Robbin Bain, who was the fashion and beauty expert on NBC‘s Today during the early 1960s, died in Southampton, NY, on October 21. She was 87. Her daughter Lara McLanahan told Deadline that she had been battling breast cancer. Known to viewers as “Today Girl,” she joined the NBC show in 1961 to discuss fashion, cosmetics and other female-led topics. She worked alongside the host John Chancellor and news anchor Frank Blair. However, she only stayed in the role for two months, leaving the show after she became pregnant with daughter Dina. “I was the only woman, with the exception of the makeup woman, on the set,” she recalled during a 2012 TV reunion of “Today Girls.” Deborah Norville and Robbin Bain during the “Today” show’s 60th anniversary episode TV icon Barbara Walters, who died last year, was also a “Today Girl” early in her career after joining the show in 1961 as a writer and researcher.
- 11/6/2023
- TV Insider
Robbin Bain, who was known as the “Today Girl” handling fashion and beauty segments on the NBC-TV morning show, died Oct. 21 in Southampton, N.Y., on Long Island. She was 87 and had breast cancer, according to her daughter.
Her public career began in 1959, when she was named as Miss Rheingold, then the most popular beer in the New York region. For her win, she received $50,000 and spent the next year making appearances in the United States and Europe.
She turned to modeling, appearing in ads for Helena Rubinstein and Revlon. She was also one of four women, called “Portrettes,” who introduced Jackie Gleason on his television variety show, The Jackie Gleason Show, in 1956 and 1957.
Early in her career, she changed her first name to Robbin to avoid confusion with the actress Barbara Bain.
In late August 1961, Bain joined NBC as the “Today Girl,” working alongside the host John Chancellor...
Her public career began in 1959, when she was named as Miss Rheingold, then the most popular beer in the New York region. For her win, she received $50,000 and spent the next year making appearances in the United States and Europe.
She turned to modeling, appearing in ads for Helena Rubinstein and Revlon. She was also one of four women, called “Portrettes,” who introduced Jackie Gleason on his television variety show, The Jackie Gleason Show, in 1956 and 1957.
Early in her career, she changed her first name to Robbin to avoid confusion with the actress Barbara Bain.
In late August 1961, Bain joined NBC as the “Today Girl,” working alongside the host John Chancellor...
- 11/5/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
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