Janice Pennington

Janice Maurine Pennington (born July 8, 1942) is an American former model and was one of the original "Barker's Beauties" models on The Price Is Right. As its longest-running model, Pennington was with The Price Is Right from the show's premiere in 1972 to 2000. She was also Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for the May 1971 issue. She is the older sister of fellow model Ann Pennington.[1] She is the co-founder of the Hollywood Film Festival.

Janice Pennington
Playboy centerfold appearance
May 1971
Preceded byChris Cranston
Succeeded byLieko English
Personal details
BornJanice Maurine Pennington
(1942-07-08) July 8, 1942
Seattle, Washington, United States
MeasurementsBust: 36"
Waist: 23"
Hips: 36"
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight123 lb (56 kg; 8.8 st)

Personal life

Pennington was born in Seattle, Washington. She has been married three times. Her first marriage was to Glenn Jacobson.

Her second husband was German mountain climber Friedrich "Fritz" Stammberger, who disappeared in Afghanistan in 1975 while mountain climbing. After years of searching, Pennington speculated that Fritz had been helping the CIA establish mountain bases along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and had died during a battle with Soviet forces.[2]

In 1984, she married writer Carlos de Abreu, a native of Mozambique.[3]

The Price Is Right

For 29 years, Pennington served as a model on The Price Is Right, handing the microphone to Bob Barker at the start of more than 5,000 shows. She also handed off to Dennis James and Tom Kennedy while the show was in syndication in 1972–77 and 1985–86, respectively.

During a 1976 syndicated episode, host Dennis James referred to the mountain climber character in the Cliff Hangers game as "Fritz," unaware that Pennington's husband Fritz Stammberger had disappeared while mountain climbing. As the game ended, James shouted "There goes Fritz!," causing Pennington to run off the stage.

In June 1988, a camera hit Pennington, knocking her unconscious. She was taken to a hospital and taping of the episode resumed after 45 minutes. Pennington's resulting surgery left her with scars and one shoulder shorter than the other; as a result, she could no longer wear swimsuits on the show. A substitute model filled in for Pennington during her recovery from the injury.[4]

Pennington's last episode of The Price Is Right was the December 13, 2000 episode following the show's takeover by Pearson Television earlier in the year. She signed a confidential settlement agreement.[4]

See also

References
  1. Frisch, Norm (13 September 1978). "Model Is Happy Without Acting". Kentucky New Era. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  2. Pennington, Janice; de Abreu, Carlos (1994). Husband, Lover, Spy: A True Story. Custos Morum Publishers. ISBN 1-884025-03-X.
  3. "Husband, Lover, Spy Fritz Stammberger Pennington 1994 1st ed Hc DJ".
  4. Keck, William (12 December 2000). "For Barker's Beauties, This Is Not a Game". Los Angeles Times.
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