lewiston1>{{cite news|last1=Robinson|first1=Johnny|title=Chele Graham Released On 10,000 Bail|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IZ8gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hWgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3164%2C3560971|access-date=2 October 2015|publisher=Lewiston Evening Journal|date=July 26, 1974}}</ref> which led to the underground film scene.


⚫ === Pornography ===
⚫ <blockquote>"I took the role very seriously. I was doing Hedda Gabler here! The fact that there was hard-core sex involved was incidental as far as I was concerned. I was totally deluded. I had made myself believe that I was an actress. I was showing true life as it really was, including actual sex as it really happened, instead of the phony stuff that you got from Hollywood. That was my raison d'etre throughout the whole thing. It was okay; I was okay; I wasn't a slut."<br>(on ''Devil in Miss Jones'')<br>- Georgina Spelvin<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1043267-2,00.html|title=That Old Feeling: When Porno Was Chic|first=Richard|last=Corliss|date=29 March 2005|access-date=29 April 2018|via=content.time.com}}</ref></blockquote>
⚫ The stage name she adopted is a variation on ], traditionally used as a ] by stage actors for the second billing, when playing two roles.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19730509&id=N4dQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vhEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7302,2256206|title=The Milwaukee Sentinel - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=29 April 2018}}{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

⚫ ==Pornography==
⚫ The stage name she adopted is a variation on ], a name traditionally used as a ] by stage actors for the second billing, when playing two roles.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19730509&id=N4dQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vhEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7302,2256206|title=The Milwaukee Sentinel - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=29 April 2018}}</ref>


She made her first movie, ], a softcore ] film, in 1957,<ref name=Georgina /> and appeared in a few ] features during the late 1960s. She made her first movie, ], a softcore ] film, in 1957,<ref name=Georgina /> and appeared in a few ] features during the late 1960s.


Graham moved into porn when her friend, actor ], introduced her to ] director ].<ref name=Georgina /> She became one of the best-known figures in ] for her starring role in '']'' in 1973. Graham moved into porn when her friend, actor ], introduced her to ] director ].<ref name=Georgina /> She became one of the best-known figures in ] for her starring role in '']'' in 1973.

⚫ {{quote|I took the role very seriously. I was doing '']'' here! The fact that there was hard-core sex involved was incidental as far as I was concerned. I was totally deluded. I had made myself believe that I was an actress. I was showing true life as it really was, including actual sex as it really happened, instead of the phony stuff that you got from Hollywood. That was my raison d'etre throughout the whole thing. It was okay; I was okay; I wasn't a slut.|Georgina Spelvin, on ''Devil in Miss Jones''<ref name="auto1">{{cite magazine|url=http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1043267-2,00.html|title=That Old Feeling: When Porno Was Chic|first=Richard|last=Corliss|magazine=Time |date=29 March 2005|access-date=29 April 2018|via=content.time.com}}</ref>}}


In 1973, <!--Dec. 9, 1973, p. 187--> Robert Berkvist, writing in '']'', commented that "'Miss Jones' is as familiar in ] as she is on Broadway."{{citation needed|date=April 2018}} In 1973, <!--Dec. 9, 1973, p. 187--> Robert Berkvist, writing in '']'', commented that "'Miss Jones' is as familiar in ] as she is on Broadway."{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}


In 1974, she appeared in the low-budget ] ''Girls For Rent (aka ])'', for which she also served as ]. In 1974, she appeared in the low-budget ] ''Girls For Rent'' (aka ''])'', for which she also served as ].


<blockquote>"The Devil in Miss Jones. This was the "birth" of Georgina Spelvin in 1974. From there it was, again, all downhill. This descent spiraled into the pits of sleaze-bag strip joints and alcoholism. Sobriety came November 11, 1981."<br>- Georgina Spelvin<ref name="glaws.org"/></blockquote> {{quote|''The Devil in Miss Jones''. This was the "birth" of Georgina Spelvin in 1974. From there it was, again, all downhill. This descent spiraled into the pits of sleaze-bag strip joints and ]. Sobriety came November 11, 1981.|Georgina Spelvin<ref name="glaws.org"/>}}


In 1974, while living in Maine, she was charged with transporting obscene materials across state lines for her film ''Devil in Miss Jones'' in Tennessee.<ref name="people">{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20064573,00.html|title=In Trouble|website=people.com|publisher=People Magazine|access-date=2 October 2015}}<!-- https://web.archive.org/web/20110110061218/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20064573,00.html http://people.com/archive/in-trouble-vol-2-no-16/ --></ref> The charges were eventually dropped in 1977.<ref name=Herald>{{cite news|title=Spartanburg Herald Making the News 4/16/1977|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ekEsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Es0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6786%2C2749128|access-date=2 October 2015|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Spartanburg Herald|date=April 16, 1977}}</ref> In 1974, while living in Maine, she was charged with transporting obscene materials across state lines for her film ''Devil in Miss Jones'' in Tennessee.<ref name="people">{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20064573,00.html|title=In Trouble|magazine=]|access-date=2 October 2015}}<!-- https://web.archive.org/web/20110110061218/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20064573,00.html http://people.com/archive/in-trouble-vol-2-no-16/ --></ref> The charges were eventually dropped in 1977.<ref name=Herald>{{cite news|title=Spartanburg Herald Making the News 4/16/1977|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ekEsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Es0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6786%2C2749128|access-date=2 October 2015|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Spartanburg Herald|date=April 16, 1977}}</ref>


In 1975, she moved to ] with Claire Lumiere (] Judith Hamilton), met ] and appeared in ''Take it Off'' at his ''Off Broadway''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/photos/galleries/famous-former-neighbors/9309/|title=Famous Former Neighbors: Georgina Spelvin, Part 1 - San Diego Reader|website=www.sandiegoreader.com|access-date=28 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/photos/galleries/famous-former-neighbors/9308/|title=Famous Former Neighbors: Georgina Spelvin, Part 2 - San Diego Reader|website=www.sandiegoreader.com|access-date=28 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2010/jun/29/pussycat-theaters-a-comprehensive-history-of-a-cal/|title=Pussycat Theaters – a comprehensive history of a California dynasty|website=sandiegoreader.com|access-date=28 April 2018}}</ref> In 1975, she moved to ], with Claire Lumiere (aka Judith Hamilton), met ] and appeared in ''Take It Off'' at his theatre, the Off-Broadway.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/photos/galleries/famous-former-neighbors/9309/|title=Famous Former Neighbors: Georgina Spelvin, Part 1 - San Diego Reader|website=www.sandiegoreader.com|access-date=28 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/photos/galleries/famous-former-neighbors/9308/|title=Famous Former Neighbors: Georgina Spelvin, Part 2 - San Diego Reader|website=www.sandiegoreader.com|access-date=28 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/bands/2010/jun/29/pussycat-theaters-a-comprehensive-history-of-a-cal/|title=Pussycat Theaters – a comprehensive history of a California dynasty|website=sandiegoreader.com|access-date=28 April 2018}}</ref>


Spelvin appeared in over 70 adult films before retiring from the industry in 1982.<ref name=Texas/> Spelvin appeared in more than 70 adult films, such as ''Desires Within Young Girls'' (1977), ''Sensual Encounters of Every Kind'' (1978), '']'' (1978), ''The Ecstasy Girls'' (1979), ''Ring of Desire'' (1981), and ''Center Spread Girls'' (1982), before retiring from the industry in 1982.<ref name=Texas/>


==Later life== === Later life ===
⚫ Spelvin made cameo appearances in '']'' (1984)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://outlet.historicimages.com/products/mva63863|title=1984 Press Photo Police Academy Steve Guttenberg Georgina Spelvin|first=Historic|last=Images|website=Historic Images|access-date=28 April 2018}}</ref> and '']'' (1986). She later had film roles in ''Bad Blood'' (1989), in which she was credited as "Ruth Raymond", ''Return to Justice'' (1990), and ''Next Year in Jerusalem'' (1997), as well as guest-starring roles on the television shows '']'' and ''].''


⚫ Spelvin learned ] and worked for the '']''<ref name=Texas/> until retiring from its staff in 2004.<ref name="glaws.org"/>
⚫ Spelvin made cameo appearances in '']'' (1984)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://outlet.historicimages.com/products/mva63863|title=1984 Press Photo Police Academy Steve Guttenberg Georgina Spelvin|first=Historic|last=Images|website=Historic Images|access-date=28 April 2018}}</ref> and '']'' (1986). She later had film roles in '']'' (1989), in which she was credited as "Ruth Raymond," '']'' (1990) and '']'' (1997), as well as guest-starring roles on the television shows '']'' and ''].''


⚫ In 2004, she made a cameo appearance in ]'s remake of ''The Devil in Miss Jones'', titled ''].''<ref name="georgierocks">{{cite news|title=Georgie Rocks The House|url=http://www.xcitement.com/blog/?p=121|access-date=2007-11-30|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215045326/http://www.xcitement.com/blog/?p=121|archive-date=2009-02-15}}</ref> Her role did not involve any sex acts. In 2005, she was interviewed for the ] '']''. In 2006, she was interviewed for the ] ''Devil in Miss Spelvin'', a special feature intended for inclusion with ''Devil in Miss Jones: The Definitive Collector's Edition''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xcritic.com/review/25503/clair-lumiere-the-devil-in-miss-jones---definitive-collectors-edition/|title=Clair Lumiere in The Devil in Miss Jones - Definitive Collector's Edition|website=XCritic.com|access-date=April 28, 2018}}</ref>
⚫ Spelvin learned ] and worked for the '']''<ref name=Texas/> until she retired from its staff in 2004.<ref name="glaws.org"/>

In 2004, she made a cameo appearance in Vivid Video's remake of ''The Devil in Miss Jones'', which is titled ''].''<ref name="georgierocks">{{cite news|title=Georgie Rocks The House|url=http://www.xcitement.com/blog/?p=121|access-date=2007-11-30|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215045326/http://www.xcitement.com/blog/?p=121|archive-date=2009-02-15}}</ref> Her role did not involve any sex acts.

⚫ In 2005, she was interviewed for the ] '']''. In 2006, she was interviewed for the ] ''Devil In Miss Spelvin'', a special feature intended for inclusion with ''Devil in Miss Jones, The Definitive Collector's Edition''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xcritic.com/review/25503/clair-lumiere-the-devil-in-miss-jones---definitive-collectors-edition/|title=Clair Lumiere in The Devil in Miss Jones - Definitive Collector's Edition - XCritic.com|website=XCritic.com|access-date=28 April 2018}}</ref>


In 2009, she appeared as herself in the video for ]'s song "Paradise Circus."<ref name="paradise">{{cite news| title=Massive Attack - Paradise Circus|url = http://special.the-raft.com/massiveattackdvd/paradisecircus_full.swf| access-date=2009-12-14}}</ref> In 2009, she appeared as herself in the video for ]'s song "Paradise Circus."<ref name="paradise">{{cite news| title=Massive Attack - Paradise Circus|url = http://special.the-raft.com/massiveattackdvd/paradisecircus_full.swf| access-date=2009-12-14}}</ref>


In 2011, Spelvin was a guest on an episode (season 1, episode 5) of the ] series '']'', in which she viewed and discussed clips from a number of her films (including ''The Devil in Miss Jones'') with host ] and guest ]. In 2011, Spelvin was a guest on an episode (season 1, episode 5) of the ] series '']'', in which she viewed and discussed clips from a number of her films (including ''The Devil in Miss Jones'') with host ] and guest ]. In 2017, Spelvin was interviewed in the documentary '']'', about her career in porn.{{cn|date=January 2023}}


==Personal life== ==Personal life==
Spelvin met her husband, actor John Welsh,<ref name="imdb.com"/> in 1983 and married January 16, 2000. Spelvin met her future husband, actor John Welsh,<ref name="imdb.com"/> in 1983.


==Autobiography== ==Autobiography==
In May 2008, she published her ], ''The Devil Made Me Do It'',<ref>{{cite book|title=The Devil Made Me Do It|first=search|last=results|date=20 March 2008|publisher=Georginas World Inc|isbn=978-0615199078}}</ref> and appeared on camera in a short web clip announcing its release on the internet. A self-published work, the book is available through her official website, Georgiespelvin.com.<ref name="devilmade">{{cite news|title=The Devil Made Her Do It|url=http://newtextureblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/georgina-spelvins-devil-made-me-do-it.html |access-date=2008-05-14}}</ref><!-- <ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nulzVubfU90C|title=The Devil Made Me Do It|first=Georgina|last=Spelvin|date=1 March 2008|publisher=Lulu.com|access-date=29 April 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref> --> In May 2008, she published her ], ''The Devil Made Me Do It'',<ref>{{cite book|title=The Devil Made Me Do It|first=search|last=results|date=20 March 2008|publisher=Georginas World Inc|isbn=978-0615199078}}</ref> and appeared on camera in a short web clip announcing its release; a self-published work, the book is available through her official website.<ref name="devilmade">{{cite news|title=The Devil Made Her Do It|url=http://newtextureblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/georgina-spelvins-devil-made-me-do-it.html |access-date=2008-05-14}}</ref><!-- <ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nulzVubfU90C|title=The Devil Made Me Do It|first=Georgina|last=Spelvin|date=1 March 2008|publisher=Lulu.com|access-date=29 April 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref> -->


==Awards== ==Awards==

Wins
=== Wins ===
* 1976 ] Best Supporting Actress for Ping Pong <ref name="rame">{{cite news|title=rame awards list|url=http://www.rame.net/library/lists/best.html |access-date=2007-11-29}}</ref> * 1976: ] Best Supporting Actress for ''Ping Pong'' <ref name="rame">{{cite news|title=rame awards list|url=http://www.rame.net/library/lists/best.html|access-date=2007-11-29|archive-date=2019-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421220757/http://www.rame.net/library/lists/best.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 1977 AFAA Best Actress for Desires Within Young Girls<ref name="rame"/>
* 1978 AFAA Best Supporting Actress for Take Off<ref name="rame"/> * 1977: AFAA Best Actress for ''Desires Within Young Girls''<ref name="rame"/>
* 1979 AFAA Best Supporting Actress for Ecstasy Girls<ref name="rame"/> * 1978: AFAA Best Supporting Actress for ''Take Off''<ref name="rame"/>
* 1980 AFAA Best Supporting Actress for Urban Cowgirls<ref name="rame"/> * 1979: AFAA Best Supporting Actress for ''Ecstasy Girls''<ref name="rame"/>
* 1981 AFAA Best Actress for Dancers<ref name="rame"/> * 1980: AFAA Best Supporting Actress for ''Urban Cowgirls''<ref name="rame"/>
* 1991 ] Lifetime Achievement Award<ref name="XRCO1991">{{cite news |title=Winners of XRCO Awards 1991 |url=http://aiwards.com/xrco/1991 }}</ref> * 1981: AFAA Best Actress for ''Dancers''<ref name="rame"/>
* 1991: ] Lifetime Achievement Award<ref name="XRCO1991">{{cite news |title=Winners of XRCO Awards 1991 |url=http://aiwards.com/xrco/1991 }}</ref>
* ]<ref name="AVN HOF">{{cite news|title=AVN Hall of Fame |url=http://www.avnawards.com/index.php?content=halloffame |access-date=2007-11-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929000916/http://www.avnawards.com/index.php?content=halloffame |archive-date=2007-09-29 }}</ref> * ]<ref name="AVN HOF">{{cite news|title=AVN Hall of Fame |url=http://www.avnawards.com/index.php?content=halloffame |access-date=2007-11-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929000916/http://www.avnawards.com/index.php?content=halloffame |archive-date=2007-09-29 }}</ref>
* ]<ref name="XRCO">{{cite news |title=XRCO Hall of Fame |url=http://www.bwdl.net/XRCO-2/hall.htm |access-date=2007-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205014232/http://www.bwdl.net/XRCO-2/hall.htm |archive-date=2012-02-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * ]<ref name="XRCO">{{cite news |title=XRCO Hall of Fame |url=http://www.bwdl.net/XRCO-2/hall.htm |access-date=2007-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205014232/http://www.bwdl.net/XRCO-2/hall.htm |archive-date=2012-02-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


Nominations === Nominations ===
* 2006 AVN Best Non-Sex Performance for The Devil in Miss Jones<ref name="AVN2006">{{cite news|title=AVN 2006 Nominations |url=http://www.avn.com/imagearchive/24/82/23/248223AVN_Awards_Nominations.pdf |access-date=2007-12-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051129014904/http://www.avn.com/imagearchive/24/82/23/248223AVN_Awards_Nominations.pdf |archive-date=November 29, 2005 }}</ref> * 2006: AVN Best Non-Sex Performance for ''The New Devil in Miss Jones''<ref name="AVN2006">{{cite news|title=AVN 2006 Nominations |url=http://www.avn.com/imagearchive/24/82/23/248223AVN_Awards_Nominations.pdf |access-date=2007-12-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051129014904/http://www.avn.com/imagearchive/24/82/23/248223AVN_Awards_Nominations.pdf |archive-date=November 29, 2005 }}</ref>


==References== ==References==
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Latest revision as of 06:51, 15 October 2024

American pornographic actress (born 1936) For the theatre pseudonym on which her stage name was based, see George Spelvin.
Georgina Spelvin
Spelvin in 2008
BornShelley Bob Graham
(1936-03-01) March 1, 1936 (age 88)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Other namesChele Graham,
Shelley Abels,
Claudia Clitoris,
Dorothy May,
Merle Miller,
Ruth Raymond,
Georgette Spelvin,
Ona Tural
Years active1957–1982
Height5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Spouse John Welsh ​(m. 2000)​
Websitegeorgiespelvin.com

Shelley Bob Graham (born March 1, 1936), known professionally as Georgina Spelvin, is an American former actress and pornographic performer, best known as the star of the classic 1973 pornographic film The Devil in Miss Jones, released during the Golden Age of Porn (1969–1984).

Life and career

Early life

Spelvin was born in Houston, Texas, at 2:24 pm on March 1, 1936, as Shelley Bob Graham. Her father was a geophysicist, and the family moved frequently. She often took dancing lessons during childhood. She graduated from high school in 1954.

At first, I wanted to be an opera singer, but my voice wasn't good enough. My second choice was ballerina. After that, it was a series of compromises.

— Georgina Spelvin

New York City

Graham began her professional career as dancer and later as a chorus girl in Pajama Game, and was featured in the Broadway productions of Cabaret, Guys and Dolls, and Sweet Charity. During that time, she changed the spelling of her name to "Chele Graham", but kept the pronunciation the same. When performance offers dwindled, she worked in theater production as a choreographer, director, and lighting technician in a number of musicals, which led to the underground film scene.

Pornography

The stage name she adopted is a variation on George Spelvin, traditionally used as a pseudonym by stage actors for the second billing, when playing two roles.

She made her first movie, The Twilight Girls, a softcore lesbian film, in 1957, and appeared in a few sexploitation features during the late 1960s.

Graham moved into porn when her friend, actor Marc Stevens, introduced her to adult film director Gerard Damiano. She became one of the best-known figures in hardcore pornography for her starring role in The Devil in Miss Jones in 1973.

I took the role very seriously. I was doing Hedda Gabler here! The fact that there was hard-core sex involved was incidental as far as I was concerned. I was totally deluded. I had made myself believe that I was an actress. I was showing true life as it really was, including actual sex as it really happened, instead of the phony stuff that you got from Hollywood. That was my raison d'etre throughout the whole thing. It was okay; I was okay; I wasn't a slut.

— Georgina Spelvin, on Devil in Miss Jones

In 1973, Robert Berkvist, writing in The New York Times, commented that "'Miss Jones' is as familiar in Scarsdale as she is on Broadway."

In 1974, she appeared in the low-budget exploitation film Girls For Rent (aka I Spit on Your Corpse), for which she also served as costume designer.

The Devil in Miss Jones. This was the "birth" of Georgina Spelvin in 1974. From there it was, again, all downhill. This descent spiraled into the pits of sleaze-bag strip joints and alcoholism. Sobriety came November 11, 1981.

— Georgina Spelvin

In 1974, while living in Maine, she was charged with transporting obscene materials across state lines for her film Devil in Miss Jones in Tennessee. The charges were eventually dropped in 1977.

In 1975, she moved to El Cajon, California, with Claire Lumiere (aka Judith Hamilton), met Vince Miranda and appeared in Take It Off at his theatre, the Off-Broadway.

Spelvin appeared in more than 70 adult films, such as Desires Within Young Girls (1977), Sensual Encounters of Every Kind (1978), Honky Tonk Nights (1978), The Ecstasy Girls (1979), Ring of Desire (1981), and Center Spread Girls (1982), before retiring from the industry in 1982.

Later life

Spelvin made cameo appearances in Police Academy (1984) and Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986). She later had film roles in Bad Blood (1989), in which she was credited as "Ruth Raymond", Return to Justice (1990), and Next Year in Jerusalem (1997), as well as guest-starring roles on the television shows Dream On and The Lost World.

Spelvin learned desktop publishing and worked for the Los Angeles Times until retiring from its staff in 2004.

In 2004, she made a cameo appearance in Vivid Video's remake of The Devil in Miss Jones, titled The New Devil in Miss Jones. Her role did not involve any sex acts. In 2005, she was interviewed for the documentary film Inside Deep Throat. In 2006, she was interviewed for the documentary film Devil in Miss Spelvin, a special feature intended for inclusion with Devil in Miss Jones: The Definitive Collector's Edition.

In 2009, she appeared as herself in the video for Massive Attack's song "Paradise Circus."

In 2011, Spelvin was a guest on an episode (season 1, episode 5) of the Showtime series Dave's Old Porn, in which she viewed and discussed clips from a number of her films (including The Devil in Miss Jones) with host Dave Attell and guest Adam Carolla. In 2017, Spelvin was interviewed in the documentary After Porn Ends 2, about her career in porn.

Personal life

Spelvin met her future husband, actor John Welsh, in 1983.

Autobiography

In May 2008, she published her autobiography, The Devil Made Me Do It, and appeared on camera in a short web clip announcing its release; a self-published work, the book is available through her official website.

Awards

Wins

  • 1976: AFAA Best Supporting Actress for Ping Pong
  • 1977: AFAA Best Actress for Desires Within Young Girls
  • 1978: AFAA Best Supporting Actress for Take Off
  • 1979: AFAA Best Supporting Actress for Ecstasy Girls
  • 1980: AFAA Best Supporting Actress for Urban Cowgirls
  • 1981: AFAA Best Actress for Dancers
  • 1991: XRCO Award Lifetime Achievement Award
  • AVN Hall of Fame
  • XRCO Hall of Fame

Nominations

  • 2006: AVN Best Non-Sex Performance for The New Devil in Miss Jones

References

  1. ^ "Leading lady faces obscenity charges". The Morning Record. Associated Press. August 2, 1974. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  2. ^ "In Trouble". People. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  3. ^ "Spartanburg Herald Making the News 4/16/1977". Spartanburg Herald. Associated Press. April 16, 1977. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  4. ^ The Broadway League. "Chele Graham – Broadway Cast & Staff - IBDB". ibdb.com. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  5. ^ "John Welsh". IMDb. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  6. ^ Georgina Spelvin. "Georgina Spelvin". glaws.org. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  7. ^ Michael Varhola (2011). Texas Confidential: Sex, Scandal, Murder, and Mayhem in the Lone Star State. Clerisy Press. pp. 24–27. ISBN 978-1-57860-459-3. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  8. Varhola, Michael (19 July 2011). Texas Confidential: Sex, Scandal, Murder, and Mayhem in the Lone Star State. Clerisy Press. ISBN 9781578604586. Retrieved 29 April 2018 – via Google Books.
  9. "Photos". 4 September 2010. Archived from the original on 4 September 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  10. "image: Georgina Spelvin; FamousDude.com - Famous people photo catalog". famousdude.com. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  11. ^ 'Georgina Spelvin: The Devil, Miss Jones, and the New York Years', The Rialto Report: Audio interview with Georgina Spelvin
  12. Corliss, Richard (March 29, 2005). "That Old Feeling: When Porno Was Chic". Time. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  13. Robinson, Johnny (July 26, 1974). "Chele Graham Released On 10,000 Bail". Lewiston Evening Journal. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  14. ^ Corliss, Richard (29 March 2005). "That Old Feeling: When Porno Was Chic". Time. Retrieved 29 April 2018 – via content.time.com.
  15. "The Milwaukee Sentinel - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  16. "Famous Former Neighbors: Georgina Spelvin, Part 1 - San Diego Reader". www.sandiegoreader.com. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  17. "Famous Former Neighbors: Georgina Spelvin, Part 2 - San Diego Reader". www.sandiegoreader.com. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  18. "Pussycat Theaters – a comprehensive history of a California dynasty". sandiegoreader.com. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  19. Images, Historic. "1984 Press Photo Police Academy Steve Guttenberg Georgina Spelvin". Historic Images. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  20. "Georgie Rocks The House". Archived from the original on 2009-02-15. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
  21. "Clair Lumiere in The Devil in Miss Jones - Definitive Collector's Edition". XCritic.com. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  22. "Massive Attack - Paradise Circus". Retrieved 2009-12-14.
  23. results, search (20 March 2008). The Devil Made Me Do It. Georginas World Inc. ISBN 978-0615199078.
  24. "The Devil Made Her Do It". Retrieved 2008-05-14.
  25. ^ "rame awards list". Archived from the original on 2019-04-21. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  26. "Winners of XRCO Awards 1991".
  27. "AVN Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  28. "XRCO Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on 2012-02-05. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  29. "AVN 2006 Nominations" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2005. Retrieved 2007-12-02.

External links

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