There is a fine line between B-movie star, sitcom regular and sexy pin-up--some say Adrienne Barbeau crossed it first. One of the earliest television actresses to become as famous for her sex appeal as her talent, Barbeau's now-iconic posters became collectors' items almost immediately after their release. Subsequent starring roles in a number of small television movies did little to dampen the appeal of Barbeau's considerable assets. She is by far best known for her recurring role as a principal in Maude, a character whose charms endure to this day. As the enterprising daughter of star Bea Arthur's cantankerous mother, Barbeau's Carol became something of a symbol for the intersection of free love and liberal values. Today she is still considered one of television's most memorable female characters. Today there is a thriving market in vintage television swag, and that includes everything from lunchboxes to posters, old reels and props. Fans of Maude continue to swap goods and tie-ins, and unsurprisingly Barbeau's image is one of the more popular engines driving this market. You can find inexpensive merchandise from the era pretty easily if you run a simple search. Television hasn't seen Barbeau's equal for quite some time, and as with Annette Funicello, her sex appeal has only increased with the years. Today her curvy legacy lives on in high-quality products whose sales have seen a renaissance thanks to the Web. | 
