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Preserving the Memory of Marilyn Monroe with Dignity and Grace

Posts Tagged with Villa Nova

THE VILLA NOVA
Published March 12, 2019

THE VILLA NOVA

The Villa Nova restaurant, the location of Marilyn and Joe’s first ever date, as it looked in their day.  The restaurant was owned by Director Vincente Minelli, who was then married to Judy Garland and the venue had a strict “No press!” rule in place, making it popular with the stars of the day.

March 8th 1952, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio go on their first ever date at the Villa Nova restaurant on Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood.  This would start a relationship and also friendship between the two of them which would ultimately last until Marilyn’s death in 1962.

Joe was keen to meet Marilyn after he saw a photograph of her in a newspaper, posing with Chicago White Sox players Joe Dobson and Gus Zernial.  The sight of Marilyn, in a pair of figure hugging white hot pants, a tight jersey blouse, and of course a baseball cap, prompted him to ask Zernial, “Who’s the blonde?”

                                                                                 The photo that started it all

When Joe found out that one of his drinking pals at Toots Shor’s, David March, knew Marilyn personally, he pestered him to set up a double date, with March’s current belle, actress Peggy Rabe.  This took place on March 8th 1952 at the Villa Nova Italian restaurant on Sunset Boulevard.  Marilyn apparently arrived two hours late, but Joe waited for her all the same.  Many accounts of the events, however, maintain that the evening out was just Joe and Marilyn, and not a double date at all. The date went well and Marilyn drove DiMaggio back to the Knickerboker Hotel where he was staying at the time.

Marilyn, recalling her first meeting with Joe said: “I expected a flashy New York sports type, and instead I met this reserved guy who didn’t make a pass at me right away.  I had dinner with him almost every night for two weeks.  He treated me like something special.  Joe is a very decent man, and he makes other people feel decent too.”

Needless to say, the couple went on to date for nearly 2 years, before marrying on January 14th 1954.

                                                          In happier times:  Marilyn and Joe on their wedding day


 The Villa Nova as Marilyn and Joe knew it was taken over in 1972 and renamed “The Rainbow Bar and Grill.”  It is now no longer an intimate Italian restaurant, but a heavy metal and glam rock bar.  It is still an immensly popular hotspot in the LA nightlife and offers live music every Wednesday, as well as wide range of delicious food and drinks on offer at reasonable prices… and the portion sizes are really good, which is always a bonus!

Not to back away from their history, you can still spot Marilyn at the Rainbow if you keep your eyes peeled:

Find it:
The Rainbow Bar and Grill (formerly The Villa Nova) can be found at 9015 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069, USA
website: http://www.rainbowbarandgrill.com/

Sources:
The Marilyn Encyclopedia by Adam Victor

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    Marilyn on the Gentlemen Prefer Blondes set with M Marilyn on the Gentlemen Prefer Blondes set with Marguerite Masi, the wife of Victor “Chic” Masi, a childhood friend of Joe DiMaggio. 
#marilyn #joedimaggio #gentlemenpreferblondes #marilynremembered #realmarilynmonroe #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilynmonroe
    ❤️The ICONIC and unforgettable "Diamonds Are A ❤️The ICONIC and unforgettable "Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend" musical number from "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" started filming 70 years ago this week!❤️

George Chakiris, Oscar Winning Actor, was a background dancer for the number, recalled these memories of filming the legendary musical number:

“One of my favorite credits is to say that I worked behind Marilyn Monroe and I love saying that.” George remembers fondly, “ She was phenomenal. She only about twenty six when she made that film but Marilyn was an actress who was deeply concerned about her work and was very conscientious. Let me give you an example of her professionalism: If there ever was a cut for any reason, she never went back to her trailer to check her makeup. She’d be there on her starting mark and ready for the next shot."

"Jack Cole was clearly Marilyn's favourite choreographer.  She loved him and he was absolutely perfect for her.  He was one of the great choreographers not only for film but for the stage as well, and for the musical numbers he took over the direction.  The work was very demanding and he was very demanding. 

We rehearsed three weeks or more for the 'Diamonds' sequence, and it took three days to shoot.  The last day they went overtime, because Jack had to go back to New York to do a show, so instead of working until 6pm, I believe we worked up until 9pm, and then Jack raced off to the airport.."
#marilynmonroe #georgechakiris #jackcole #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilyn #diamondsareagirlsbestfriend #realmarilynmonroe
    A less common photo of Marilyn from 1952 #marilynm A less common photo of Marilyn from 1952
#marilynmonroe #realmarilynmonroe #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilyn #1950s #1950style
    ⭐️HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARK GABLE!⭐️ Happy bir ⭐️HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARK GABLE!⭐️

Happy birthday to the one and only King of Hollywood, Clark Gable on what would have been his 122nd birthday.

Marilyn spoke about her time working with Gable on the set of The Misfits:
“The place was full of so-called men, but Clark was the only one who brought a chair for me between takes. He never got angry with me once for blowing a line or being late or anything — he was a gentlemen. The best.”

Gable was equally as complimentary about Marilyn, he once said:
"Marilyn is a kind of ultimate.  She is uniquely feminine.  Everything she does is different, strange and exciting, from the way she talks to the way she uses that magnificent torso.  She makes a man proud to be a man.”

After Clark’s death on Novemeber 16th, 1960, Marilyn was quoted as saying:
“Clark Gable was one of the finest men I ever met. He was one of the most decent human beings anyone could have encountered anywhere. He was an excellent guy to work with. Knowing him and working with him was a great personal joy. I send all my love to and deepest sympathy to his wife, Kay.”

Happy Birthday Clark, forever the King of Hollywood.
#marilynmonroe #clarkgable #king #longlivetheking #oldhollywood #classichollywood #realmarilynmonroe #marilyn #birthday #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #gable #hollywoodhistory
    Happy Heavenly Birthday David Wayne! (January 30th Happy Heavenly Birthday David Wayne! (January 30th 1914 - 9th February 1995.)

David Wayne was an American stage and screen actor with a career spanning over 50 years.  Marilyn fans will recognise him as being her most frequent co-star, sharing the billing with Marilyn in no less than 4 of her movies: 
"As Young As You Feel"
"We're Not Married!"
"O Henry's Full House"
"How To Marry A Millionaire"

With little or no screen time shared in "As Young As You Feel" and "O Henry's Full House," they were on screen lovers in "We're Not Married!" and "How To Marry A Millionaire."

Wayne was quoted as saying (on her performance in "How To Marry A Millionaire")
"Negulesco (the Director) was very good with her and handled her beautifully.  Of course she was always late, but I don't think either Betty Grable or Lauren Bacall minded her.  They were tough old pros and knew their business.  There again, I also recall Marilyn being quite capable in her scenes with the other two girls.  I wasn't necessarily in the scene with them, but I'd sit next to Negulesco and watch the three of them work and by that time I thought that Marilyn had got a little technique under her belt."

Happy birthday David! 😃
#marilynmonroe #davidwayne #oldhollywood #classichollywood #realmarilynmonroe #marilyn #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub
    This is what a Queen looks like walking down the s This is what a Queen looks like walking down the street.
#marilyn #realmarilynmonroe #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilynmonroe
    ❤️ Rest In Peace photographer George S. Zimbel ❤️ Rest In Peace photographer George S. Zimbel ❤️

George spoke about his time photographing Marilyn on the set of the "Seven Year Itch" in 1954 and recalled this:

“Finally when they started filming, (Joe ) DiMaggio walked right off the set, right in the middle of the film shoot, right in front of the camera, everything stopped... And that's where I had my favourite photograph of serious Marilyn, she just stopped.  And the light is just coming down, light, light, light, light right on top of her head and it's all black except for her.  It was a heavy moment.”

Quote taken from the fantastic documentary: "Marilyn: Still Life."
#marilyn #realmarilynmonroe #joedimaggio #thesevenyearitch #sevenyearitch #marilynmonroe #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub
    ❤️ George S. Zimbel Appreciation post ❤️ ❤️ George S. Zimbel Appreciation post ❤️

With the sad news of Mr Zimbel's passing, let's show love for some of his stunning photographs of Marilyn, taken on the night of September 1954 in New York, whilst the filming of the famous 'upskirt' scene from "The Seven Year Itch" was taking place.

For more photos, check out his website:

https://georgezimbel.com/
#marilyn #realmarilynmonroe #thesevenyearitch #sevenyearitch #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilynmonroe
    ❤️ HAPPY 7OTH BIRTHDAY "NIAGARA" ❤️ Maril ❤️ HAPPY 7OTH BIRTHDAY "NIAGARA" ❤️

Marilyn Monroe enjoyed a good working relationship with her co-stars, in particular with her leading man, Joseph Cotten: 

“I enjoyed her company. I enjoyed working with her,” Cotten said  about working with Marilyn Monroe in her first starring role. He said  she had an appetite for laughter and was aware of her sense of humor  describing her as a “pretty clown.  Cotten recalls hearing about her  death and receiving a phone call from the Associated Press for a  comment. “At first I was sure it had to be an accident. Such buoyancy  of spirit, such sparkling anticipation, such a happy and comic attitude  would deny support to any theory,” he wrote. “But she had such moments  of fear and insecurity….As to all the other furtive theories-cover-up,  murder, etc. – I have no knowledge or interest in such sordidness. I  knew and acted with Marilyn Monroe. I am proud of having that  privilege.”
#marilyn #josephcotten #niagara #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilynmonroe #realmarilynmonroe
    ❤️ HAPPY 70TH 'NIAGARA' ❤️ "Do you walk i ❤️ HAPPY 70TH 'NIAGARA' ❤️

"Do you walk in real life the way you do in 'Niagara?' "

Marilyn: "I never think about the way I walk.  But since I was playing a certain type of girl in the picture who was not myself, and since the way I walked helped emphasize her, I walked as I did.
I'm sure my real-life walk is not exactly the same."
#marilyn #niagara #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #realmarilynmonroe
    <3 HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY 'NIAGARA' <3 These stunnin <3 HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY 'NIAGARA' <3

These stunning costumes from the movie 'Niagara,' (screen worn and used in publicity photos) have been auctioned in recent years.
#marilyn #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilynremonroe #niagara #costumetest #costume #costumedesign
    ❤️ HAPPY 70TH 'NIAGARA' ❤️ Which of these ❤️ HAPPY 70TH 'NIAGARA' ❤️
Which of these screen worn outfits that Marilyn wears in "Niagara" is your favourite?
#marilynmonroe #niagara #filmnoir #realmarilynmonroe #marilynremembered #marilynrememberedfanclub #marilyn
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