They’ve tried to manufacture other Marilyn Monroes,
and they will undoubtedly keep trying,” director Billy Wilder once said. “But it
won’t work. She was an original.”
And yet, nearly half a century after Monroe’s 1962 death, we still can’t stop
trying to fill her size-7 shoes. The sorority of starlets who’ve channeled the
ill-fated beauty includes Madonna, Lindsay Lohan, Scarlett Johansson, Ashley
Judd, Mira Sorvino and now -- with a Marilyn-inspired movie out Nov. 4, as well
as a cover shoot in the October issue of Vogue -- Michelle Williams. Meanwhile,
in December, two auctions ofMonroe’s memorabilia are expected to fetch big
bucks. An auction featuring Monroe’s 35-diamond wedding band from Joe DiMaggio
and a 1948 nude oil painting by famed pinup artist Earl Moran, hosted by
Profiles in History, will take place Dec. 15 to 17 at an as-yet undisclosed
location, while an auction of rare 1946 photographs, hosted by Julien’s
Auctions, will take place Dec. 2 to 4 in Beverly Hills.
So why the 50-year itch for more Marilyn?
“She is very relevant, even more so now
than she was five or 10 years ago,” says Susan Bernard, author of the new
book “Marilyn: Intimate Exposures,” which begins with a buzzed-about
introduction by Lindsay Lohan and features 40 unique images of Monroe.
(Bernard’s father, Bruno Bernard, was the
famous Hollywood photographer who “discovered” Monroe outside his
dentist’s office in 1946 and subsequently snapped hundreds of photos of
the star over the years, including an iconic shot of her white skirt
billowing above a subway grate.)
“We want that optimism of a time and a
place where anything is possible,” says Bernard, who notes that Monroe
both satisfied the Puritanism of the 1950s and mocked it. “She dared to do
what most women didn’t dare do at that time -- like her skirt billowing up
over the subway grate.”
It was a scandalous move, Bernard points
out with a chuckle, that made it clear to those who saw the unedited
prints that Monroe wasn’t a natural blonde.
“She’s obviously the greatest sex symbol
of all time, and she still sets the standard for glamour, sexuality and
beauty,” says Scott Fortner, who runs themarilynmonroecollection.com and
authenticates Monroe memora-bilia for auction houses.
But he argues that Monroe’s contemporary
appeal resonates in darker and more intimate ways.
“She’s our modern-day Cleopatra -- but
she was also someone who struggled through life with many personal
problems,” he says, citing her troubled childhood, traumatic romances and
battles with drugs and addiction. “People can relate to that.”
“We all have a child inside of us that’s
looking for some kind of solace, and Marilyn personifies that,” adds Lois
Banner, a professor of gender studies at the University of Southern
California and author of the photo book “MM-Personal: From the Private
Archive of Marilyn Monroe” and “Revelations: Passion and Paradox in the
Life of Marilyn Monroe,” a scholarly biography to be released next spring.
“None of this was by accident. She was a
genius in her mode of presentation.”
Banner says Monroe’s cultivation of
mystery -- wearing disguises, leading double lives, even dying
enigmatically after a sleeping-pill overdose -- plays in sharp relief
against today’s 24/7, TMI celeb culture.
“You could track her month by month, but
you couldn’t track her day by day,” Banner notes, arguing that this only
fueled the public’s obsession with the breathy blond bombshell.
And despite Marilyn’s low self-esteem
(“She did not think she was beautiful. She was always dieting. She was
even thinking of breast implants,” says Banner) and risqué relations with
the men in her life (“She was considered to be a slut -- she would let men
use her and then get very angry about it”), Banner views Monroe as a
pioneering feminist.
“She formed her own production company.
She fought those Hollywood moguls to an absolute standstill,” Banner says.
“She was a very proud woman, and she was
one of the greatest actors of the 20th century.”
Bernard agrees it was Monroe’s
revolutionary steps as a woman that make her so appealing to today’s
aspiring young stars. “I don’t think they look at her as a victim -- she
was truly bright and curious about the world. So they’ve put a different
spin on her, a very intelligent and accurate spin of what they believe she
was,” Bernard notes.
The legendary Monroe also remains one of
the great style icons. Many of the fall’s fashions take their cue from her
Old Hollywood glamour -- from satin dresses cut on hourglass silhouettes
to white peep-toe pumps encrusted with rhinestones to figure-hugging
pencil skirts to lips stained cherry red.
“Marilyn is the epitome of femininity,
and people continue to pay homage to her look to this day -- either in
magazine editorials or personal style. I don’t ever see that stopping,”
says Marie Lodi, beauty and style columnist for Rookie, an online magazine
for teen girls. “I’m sure we will have some robots that look like Marilyn
Monroe in 100 years!”
Yet while stylish young women may admire
the curves of Monroe, Kim Kardashian and Christina Hendricks from afar,
they frequently whittle their own bodies down to stick-thin skinny.
“I’ve never thought of Marilyn Monroe as
a personal style icon,” admits 17-year-old Hazel Cills, a Rookie blogger
who lives in Moorestown, NJ. “But I think teen girls recognize that Monroe
had something special, and they want it, too.”
Happy Birthday to the original screen goddess,
Marilyn Monroe!
Today marks what would have been the late actress's 84th birthday, as well as a
one-of-a-kind exhibit of Monroe's personal and professional items at The
Hollywood Museum in Hollywood, California, titled Marilyn Remembered: An
Intimate Look at the Legend.
The over 200 Monroe personal items in the exhibit include numerous pieces from
the Scott Fortner and Greg Schreiner collections. (Fortner, who lives in
Northern California, was recently interviewed for my column--click here to read
interview.)
Items being seen in public for the first time ever include:
***Marilyn Monroe's personal shoes, worn when she married Joe DiMaggio and also
when performing for the troops in Korea in 1954.
***The vibrant green Pucci blouse that Marilyn was wearing when the last ever
photos of her were taken less than a week before she died.
***Marilyn's beaver fur coat, gifted to her by Arthur Miller.
Other items on exhibit include:
***Marilyn Monroe film worn costumes from "Let's Make Love" and "The Prince and
The Showgirl."
***Gowns created specifically for Marilyn Monroe by Academy Award winning
designer William “Billy” Travilla for her roles in “How To Marry A Millionaire,”
There’s No Business Like Show Business,” and perhaps one of her most famous
films, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.”
***Several gowns worn by Marilyn in numerous studio publicity photographs and
publications.
***Clothing items from Marilyn Monroe’s personal wardrobe, including evening and
cocktail attire, casual wear, and furs from her private collection, including
the very first fur she ever owned.
***Marilyn Monroe's personal film scripts for "Niagara," “There’s No Business
Like Show Business,” and "How To Marry A Millionaire" among others.
***Personal accessories, household goods, makeup & cosmetics, books from her
home library and furniture from her final residence in Brentwood, California.
***Numerous personal documents, including a Screen Actors Guild membership card,
bank statements and receipts, bills and invoices outlining in great detail the
personal and very private life of Marilyn Monroe.
WHERE: The Hollywood Museum, 1660 N. Highland Avenue, Hollywood
WHEN: 10 am to 5 pm Thursday through Sunday
Begins June 1 and ends August 31, 2010
PRICE: $15 for adults; $12 for seniors and children under 12.
Public Info: (323) 464-7776
Fortner has one of the largest collections of Monroe's personal belongings in
the country, if not the world.
There are dresses, luxurious furs and evening wear, makeup with Monroe's finger
swipes still visible, movie scripts, personal correspondence, canceled
checks--even a SAG card.
And while Fortner could lock away this priceless collection of Hollywood's most
adored and beloved screen actress, he instead chooses to share his Monroe
memorabilia with the world--both online and in an upcoming Marilyn exhibit at
the Hollywood Museum.
Fortner recently took some time to speak with me about his love for Marilyn, his
memorabilia collection and the upcoming exhibit.
Tell me about yourself.
I currently live in Northern California’s Bay Area. I grew up in a small town in
the mid-west. My philosophy of life is simply to try and live the best, most
fulfilling and happy existence that you can. Also, try to make a difference in
the lives of others.
When did you first discover Marilyn Monroe? Was it watching one of her movies?
Did you read a biography?
I don't remember exactly when I became a Marilyn Monroe fan. She's been a source
of interest and fascination for me since a very young age. The interesting part
is that there were no influences in my life propelling me toward her. No one in
my family was a fan, and I don’t remember anyone ever talking about her. She’s
just a presence that’s somehow always been part of my life. I remember watching
Some Like It Hot when I was very young, and I had the 1980s LIFE magazine
reprint of the images from the Bert Stern shoot “The Last Sitting.” Both are
some of my earliest memories of encountering Monroe.
What was it about Marilyn that made you fall in love with her?
It’s really hard to describe what exactly makes a person come to love Marilyn
Monroe. I think we all relate to her struggles in one way or another. Countless
people make these same connections. I find that I’m most attracted to the
private Marilyn, not the sexy film screen goddess that she’s most associated
with. While she was the woman who set the standard for beauty, she was also a
warm and sensitive person, yearning for love and acceptance. I think sometimes
people forget that there was a real person behind the image that was created by
Hollywood. That is the person I find most compelling.
When and how did you start collecting MM memorabilia? Describe your
collection...your favorite pieces, any funny or important stories with certain
collectibles, the size of your individual collection, etc.
I’ve collected Marilyn related items nearly my entire life. I started with books
mostly, and I began collecting Monroe owned items about ten years ago. Today, my
collection comprises over 150 items formerly owned by Marilyn.
It’s really hard to have favorite collection pieces when it comes to Marilyn. I
would say the top items are her mink fur collar, the cape she wore to the 1955
premiere of East of Eden, her white fox muff, her Screen Actors Guild card and
her green Pucci blouse.
The history of Marilyn’s white fox muff is fascinating. It was part of a lot of
furs that I purchased at a Christie’s auction in 2006. Initially, I thought the
muff might never have been used, that it was just an accessory she owned but
never wore. I was more focused on other pieces from that lot as they were
pictured with Marilyn wearing them. Not long after purchasing the lot of furs at
auction, I was reading “Marilyn Monroe” by Maurice Zolotow. As I read about
Marilyn preparing to attend the world premiere of How To Marry A Millionaire, I
was a bit taken aback to read about the white fox furs that Marilyn wore to the
premiere, which included a white fox muff. According to Zolotow, these happened
to be the very first fur pieces Marilyn actually purchased with her own money. I
began to look for photos of Marilyn at this premiere, and sure enough…there she
was wearing the same white fox muff I had just bought at auction. The white fox
stole that she bought together with the muff sold at auction this year for
$57,500.00.
Another very interesting item in my collection is Marilyn’s green Pucci blouse.
Marilyn was captured on film wearing the blouse as she got into and out of a
limousine at her apartment on East 57th Street in New York City in 1962. Also,
she wore this blouse as she rehearsed her now famous rendition of "Happy
Birthday Mr. President," which she sang for President Kennedy at his birthday
gala in May of 1962. There are photos of her wearing this blouse on stage at
Madison Square Garden as she rehearsed. It’s my belief that this is the blouse
Marilyn wore when the last ever photos of her alive were taken when she was at
the Cal-Neva Lodge in Lake Tahoe, July 28 and 29, 1962. The photos are in black
and white, and Marilyn was described as wearing a green blouse. She’s wearing a
Pucci shirt in the pictures, and to my knowledge this is the only green Pucci
blouse owned by Marilyn.
Trails from Marilyn’s fingertips can still be seen in the Erno Laszlo cream
makeup that is in my collection. It’s truly a “Marilyn was here” moment when
looking at the makeup.
If you had to choose ONE favorite piece from your collections, what would it be
and why?
Probably the one favorite piece in my collection is Marilyn’s mink collar. I
believe this to be her favorite fur, just due to how often she wore it. There
are many different photos of Marilyn wearing the collar on different occasions,
both in New York City and in London, England. Along with photographs, film
footage exists also and Marilyn can be seen wearing the collar as she walks
along the street with Milton Greene in New York in 1955.
How has Marilyn impacted your life overall? How would your life be different if
she were still alive today?
Marilyn has impacted my life in many different ways. I’m always fascinated when
I hear new stories about Marilyn from those who knew her. Also, because of
Marilyn, I’ve met some amazing and wonderful friends that have truly enriched my
life. Of course, I’d want to meet her if she were alive today.
Scott, tell me more about your website: marilynmonroecollection.com.
My website (www.MarilynMonroeCollection.com) gives me a way to share my
collection with Marilyn’s fans from all over the world. I receive email from
people every day with questions about Marilyn or other fans just writing to say
hello. I launched the site in August of 2003, and today the site receives
several hundred thousand visitors each year.
Tell me more about your Marilyn blog.
My blog (www.themarilynmonroecollection.blogspot.com) gives me a way to
communicate current news and information about Marilyn, along with my own
thoughts and opinions about her. I have a lot of fun with the blog because it’s
really a great way to write and publish information about Marilyn.
If you could tell Marilyn one thing right now, what would it be and why?
I’d tell her that countless people all over the world are holding a good thought
for her.
Marilyn Remembered: An Intimate Look at the Legend:
WHERE: The Hollywood Museum, 1660 N. Highland Avenue, Hollywood
WHEN: 10 am to 5 pm Thursday through Sunday
Begins June 1 and ends August 31, 2010
PRICE: $15 for adults; $12 for seniors and children under 12.
Public Info: (323) 464-7776
For more information, visit: MarilynMonroeCollection.com or
TheMarilynMonroeCollection.Blogspot.
***N. E. Francis is an established news journalist, specializing in arts and
entertainment features and is a radio correspondent for the weekly LGBTQ radio
program, Alternative Perspectives, every Tuesday on www.wrfg.org. She also
writes Tales from a California Blonde, a weekly column published every Saturday
exclusively at Examiner.com.
Ms. Francis is also a published poet, ghostwriter, film & theater critic and
upcoming children’s author. She owns an online art gallery featuring women
artists around the world. Contact her at ArtExaminer@comcast.net.***
She has been dead for nearly 50 years but the
spectre of Marilyn Monroe continues to haunt bookshelves and best- seller lists
across America. Ever since she died of a drug overdose in 1962, the iconic
actress has been immortalised in pop culture mythology as America's ultimate --
but most tragic -- beauty.
Since her lonely death at the age of 36, hundreds of books and articles have
been penned about her life and loves. Scores of documentaries have dissected
every detail of her three failed marriages and her chronic dependency on drugs.
And an entire memorabilia empire worth millions of dollars has risen in her
wake.
And yet, despite this deluge of information, the public still wants more.
A new book heralded as yet another "definitive biography" about the enigmatic
actress has just hit bookshelves in America, promising readers "explosive" new
details about Monroe's life, particularly her alleged affair with slain
president John F Kennedy.
Written by celebrity biographer J Randy Taraborrelli, The Secret Life of Marilyn
Monroe claims to uncover new details about Monroe's tortured relationship with
her mentally ill mother and her troubled childhood and adolescence.
The book also alleges that celebrated singer Frank Sinatra -- who enjoyed an
on-off romance with the Some Like It Hot actress in the early 1960s -- could
have saved Monroe's life had he not thrown her out of his house less than two
weeks before her death amid fears she might die in his company.
This week, Taraborrelli's book was ranked eleventh on the New York Time's
prestigious bestseller list.
However, some of America's most prominent book critics expressed disappointment
with the biography, pointing out that Taraborrelli had failed -- despite his
claims -- to reveal any previously hidden gems about Monroe's life.
"One reads doggedly through more than 500 pages of text and appendices hoping
for some flash of insight, something to justify all the hours Taraborrelli spent
cobbling this together, but not once does such a moment arrive," wrote veteran
Washington Post book critic Jonathan Yardley in one withering attack.
"Someone who knows nothing about Monroe's life and legend will find the
essential facts here, but no pleasure is to be derived from Taraborrelli's
recital of them."
But to millions of people across the world, it scarcely matters what salacious
details each new book on Monroe brings. For those who celebrate the actress as
the enduring epitome of feminine beauty, sexuality and vulnerability, her legacy
has lost none of its appeal.
"Marilyn set the standard for beauty in the 1950s and early 1960s, and she still
sets the standard today. We often hear about starlets and celebrities being
compared to Marilyn. Her look and style are imitated in red-carpet fashions and
photoshoots," Scott Fortner, a recognised expert on Marilyn Monroe and one of
the world's leading collectors of Monroe memorabilia, told the Weekend Review.
"It's amazing to think that this superstar from 50 years ago still reigns as one
of the most beautiful women in history."
Taraborrelli, who in the past has written biographies about Madonna, Jackie
Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor, based his research on extensive interviews with
many close associates of Monroe, including some of the secret service agents
assigned to protect JFK in the 1960s. In addition, he accessed previously unseen
files, including unpublished interviews and notes from 1950s reporters.
For a public with a seemingly insatiable appetite for salacious details about
the starlet's life, the book offers alleged details about Monroe's relationship
with JFK.
In previous biographies it was said that Monroe and the late president enjoyed
an intimate and lengthy affair that spanned several months but according to
Taraborrelli, "what Marilyn really shared with JFK was either one or two nights
of probable passion".
In one of the book's more revealing passages, Taraborrelli writes how the
president asked Monroe for her telephone number at a dinner party thrown by his
sister Patricia Kennedy Lawford, and her Hollywood actor husband, Peter Lawford,
in New York in February 1962.
According to Taraborrelli, JFK called Marilyn the very next day and invited her
to meet him at the home of Bing Crosby in Palm Springs a month later.
At that meeting in Palm Springs, "there was no question in my mind that Marilyn
and the President were together. They were having a good time. She'd had a lot
to drink. It was obvious they were intimate and that they were staying there
together for the night," said Philip Watson, a Los Angeles executive interviewed
by Taraborrelli.
A secret service agent assigned to protect Kennedy that weekend confirmed the
liaison to Taraborrelli but denied that the affair continued after Palm Springs.
"What we knew was that JFK and Marilyn had sex at Bing Crosby's, and that's it.
We didn't think it was a big deal. He had sex with a lot of women. She was just
one of many and it wasn't that noteworthy," the agent said.
"If there was more to it between them, they somehow managed to keep it from us
-- and I don't think you can keep something like that from the secret service."
But the affair was set to have terrible consequences. By this stage, Monroe was
deeply unstable. Addicted to a cartload of potentially deadly narcotics, she had
taken to injecting herself with barbiturates, a cocktail she laughingly referred
to as her "vitamin shots".
Obsessed with her weight, she was relying on colonic irrigation for weight loss,
often enduring multiple enemas in order to fit into a favorite dress
Drugged and unresponsive in the mornings, her make-up artist Allan Snyder would
begin applying her make-up while she lay groggily in bed. "There was no other
way," he said in the book. "It would take her so long to get up."
While the President filed his tryst with Monroe as "another notch -- albeit an
impressive one -- on his bed stand" says Taraborrelli, the actress sunk further
into a deep depression.
Seventeen days after the Palm Springs weekend, Monroe was found semi naked and
"almost dead" in a drug-induced coma in her Brentwood home in Los Angeles.
A close associate of Monroe told Taraborrelli exactly what had gone wrong. "JFK.
That's what was wrong. She'd just been jilted by the president of the United
States. It was Kennedy. That's why. Kennedy."
Four months later, she was dead. Her housekeeper found Monroe lifeless and prone
on her bed clutching her telephone in her right hand. Over 15 pill bottles stood
on her night stand.
Over time, despite the ruling of death by drug overdose, countless conspiracy
theories would abound about whether her death was suicide or murder.
Since that day, Monroe has been regularly listed as one of the top 10 earning
celebrities who are no longer alive, earning more in death than during her life.
For Fortner, who has been collecting Monroe memorabilia all his life -- and who
now owns, among others, the silk cape she wore to James Dean's East of Eden
premiere in 1955 -- the actress's rags-to-riches struggle remains her enduring
legacy.
Her touching vulnerability and tragic demise may explain, says Fortner, why so
many people continue to be fascinated by Monroe and why they still line up to
buy books about her life.
"She continues to hold such a fascination in the hearts and minds of the public
worldwide because people are intrigued with the Marilyn Monroe legend," said
Fortner.
"She had a difficult childhood, and worked hard to become an actress. She was
the biggest star of her lifetime. Her life ended tragically and too soon, and
the mystery surrounding her death is still discussed and often hotly debated.
"We all want to know the truth, but probably never will. It keeps us
interested."
Shortly after I wrote
my column on my addiction, I mean hobby, of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia, I
received several e-mails from fellow collectors explaining how they, too, have
had to downsize their collections. Scott from California shared a story of
having to downsize his display a few weekends ago.
I
turned a room in my home from my Marilyn Museum back to a bedroom,” Scott
said in the e-mail. “I went from seven display cabinets full of books and
memorabilia down to a bookcase and just one cabinet.”
Scott also sent me a before and after photo of the room, which I will
admit, looked much better before than after. He did say that luckily he
had enough storage in his home to scatter the other six cabinets here and
there.
Scott is also the owner of
MarilynMonroeCollection.com, which I highly recommend you spend a few
minutes looking through, as there is great detail of each and every item
he has in his possession. He has one of the most extensive collections of
“personal” items that were owned by Marilyn that I have ever seen. I would
love to have the Oct. 5, 1951, bank check that was signed by Marilyn
herself.
Scott also has had the honor of his collection being exhibited in a museum
in Hollywood in 2007 and 2008.
You have a great collection, Scott.
Melinda from Canada shared her passion for Marilyn as well.
“If I had my way my entire house would be filled with my Marilyn
collectibles,” she said in the e-mail.
I
couldn’t agree more. I wish I had the space to turn my house into a
Marilyn shrine. Of course, this isn’t the case with Melinda. She has a
spare room she calls her “office, which in reality is my Marilyn Monroe
shrine,” wrote Melinda.
She also has a Web site --
www.marilynmonroe.ca -- that includes photos of her collection and
many other Marilyn-related items. My favorite part of her Web site is the
tattoo page, which features three tattoos that Kat Von D of LA Ink has
produced, as well as many other images of Marilyn tattoos.
I
wonder if I could talk my wife into letting me get a tattoo of Marilyn.
Al from Hollywood, Fla., admitted his addiction with Marilyn Monroe, too.
“I have the same deal with my wife,” he wrote in an e-mail. “I can only
have some collectibles in my computer room, and the great majority is in
boxes too, just like yours.”
Al said it all started after he saw Marilyn in the film “Niagara” when he
was 12 years old. He collected papers and magazines about her after that,
but sadly a cleaning lady threw his collection away when he was a young
boy. Little by little over the years, Al built his collection back up and
now has a beautiful collection of Marilyn. He also sent me a photo of him
and his wife at Westwood Chapel standing beside the Marilyn crypt where a
memorial is held every year on Aug. 5. He also sent a picture of him
standing near Marilyn’s last home, where she passed away in 1962. Al also
represented the NJ2MM Yahoo fan club in 2006 at the Marilyn Memorial in
Los Angeles.
Receiving these e-mails from other collectors brought to my attention many
things that I didn’t know existed collection-wise as well as information
about Marilyn I wasn’t aware of.
My advice to you is if you have a hobby, find others who share your
passion and keep in contact with them. You may know a lot about it, but
you can always learn so much more.
David Hoover is the design editor for The Carthage Press. He also has
an addiction to Marilyn Monroe memorabilia. To contact David, email
dhoover@gatehousemedia.com
Entertainment memorabilia collector Scott Fortner
turns a discerning eye toward the leading glamour queen and sex goddess of all
time, Marilyn Monroe. His
website and
his blog are must reads for Marilyn fans. In the following interview, Scott
talks about all things Marilyn.
Fortner: I don't remember specifically when I became a Marilyn Monroe fan.
She's been a source of interest and fascination for me since a very early
age. I've been buying Marilyn related pieces my entire life, and my
collection includes everything from items that were personally owned by
Monroe, such as clothing and furs, makeup, personal items, cancelled bank
checks and documents, to Monroe autographs, postcards, books, magazines,
photos and other collectibles. I still have a Monroe poster that I
purchased about 20 years ago. My collection aspirations focus primarily on
Marilyn Monroe personally owned items, which I began acquiring in 2000.
ephemera:
Did you begin consciously, knowing what you would collect, or did you just
one day discover what you were doing?
Fortner: At first, I did not set out to consciously collect Monroe
memorabilia. I just purchased items here and there. I would unthinkingly
buy book about Marilyn or a magazine with an article about her whenever I
saw one. While my goal wasn't necessarily to have a large collection of
books about Monroe, I realized after a few years that I was running out of
room for places to store the books! Now, along with books and magazines on
Monroe, I also collect auction catalogs. All totaled, I have a library of
over 150 books, magazines, and auction catalogs primarily focused on
Marilyn Monroe.
One of the catalogs I purchased was the auction catalog from the 1999
Christie's sale, The Personal Property of Marilyn Monroe, which showcased
Marilyn's personal property and objects she owned. Not long after buying
this catalog, I began to see Marilyn owned items originally sold in 1999
being resold at auction, and I thought it would be amazing to own
something that Marilyn had owned and touched. The very first Monroe owned
item in my collection was a script for a Broadway play, "Maiden Voyage,"
which was written by Paul Osborne, who also wrote "East of Eden" and
"South Pacific." That first purchase in 2000 turned me into an avid
"Monroe Owned" collector. Since then, my passion has been collecting
Marilyn Monroe owned pieces.
ephemera:
What challenges or obstacles do you encounter as a collector? How do you
overcome these challenges?
Fortner: The biggest obstacles or challenges I experience as a collector
are simply that I cannot afford all of the pieces I'd like to add to my
collection. Marilyn Monroe owned property is extremely desirable, and
amazingly, some Monroe owned items sell for nearly double--or more--what
they may have sold for in the past. For example, in December, 2008, a
Monroe owned jacket with a fur collar sold at auction for over $58,000.00.
When this same jacket was first sold in 1999, the hammer price was
$27,600.00. Film costumes and other high profile clothing items
traditionally sell for six figures or more, and the dress Monroe wore when
she sang Happy Birthday to President Kennedy at Madison Square Garden in
1962 sold for an astonishing $1.3 million in 1999. Today, this dress holds
a record as being the most expensive ever sold. Overcoming the
financial resources challenge isn't always easy. I simply focus on saving
for that next big Monroe item that comes along.
ephemera: What are your favorite items in the collection?
Fortner: I have several items in my collection that I'd say are my
favorite pieces. While to me they're all important and special, some are
just fascinating to behold:
One of these items would be a natural mink fur collar that Marilyn wore in
New York City in the mid 1950s, and also when she was in England filming
"The Prince and The Showgirl." She wore this collar often, so I feel it
was one of her favorites. I have many photos of her wearing it in
different settings and there's video footage of her wearing it as well.
Another
favorite item of mine is a silk evening cape that Marilyn wore to the
premier of "East of Eden," the 1955 James Dean film. Unfortunately, the
dress that accompanied the cape is probably forever lost. I've never seen
it up for auction. I think that Marilyn looked truly spectacular at this
event, so I feel really lucky to own this piece.
Regarding ephemera pieces, I have several favorites: Marilyn Monroe's
personal Screen Actors Guild (SAG) membership card. This membership card
covers 1959-60, around the time Marilyn received the Golden Globe Award as
Best Actress in a Comedy for "Some Like It Hot." An unsigned bank
check from Monroe's personal account, written on August 3, 1962. The check
is made out to "Department of Water & Power" for $52.59, payment for
service from 5/25 to 7/27, 1962. The check was awaiting her signature. On
August 4, Marilyn retired to her bedroom around 8:00 p.m. and was found
dead in her bed eight hours later. The check was never signed. A
1959 birthday card from half-sister Berniece, sent to Marilyn on her 33rd
birthday. Monroe's personal script for 1953's smash hit, "How To
Marry A Millionaire," with Marilyn's part of Pola circled throughout.
Marilyn's personal album of film stars. In the late 30s and early 40s,
packs of cigarettes included collectible trading cards. You could buy an
album to store and display the cards, and the album included biographies
of popular celebrities from that era. Marilyn's album is full, and it
includes Gene Harlow, who was Marilyn's idol when she was little. Also
included is a card for Clark Gable, who Marilyn had hoped was her father
when she was young. It's interesting that "The Misfits" was the final
completed film for both Monroe and Gable. The album also includes cards on
Joan Crawford, Bette Davis and Gary Cooper. Most fans don't know that
Marilyn collected stamps and trading cards. This album is more than likely
an early piece from Marilyn's childhood, and was something very special to
her. She kept it her entire life.
Monroe's
personal magazine collection, consisting of seven gossip magazines.
Marilyn is featured on three covers as well as in many articles. The Foto
Parade magazine that's part of this collection was the first ever issue,
circa 1948. It features Marilyn on the cover, and it introduces her as a
new Hollywood starlet. The 3D Movie magazine in the collection is actually
pictured with Marilyn holding it!
ephemera: What advice do you have for anyone that might like to collect
memorabilia?
Fortner: Primarily, when considering purchasing a celebrity owned item,
one should look to see if it's perhaps photographed with the celebrity,
which of course helps to verify authenticity. For a film used or worn
piece, one should ensure that it actually is the item allegedly used in
the film. A collector should also look to verify the provenance on the
items being offered for auction. Unfortunately, the celebrity and
entertainment memorabilia field is saturated with fake collectibles.
Ensuring authenticity is paramount when considering purchasing a celebrity
owned or film used piece.
I
don’t actually remember exactly when I became a Marilyn Monroe fan, I’ve
basically been collecting Marilyn items my entire life. I started
collecting Marilyn Monroe personally owned items about nine years ago,
which was when things started coming up on the market from her personal
estate.
Initially I started collecting books on Marilyn, biographies, coffee table
books, any book I could get my hands on. One was the catalogue from the
1999 Christie’s sale, The Personal Property of Marilyn Monroe, which
showcased Marilyn’s personal property and objects she owned. I soon
started seeing Marilyn’s items come up on the auction block, and I thought
it would be amazing to own something Marilyn owned. It has taken off from
there.
Collectors Weekly: What are some of your favorite items of Marilyn’s that
you own?
Fortner: One of my favorites is a natural mink fur collar that
Marilyn wore in New York City in the mid 1950s, and also wore when she was
in England filming The Prince and The Showgirl. It’s really glamorous. She
wore it often, and I feel it was one of her favorites. I have many photos
of her wearing it in different settings and there’s video footage of her
wearing it as well. Another favorite is a silk evening cape Marilyn wore
to the premier of East of Eden, James Dean’s film made in 1955. She looked
so glamorous and happy at that event, and I feel really lucky to own this
cape. Its a real show stopper.
I’m also really interested in Marilyn’s more intimate and personal items.
I have an item from her childhood, which is an album of film stars. In the
late 30s and early 40s, packs of cigarettes included collectible trading
cards, with photos and biographies of popular celebrities. You could buy
an album to store and display the cards. So the album is just full of
celebrity cards.
Marilyn’s album includes cards on Gene Harlow, who was Marilyn’s idol when
she was little. And also on Clark Gable, who Marilyn had hoped was her
father when she was young. It’s interesting that The Misfits was the final
completed film for both Monroe and Gable. The album also includes cards
on Joan Crawford, Bette Davis and Gary Cooper. This album is probably an
early piece from Marilyn’s childhood, and was something very special to
her. She kept it her whole life.
Collectors Weekly: How do you acquire these rare and personal possessions?
Fortner: Mostly at auction. There are big entertainment
memorabilia auctions every year at Christie’s, Bonham’s, and Julien’s.
Often I’m also approached by private sellers who have items that they’ve
purchased at other auctions or that have been in their family. And believe
it or not, some things are given to me.
Collectors Weekly: How do you know if an item is original?
Fortner: Lots of research. There are a lot of fake Monroe owned
items on the market right now. Some pieces are obviously Marilyn’s because
they’re from a past Monroe auction, and I like to focus on these items. I
also have many documents, bank statements, and invoices with her name on
them, checks that she signed, and so on.
The best way to ensure an item is authentic is if it’s actually pictured
with Marilyn, as many of my pieces are. Some items in my collection are
also written about in biographies, for example the white fox muff that
Marilyn wore to the world premiere of How to Marry a Millionaire. The
story behind this piece is an interesting one. The muff was part of a lot
of furs that I purchased at a Christie’s auction a couple of years ago,
and that lot was originally auctioned at the Christie’s 1999 sale.
Initially, I thought the muff might never have been used, that it was just
an accessory she had. I was more focused on other pieces from that lot.
Not long after purchasing the muff, I was reading “Marilyn Monroe,” a book
by Maurice Zolotow. As I read the passage about Marilyn preparing to
attend the world premiere of How To Marry A Millionaire, I was a bit taken
aback to read about white fox furs that Marilyn wore to the premiere,
including a white fox muff. According to Zolotow, these happened to be
the very first fur pieces Marilyn actually purchased with her own money.
I began to look for photos of Marilyn at this premiere, and sure
enough…there she was wearing the same muff.
Interestingly, when Marilyn was a starlet she didn’t have a large
wardrobe. She borrowed clothing from the studio. When she went to
publicity events, they weren’t her clothes she was wearing, they were
studio pieces. But, this particular fur was one she actually purchased
herself
Collectors Weekly: Where do you keep and display your collection?
Fortner: I keep the clothing in acid free boxes with acid free
tissue, out of the light. I don’t display it for long periods of time
because this stuff is from the 50s and 60s and it stresses the material. I
keep the documents in acid free boxes and out of the direct sunlight. I
try to handle my items as little as possible.
My collection is currently on display at the Hollywood Museum in
Hollywood, California, in an exhibit called Marilyn Monroe, American Icon.
This is the second year in a row I’ve loaned my collection to the museum
and it runs June 1 (Marilyn’s birthday), through the end of August. It’s a
great opportunity for fans to come and see Marilyn’s personal items and
experience her up close and personal.
Collectors Weekly: How many Marilyn Monroe memorabilia collectors are out
there?
Fortner: There are countless collectors because she has such a
huge fan base. People collect anything from trading cards to postcards to
magazines to dolls to plates; there are many different ways that people
can collect Marilyn. People collect what interests them most. I know
people who have every single plate that’s ever been made or every single
Marilyn Merlot ever produced. But there are fewer people who collect
Marilyn Monroe personal items.
Personally I’m fascinated by being able to own something she herself
owned, touched, or wore. But financial resources are a huge obstacle. I
don’t have unlimited resources, I’m not extremely wealthy; I’m just lucky
to have a professional position that affords me the opportunity to fulfill
my passion. Marilyn is pretty expensive. Marilyn, Elvis, and James Dean
are the three top celebrities for collectors.
Collectors Weekly: Have you noticed any changes in collecting
entertainment memorabilia over the years?
Fortner: Obviously the Internet has made it much easier for
dealers and collectors to connect. It’s interesting to see the same
Monroe owned pieces come back up for sale and keep track of what they sell
for over the years. Prices for Marilyn items definitely remain a constant,
either the prices stay the same or go up, so it’s definitely a good
investment. Prices at the 1999 Christie’s auction were very high, and some
pieces have actually re-sold for more than what they originally sold for.
Others have sold for less, but not many. There’s a huge demand for
Marilyn.
Collectors Weekly: Tell us more about the Christie’s sale.
Fortner: It was called The Personal Property of Marilyn Monroe.
On October 27th and 28th, 1999, Marilyn’s entire estate was put up for
auction. Everything that had been in storage since 1962 when she died was
auctioned off. Many referred to it as a time capsule. Her personal
clothing, scripts, awards, furniture, kitchenware, glassware, all of her
estate. It’s known as the sale of the century. Marilyn collectors and
enthusiasts call the catalogue from that sale The Bible. The sale made
over 13 million dollars. Then there was the big Julien’s sale in 2005,
known as Property from the Estate of Marilyn Monroe. That auction
consisted of the remainder of Marilyn’s estate that was not put up for
auction in 1999.
Collectors Weekly: What else have you learned that’s really interesting
about Marilyn Monroe?
Fortner: Marilyn was a huge celebrity, and a lot of people focus
on the beauty, the glamour, and the sex symbol aspect of her persona. But
she was also a real person. She received invoices and letters, paid bills,
and wrote checks, so to me those are the personal items that show she
lived a day to day life like everyone else.
Also, she was also a very shrewd business woman, very in touch with her
public image. She was concerned about how she was perceived. A lot of
people think Marilyn really was the dumb blonde and pinup that she
portrayed. She was actually very smart and shrewd. She was careful about
the decisions and choices she made when it came to what films she would be
in, and even in statements she made in public.
Collectors Weekly: What advice would you have for someone just starting
out collecting movie star or entertainment memorabilia?
Fortner: Number one, make sure the items are authentic. There are
so many fake Monroe owned items on the market today. There just isn’t an
unlimited supply of earrings, necklaces, and clothing that Marilyn herself
owned or gifted to other people. It can’t all be authentic. It’s easy to
forge letters of authenticity. Even buying from an auction house doesn’t
necessarily mean an item is authentic. I’d recommend focusing on items
that originally came from Marilyn Monroe’s estate.
If you can find something that’s pictured with Marilyn, that’s even
better. Items that were allegedly gifted by Marilyn to someone else are
more difficult to prove authentic.
Number two, stick with a celebrity or star you feel you have a real
connection to, someone you’re really interested in, and will be long term.
You don’t want to be spending money on a collection and then get bored.
You’ll regret spending all that cash.
And number three, don’t get caught up in the emotion of buying, especially
if you’re at an auction. Set your financial limits. If you can’t afford
it, don’t buy it. Also, don’t forget about the buyer’s premium, the hammer
price is never the final price because you still have to pay the auction
house. In some cases, the buyer’s premium is 25%of the hammer price! The
premium is the fee charged by the auction house for selling the item from
the owner.
Showcased on Entertainment Tonight's live
broadcast on Wednesday, August 6, 2008. For photos and more information on
this exhibit and previous exhibits,
click here.
Almost 46 years after her death, Marilyn Monroe's star is shining brighter
than ever this week, thanks to two hotly anticipated auctions featuring a
treasure trove of the screen legend's personal belongings.
Clothing, furniture and previously unseen documents relating to the iconic
blond are all going under the hammer at today’s Bonhams and Butterfields'
auction in L.A., while over 100 lots of vintage photographs, personal
effects and never-before-seen film footage will be offered through
Julien's Auctions in Las Vegas this weekend.
Experts are calling the double bill the most significant bonanza of Monroe
memorabilia since Christie's New York sold off items from Monroe's estate
in 1999, raising a whopping $13.5 million.
Although she became one of the most written-about women in the world,
information about her troubled final months has surfaced in one of
Bonhams' most fascinating items, a collection of previously undiscovered
chauffeur receipts from the Carey Cadillac Renting Co. The papers shed new
light on Monroe's movements on and around her final birthday, just two
months before her untimely death on Aug. 5, 1962.
"Those receipts verify that she was driven home around 3 a.m., which is a
little bit different than people in the past implying that she had spent
that night home alone," says leading Monroe collector Scott Fortner, whose
extensive collection of Monroe memorabilia is on display at the Hollywood
Museum.
Darren Julien, head of Julien's Auctions and an expert at ranking the
salability of celebrities, says no one beats Monroe, who would have turned
82 on June 1.
"She's the top. Elvis is comparable, but there are some things of
Marilyn's that just go over the top," he says. "About a year ago, we had a
Monroe umbrella that we estimated at $10,000 to $20,000, and people said,
'You're never going to sell it; it's just an umbrella.' It went for
$49,000." Explaining her appeal, he adds: "She's larger than life,
yet people identify with her. She seemed very human and had such a tragic
life."
Julien's Auction expects the big attention-getter to be 47 minutes of
previously unviewed, behind-the-scenes footage of Monroe and Clark Gable
filming "The Misfits." "We've had huge interest already," he says. "It's
up-close and personal footage of them talking to the director and Marilyn
reading her script and rehearsing scenes."
"There are some exciting items at these auctions that are drawing a real
buzz amongst collectors," agrees Fortner. "The pieces from Marilyn's
Brentwood home, like the footstool and pencil cup, are pretty rare. A lot
of people focus on Marilyn's celebrity and forget that she was a real
person, so the personal documents give a unique insight into her life that
isn't common to the casual Marilyn fan." Julien believes the intense
interest will cause final sale values to skyrocket.
"There's a dramatic difference between the price that items sold for in
1999 and the price they'll sell for today," he says, estimating that the
most-sought-after items may sell for 10 times what they sold for in 1999.
"The auctions are easier to access and the weakness of the dollar has
encouraged collectors from Europe and Asia who weren't that active in the
past," explains Julien, who expects 4,000 to 6,000 active bidders, thanks
to the Internet.
Bidding began on www.bonhams.com this morning at 10, while Julien's
Auction goes live on Saturday at 10 a.m. at www.juliensauctions.com,
though bidders must pre-register to participate.
"We have a lot more competition now. There's a limited supply that's
getting smaller and smaller and more valuable," says Greg Schreiner, who
has one of the world's most extensive Monroe collections.
"Often it's the same old items coming up for auction, but the new items
that are appearing this year are creating a lot of excitement," he adds.
"Items that she wore or that she touched are probably more valuable, but
it always depends on the interests of the collector. When I was in New
York for the 1999 auction, a Polaroid of her dog sold for $200,000 and it
was estimated at about $50. Marilyn wasn't even in the photo."
Describing her lasting appeal, Schreiner says: "Marilyn is one of those
unique people, like James Dean or Elvis, who is always going to be popular
and become more of a legend every year. To own a Marilyn item 100 years
from now, wow, can you imagine how special that would be?"
Though Schreiner is adamant that he won't be unloading any items from his
own collection anytime soon, he does have advice for fans willing to try
their luck in the bidding frenzy.
"Personally, I've never regretted going a little higher than I should
have," he confides. "But, I would say, just be cautious, know how much you
can spend, then go for it and have a ball."
New York (ANI): Marilyn Monroe's personal
belongings will be going under the hammer for the first time in almost 46 years
in two separate auctions. The screen legend's clothing, furniture and previously
unseen documents are all going under the hammer at Bonhams and Butterfields'
auction in L.A., while over 100 lots of vintage photographs, personal effects
and never-before-seen film footage will be offered through Julien's Auctions in
Las Vegas this weekend.
According to experts, the double bill are the most significant bonanza of Monroe
memorabilia since Christie's New York sold off items from the blonde's estate in
1999, raising a whopping 13.5 million dollars. Information about the actress'
troubled final months has surfaced in one of Bonhams' most fascinating items, a
collection of previously undiscovered chauffeur receipts from the Carey Cadillac
Renting Co.
The documents throw new light on Monroe's movements on and around her final
birthday, just two months before her untimely death on Aug. 5, 1962. "Those
receipts verify that she was driven home around 3 a.m., which is a little bit
different than people in the past implying that she had spent that night home
alone," the New York Daily News quoted leading Monroe collector Scott Fortner,
whose extensive collection of Monroe memorabilia is on display at the Hollywood
Museum, as saying.
Darren Julien, head of Julien's Auctions and an expert at ranking the salability
of celebrities, said that no one beats Monroe. "She's the top. Elvis is
comparable, but there are some things of Marilyn's that just go over the top.
About a year ago, we had a Monroe umbrella that we estimated at 10,000 dollars
to 20,000 dollars, and people said, 'You're never going to sell it; it's just an
umbrella.' It went for 49,000 dollars," he said.
Julien's Auction expects that the 47 minutes of previously unveiled,
behind-the-scenes footage of Monroe and Clark Gable filming The Misfits, would
be the biggest attention-getter. "We've had huge interest already. It's up-close
and personal footage of them talking to the director and Marilyn reading her
script and rehearsing scenes," he said.
Fortner said: "There are some exciting items at these auctions that are drawing
a real buzz amongst collectors. The pieces from Marilyn's Brentwood home, like
the footstool and pencil cup, are pretty rare. A lot of people focus on
Marilyn's celebrity and forget that she was a real person, so the personal
documents give a unique insight into her life that isn't common to the casual
Marilyn fan."
In 1999, People magazine voted Marilyn Monroe "Sexiest Woman of the Century."
That same year, the former Miss California Artichoke Queen was also named
"Sexiest Female of all Time" by Empire magazine and "Number One Sex Star of the
20th Century" by the editors of Playboy.
Since her death in 1962, Monroe has evolved from Hollywood starlet into licensed
commodity. Her name and image net her estate some $2 million annually. Items
associated with Monroe continue to appreciate in value. Copies of the initial
issue of Playboy magazine, featuring the one-time model as Hugh Hefner's
inaugural "Sweetheart of the Month," command upwards of $40,000 (or $20,000 per
staple).
"Stars like Marilyn Monroe or James Dean -- people who only lived a short period
of time -- their fame transcends their life," says Ron Boily, a local Monroe
memorabilia collector. "I think that's part of her attraction, that she's never
going to grow old. She'll always be beautiful."
Boily, 59, latched onto Monroe about 30 years ago after seeing her movies on
late-night television.
Since then, he has become known as "the Marilyn guy."
"I used to wear a different Marilyn tie to work each day. T-shirts -- you name
it. I've got all kinds of things," he says, adjusting the collar of his
one-of-a-kind leather jacket that boasts a silk-screened Monroe on its back.
Boily, now a professional photographer, once served as program director for the
Manitoba Antiques Association. "A lot of the dealers knew I were into Marilyn,
so they'd always tell me if they found something," he says. "At the same time, I
went to flea markets and garage sales. Nowadays, I mostly just shop on eBay."
Boily devotes an entire room in his suburban split-level to the blond bombshell.
That he's been able to build his massive collection of plates, posters, pendants
and candy dishes -- he's even got an officially sanctioned pocket knife -- is a
nod to his understanding better half.
"My wife only asks that I keep my things in my room, neat and tidy," Boily says
with a laugh. "There are a few Marilyn light-switch plates upstairs, but the
rest of the house is off limits."
Boily's most cherished collectible is a "Happy Birthday, Mr. President Doll"
produced by Franklin Mint. The porcelain likeness stands 46 centimetres tall and
is draped with a replica of the gold lamé gown Monroe wowed JFK with in 1962.
"And listen to this -- it's her real voice," Boily says, pressing a button near
the toy's base, initiating Monroe's sultry rendition of Happy Birthday To You.
"I think that if Marilyn were alive today and were to see my collection, she
would be pleased," Boily says.
Scott Fortner is one of the world's foremost Marilyn Monroe archivists. He has
attended a number of high-profile auctions devoted to her personal effects.
"The first Christie's auction was absolutely huge. It's been called the Sale of
the Century and was attended by hundreds, if not thousands," Fortner says in
reference to the October 1999 affair that raked in US $13.4 million. Among the
memorabilia up for grabs were a used makeup case -- which netted $266,000 -- and
Monroe's childhood piano. The latter was scooped up by pop star Mariah Carey for
$620,000. (The aforementioned gold presidential gown brought in the highest bid
of the night: $1.3 million.)
Fortner's own collection includes the fox-fur muff Monroe sported at the
premiere of the 1953 movie How To Marry a Millionaire and a mink collar she wore
while filming The Prince and the Showgirl in 1957.
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