The MMM Blog

Whitey's Money Clip Up For Auction

2012-03-03T07:23:00.001-08:00

The History of the Money Clip
In preparation for Marilyn's funeral, Allan "Whitey" Snyder did her makeup for the last time. A flask of gin fortifying him enough to carry out a promise he had made in jest many years earlier, and of which Marilyn had reminded him with an inscription on a gold money clip she gave him, saying, "Whitey Dear, While I'm still warm, Marilyn."

This amazing piece of Marilyn history is going to be auctioned off through Juliens Auctions on March 31, 2012. It is shocking that Snyder's family does not want to hold onto this. The estimate is $6,000-8,000 but I can't imagine it going for so little.

Decription from Juliens

A Tiffany money clip, stamped 14K, gifted to Allan "Whitey" Snyder by Marilyn Monroe. The clip is engraved "Whitey Dear:/ While I'm still warm/ Marilyn." Snyder, already a successful Hollywood makeup artist, first worked with Monroe during her 1946 screen test with 20th Century Fox, which resulted in her first studio contract. Snyder went on to become Monroe's on-screen and personal makeup artist. Monroe and Snyder developed a close friendship during their 16-year association, so close in fact that Monroe made the macabre request that Snyder do her makeup for her own funeral should anything ever happen to her. Snyder's glib response: "Sure, bring the body back while it is still warm and I'll do it." Not long after that Monroe gave Snyder this money clip. In 1962 Snyder sadly kept his promise of preparing Monroe's final makeup. Accompanied by a Tiffany cloth holder; a letter from Westwood Memorial Park thanking Snyder for his cosmetic work and for being a pallbearer at Monroe's funeral, with original transmittal envelope; a black and white photograph of Snyder and the other pallbearers carrying Monroe's coffin; and an article from The Enquirer that shows the pair together and discusses the promise Snyder made to Marilyn and her gift.

2 1/4 by 1 inch

PROVENANCE From the Estate of Allan "Whitey" Snyder

https://www.julienslive.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/68/lot/25775/

MAC cosmetics to release Marilyn Monroe Collection

2012-02-23T14:09:00.000-08:00

MAC Cosmetic has unveiled plans for a special makeup collection inspired by Marilyn Monroe’s glamorous beauty. The limited-edition line (in partnership with Authentic Brands Group) includes nearly 30 products -- eye shadow, lipstick (think retro red and hot pink), nail lacquer and eyeliner -- and will arrive in stores in October.

“Marilyn’s an icon, plain and simple. Her look not only defined a generation but also is relevant today,” MAC senior vp James Gager told THR.

-courtesy The Hollywood Reporter

Book Review: Marilyn by Nick Yapp

2012-02-23T13:17:00.000-08:00

I wanted to love this book. It is a large size coffee-table type book that is heavy on photos. It features a beautiful cover photo (unfortunately shared with the popular Fragments book) and is crammed with photos courtesy of Getty Images. I particularly enjoyed the early childhood Norma Jeane photos as they are not often published uncropped. If this book was strictly a photo book I would have no problem recommending it to new fans as a great collection of photos spanning Marilyn's entire life.

However, I just can NOT get past the accompanying text. It is terrible. I had a feeling it was going to go downhill when it started off misspelling Marilyn's grandmother as Delia Monroe instead of Della. The author focused on the mental illnesses in her family, the alleged rape and that "Monroe lost count of the number of abortions and miscarriages". He also threw in a story that Marilyn was forced to give away a baby. All of this is within the first few pages.

In her early career, he highlights Henry Rosenfeld (famous dress manufacturer) as a man who loved her and lent her money, kept her secrets and paid her often considerable legal fees?? Huh? Johnny Hyde is mentioned only to say he died and Marilyn had made her third serious suicide attempt. And yes he even includes Marilyn's "marriage" to Robert Slatzer. Give me strength. He describes her in several places as having a permanent need to flaunt her sexuality and arouse men even if she met them briefly. That she would invite male escorts to her place at the same time and leave them waiting while she decided which one she wanted.

In the end I just did not like the way she was portrayed. I realize she was not perfect but I can't recommend this to fans, especially new fans, who will read it and think they have an understanding of who Marilyn was.

Book Review: Dressing Marilyn

2012-02-19T07:19:00.000-08:00

This book is definitely filled with some fresh information you won't find in other Marilyn books. Of course that is because it focuses on Marilyn's relationship with fashion designer William Travilla. Marilyn fans are all familiar with his work (even if they don't realize this) since Travilla created almost ALL of Marilyn's legendary dresses. Including what is most arguably her most famous dress, the white billowing dress from The Seven Year Itch.

The book builds on an exhibition that took place in the UK featuring prototypes and gowns that Marilyn wore from the Travilla estate's collection. I have always been a fan of these dresses (and the sketches which have appeared on my website for many years) so I really enjoyed the way they were presented in this book.

I would have enjoyed more detailed information on Travilla's life (his biography section was the same length as the book introduction). However, the book is really about the dresses. It goes into great detail about how they were made including fabric choices and how the dresses were altered. There are chapters dedicated to each of the famous gowns (the gold dress, the pink dress, the white dress, etc).

Accompanying the text are wonderful photos of Marilyn wearing the dresses on screen and in test shots. I particularly enjoyed seeing current photos of the dresses (from various collections and the Travilla estate) as well as the original sketches and patterns. The patterns would even include a swatch of fabric. It is visually stunning to see it all put together like this.

I would recommend the book to Marilyn collectors and in particular anyone who has an interest in fashion design and how these gowns are constructed. I really enjoyed the presentation and it made up for being unable to see the exhibit of these gowns in person.

-Melinda

You can purchase this book through the Amazon link below....

Check out the book section of my website for more Marilyn book reviews.

5 Tattoos Added

2012-02-18T18:25:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Heather, Agustina, Judith and Suzie for allowing me to display their art in the tattoo section of my website.

Franklin Mint Stops Making Dolls

2012-02-14T15:53:00.000-08:00

As a long-time Franklin Mint doll collector I am saddened by the news that the Franklin Mint has stopped producing portrait dolls. I didn't really think much about the lack of Marilyn dolls listed on the site over the past month. I assumed they were just out of stock and would be replenished soon. Didn't expect them to just stop. Especially since they had advertised on my site back in December specific to Marilyn dolls. No idea why you would bother to do that if you were about to discontinue everything. Unless they really just wanted to sell off the stock they had.

They currently have only 1 Marilyn doll remaining on the site and it has a reduced price. When these dolls are gone that will be it. Here is the response I received from the Franklin Mint when I inquired about the lack of dolls.

Dear Melinda,

Thank you for your email.

Please be advised that we do not have any immediate plans to produce any new Portrait Dolls.

If we should decide to do so in the future, we will certainly advise our collectors through advertisements. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

The Franklin Mint is planning a number of new programs for the months to come which you may find of interest. We will be informing you about them as they are completed.

Thank you for your understanding and we hope to serve your collecting needs better in the future.

My Week with Marilyn DVD to be released March 13

2012-02-06T16:23:00.000-08:00

You can now pre-order My Week With Marilyn on DVD through amazon.com. Please consider using this link if you are going to purchase this film. A portion of all sales goes towards the hosting costs of Marilyn and the Camera.

Marilyn Monroe Estate Acquires Sam Shaw Photos

2012-01-26T14:39:00.000-08:00

By Jacqueline Palank

A long-running legal battle between Marilyn Monroe’s estate and a celebrity photographer over the rights to images of the iconic blond bombshell could be a thing of the past under a settlement up for bankruptcy-court approval.

Under the deal, Monroe’s estate would get nearly exclusive rights to all images of the movie star taken or acquired by deceased photographer Sam Shaw, who gave pop culture the enduring image of Monroe standing over a subway grate with a white halter dress billowing up around her.

In return, Monroe’s estate would guarantee the Shaw archive $3 million in royalties for the span of the five-year license, which the parties have the option to renew in five-year increments. The Shaw archive would retain the right to “exploit and license” the Monroe photos for “editorial licensing, fine art and exhibition purposes.”

Shaw Family Archives Ltd., which owns the Monroe photos and others taken throughout Shaw’s prolific career, says the deal not only resolves a long-running legal dispute but will also ensure its survival beyond the Chapter 11 case it launched last summer.

“The agreement is critical to the debtor’s effective reorganization,” the archive’s lawyerssaid in court papers filed Friday. “It provides security, a long-lasting business model and revenue streams for many years.”

What’s more, Shaw Family Archives said the deal will also allow it to use and license other photos of celebs in its vast collection, including John Wayne, Sophia Loren, Marlon Brando and Audrey Hepburn. Take a look at some of Sam Shaw’s shots here.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in White Plains, N.Y., is expected to consider the Monroe agreement at a Feb. 28 hearing.

Shaw, who died in 1999 at the age of 87, grew to fame by shooting the covers for Life and Look magazines in the 1950s and ’60s as well as still photos and posters to promote new Hollywood films. Director Billy Wilder hired Shaw to shoot a poster for his “Seven Year Itch,” which is when the photographer caught the iconic Monroe subway-grate photo.

-courtesy of The Wall Street Journal

My Week With Marilyn Oscar Nominations

2012-01-24T09:14:00.000-08:00

My week with Marilyn has scored a couple of Academy Award Nominations. The awards will be given out on Feb 26, 2012.

ACTRESS IN A LEAD ROLE
Michelle Williams - My Week with Marilyn

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Kenneth Branagh - My Week with Marilyn

SMASH pilot episode available for free in iTunes

2012-01-19T15:00:00.000-08:00

If you can't wait for the new tv show, Smash to debut next month you can get a free sneak peek at the pilot episode if you look in the iTunes store under TV. The show will follow characters as they bring a Marilyn Monroe broadway musical to life. There has been rumors that if the show is successful perhaps the producers really will try to stage a musical based on Marilyn. The story line features 2 actresses (played by Katherine MacPhee and Megan Hilty) vying for the role of Marilyn.

Michelle Williams wins Golden Globe for My Week with Marilyn

2012-01-16T16:46:00.000-08:00

Michelle picked up the golden globe award for "Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy" for her performance in My Week with Marilyn.

She thanked the Globes for "putting in my hand the same award you put in Marilyn's hand more than 50 years ago." Referring to the Golden Globe that Marilyn received in 1960 for Best Motion Picture Actress in Comedy or Musical for "Some Like it Hot".

Eve Arnold dies at 99

2012-01-05T15:23:00.000-08:00

By Mary Rourke, Special to the Los Angeles Times

January 5, 2012, 8:39 a.m.

Eve Arnold, one of the first woman photojournalists to join the prestigious Magnum Photography Agency in the 1950s and traveled the world for her work but was best known for her candid shots of Hollywood celebrities, has died. She was 99.

Arnold died Wednesday at a London nursing home, Magnum announced. The cause was not specified.

Starting in 1951, when career women were a rarity, Arnold navigated distant countries and cultures, photographing horse trainers in Mongolia, factory workers in China and harem women in Dubai. Her photo essays appeared in feature news magazines and in the many books she compiled.

"Eve was a very good photographer," said Stephen White, who owned the Stephen White photography gallery in Los Angeles from 1975 to 1990. "She was socially significant, as one of a group of women photographers who emerged after World War II."

Arnold began working for Magnum on a freelance basis in 1951 and became a full member of the group in 1957.

The agency's founders included Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Capa, considered the greatest reportage photographers of the time. Most members of the cooperative were men. Arnold's only female colleague at the agency was Inge Morath, who joined Magnum as a full member in 1955.

"I began to haunt the files at Magnum," Arnold recalled in her memoir, "Eve Arnold: In Retrospect" (1995). Studying contact sheets she found there, she learned how each of Magnum's photographers approached an assignment. Cartier-Bresson's photographs, in particular, taught her to tell an entire story in a single image, she wrote.

Arnold made Hollywood a specialty starting in the mid-1950s. Her attraction to the backstage of life gave her a particular angle on the movie business. "Eve used a photojournalistic approach," White said of Arnold's photos of actors and actresses. "Hers was the naturalistic form as opposed to the posed studio photography more often associated with Hollywood at that time."

In several books, including, "Eve Arnold: Film Journal" (2001), she wrote about her experiences in Hollywood. Some of her best known images are candid shots of Marilyn Monroe. On the movie set of "The Misfits," Arnold captured the tension between Monroe and playwright Arthur Miller, her husband at the time and the screenwriter on the 1960 film. One photograph shows them together on a veranda, looking as if they have just cut short an argument. Others show glimpses of Monroe's legendary insecurity. In one photograph she sits at a table with a script in front of her, hands covering her eyes.

"She liked my photographs and was canny enough to realize that they were a fresh approach for presenting her — a looser, more intimate look than the posed studio portraits she was used to in Hollywood," Arnold wrote of Monroe in "Film Journal."

It was a mutually beneficial arrangement. Arnold published several more books, "Marilyn Monroe: An Appreciation" and "Marilyn for Ever," both in 1987. She exhibited and sold the images repeatedly, for decades.

Her photographs of Joan Crawford show the actress in her 50s, near the end of her reign as Hollywood royalty. None is flattering. There are close-ups of Crawford applying makeup to her wrinkled eyelids and evaluating her aged face in a hand mirror.

"The first time I met Joan Crawford she took off all her clothes, stood in front of me nude and insisted I photograph her," Arnold wrote in "Film Journal." They met in a dressing room when Arnold was on assignment for Women's Home Companion magazine. "Sadly," she wrote of Crawford, "something happens to flesh after 50."

After the photo session Crawford demanded that Arnold give her the film of the nudes and Arnold agreed.

Images of Crawford are among the more brutal included in "Film Journal." The book was praised for its "poignant [images], all capturing an off-guard moment full of character" in a 2002 review in the Canadian Review of Books.

One of her most challenging assignments was a photo essay about the Nation of Islam and its leader,Malcolm X, in the early 1960s. In an essay accompanying the photographs, published in Life magazine in 1962, Arnold wrote that she was spat on at one rally and after another she found the back of her sweater covered with burn holes from cigarette butts.

She did her best to avoid "women's pages" assignments but still had to photograph her share of women and children. Whenever possible she worked from a global perspective.

In Zululand, South Africa, 1973, Arnold photographed expectant mothers waiting in line to see a doctor. Each woman is beautifully poised and appears to be lost in daydreams.

On a trip through China in 1979 Arnold took pictures of toddlers in the nursery at a cotton mill, sitting together on a long bench, plump and pink cheeked. They are included in Arnold's 1980 book "In China," which won the National Book Award.

The book's cover shows an old woman's face, an arrangement of soft creases and a pair of gentle eyes.

The same physical description suited Arnold as an older woman. "Eve was diminutive, quiet, an elegant dresser, an ageless woman of 80 when I first met her," Mary Panzer, former curator of photographs at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., told The Times in 2006.

She was born Eve Cohen to Russian immigrant parents in Philadelphia in 1912 and went to work at a young age after receiving a basic education.

"I came to photography by accident," Arnold wrote in her book "In Retrospect." A friend gave her a Rolleicord portable box camera. That got her interested in taking pictures.

In one of her first jobs she worked at a photo-finishing plant in New Jersey where she learned the technical side of her craft. The artistry came to her during a six-week course at the New School for Social Research in New York City in 1948. Her instructor was Alexey Brodovitch, the art director for Harper's Bazaar magazine. He taught his students the basics about composition and style.

For one class assignment Arnold followed the action backstage at a fashion show in Harlem. A British magazine, Picture Post, published the photographs, Arnold's debut in print.

From there she built a portfolio of freelance work and parlayed it into her first assignment from Magnum.

Later in her life she complained that she was given second rate assignments at Magnum. Her admirers argue that she did very well.

"Magnum was a macho culture when Eve started there," said Panzer of the National Portrait Gallery. "She had the determination to stay."

In 1961, Arnold became a contract photographer for the London Sunday Times' Colour Magazine. After years of shooting in black and white, she had to learn how to work in color to keep up with changing times, she wrote in her memoir.

One of her best known stories for Colour offered a rare look inside harems in Dubai and the Arab Emirates, in the early 1970s. The photo essay led her to a television documentary, "Behind the Veil," for the BBC.

She had her first major solo exhibit in 1980 at the Brooklyn Museum. Others followed at the National Portrait Gallery and elsewhere.

Still working in her 70s, Arnold completed "In America" (1983), a book with images of prison workers cleaning up litter near train tracks in Texas and chess players at an outdoor pavilion in Chicago, among other sights.

"What drove me and kept me going over the decades?" Arnold wrote in her memoir. "If I had to use a single word, it would be 'curiosity.' "

Her marriage to Arnold Arnold ended in divorce.

Survivors include her son Francis and three grandchildren.

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T15:10:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone all the best in 2012...the year of Marilyn :)

6 Tattoos Added

2011-12-30T11:29:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Nathalie, Colette, Carlos, Aubrie, Peter and Taylor for sending in their tattoos. They have been added to the tattoo section of the website.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-23T16:12:00.000-08:00

Wishing all of you a very merry Christmas and all the best in 2012!

More Marilyn Costumes Sold at Debbie Reynolds Auction Part Two

2011-12-03T19:22:00.000-08:00

The second part of Debbie Reynolds collection was sold today at auction by Profiles in History. As you may recall the first auction included the white seven year itch dress which sold for 4 million dollars. In fact, all of Marilyn's dresses went for over $500,000. It is surprising to me that the dresses sold today only reached half of that. Perhaps it is because this second auction was not publicized as much as the first one. Maybe the white dress was such a big draw that it brought attention to the other costumes being sold at the same time.

Description:

This is the signature costume for Marilyn’s character “Cherie”, the naïve yet determined saloon singer heading for Hollywood in Joshua Logan’s romantic Western from the play by William Inge, Bus Stop. It is also one of the most iconic and indelible looks from her entire career, being a top choice for publicity images of Marilyn even to this very day. In it, she performs (intentionally naively) “That Old Black Magic”, winning the heart of the handsome and rather eager cowboy played by Don Murray. This was to be the last of the great collaborations between Marilyn and her favorite costume designer, William Travilla. TCF handwritten label “Marilyn Monroe A-769-03”. Exhibits sequin loss along neckline and minimal sequin loss on bodice, and straps have been replaced.

SOLD FOR $230,000

Description:

Elegant, two-piece evening gown designed by Travilla of an aubergine steel gray couched in meandering-pattern braid and accented by two aubergine satin trains flowing from the waist. Handwritten studio tag inside dress reads “1-27-3-7914 M. MONROE A-698-53,” and jacket has handwritten label “1-41-2-0570 Marilyn Monroe A-698-16.” Worn quite memorably by Miss Monroe for several scenes, from her clever efforts to remove Elliot Reid’s clothes in order to search them, to being stuck halfway through a porthole, requiring rescue by her youngest suitor Mr. Henry Spofford III (age 9, going on 21). Material on waist is detached two inches, else Fine as screen-worn.

SOLD FOR $260,000

Description:

Pale green silk pleated strapless dress adorned with rhinestones (a few of which are missing). TCF label handwritten “F-13 M. Monroe”. Designed to be unbearably sexy without also being un-releasable due to censorship, a condition several earlier costumes designed for Marilyn suffered from. Worn for the title number, in which Marilyn offers herself upon a mid-century-modern stage of cross-rotating apartment flats, first to Frankie Vaughan, then Yves Montand (in his fantasy sublimation). This timeless creation by Dorothy Jeakins remains one of the most attractive costumes ever created for this legendary actress.

SOLD FOR $240,000

Description:

Light aqua two-piece raw silk suit with Monroe Lloyd of California label. A rather conservative look for Marilyn, which was deliberately chosen by her character as Joseph Cotten’s unfaithful wife, off to an illicit rendezvous with her lover under Niagara Falls in Henry Hathaway’s Niagara. The indelible image of Marilyn’s hips swinging as she walks away in this form-fitted outfit is considered one of the great “sex in cinema” sequences released during the height of the censorship Production Code. This 2-piece suit was modified under Dorothy Jeakins’ direction from an off-the-rack couture ensemble. Shoulders exhibit light soiling, and skirt has 2 in. tear at split, otherwise Fine as screen-worn.

SOLD FOR $210,000

Marilyn Monroe Metamorphosis Video Book Review

2011-11-27T15:58:00.000-08:00

I was playing around with my iphone and thought I would give doing a video book review a shot. I recently received the new book "Marilyn Monroe Metamorphosis" by David Wills. It is a beautiful photography book. Let me know if you like the video reviews and what other books you'd like to see in the comments.

If you'd rather read my review you can go here.

Please consider ordering your copy through this amazon link. Thanks ever so!

My Week With Marilyn Review

2011-11-27T14:02:00.000-08:00

I just got home from watching "My Week with Marilyn" starring Michelle Williams. I had to drive an hour each way to find a theatre near me that was showing it. Thankfully, it was worth my effort. I was not expecting to be impressed with the film due to the book it was based on but I have to say that I loved it. I'll try to give you my thoughts without giving away spoilers.

Michelle did a wonderful job portraying Marilyn. Of course she does not look and sound exactly like her but I don't think that is necessary. She certainly embodied Marilyn's mannerisms and I enjoyed watching her. When she first appeared on the screen in the Prince and Showgirl dress it took my breath away.

Kenneth Branagh was amazing as Oliver. I truly enjoyed watching his scenes. I don't think the Milton Greene character was depicted well. He seemed to be working for Oliver in the film and it did not show how close Marilyn and him actually were. Miller was also a secondary type of character. The movie was really all Oliver, Marilyn and Colin.

I surprised that I was able to get over the fact that they claim this film is based on a true story and most fans think Colin Clark completely fabricated his relationship with Marilyn. While I don't think most of the events depicted in the film actually happened it doesn't really matter. I found myself enjoying it as a a piece of fiction. It remained true to Marilyn as a person and I don't think they exploited her to make the film.

In the end I think the reason why I enjoyed it so much is because it was based on such a specific event in her life (filming of Prince and Showgirl) instead of being a true biopic. I really didn't know what was going to happen next as I haven't read Clark's second book, My Week with Marilyn. I found it refreshing that it wasn't a rehash of her entire life story and of course it was wonderful not to have to sit through another horrible death scene.

The best thing about this film is that it is going to bring new fans to Marilyn and remind older fans why they feel in love with her in the first place. As I was leaving the theatre I listened to a couple of older ladies in front of me describe how difficult it must have been to work with Marilyn. Then they conceded that it was all worth it in the end because of how she connected with the camera. They both remembered seeing Gentlemen Prefer Blondes when it came out and expressed how much they loved her in that. It left me smiling that she is still appreciated today.

New Kim Goodwin Doll

2011-11-26T17:42:00.000-08:00

I'm proud to display Kim Goodwin's latest Marilyn doll creation. He has captured Marilyn as she appeared at the 1954 photoplay awards. If you haven't visited Kim's doll section on my website you are missing out. His dolls remain the best likeness of Marilyn ever captured.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T15:02:00.000-08:00

I hope all my US friends are enjoying a great turkey day! Don't shop too much tomorrow :)

Win tickets to the Toronto Screening of My Week With Marilyn

2011-11-15T15:49:00.000-08:00

ALL OF THE WINNERS HAVE NOW BEEN NOTIFIED.

*UPDATE THE NOV 21 SCREENING HAS BEEN MOVED TO NOV 24.

Attention Toronto Fans - Be one of the first people to see the new film "My Week with Marilyn" starring Michelle Williams. I am giving away free passes to an advance screening of this film. See it before it is released to the public!!

The screenings will take place in Toronto on Wednesday November 23 and Thursday November 24 at 7:00pm. Winners will receive admission for themselves and a guest.

There will be 20 winners selected....yes you heard me right....I have 20 double passes to this film available!!!

To enter this contest email me at marilynfan@gmail.com with the answer to the following question:

Michelle Williams portrays Marilyn Monroe during the making of what film?

Please include which date you would prefer if you are chosen as a winner. Entries need to be received by 12:00pm on Saturday November 19, 2011. Winners will be drawn at random from all correct entries. You will need access to a printer in order to redeem your tickets.

About the film:
In the early summer of 1956, 23 year-old Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), just down from Oxford and determined to make his way in the film business, worked as a lowly assistant on the set of ‘The Prince and the Showgirl’. The film that famously united Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) and Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams), who was also on honeymoon with her new husband, the playwright Aurthur Miller (Dougray Scott).

Nearly 40 years on, his diary account The Prince, the Showgirl and Me was published, but one week was missing and this was published some years later as My Week with Marilyn – this is the story of that week. When Arthur Miller leaves England, the coast is clear for Colin to introduce Marilyn to some of the pleasures of British life; an idyllic week in which he escorted a Monroe desperate to get away from her retinue of Hollywood hangers-on and the pressures of work.

Night Before Christmas Marilyn

2011-11-13T14:28:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to get the Night Before Christmas Franklin Mint Marilyn doll for many years now. Every Christmas I think wouldn't it be nice to have that doll to display as some festive decoration. I prefer to get just the dresses now (when that is possible) because I have the Marilyn trunk to store them in. This way I can pull this outfit out each year and dress her up for the holidays :) I found this one on Ebay for a good price. It is currently in transit but I can't wait for it to arrive.

Shop Franklint Mint for great Xmas gifts

10% off if you use the coupon code MARILYN or you can get free shipping using MINTSHIP

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone has a great night - don't eat too much candy! Here are some Marilyn pumpkins to get you in the mood. Enjoy! Did you do a Marilyn pumpkin this year? If so, send me a photo.

Franklin Mint Now Ships Internationally

2011-10-29T15:42:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to report that those of us who live outside the USA can finally order dolls from the Franklin Mint website. International shipping is now available. If you need a recommendation, the tiger dress doll is my favourite current doll they have available. Just click on the link below and be sure enter the promo code MARILYN which gives visitors of my website 10% off. The code is good until the end of the year. Happy Shopping!

River of No Return Dress Sells for Over Half a Million Dollars

2011-10-23T15:39:00.000-07:00

Marilyn's green dress from the film, River of No Return, sold at auction this weekend for $516,600.

She famously wore this while singing "I'm Gonna File My Claim".

It was featured in the Legends auction by Juliens Auction House in China and was sold to a private buyer.

Book Review - Marilyn Intimate Exposures by Susan Bernard

2011-10-16T10:43:00.000-07:00

There was quite a bit of media coverage over this book simply because Lindsay Lohan wrote an introduction for it. I personally don't have an issue with it. I know many fans were turned off that she compared herself to Marilyn. However, I don’t have a problem with Lindsay. I think she has proven that she is a true fan of Marilyn (unlike other stars who get their MM tattoos removed). My only gripe is that I would have liked to hear more about how Lindsay became a fan and what she admires in Marilyn instead of about Lindsay herself.

Perhaps to balance the introductions with new and old perspectives, Jane Russell was also included. Most of what Jane has to say here is repeated from her autobiography. However, it is touching to see that Marilyn was still on her mind even when Jane turned 90 years old. Jane has since passed away so it is wonderful that Susan was able to include something fresh from her in this book.

This book is a visual journal depicting Marilyn’s career through the lens of Bernard of Hollywood. It is an oversized gem at 10 x12 inches with 200 pages. I am so glad they went with such a large scale to display the photos. You can tell great care was taken in choosing the photos and the quality is fantastic. It is a treat for the eyes with many full page and some two-page layouts. In particular, there is a shot of Marilyn and Johnny Hyde where he is tying her party hat that is close up and stretches across 2 full pages. While it is a familiar shot, this layout is new and the closeness of it makes it feel very intimate. Another 2-page spread that caught my eye is a beautiful colour shot of Marilyn sitting on a globe. The exact pose is new for me and the sheer size of it is spectacular.

Intimacy (as the title suggests) is what Susan Bernard must have been striving for in this edition of her book. As Marilyn book collectors will be aware, Susan also published a book based on her father’s photos and journal entries called “Bernard of Hollywood’s Marilyn” in 1993. While some photos are the same and many journal entries are identical, that is where the similarities end. Marilyn Intimate Exposure is a far superior book. It even includes a beautiful photographic print from the Seven Year Itch in an envelope at the back so you can frame it.

This time around Susan has included ephemera that her father kept. It is wonderful to see his handwriting, envelopes, letters, contact sheets, etc. It really helps establish that intimate feeling, like we are really looking through his things and his memories of Marilyn. Visually it makes the book much more interesting than simply reprinting photos that we have already seen. I love the look and feel of this book. Susan has also done a wonderful job re-working her father’s journal entries and including some fresh material to tell his story of working with Marilyn.

The book covers Marilyn’s life from the young model, Norma Jeane, until her death. I was impressed to see that Susan made an effort to dispel the lies that Robert Slatzer has told over the years (like being married to Marilyn). There is even a conversation between Bernard and Pat Newcomb included disputing Slatzer’s claims. For the conspiracy buffs there are etters and photos included, allegedly showing that Robert Kennedy was not in Los Angeles when Marilyn died.

Susan has done a fantastic job including something for everyone in this book. I highly recommend this book for new fans and also collectors who may already have Susan’s first book.

You can purchase this book through amazon at the link below...

You can find more information and over 90 book reviews in the Marilyn books section on my website at http://www.marilynmonroe.ca/camera/books/

Marilyn Tips for Vegas

2011-10-02T11:12:00.000-07:00

Just returned from a trip to Vegas. I absolutely love visiting that place. It was my 4th trip there. I thought I would share some Marilyn-related things in case anyone else is going soon. If anyone is looking for a Marilyn slot machine - there was one left at the Mirage just behind the high limit slot area. It is a dollar machine.

I visited Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum (if you go after 7pm Mon-Thurs you can get a 2-for-1 coupon here). It was a lot more fun than I expected. I didn't realize that the statues were out in the open and you were encouraged to pose with them. I assumed they would all be off limits and you'd look from a distance. That was not the case as you can see. They even had props available - hence the bunny ears :)

I was starting to wonder if they were going to have a Marilyn statue as she was no where to be found with the other actors/actresses. They have stuck her in the area with the political statues. I'm guessing because JFK is in the room but who knows. It really isn't a great likeness of Marilyn. The hair is wrong and the face really looks nothing like her. However, it was still nice to see her there and that people were excited to pose with her - which of course I did too.

They have a gift shop when you get to the end of the exhibit (looks like you can access it whether or not you take the tour) that had some Marilyn goodies. There was coffee mugs, tote bags, calendars and magnets. I picked up a book and a plastic drink cup.

In the Caesars Palace Forum Shops you can find a memorabilia store called Antiquities. It is filled with framed autographs. They also have a small Marilyn goodie section with cups, photos, postcards, clocks, etc. I noticed a really beautiful framed Marilyn piece on the wall. They don't allow you to take photos so I couldn't get a pic of it. It is a letter from Marilyn to Milton Greene. She has signed it as President of Marilyn Monroe Productions. It is regarding giving him a copy of the Prince and the Showgirl film. It is framed with great photos from the right time period, including one of her and Milton. The top has a great graphic of her signature with the red lips. I was in love with it but the price tag was $8000!!! I didn't win big while I was there so it is still on the wall :)

Finally, I couldn't help but notice the Guess store in the Miracle Miles shopping area of Planet Hollywood. It was filled with photos of a model who looked Marilyn inspired. It is obviously based on Marilyn in the film, Bus Stop. They also had TVs that were playing footage from this photo shoot. Here are some photos from the ad campaign.

2 Vintage Magazine Articles Added

2011-09-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Angelina and Anastasia for sending in a couple of Marilyn articles from some Vintage magazine they had. I really appreciate people helping out with this section of my website by transcribing the articles including photo captions (into word or typed into an email) and also emailing a scan of the article to melinda@marilynmonroe.ca. This way I can also include the photos and front of the magazine. I prefer transcribed articles because they are easier for everyone to read and people can adjust the font.

You can visit the updated articles here.

Virtual Marilyn Selling Dior

2011-09-07T16:20:00.000-07:00

So it looks like Marilyn has given up her Chanel No. 5, at least according to Christian Dior. Thanks to the wonders of CGI Marilyn makes an appearance in the new Dior commerical for J'adore perfume. Charlize Theron stars as a model late for her runway appearance. She is seen backstage walking past the likes of Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly and finally Marilyn. There is something just a little off about the virtual Marilyn in my opinion. I know the company who now owns the rights to Marilyn's image (Authentic Brand Group) had already announced they had plans to bring Marilyn to life through CGI. I imagine this was what they were referring to. The positive thing is that the ad is high-end and certainly nothing out of character for Marilyn - I mean she did like perfume after all. Let's hope they keep future Marilyn projects classy and respectful too.

Holly Madison modeling Marilyn's necklace and jacket

2011-09-05T09:09:00.000-07:00

UPDATED: Thank you to a couple of fans who pointed out that Holly looks to be modeling Marilyn's jacket from Prince and the Showgirl and her Ceil Chapman dress in this photo. I updated the photo that was originally posted on this blog with one that shows more of the jacket and dress. The question was raised is she actually wearing Marilyn's necklace too? I thought it was a good possibility since the necklace does look like it is missing some stones. So I looked back at the Juliens auction where the necklace was sold in 2009. Sure enough the jacket and dress was also for sale in that auction and the auction was held at Planet Hollywood in Vegas. So obviously this photo shows Holly (who's Vegas show is at Planet Hollywood) modeling the items that were being sold at auction! Lucky girl!!

ORIGINAL POST:
I was looking through Holly's new book The Showgirl Next Door: Holly Madison's Las Vegas when I noticed a photo I thought I'd share.

I couldn't help but notice the beautiful necklace she is wearing. Since Holly is such a big fan of Marilyn I am sure it is no coincidence that it looks exactly like the famous necklace Marilyn wore in the Sam Shaw photos.

I am actually a fan of Holly. I think she is gorgeous and seems like a genuine person. Of course, being a Marilyn fan doesn't hurt her either :) I had the chance to see her Vegas show "Peepshow". Highly recommended if you are looking for some adult entertainment.

Here are some more photos of Holly where she was inspired by Marilyn.

New Kim Goodwin Doll

2011-08-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

I have added a new doll to the Kim Goodwin gallery on my site. Thank you so much to Kim for sending along this amazing addition. I never get tired of looking at his work and it is wonderful to see a new creation! They are still the best custom Marilyn dolls ever made.

It is from the film Some Like it Hot when Sugar is performing the song, "I'm Through with Love".

In addition to this brand new doll, Kim also re-did a previous Sugar doll that was on the site. So she has been updated as well with the new version.

2 Marilyn Tattoos Added and 1 Removed

2011-08-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Heather and Robyne for sharing their Marilyn tattoos!

I also removed Megan Fox's tattoo from the celebrity section because she is in the process of having it removed from her arm. While it was never a great tattoo of Marilyn to begin with I was happy to display it because Megan seemed to be a genuine fan. She spoke of Marilyn with love and respect when she got the tattoo in 2007. Now all of a sudden she comes out with the following comment as to why she is having the tattoo removed...."Marilyn Monroe is a negative character, as she suffered from personality disorders and was bipolar. I do not want to attract this kind of negative energy in my life." Huh? Seriously? How do you suddenly change your opinion like this? If she had said she was just not happy with how the tattoo looked I could live with that but to say that Marilyn was negative - I can't forgive that from someone who claimed to be such a big fan of hers.

Marilyn Memorial Week 2012

2011-08-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

Even though it is almost a year away, plans are underway for the Marilyn Memorial Week in August 2012. Fans from all over the world will be gathering to celebrate Marilyn's life on the 50th anniversary of her death.

It is a great chance to meet other Marilyn fans and participate in some once in a lifetime events. This is bound to be the largest gathering yet because of the special anniversary. There is so much to do it lasts a whole week!

The Immortal Marilyn fan club is organizing some wonderful events that you won't want to miss including a pool party and Marilyn homes and haunts tour. I am looking to organize a day trip to the Del Coronado where Some Like it Hot was filmed. In addition, Sunny Thompson will be bringing her one-woman show Marilyn Forever Blonde to join the events. The week culminates with the annual Marilyn memorial service which takes place in the chapel where her original funeral was held.

If you have ever thought about traveling to LA - next year is the time to come. Reservations for hotel rooms are already underway. If you are interested in sharing a room with other fans to save costs I would suggest you join the Immortal Marilyn facebook page. It is a great place to meet others who are coming and make arrangements.

I have created a new page on my website with all of the details you need to know. http://www.marilynmonroe.ca/camera/memorial2012/

My Week With Marilyn

2011-08-23T18:06:00.000-07:00

So it is almost time for the release of the first big budget hollywood movie based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. I don't recall another Marilyn bio-pic being available on the big screen like this one will be. Most are the made-for-TV variety like Norma Jean and Marilyn, The Untold Story and Blonde. Here we have a high profile cast with a film that is being premiered at the New York International Film Festival. Pretty impressive indeed.

I'm sure Marilyn fans will flock to the theaters to see Michelle Williams portrayal. I will certainly be one of them. I really don't have an opinion on Michelle's abilities to pull it off. I am not familiar with her work and haven't seen any of her films. So I will be going to see her with an open mind. I don't think an actress needs to resemble Marilyn in order to do her justice. The best film portrayal I have seen (not including the amazing Sunny Thompson in her live show, Marilyn Forever Blonde) was Catharine Hicks in The Untold Story. She didn't look anything like Marilyn except for the blonde hair. However, she was able to bring a vulnerability to the role that Marilyn had. (For details on other bio-pics that have been made visit my site at http://www.marilynmonroe.ca/dvds/)

Of course even if Michelle delivers an outstanding performance that doesn't mean that fans will enjoy the film. The bigger problem is the material that the film is based on. My week with Marilyn is based on a book by Colin Clark who served as an assistant during the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl. Obviously, the film will focus on Marilyn's difficult working relationship with Laurence Oliver during this time period. I pray that they don't make Oliver the hero and Marilyn the villain in this version. They both had their faults and I hope this is represented fairly. Also in Clark's book, he hints at a relationship with Marilyn where they shared a bed. Hopefully, they will leave out these questionable sordid details in the film.

Here is a photo that has been released to promote the film.

Michelle Williams as Marilyn.

The real deal.

The official website for the film has also been unveiled at http://myweekwithmarilynmovie.com/

A re-release of Colin Clark's books will also be available soon through amazon. Pre-order your copy now at the link below.

Youtube - I'm back B*tches!

2011-08-21T17:07:00.000-07:00

Guess you'd need to be familiar with Big Brother to get the title reference :)

It does mean that I am back on youtube though. I have opened a new account and put back up some of the videos I had on there. Some have been lost or are not good enough quality to bother putting back up.

http://www.youtube.com/MMcamera1962

Marilyn Boots for Sale Size 7

2011-08-14T15:54:00.000-07:00

This seller also has a pair of boots featuring a Marilyn pattern for sale. The price is $150. The contact email is cjackson5679@yahoo.com.

Disclaimer: A third-party is selling this item and MarilynMonroe.ca has no liability with any transactions that should occur regarding this item.

Norma Jeane Print for Sale

2011-08-14T13:45:00.000-07:00

If anyone is interested in purchasing this Andre De Dienes print you can contact the seller directly at cjackson5679@yahoo.com. It comes with a certificate of authenticity. The asking price is $600.

Disclaimer: A third-party is selling this item and MarilynMonroe.ca has no liability with any transactions that should occur regarding this item.

Illusionist channels Marilyn Monroe on America's Got Talent

2011-08-10T19:26:00.000-07:00

Last night on America's Got Talent illusionist Brett Daniels performed an act with a Marilyn theme. The judges didn't seem too impressed with it but I thought it was great.

What do you think? Leave comments below.

Being 36 on August 5th

2011-08-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

It has been 49 years today since Marilyn left us but in reality she never really left. I am still in awe of the way her legend continues to grow. Young fans continue to discover her, cities build statues to celebrate her, studios make films about her and collectors pay millions of dollars to own a piece of her. It is unreal.

I wonder what she would think of all this attention so many years after her last film. Her image continues to stir envy, controversy and appreciation. People walk around with her image on their shirts or purses without ever having seen a film. I'm not against people loving only her image because it keeps her in the public eye. However, I wish the general public would get a better appreciation for what she was really like in real life.

She was a real person not a piece of celluloid. Her life was inspiring and sad. She wasn't a whore or a dumb blonde. She was a human being with a big heart who never really found happiness. I think it is this last part that makes me sad this time of year. I can't help but think of her dying alone in her bedroom. Without a family around to love her.

This year I turned 36 years old. The age Marilyn was when she died. I have loved her for more than half my life. I picked up the Barris book when I was 15 and I remember being captivated by those photos. I remember thinking how beautiful she was for 36 and how far away that seemed. Now I am there. It makes me sad to think about how she was at this same stage in her life that I am in now. She had the same years of memories and experiences to think back on that I do. It also means that she had the same future to look forward to. It is such a shame that she never had the chance.

Sorry for the melancholy mood today - I usually try to celebrate Marilyn's life and not dwell on the sadness - but this year it felt different. I wanted to share this video I made a few years ago that really expresses how I wish I had been there to save her.

Rest in peace. Sweet Norma Jeane.

Barrisbeach by Marilynfan62

Marilyn Monroe Inspired Jewelry on HSN tonight at 10pm

2011-08-04T15:58:00.000-07:00

I have just received information that tonight on the Home Shopping Network they will be featuring a 1 hour live special on "Jewelry of Legends" collection inspired by Marilyn Monroe. It airs at 10pm EST/7pm PST.

This special edition, only available through HSN, features recreations of some of the most famous pieces of jewelry involved in Marilyn Monroe's career. This HSN exclusive is a special commemorative event because August 5th represents the 49th anniversary of her untimely death. For a preview or advance sale of any of these limited edition items, you can visit HSN .

My Days On Youtube Are Over

2011-07-26T18:45:00.000-07:00

I am very sad to announce that my youtube account (Marilynfan) has been terminated. It only takes 3 complaints of copyright infringement for them to shut you down. I guess I am lucky that it took 5 years for that to happen. It is just a shame that people (like the last nail in the coffin from Tom Kelley Estate) didn't just contact me directly. I would have happily removed it.

Thanks to all the fans who have visited and commented on my videos over the years! We almost made it to a million views!!!

The Windy City Welcomes Marilyn Monroe

2011-07-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

Chicago -- Marilyn Monroe's billowing skirt shows it's possible to catch a nice breeze in the Windy City.

As dozens of people watched Friday, a 26-foot-tall sculpture of Monroe in her famous pose from the "The Seven Year Itch" was unveiled on Chicago's Magnificent Mile. In the movie, a draft catches Monroe's dress as she passes over a subway grate.

Many in the crowd that descended on the plaza throughout the day - including a tuxedo-clad wedding party - wasted little time positioning themselves under the movie star's dress to catch a subway-level view and take pictures with their cell phone cameras. Not that Monroe, her eyes closed and a sublime smile on her face, seemed to notice.

Some of those who took pictures of the sculpture called "Forever Marilyn" were surprised when they came around the back of the sculpture and saw honest-to-goodness lace panties on the movie icon. The film scene and photographs taken from it left much more to the imagination than artist Seward Johnson's sculpture.

Just about the only ones who weren't happy with the view were Kendall and his 11-year-old buddy Raymond Qualls - who made sure everybody understood that when he took his picture, it was from the front of the sculpture and not behind or under it.

"I think her dress should be down," said Kendall, as Raymond nodded in agreement.

The sculpture, particularly the look on Monroe's face, captures the magic that people still feel a half century after the movie star's death, said 52-year-old Pam Jennelle, of Orlando.

"She's beautiful," she said. "How can you not love Marilyn Monroe?"

Chicago has a history of public art displays, including a herd of fiberglass cows that lined Michigan Avenue some years back. The plaza where Monroe will be stationed until next spring was the home a few years ago to another Johnson sculpture: the equally iconic, though far less glamorous, farmer and his spinster daughter from Grant Wood's "American Gothic."

-Associated Press

This reminds me of the huge billboard used to promote Seven Year Itch. That also made quite the spectacle.

Peter's New Triumph Tribute to Marilyn

2011-07-10T18:44:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share these great photos from a fellow Marilyn fan named Peter. He recently purchased this fantastic Triumph motorcycle featuring an image of marilyn on the front. What a beauty and thanks for sending along the photos.

Smurfette has Marilyn Moment in Upcoming Movie

2011-07-09T17:48:00.000-07:00

The original Blue Man Group is back....with a female in toe. Just saw an ad on TV for the new Smurf movie featuring Smurfette doing her best Marilyn over a new york city subway grating :)

5 Marilyn Monroe Tattoos Added

2011-07-09T14:49:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Botos, Ashley, Meagan and Tonya for sending in photos of their new tattoos. Jessica sent along an updated photo that is gorgeous. Loved seeing the photo that inspired that tattoo in it.

River of No Return Screening at UCLA

2011-07-07T06:25:00.000-07:00

UCLA is hosting a 10 film retrospective of Robert Mitchum. The film he did with Marilyn, River of No Return, is showing on July 23 at the Billy Wilder Theater. Producer Stanley Rubin will be in attendance.

For more information and to purchase tickets
http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/events/2011-07-23/river-no-return-1954

Prince and Showgirl Screening in Walsall UK

2011-07-06T18:44:00.000-07:00

For any UK fans near Walsall - don't miss out on the Prince and the Showgirl Screening on July 8 at Forest Art Centre. More info below...

Cinema fans are set to be taken back to the golden era of cinema at Walsall Museum's latest 'Your Corner' display, exploring the story behind the controversial 1950s film The Prince and the Showgirl.

The exhibition, which opened yesterday (Wednesday), has been put together by local man Ian Payne who has an extensive collection of material relating to cinema history and, in particular, to the career of local actor Richard Wattis, who grew up in Walsall and featured in the film and the stage play on which it was based, The Sleeping Prince.

The film also starred Sir Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe, but was dogged by problems from the start, with tensions between the two stars.

But the display at Walsall Museum could not come at a better time as it opens amid a revival of interest in The Prince and the Showgirl due to the production of a film about the making of the original movie, which stars Kenneth Brannagh as Olivier and Richard Clifford as Richard Wattis.

This month also sees the centenary of the birth of the playwright Terrence Rattigan who wrote The Sleeping Prince.

The display can be seen in The Changing Face of Walsall gallery until Saturday, July 9.

In addition, Forest Arts Centre, in Hawbush Road, Leamore, will be holding a screening of The Prince and the Showgirl, with a short presentation beforehand about Richard Wattis from Ian Payne, on Friday, July 8, at 2pm.

Tickets are priced £2 or £1 and are obtainable from Forest Arts Centre.

The next Franklin Mint Marilyn Monroe doll from a movie should be...

2011-06-25T06:14:00.000-07:00

I plan to pass on the results of this poll to a contact at Franklin Mint. Not that it will make a difference in what they decide to make but it can't hurt for them to hear what fans think.

If you have other suggestions feel free to leave them in the comments below.

Autographs

2011-06-21T18:12:00.000-07:00

My new Bert Stern autograph served as inspiration for a new page on my website displaying scans of signatures I have collected over the years.

VISIT THE AUTOGRAPH SECTION HERE

I only included people who actually knew Marilyn in real life - co-stars, photographers, etc. I included anything I have an authentic signature on like books, photos, magazines and a silkscreen. Of course, my favourites are the ones personalized to me :)

The people I actually met in person were Bert Stern, George Barris, Lena Peptione and George Zimbel. The rest were obtained through the mail or purchased on Ebay (i.e Avedon poster).

Marilyn dresses score record prices at Debbie Reynolds auction!!

2011-06-18T20:09:00.000-07:00

As soon as the first Marilyn gown hit the auction block all bets were off as to what kind of prices would be realized. The Gentlemen Prefer Blondes dress reached $1.2 million.

Next up was the saloon gown from River of No Return. It sold for $510,000.

Next up was the Heatwave gown from There's No Business Like Show Business. It sold for $500,000.

Finally the highlight of the night....the Seven Year Itch dress sold for a staggering $4.6 million.

It is interesting to compare this to the price realized on the JFK Happy Birthday dress that sold at Christies in 1999 for a little over a million. Imagine what that dress would bring in today's market.

For more information on what it was like at the auction visit this article.

Check out Scott's wonderful video of this historic event...

I MET BERT STERN!!

2011-06-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

I am still trying to believe the opportunity that I got on June 16. The reclusive photographer, Bert Stern, was scheduled to attend the opening of his new exhibit "Jewels" in Toronto. Stern, 82, was set for his first visit to Canada to visit the Izzy Gallery where 34 of his photos are on display. A rare feat indeed for such a small intimate art gallery. I learned about Stern's appearance by reading this online article the day before and immediately made plans to attend.

Marilyn fans the world over have fawned over Stern's photographs that he took in July 1962 shortly before her death. Regardless of your view on whether he should have published photos that Marilyn herself had X'd out there is no denying his photographs are truly legendary. I am personally a big fan of this time period and Marilyn style and "The Complete Last Sitting" is one of my favourite books.

How is this for dedication - It took me 3 hours to get there with traffic and I stayed for 1 hour and immediately had to turn around and go another 2 hours to get home :) I was praying the whole time that Stern would not cancel and that he would be civil enough to sign a book for me. It was an experience in itself lugging my copy of The Complete Last Sitting through the subway and walking 4 blocks to get to the gallery.

The Izzy Gallery in located in an area of Toronto known as Yorkville. I had never been there before and was really taken by all the interesting restaurants and shops. There was a doorman at the gallery and as soon as I came through the door was offered some wine. Stern had not arrived yet so I walked around the room and looked at the photographs.

All of the photos were of well known personalities including; Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Kate Moss, Twiggy and of course Marilyn. I enjoyed seeing that he included one of his Lindsay Lohan (left) shots as well. All of the large scale photographs had been adorned by Stern with crystals, hence the name of the exhibit "Jewels". Stern's choice of photos were impressive, however, I don't think the added sparkle worked for all of them. Sometimes I preferred the original untouched photo. One that I did like showed Marilyn holding up a scarf (above) and the added accents worked well.

There was media outside the gallery awaiting Stern's arrival. When the cameras started flashing I knew that he was really here. He came inside looked at his work along one of the walls and then sat in one of two chairs in the center of the room. I didn't see anyone else approaching him with a book to sign and was really worried as to how he'd react. I had a really bad experience with another Marilyn photog who refused to sign something so I was a little gun shy as it was. I was thrilled when a guy appeared with his own copy and broke the ice first. I could see Stern sign his book so I was up next.

I bent down and shook his hand. I told him I was a big fan of his work and it was truly a thrill to meet him and if he'd sign my book. He waved to hand him the book and asked my name. I was in total awe watching him sign the book. It was like he was painting a picture. He explained that the little V's he added were birds. No idea what they represent but I'm thrilled to have them. I thanked him again and that was it.

I stood across from his chair for awhile and watched as the media came into the gallery. The local news was interviewing a young woman who appeared to be with Stern (not sure if it was his wife as I never saw the footage on TV). I noticed Jeanne Becker from Fashion TV crouch down in front of Stern and attempt to get an interview from him. She tried for some time but in the end gave up.

Riding back on the subway I kept looking at the invitation to the event and then the inscription in my book and realized just how amazing the night had been and how lucky I was.

If you live in the Toronto area you can visit Izzy Gallery and see Stern's latest work until July 9, 2011.

Here is a photo I took of Stern and a scan of the invitation to the event:

New Franklin Mint Doll - Don't Bother to Knock

2011-06-15T19:19:00.000-07:00

The Franklin Mint has released a new Marilyn doll they are calling the "Don't Bother to Knock Premiere" doll. I have paired it with a real photo of Marilyn wearing the dress. I am surprised they didn't go with a more well-known outfit. If you are interested in purchasing this doll please click on the photo below to be taken to the Franklin Mint website (US orders only).

Profiles in History : Debbie Reynolds Auction

2011-06-11T16:09:00.000-07:00

On June 18, a pretty extraordinary auction will be taking place in Beverly Hills by Profiles in History. Actress Debbie Reynolds is parting with her collection of Hollywood memorabilia. She gathered these pieces in the hopes of someday opening a museum. Unfortunately, due to finances this dream did not come true and she decided to sell. The Marilyn dresses are all instantly recognizable to fans; River of No Return, Little Rock, Heat Wave and the most iconic of all Seven Year Itch. The white dress is expected to sell for over $1,000,000.

I am curious to know if Profiles in History will include this auction in their TV series, Hollywood Treasures. I have enjoyed watching it. It follows around the Profiles in History team as they track down items and prepare for auctions. The end of each episode features the actual auction and what the pieces sold for. When I heard the news that Reynolds decided to go with Profiles for her sale I was hopeful it might be featured at some point.

CONFIRMED: It has been reported that she will appear in a June 15 episode showing off her collection!

More info from CBS News:

You can soon own a piece of Hollywood history, thanks to actress Debbie Reynolds.

For decades, Reynolds collected some of the big screen's most iconic props and costumes. But now, she's putting them on the auction block.

CBS News National Correspondent Ben Tracy spent some time with Reynolds, known for her roles in "Singin' in the Rain" and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," to find out why.

The 79-year-old star is saying good-bye to the dresses she wore in her movies, selling them off along with hundreds of other Hollywood treasures she's purchased, mostly at studio auctions over the past four decades.

Reynolds told Tracy she began collecting the costumes for emotional reasons.

She said, "I couldn't believe that they were getting rid of all these iconic pieces that I considered to be historical and should be saved."

Reynolds has a pair of "Wizard of Oz" ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland. She also owns Julie Andrews' dress and guitar from "The Sound of Music."

Some of the centerpieces of the collection include the famous Oscar-winning fashions worn by Audrey Hepburn in "My Fair Lady" and the pleated, white "subway dress" worn by Marilyn Monroe in "The Seven Year Itch."

Though Reynolds wouldn't disclose how much she paid for the Monroe dress, she said it's expected to bring in more thsn $1 million at auction.

Reynolds said, "I paid a lot, but not that!"

As Reynolds and Tracy walked through the collection, Tracy remarked how small the actresses' waists were.

Laughing, Reynolds said, "Yeah, we've all changed since that time."

Reynolds' collected the costumes with the dream of one day building a museum. But development deals kept falling through, putting her deeper in debt. The auction is designed to pay off those debts.

Reynolds said she's "devastated" and "very saddened" that her idea never came to fruition.

"(I'm) very disappointed that I never could get the right people interested," she said. "At least, I never found them."

Tracy asked the star, "You talk about, this wasn't cheap. That you spent a lot of money, you had to use your credit card. Did you ever get to a point where you said, 'Whoa, I'm buying too much stuff?"'

"Oh, yes," Reynolds said. "It was always too much. But then, life should be that. Either full of life, or no life."

The star said she wanted to have the auction while she could be a part of it and make sure the costumes go to "special homes."

"If you wait 'til you pass away, what good does that do?" she said. "So, I'm being selfish, in a way, by passing them along while I'm still alive."

Lena Pepitone has died

2011-06-11T07:28:00.000-07:00

Well, there is no love lost for most Marilyn fans at the passing of Lena Pepitone. I took this photo of her in 2005 at an auction that was held in Niagara Falls. She spoke very little english so I was not able to really ask her any questions. A few years ago, I was put in touch with her to be on my podcast. When I called I was informed by her son that she charges $400 for a half hour interview. Give me a break. She was always out for the money.

Maid for Marilyn Monroe dead at 86

By JAMIE SCHRAM

An Upper East Side woman who worked as a maid for Marilyn Monroe and once wrote a tell-all book about the iconic American movie star was found dead in her home today.

Lena Pepitone apparently died of natural causes and was found about midnight by an acquaintance in her apartment on at 309 East 76th Street, a relative told The Post. She was 86 and had a heart condition.

A friend became concerned after she couldn't reach her by phone and went to her apartment. She couldn't get inside, but noticed the lights were on and heard the TV, sources said.

She called police, who climbed up a fire escape, entered the apartment through a window and found the body on the floor.

"My aunt Lena, I think that she’s probably the last living person who worked for Marilyn Monroe," said retired NYPD Sgt. Steven Cataneo.

Pepitone co-wrote "Marilyn Monroe Confidential" published by Simon & Schuster.

Cataneo said his aunt was a fabulous cook and seamstress who made a last-minute repair to the dress the blonde bombshell wore when she famously serenaded President John F. Kennedy by singing "Happy Birthday to You" at Madison Square Garden in 1962.

In her book, Pepitone said Monroe laughed at rumors that she was having an affair with Kennedy or his brother Robert.

Pepitone, who started working for Monroe in 1957, quoted the actress as calling the Kennedy brothers "cute" and saying she liked them because they were "funny and smart."

"But I remember her insisting, 'They're not my type. They're boys,"' Pepitone said.

Cataneo said his aunt cooked for Monroe and all her friends – including Frank Sinatra – as well as for her then-husband Joe DiMaggio.

"My aunt could cook. Italian food. Veal, pasta, sauces. Meatballs. The woman could cook," Cataneo recalled.

-New York Post

New York attempts to bring home Monroe's legendary White Dress

2011-06-04T08:37:00.000-07:00

A New York City-based entertainment technology firm inQuicity is raising funds to win back the iconic, “fluttering” white dress worn by Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe in the film 'The Seven Year Itch'.

The dress, which is currently owned by the movie star Debbie Reynolds, will be auctioned off on June 18 in Los Angeles.

“Your donation will protect the legend and legacy of an American icon,” the company said on the official site of its nationwide “SAVE-THE-DRESS” campaign to rescue the “White Dress made famous by Marilyn Monroe.”

According to an auction house, the dress is said to be worth between $1 million and $2 million.

A scene from the film shot atop a New York City subway vent, in which Monroe’s white dress is fluttered upward by gushing air from a passing train made the actress a superstar. The image of the actress in the particular scene is considered an all time fashion moment worldwide.

“The timeless image of Marilyn Monroe in her legendary white dress has been indelibly etched in the minds of so many around the world. Her legacy and this priceless dress belong to the people, and shouldn't be hidden away from public view. Ensure that this incredible piece of Hollywood history remains accessible to all – where it belongs – in New York City,” the company said.

inQuicity plans to place the Oscar winning William Travilla's White Dress on permanent display in a New York City museum.

For more information http://savethedress.org/

The question has been raised as to what exactly they are going to do with the money if they are unsuccessful in acquiring the dress at the upcoming auction. Donors will not get their money back and let's be honest it is highly unlikely this internet website is going to raise enough money to win the dress at auction. After all, the estimate for the dress is $1,000,000 - 2,000,000 dollars. The auction takes place on June 18 through Profiles in History.

The Life and Career of Marilyn Monroe

2011-06-01T16:16:00.000-07:00

For anyone craving a little Marilyn fix on her birthday, the people at WatchMojo sent along this great video they made about her life. I loved all of the footage from her different films. It is a great short bio for new Marilyn fans too.

Happy Birthday Marilyn

2011-06-01T03:45:00.000-07:00

Well, our girl would have been 85 today. I hope everyone takes a moment to hold a good thought for her today. To think that she has been gone longer than she was alive but still lives on through all of her fans is pretty amazing.

Marilyn's birthday has more meaning for me now - since it is also my first wedding anniversary :) Where did a year go??? I was looking back through my photos and I have to pinch myself that it was real. It was truly the best day of my life and I will never forget it. I consider myself so lucky to have such wonderful Marilyn friends like Susan Griffiths and Suzie Kennedy who made the day special for me.

Enjoy this video of Marilyn and birthday cakes!!

A Memory of Marilyn in Korea

2011-05-29T12:24:00.000-07:00

Marilyn Monroe in Korea by Bob McMillan

Every time I deliver my PowerPoint presentation dealing with presidents and fun vignettes, the item, which gets the most laughs and questions is my coming face-to-face in Korea with Marilyn Monroe. This goes back to February of 1954.

One of my assignments as Company Commander of an Engineer Combat Company was to wet down roads so as artillery or tanks moved from one area to another Chinese spotters could not determine the locations. Wetting the roads prevented dust, and it was the dust which spotters used to track the movements of artillery or tanks. The road wetting process was one of the most unpopular assignments in my Company.

Now to the story of Marilyn Monroe. It was late on one afternoon, and my phone rang. It was my Group Commander, and he ordered me to come to his office at Camp Casey immediately. As I drove to Camp Casey, I wondered what could be so urgent? Arriving in the Colonel’s office, he pulled down a map of the area. He stated very clearly that he wanted roads sprayed with water from the helicopter pad in Camp Casey to the General’s Mess, and then to the Amphitheatre. “But, Colonel,” I said, “The spotters cannot see dust here, because mountains block the view.”

Then, he hit me with the reason for wetting down the roads. It was to keep dust off of Marilyn Monroe as she lands on the helicopter pad. Wow, what an assignment.

As I went back to my company, I thought about how best to get the job done. The word about the reason for wetting the roads leaked out, and it seemed everyone wanted to be on those trucks. The next morning we were all set. The trucks had never been so well staffed, and I had to be present to be sure the work was done effectively.

While the roads were not washed away, they were soaked. There was not a speck of dust from any moving vehicle.

After convincing the military police that it was essential for the trucks, my jeep and the soldiers to stand by for Marilyn Monroe’s arrival, we stationed ourselves next to the helicopter pad. Soon, we heard the sound of a large helicopter coming up the nearby valley. Next, after landing, we all saw the radiant Marilyn Monroe. She was beautiful. With a wave and blowing a kiss, we felt thrown to all of us next to the helicopter pad, she was off for her luncheon with the general.

After the luncheon she changed into a low cut sparkling purple dress and was off to perform for us at the amphitheater. By the way, that performance can be seen whenever the biography of Marilyn Monroe appears on television. And if you look closely, you will not see one speck of dust on that beautiful dress. Interestingly, at an auction in 1999, that dress was purchased for $112,000!

As I look back, that was an event I will always remember.

Robert McMillan Website: www.bobmcmillan.net

Marilyn Monroe photos found at garage sale still a mystery

2011-05-29T09:28:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles (CNN) -- Photographer Anton Fury's hobby of searching weekend garage sales for collectible toys led him to dozens of apparently unpublished photos of a young Marilyn Monroe.

Fury has allowed CNN to publish the images just days before what would have been Monroe's 85th birthday. They apparently were taken during a photo session before she was well known.

"I found an envelope of negatives, didn't know what they were, but I realized they were old," Fury said. He paid $2 for the folder, which contained two envelopes of black-and-white negatives.
That was in Parsippany, New Jersey, in 1980, when Fury says he was "a fledgling photographer."
"I took it home, put them on the lightboard with a loupe and, needless to say, these are Marilyn," he said. "That was probably my greatest garage sale discovery ever."

The second envelope was filled with about 70 negatives of actress Jayne Mansfield.
Fury held onto the photographs for the last three decades, not knowing much about them.

"The only thing we're sure of is who," he said. "We don't know where, we don't know why, we don't know when, we don't know who shot them. But we do know it is Marilyn."

Fury flew to Los Angeles this week to show the images to David W. Streets, a Beverly Hills art dealer and appraiser experienced with Monroe photos.

Monroe was one of the most photographed women ever, but Streets suspects these photos are from her early years, soon after she cut her hair and evolved into the iconic look most people associate with her.
"I've looked for early photographs, early test shots, magazine shots, books, and haven't been able to find anything yet, so the mystery we're just beginning to unravel," Streets said.

Streets' best guess for now is the photos were taken in 1950, a breakout year for the nearly unknown Monroe because of her minor roles in "The Asphalt Jungle" and "All About Eve."

"I know they were taken here in Los Angeles," which we know "from the backgrounds that we see in the photos," Streets said. "You see Hollywood Hills, Hollywood 1950s architecture."

There are more questions than answers, though.

"For me as an appraiser and as a researcher, I want people to call, I want people to e-mail and say, 'This is where it is, this is what it is, this is who I think took it,' " Streets said.

One clue that could be important is the coincidence of a man seen in both the Monroe and Mansfield photographs. It is possible he was the photographer for both sessions, Streets said.

"We know that Monroe and Mansfield were here working at the same time, were contemporaries and friends," Streets said. "So, there's an intertanglement there that we're going to unravel and see where the mystery leads."

Monroe, who would have been 24 in 1950, wore two bathing suits, including a bikini, and short pants during the poolside photo shoot.

One risk Fury runs as he brings his garage sale find to the public, and possibly for sale, is that someone could make a legal claim to the photos, which are possibly still protected by copyright laws even after 60 years.

"That's kind of what we're trying to figure out," Fury said. There's way more questions than there are answers at this point. We don't know where this is going to lead."

-source CNN

Smash coming to NBC

2011-05-25T18:06:00.000-07:00

Now that the trailer for the new NBC show "Smash" (based on the behind the scenes making of a Marilyn Monroe Musical) has been released....I am even more excited about it. Here are some more details as well as a link to the trailer.

NBC knows what you’re all thinking: Smash is just a ripoff ofGlee, right? Well, star Debra Messing has something to say about that. “I think Glee is extraordinary and original and fabulous,” the Will & Graceactress told EW after NBC’s presentation to advertisers Monday. The drama will bow on the Peacock’s 2011-12 midseason schedule. “I think Smash is similar in that there is singing, but I think that’s where the similarities end. Glee is a comedy and ours is a drama. And Glee is in a fantastic sort of elevated world and Smash is completely naturalistic, a very real look at life in New York as an actor, producer, composer, lyricist, what have you.”

The drama, which also stars Anjelica Huston, Jack Davenport, and Katharine McPhee, is about a cross-section of characters who come together to put on a Broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe. Messing plays a lyricist who, together with her husband, are supposed to be taking a break from Broadway to adopt a baby when they get the idea for a musical.

“Glee does music that was already made, and we have original Broadway music being composed for us by a Tony-Award winning lyricist and composer,” Messing explained. “So every episode there will be a new song. It’s about the making of a musical about the life of Marilyn Monroe. So the music will be focused on that project. There will be a reason for the song.

“I think that it’s so exciting,” she continued. “I think it looks so beautiful. It’s shot like a film. All the characters … there’s something universal about somebody who is unknown and has nothing and is trying to fulfill their dreams. It’s like Rocky. And, of course, to have these two magnificent voices, from Katharine [McPhee] and Megan [Hilty], I was levitating by the end of [the promo].”

New Wrinkle on Ebay

2011-05-23T17:11:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay in posting this in case anyone wanted in on the action. Auction is over and it sold for $310 US! In addition to the recent authentic Golden Dreams calendar on ebay a very rare New Wrinkle Calendar was also listed. This calendar has advertising on it which is desirable to collectors. However, the reason it is special is the year. This is the first time I have seen a 1951 calendar. Thanks so much to Steven for passing this along as I have been seeking additional information on the release dates of Marilyn's nude calendars. If this was also the larger version of the calendar I would have been fierce in the bidding. However, at this point I favour the size over the year.

The earliest Golden Dreams calendar I have seen remains to be my 1952. If anyone comes across an earlier example please send it my way.

Golden Dreams Calendar on Ebay

2011-05-15T15:15:00.000-07:00

Here is a beautiful example of an authentic Golden Dreams Calendar from 1953. This is the large size with company advertising. If I didn't already have one I would snap this up. Marilyn Calendar on Ebay

Learn more about the Golden Dreams calendar on my site HERE.

Marilyn's Dress Sells for $348,000

2011-05-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

A black cocktail dress worn by the "Some Like It Hot" star sold for a record-breaking amount at Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills

Not just any LBD! A little black dress worn by Marilyn Monroe sold at auction on May 8 for $348,000 at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills. The custom-made black crepe dress with a plunging v-neck was expected to go for $20,000 to $30,000, but far exceeded that. Monroe wore the dress to a cocktail party at the Beverly Hills Hotel in 1958 and also appears in it on the cover of the book Marilyn Monroe: From Beginning to End by Michael Ventura.

The cocktail dress was part of the Hollywood Legends auction at Julien's Auctions, which took place on May 7 and May 8. Other iconic items on the block included Monroe's MGM-branded swimsuit (winning bid: $84,000), Audrey Hepburn's straw hat from 1957's Funny Face(winning bid: $15,360) and the throne used by Elizabeth Taylor in 1963's Cleopatra (winning bid: $7,040).

More recent film memorabilia included an outfit worn by Angelina Jolie in 1999's Girl, Interrupted (winning bid: $1,792) and Alicia Silverstone's Batgirl costume from 1997'sBatman & Robin (winning bid: $12,800).

-The Hollywood Reporter

Grauman's Chinese Theatre Sold

2011-05-05T15:52:00.000-07:00

I was sad to see the following article. Here are photos of fans from all over the world visiting Marilyn's handprints. It is just such a historic building that the public can still watch films in. Sounds like that is going to change.....

One of Hollywood's most iconic landmarks, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, is once again changing hands.

A partnership between Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures parent Viacom Inc. has signed an agreement to sell the historic theater on Hollywood Boulevard for an undisclosed sum to a pair of movie producers: Don Kushner, executive producer of "Tron: Legacy," and the flamboyant and controversial entrepreneur Elie Samaha, two people familiar with the deal said Thursday.

"Samaha has been doing walk-throughs at the Chinese for some time," the source says, "and it is clear from conversations with his people that he wants to turn the Chinese into a mixed venue that can show films, hold concerts, be rented out with removable seats to accomodate dance floor or standing-room-only crowds, etc, along with adding a bar and kitchen.

"Samaha can sugarcoat this 'mixed venue' concept all he wants, but clearly his intentions are not for the preservation of a grand movie palace, but rather for a grand club," the source contends.

Samaha "also intends to convert the Chinese 6 plex upstairs into a tri-level night club that would serve as after-party location for premieres and events that might be held at the Graumans, so the studios would be more or less forced to book a package with him if they want a film to premiere at Grauman's Chinese."

Mariah Carey Names Daughter After Marilyn

2011-05-04T19:11:00.000-07:00

Moroccan & Monroe: Mariah Carey names her twins

(AFP) – 8 hours ago

LOS ANGELES — Singer Mariah Carey, who gave birth last week to boy and girl twins, announced on her website Wednesday that she has chosen the names Moroccan and Monroe for the infants.

In a statement, the music star said that she and husband Nick Cannon named their newborn son after the Moroccan Room -- the top floor of the New York apartment where he proposed to her, and which has Moroccan-inspired decor.

Daughter Monroe "was named after Marilyn Monroe, who has been an inspiration to Mariah her whole life," the statement said.

The pop diva has long been fascinated with Monroe: She bought the Hollywood icon's white piano from Christie's auction house, and has written into her will that the piano will one day go to the Smithsonian museum.

Carey announced last October that she was pregnant, ending months of rumors.

She revealed that she had had a miscarriage two years earlier, which explained her reluctance to go public early on in the pregnancy.

"It has been a long, emotional journey for this family, and I couldn't be happier for all of them," said her publicist, Cindi Berger, in the statement.

Carey and Cannon, a rap artist and actor, married in the Bahamas in April 2008. It was the second marriage for Carey, whose five-year union to legendary music producer Tony Mottola ended in divorce in 1998.

The singer, 41, has sold 175 million records since the start of her singing career in 1990. She is the third best-selling female artist of all time, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.

Meeting Marilyn Photographer George Zimbel

2011-04-30T18:50:00.000-07:00

I had the honour today of attending a lecture by George Zimbel at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg, Ontario. Zimbel's work is on display at the museum as part of the Marilyn in Canada exhibit.

"In 1954, George Zimbel was among a small group of photographers who documented the famous scene from The Seven Year Itch which captured the iconic image of Marilyn Monroe in her white billowing dress; an early example of his view that photography is the art of spontaneity. This special lecture will position these Marilyn Monroe images within the history of photography and highlight Zimbel’s own artistic practice of non-intervention."

Zimbel is now 81 years old and the talk was also attended by his wife of over 50 years. He actually proposed and married her shortly after the seven year itch shoot. Zimbel was one of a number of photographers on the set of the dress blowing scene. He spent approximately 2 hours on the set, which he admits he was removed from because he continued to take photos after filming began.

He was 25 years old and was there simply to document this moment in history. He was not on assignment and did nothing with the photos until 20 years later in 1974 when they started appearing in galleries. When asked why he waited so long it became clear that Marilyn was a blip in his life's work and not something he focused on. He worked only in black and white and still develops his own photos. He considers himself a documentary photographer where he captures a moment that is happening instead of trying to create a scene.

During the lecture he walked us through a slideshow of some of his photos from that day. It was truly amazing as I had never seen some of them before. In particular he had photos of the stand-ins for Marilyn and Tom Ewell testing the dress blowing on the grate. There was also shots that showed Natasha Lytess and of course Marilyn perched on her heels on that grating so her heels did not fall through.

The most powerful shots he captured showed Joe DiMaggio's reaction to Marilyn's skirt being blown up over her head. To actually see Joe on that night when we all know there was a massive blow-out between them after this and a divorce to follow. We can see Joe walking away with his friend, Walter Winchell after watching the crowd reaction to his wife in her underwear. The next shot is Marilyn looking sad watching Joe leave. It is my favourite shot by Zimbel, she is standing there so serene framed by darkness.

Zimbel also mentioned a close friend and fellow photographer who was also there taking shots of Marilyn. You can see him in some of Zimbel's shots. His name was Ed Feingersh and several times it was mentioned that his life ended way too soon and then finally the admission that he had committed suicide. Feingersh took the Chanel No. 5 photos of Marilyn the following year in 1955.

I'm excited to report that Mr. Zimbel signed my copy of BW magazine featuring his photos!

To see more on George Zimbel watch this segment of the documentary Marilyn Still Life (he appears around 1 minute in) where he revisits the subway grating and discusses his photos.

Happy Birthday Marilyn Exhibit

2011-04-20T17:09:00.000-07:00

Marilyn Monroe would have turned 85 years old on June 1, 2011. In recognition of this momentous occasion, the Andrew Weiss Gallery and the Marilyn Remembered Fan Club are pleased to present an exciting new exhibit titled simply, "Happy Birthday Marilyn."

In honor of Marilyn's birthday Marilyn Monroe fans around the world are invited to send personal birthday greetings to the screen legend and become part of an historic exhibition combining your wishes with one of the world's most in-depth collections of Marilyn photographs. The photos span her entire life, from the very first images to the last, taken by renowned photographers Bill Carroll, Milton Greene, Tom Kelley, Bert Stern, and George Barris. This exhibit is the first ever of its kind to include the world-wide Marilyn Monroe community.

The exhibit will run June 1, 2011 through August 13th, 2011.

A special reception will be held for the Marilyn Remembered Fan Club on Sunday, May 29, from 2:00pm to 5:00pm, before the exhibition opens to the public. A reading of selected cards will begin at 3:00pm. All Marilyn Monroe fans are invited to this special event, and refreshments will be served.

DETAILS FOR SENDING CARDS:

Greetings can be submitted in the form of a traditional birthday card, either store bought or handmade, or in the form of personally created/designed digital art. Paper birthday cards will be displayed along the walls of the gallery, and digital art will be compiled into a slide show that will be displayed on a large flat screen television in the gallery.

Please mail purchased or handmade birthday cards to:

The Andrew Weiss Gallery
Attn: Marilyn Monroe
179 South Beverly Drive
Beverly Hills, California 90212

Please sign your name with the name of your country visible on the inside of the card. Please do not exceed a card size of 5.5"x 8.5" due to space considerations. Note that all cards received will become part of the Marilyn Remembered Fan Club's permanent archives.

Please email personally designed digital artwork to: MarilynRemembered@yahoo.com.

Please include your name with the name of your country visible on the artwork, and submit in .jpg format only.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTAL:

Birthday cards and personally designed digital art must be received no later than Friday, May 20 in order to be included in the exhibit.

For more information please contact MarilynRemembered@yahoo.com or info@andrewweiss.com.

3 Marilyn Monroe Tattoos Added

2011-04-17T11:58:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Kristine, Trish and Natasha for sending in their ink. I put them up on the site here.

Marilyn Artwork by Michael Rubino

2011-04-17T08:51:00.000-07:00

I just had to share these which were passed on to me by a wonderful artist named Michael Rubino. I have always enjoyed seeing artists interpretations of Marilyn and the Marilyn in Art books are some of my favourites.

It isn't very often though that I feel the need to share what I come across. This was one of those cases. I just think Michael's work is amazing and he has really captured Marilyn but with a pop art feel. Just beautiful. They are 4 feet by 5 feet is size.

You can see Michael's work at the following galleries in LA:
Classic Artforms, 9009 Beverly Blvd, LA
Framing Gallery, 8527 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood
Luxe Lingerie, 363 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills
Or you can also visit his website at www.michaelrubinogallery.com

Looking for a copy of B&W Magazine

2011-03-27T18:24:00.000-07:00

If anyone has an extra copy of the Sept 2008 Issue 61 of B&W Magazine featuring Marilyn on the cover - please let me know. I am interested in acquiring a copy asap. Thanks!! - FOUND

ONCE AGAIN. THANKS TO EDGAR FOR COMING TO MY RESCUE!

Dearly Departed - Elizabeth Taylor

2011-03-23T16:01:00.000-07:00

Legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor, whose violet eyes, tumultuous love life and passion for diamonds epitomised Hollywood glamour, died today at age 79.

The star of Cleopatra and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles surrounded by family after a long battle with congestive heart failure that sent her to the hospital six weeks ago.

In a career spanning seven decades, Taylor first gained fame in 1944’s National Velvet at age 12 and was nominated for five Oscars. She won the best actress award for BUtterfield 8 (1960) and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) with actor Richard Burton, whom she would marry twice.

Taylor’s eight marriages, health problems, prescription drug addiction and ballooning weight often overshadowed her career, but she overcame adversity and used her fame to advocate for causes such as AIDS education and research.

Taylor is rumored to be buried in a plot next to her parents at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery. Among those who are buried or interred there -Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood, Truman Capote,Farrah Fawcett, Dean Martin and Walter Matthau. NOTE: She actually ended up at Forest Lawn Memorial near her long-time friend Michael Jackson.

Bonhams auction features early Norma Jeane letter

2011-03-17T16:33:00.000-07:00

NORMA JEANE DESCRIBES HER WEDDING IN INTIMATE DETAIL.
Autograph Letter Signed ("Norma") in pencil, 8 pp, 4to, [Van Nuys, CA, September 14, 1942], to Grace Goddard, regarding her wedding and married life, with original autograph transmittal envelope signed ("Mrs. James E. Dougherty"), light soiling at creases to letter, envelope toned, corners bumped, right margin rough.

Charles Williamson often described this lot as "the greatest Marilyn Monroe letter in the world"—and he may well have been right. 16-year old newlywed Norma Jeane Dougherty writes her foster mother Grace Goddard mentioning the man she believed was her biological father and describing her wedding and married life in vivid detail.
Though Monroe's birth certificate lists a Martin Mortensen as her father, she always believed that her true biological father was a man named Charles Stanley Gifford, a co-worker of her mother Gladys at Consolidated Films during the 1920s. Monroe is known to have reached out to Giffords once she was an established celebrity, but he rebuffed her attempts. This letter reveals that by as young as 16—at the moment she begins her adult life as a married woman—she was interested in establishing a relationship with the man she thought of as her father.
The first line of this letter to Grace reads: "I want to thank you so much for writing Mom and explaining things about Stanley G. I'm sure she understands now." Norma goes on to describe life as a married woman: "He really keeps me busy cleaning the house and fixing meals, everybody told me that it is quite a responsibility being a house wife, and boy, I'm finding it out. But it really is a lot of fun. / Jimmy is so swell to me, in fact I know that if I had waited 5 or 10 years I couldn't have found anyone who would have treated me better. I just think the world of him and we get along so nicely. He is just so sweet about every little thing."
Norma Jeane goes on to describe her new home, even drawing a floor plan diagram of the rooms and furniture. The next 5 pages list in exacting detail each guest invited to the wedding and the gift sent: "Mr. and Mrs John Ingram (He is the school teacher that was such a good friend of Jimmy's). He is also Doris Drenen's brother-in-law. And Doris Drenen is Jim's ex—remember? I remember only too well."
She describes a gift from the Gaddis family: "The most beautiful cocktail set I have ever seen in my life. It is out of solid copper. The set consists of a huge round copper tray with a mat or cork on one side and asbestos on the other for hot drinks. Then there are eight copper glasses then there are eight little copper tray things for the glasses. Also there is a little copper bucket for grated ice. It is really beautiful."
Norma Jeane adds a poignant post script, again mentioning the man she thought of as her biological father: "How can I get in touch with Stanley Gifford? Through Consoladated [sic] films? Or something like that. Which dept?"

Estimate $25,000 - 35,000

UPDATE: This letter went for $52,460 well above the estimate

Visit the auction here

8 Marilyn Monroe Tattoos added

2011-03-06T11:50:00.000-08:00

Thanks to John, Alex, Adam, Chandra, Brian, Toscinia and Yarmia for sending in their tattoos.

Two Little Girls from Little Rock - Remembering Jane

2011-03-02T15:49:00.000-08:00

I just love this number with Jane Russell and Marilyn. It is wonderful to see so many people posting about her on youtube since her passing.

Dearly Departed Jane Russell

2011-02-28T16:42:00.000-08:00

I'm really sad to see this news today. Jane was a good friend to Marilyn. You can listen to one of my favourite podcasts that was dedicated to Jane HERE.

The actress, whose career was launched by Howard Hughes and his film "The Outlaw," was 89.

Jane Russell, whose voluptuous good looks won the attention of Howard Hughes and launched her on a movie career, has died. She was 89.

Generally cast in fluff films like 1943’sThe Outlaw that showed off her well-endowed beauty, Russell reached the pinnacle of her career with Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), starring in the comedy with Marilyn Monroe.

During the 1970s, Russell was widely recognized as the spokesperson for Playtex bras, appearing in national TV commercials for the “Cross Your Heart” bra campaign.

Although best known for her figure, Russell showed a comic sensibility inGentlemen Prefer Blondes and again with Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (1955) and The Revolt of Mamie Stover (1956). Nevertheless, most of her movie roles were designed around her towering physicality and frontal amplitude. Soft-spoken and well-regarded, Russell received the Women’s International Center Living Legacy Award in 1989.

Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell was born on June 21, 1921, in Bemidji, Minn. Her father was a U.S. army lieutenant and her mother was an actress who performed with a traveling troupe. When she was a child, the family moved to California, where she studied piano and acting. After high school, Russell worked as a chiropodist’s receptionist and modeled and studied acting at Reinhardt’s Theatrical Workshop.

Rather than her thespic talents, it was her 38-inch bust line that came to the attention of Hughes, who was a major stockholder in RKO and was conducting a nationwide hunt for the leading-lady role in his film The Outlaw. On a visit to the doctor’s office where she held down her day job, Hughes noticed her figure and insisted that she enter his contest. Russell won the contest and the starring role in the film.

As part of the “opportunity,” she was subjected to what many regarded as vulgar publicity. Nevertheless, she handled it with aplomb, proving there was more to her than met the eye. The movie itself was a bizarre twist on the saga of Billy the Kid, where Russell played a Latin charmer who entices Billy.

Hughes and his publicity team spared no expense in her buildup, and she was featured as a cheesecake pinup that was distributed to G.I.’s. Her figure also made it to other fronts, to the cover of numerous fan and movie magazines. The whole promotional enterprise, highlighting her bust size, was notorious for the day and decidedly risqué. In fact, upon its completion, the movie itself was considered too “hot” and controversial. Further, it did not meet the censorial standards of the Production Code. Such censure, of course, only increased public awareness and wetted the public’s appetite for the film.

Although shot in 1941, The Outlaw was not released until two years later, and then only in a few theaters. Finally, in 1946, it was released nationally and was a box-office smash, with many viewers flocking to see Russell’s “performances.” Airplane designer Hughes even designed a special “cantilever bra” for Russell to ensure proper handling of her “assets” during the filming, but she claimed not to have worn it for the movie.

In the wake of the widespread clamor and success of The Outlaw, Russell’s next film, a soap-opera type entertainment titled Young Widow, was released soon on the heels of The Outlaw. It piggybacked on her hot reputation and was also a financial success for Hughes.

Since Russell had signed a seven-year contract with Hughes, she was at his mercy as far as casting, and he only placed her in RKO pictures that capitalized on her looks. Usually, she played the role of a worldly “dame,” playing in cheesecake-type films and musicals like His Kind of Woman (1951) and The Las Vegas Story (1952). Most sensational perhaps among these was her performance in The French Line (1954), where she performed a sexy dance number in a tiny costume. The film also was in 3D.

Fortunately, she was eventually loaned out from RKO to Paramount, which allowed her to display more of her talents. She won respect for her performance opposite Bob Hope in The Pale Face. After appearing in The Fuzzy Pink Night Gown (1957), which tanked at the box office, Russell took a hiatus from films and did not act again until 1964, when she performed inFate Is the Hunter. She only acted in three more films during the ’60s: Her final film of the decade was Born Losers (1967), a biker movie starring Tom Laughlin. She last appeared inDarker Than Amber (1970).

Moving away from the shackles of the kind of movie role that was offered her, Russell widened her repertoire. In 1971, she replaced Elaine Stritch on Broadway in the musical Company.

She married Los Angeles Rams football star Bob Wakefield in 1943, a union that lasted until 1968. Her second husband, Roger Barrett, died less than three months after their marriage. In recent years, Russell lived in the Santa Barbara area, where she was active in numerous charities.

Forever Blonde in Palm Springs March 18-22

2011-02-25T15:27:00.000-08:00

I drove to Michigan in order to see Sunny's show and it was totally worth it. My review here. So if you are anywhere in the Palm Springs area or can drive there - you should really see this show.
MARILYN: FOREVER BLONDE APPEARING IN PALM SPRINGS!
March 18 - 22, 2011
The Annenberg Theater • Palm Springs Art Museum
101 Museum Dr • Palm Springs, CA
For Tickets at the Box Office Call (760) 325-4490
or Visit www.AnnenbergTheater.org

Marilyn Book Section Updated

2011-02-21T15:56:00.000-08:00

It has been awhile since I added any new books to my website. So I spent today catching up. You can see my book collection here. Each book entry has a scan of the cover, details about the book, usually a review and information on where to buy it.

I have also added a couple of lists I thought might be useful. The first is New Releases so this is where you can go to see the newest books. I also added one for New Fans - what would you recommend to someone as a first book? Any other suggestions?

Hope you guys find this kind of information useful. When I was starting out my book collection there was a fan website that listed Marilyn books I found really helpful. It was a great resource but has since gone off the grid.

My Visit to the McMichael

2011-02-20T07:08:00.000-08:00

I attended the opening day of the Marilyn Monroe exhibit at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. I would recommend it to everyone. It isn't very often that something like this comes to Ontario. It is the last stop on the international tour of the "Life as a Legend" exhibit. I had seen this exhibit in Michigan and I found the McMichael version was on a much smaller scale. They had a secondary exhibit called "Marilyn in Canada" which featured photos from her time in Canada and other ties (ex. Canadian photographers who have taken her photos). The most interesting piece to me was a candid colour photo taken of Marilyn with her crutches by a lifeguard at the Banff pool. There was also some vintage Canadian magazines talking about Marilyn's time filming in Canada.

They have a room dedicated to the Tom Kelly red velvet sitting. It features several original prints and also my Golden Dream and New Wrinkle calendars. I also lent my Playboy #1 and it was displayed in a case in this room opened to the Tom Kelly centerfold. I've never had my items on display like this before so I was pretty excited to see them.

They also have a gift shop that I would recommend you stop by if your looking for some great Marilyn items. They had lots of Marilyn books (fragments, lost look photos, private and undisclosed), posters and other items. I got a pink hoodie, T-shirt, purse, sticky notes, eyeglass cloth and a poster advertising the exhibit featuring a photo of Marilyn with a Mountie.

So if you are within driving distance of the McMichael in Kleinburg, Ontario you really should make an effort to visit the exhibit. It runs until May 15, 2011.

Ontario Marilyn Monroe Exhibit Opens Feb 19

2011-02-12T10:36:00.000-08:00

If you’re a Marilyn Monroe fan you’ll want to set aside some time to visit the McMichael Gallery on the Family Day long weekend.

The kickoff for two new exhibitions — Life as a Legend: Marilyn Monroe and Marilyn in Canada — exploring the legend behind one of Hollywood’s most influential stars takes place Saturday, Feb. 19 with special programs running all weekend long.

“Although it has been fifty years since the death of Marilyn Monroe, worldwide interest in her life and career has sustained,” McMichael chief curator Katerina Atanassova said in a news release. “Our two exhibitions examine how the art world has been motivated by the myth and legend of this iconic actress.”
Life as a Legend, an international touring exhibition making its final stop in Vaughan, features paintings, photographs and prints by renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Robert Indiana, Eduardo Paolozzi, Richard Avedon and Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Marilyn in Canada provides a glimpse into Ms Monroe’s experiences while filming in Canada as well as her popularity among Canadian artists including Shelley Niro, John Vachon and George S. Zimbel.

During opening weekend, the gallery will feature movie theatre lobby décor, screenings of Ms Monroe’s films plus a special Marilyn prix-fixe menu at the Seven Restaurant.

You can also join McMichael educators for a series of 20-minute tours of Marilyn’s Fragments and Fabulous 1950s, check out documentary films chronicling Ms Monroe’s life and listen to music by DJ Goin’ Steady.

On Sunday, Feb. 20 those who dress up like Ms. Monroe will get in for free and have a chance to strut their stuff on the “red carpet” in the Grand Hall at 1 p.m.

Silkscreen workshops for the whole family will take place Monday, Feb. 21 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is at 10365 Islington Ave. just north of Major Mackenzie Drive.
For more information visit www.mcmichael.com

Canadian purchases the rights to Marilyn Monroe

2011-01-15T08:46:00.000-08:00

No, it wasn't me. I don't have a spare $50 million laying around. I didn't even know she was for sale. It is truly a surprising development in the big business of selling Marilyn to the world. Since Ana Strasberg still held onto a small piece - it is obvious that she is just out for the money. She basically gave up control as long as she still gets her cut. Marilyn is now totally controlled by businesses out to make a buck.

It is such a shame that there was no family to fight for her and that it all ended up with the Strasbergs in the first place. Imagine how different things would have been if she had reconciled with Joe and they remarried before her death. He would have guarded her memory with his life and perhaps his family may have done the same when he was gone.

TORONTO - Toronto entrepreneur Jamie Salter has bought the rights to the image of 1950s Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe.

Salter's New York-based intellectual property corporation, Authentic Brands Group, announced Thursday it made the deal in conjunction with NECA, a global media and entertainment company.

The two did not disclose a purchase price for Monroe's name and likeness, but published reports say it was nearly $50 million.

"Marilyn Monroe is recognized around the world as the embodiment of beauty and glamour," Salter, CEO of Authentic Brands, said in a statement.

"Quite simply, her name and her image have timeless appeal. We feel fortunate to be responsible for the future."

Anna Strasberg, who managed Monroe's estate and is the widow of the late star's acting coach, Lee Strasberg, will continue on as a minority partner in the joint venture.

Strasberg said she was impressed with the "bold, imaginative ideas" of Salter and his company.

"I will remain involved, and I enthusiastically look forward to their innovative ideas and continuing to carry out with integrity Marilyn's great and timeless legacy."

Salter's company, which also has offices in Toronto and Los Angeles, also manages the Bob Marley brand, among others.

-Winnipeg Free Press

Earl Moran Calendars

2011-01-03T15:47:00.000-08:00

I know there are Moran fans out there so I decided to add a NEW SECTION to my website focusing on his calendars based on Marilyn. I particularly LOVE seeing the exact pose as both a photo and illustration. So I put a couple examples there.

Dearly Departed

2011-01-03T09:28:00.000-08:00

I have added a new(old) section to the website called Dearly Departed. It is a timeline of the passing of people who had some kind of connection to Marilyn. I try to include a photo of the person with Marilyn - if one exists. Each entry also includes a brief bio (i.e how is the person associated with Marilyn).

Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Arden

2011-01-02T13:23:00.000-08:00

I'm a big fan of Elizabeth Arden products (fun fact - the founder of the company is Canadian). Marilyn was also a fan and her Arden products and receipts have shown up in auctions over the years. I also love this series of photos taken in March 1955 by photographer Ed Feingersh. It shows Marilyn arriving at Elizabeth Arden's in New York.

SEEKING SOME HELP

Living in small town Canada I don't have access to an actual Elizabeth Arden store. I came across a set of make-up brushes that I would love to have. However, they won't ship to Canada. So I decided to ask if anyone out there has a store close by and could pick this up and ship it to me. I would really appreciate it. You need to have a Paypal account so I can pay you back. Email me at MarilynfanATgmail.com if you can help.

EDIT: THANK YOU EDGAR! NO LONGER NEED THIS SET.

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T21:52:00.000-08:00

Wishing all Marilyn fans the best in 2011!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T11:31:00.000-08:00

I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. Here is a photo I took today of my basset hound, Toby. Doesn't he look excited that Santa is coming to town :)

Marilyn Monroe Motorcycle

2010-12-12T15:50:00.000-08:00

Donald Powell sent along these incredible photos of his 2003 Triumph America. And YES that is a photo of his bike at Marilyn's crypt. Amazing photo! I'm sure if Marilyn was alive she would love it.

Mad Magazine Issue #26, 1955

2010-12-12T10:58:00.000-08:00

I had an email request from Tim for an image from this Magazine. He wanted to know how Marilyn looked in the parody they published called "The Seven Itchy Years".

Thanks to Lisa for passing this along. Here are a couple scans from the magazine.

My Little Marilyn Christmas Tree

2010-12-05T12:16:00.000-08:00

Spent the day getting out Christmas ornaments and decorating the tree we cut down yesterday. Came across a little tree I had and decided to put all my Marilyn ornaments on it.

It was a sad year - for the first time in at least 10 years there is not a Marilyn Monroe ornament available. I would get one for Christmas each year without fail. Carlton Cards had continued the tradition year after year but this is the first that they have not released a Marilyn. Not that I have any more room on my tree :)

The Year of the Rabbit: The Playboy Auction

2010-12-05T12:07:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: These photos sold for $20,000 at the Christies Auction.

I came across an unbelievable collection of Earl Moran photos featuring Marilyn in an upcoming Christies auction slated for December 8. The Earl Moran LOT 69 SALE 2367 features 55 gelatin silver prints which are estimated at $20,000 -30,000. Would sure love to have them but WOW that is some series money. Some of these photos are featured in low quality in my new Moran gallery.

Thanks to everyone who has responded to the Moran collectors call. I particularly like seeing Moran art with the real life Marilyn photo. Hoping to showcase some of this. If you have any examples send them to MARILYNFAN AT GMAIL.

In particular, I am looking for high quality scans of the following photos, if you can help, let me know.

Flowers for Marilyn

2010-12-03T16:58:00.000-08:00

I am a big fan of the group that runs Immortal Marilyn and I wanted to pass along this information about a great thing they do for fans and Marilyn every year.

These folks make sure that Marilyn has a beautiful bouquet of flowers at her crypt from her fans on special occasions. Not only are the flowers gorgeous but if you donate you can send along your message to Marilyn. They put them all on a card that is delivered to the crypt. You can look at photos of the flowers from over the years at http://www.immortalmarilyn.com/FlowersForMarilyn.html

If you would like to participate here are all the details from my friend Mary Sims of Immortal Marilyn...

Subject: Holiday Flowers for Marilyn and Gift for Animal Haven

Hi Everyone,

Happy Holidays!
It is that time of year again with the holidays upon us. As always, Immortal Marilyn will be holding our annual Christmas fund raiser. A beautiful holiday arrangement will be placed at Marilyn's crypt from her fans, along with a card by our lovely Carla Orlandi-Smith.
We will set aside $175.00 for this, and anything above and beyond that raised will be donated to Animal Haven of NYC in Marilyn's honor.
So far in 2010 we have raised for Animal Haven, $616.00. That's already exceeded the $405.00 raised in 2009 by more than $200! A huge thank you to all who contributed! Let's see how much more we can make that total with the last fund raiser of the year!

Immortal Marilyn's PayPal ID is mary@immortalmarilyn.com if you want to donate that route. If you wish to donate via snail mail, email me at mary@immortalmarilyn.com for the address.
Along with your donation you can include a short sentiment to be included with your name on the Christmas card if you wish.

Also check out Animal Haven to have a look at IM's favorite charity, a wonderful highly rated no-kill shelter located in New York, the city Marilyn loved so. Donations are given four times a year, Valentine's Day, June 1 (Marilyn's birthday), August 5th (the anniversary of Marilyn's passing), and December, for the Holidays.

Earl Moran Collectors Wanted

2010-11-28T15:07:00.000-08:00

I have added a new Earl Moran gallery to the website with some photos I have never seen before. I'm adding another page that focuses on Moran collectibles. In particular, the Maids of Baltimore calendars and the Girls of '53 calendar.

I am looking for someone who has a copy of the Moran Girl's of '53 - 12 month calendar that featured several months of Marilyn's illustrations. If you have this calendar and are willing to share scans of all months and cover, please contact me.

UPDATE: REQUEST FULFILLED - NO MORE SCANS PLEASE

New Franklin Mint Doll - Seven Year Itch

2010-11-27T14:22:00.000-08:00

Wow! I think the Franklin Mint made a great choice of outfit on their new vinyl Marilyn Monroe doll. There isn't another doll that has been released with it. Click on the doll photo below for more information or to order (they only ship within USA) - I get a small commission so please use this link if you plan to buy her. The rest of us will have to wait for Ebay.

UPDATE: I ordered her! Got a great deal back on cyber monday - 25% off and free shipping. I found a friend in the US to ship to who is able to bring it to me.

She needs to have the cigarette holder to be perfect. I had sworn off purchasing any new dolls but I don't think I can resist.

Life as a Legend: Marilyn Monroe coming to Ontario!

2010-11-27T10:10:00.000-08:00

The wonderful Marilyn Monroe art exhibit Life as a Legend is coming to the McMichael Canadian Art Museum in Kleinburg, Ontario, Canada. The exhibit will feature a special Marilyn in Canada section. I am so excited to be able to see this in person. The exhibit runs February 19 - May 15, 2011.

I have offered to lend them items from my collection so we'll see if they take me up on the offer.

Marilyn Monroe Canvas Shoes

2010-11-20T21:44:00.000-08:00

Just came across these and I thought they were pretty cute. You can get them through Bradford Exchange by clicking on the photo below (only US shipping - boo!). If anyone gets a pair be sure to share a photo of them. I'm curious whether they look this nice in person.

Candle in the Wind on The X Factor

2010-11-14T10:59:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Lorraine for sending along this great version of Elton John's "Candle in the Wind". Luckily, Rebecca Ferguson (finalist on the British TV show X Factor) went with the original Marilyn Monroe version.

Marilyn Quote on Criminal Minds

2010-11-11T15:57:00.000-08:00

In last night's episode, Penelope Garcia, the quirky computer hacker went back to being blonde. I am a big fan of this show and Garcia has always been my favourite character. The episode is called "Reflection of Desire". The episodes always start with someone reading a quote. This time the voice-over was Garcia and she read the following....

"Fame will go by and, so long, I've had you, fame. If it goes by, I've always known it was fickle. So at least it's something I experience, but that's not where I live." -- Marilyn Monroe

I knew it was a Marilyn quote after 4 words and which caused my husband to role his eyes :)

Here is a promo for the episode which had a 50s Hollywood feel.

Marilyn Monroe's Stuffing Recipe

2010-11-10T17:16:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Jesica for sending this great New York Times story. The authors re-created a hand-written stuffing recipe that appears in the new Marilyn book Fragments.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/dining/10marilyn.html