Before “The Seven Year Itch” was released in 1955 and became the iconic Monroe comedy classic we all now know and love, it first came to life on Broadway with none other than Tom Ewell in the male leading role.
Here Tom Ewell is photographed with Vanessa Brown the original actress to play “The Girl” in “Itch.”
“The Seven Year Itch” opened on Broadway at the Fulton Theater on November 20, 1952 and ran for 1,141 performances closing in August of 1955, two months after the June premiere of the Monroe movie.
The Seven Year Itch Broadwat production at the Fulton Theatre , New York , USA , 20 November 1952 13 August 1955 . Written by George Axelrod . Directed by John Gerstad . Shown from left : Tom Ewell , Vanessa Brown .
This is by NO means a comparison between the two leading ladies, there is no doubt that Vanessa gave an incredible performance, It’s just fun to see the similarites and differences between the two.
Here is a great photograph taken in Chicago 1955, at The Oriental Theatre when The Seven Year Itch was released in cinemas… shout out when you can spot Marilyn!
June 1st 2020 marks an incredible 65 years since the premiere of “The Seven Year Itch” the classic comedy starring Marilyn Monroe and Tom Ewell.
The premiere of “The Seven Year Itch” on June 1st 1955 was a star-studded gala. To mark the event, the Lowe’s State Theatre in Times Square recieved a 52 foot high poster of Marilyn in billowing skirts, at a cost of around $1,500. The original had to be replaced with a less revealing image after complaints were reported. Marilyn was escorted by DiMaggio (she told reporters “We’re just good friends” but than didn’t stop a frenzy of press speculation that a reconcilliation was taking place) into the theatre, where the screening was attended, by among others, Grace Kelly, Henry Fonda, Margaret Truman, Eddie Fisher, Judy Holliday and Richard Rodgers.
The movie was the biggest hit of the summer, grossing almost $5million, and going on to top anywhere between $6 and $15 million by the end of its initial run, depending on who is providing the figures.
Source: The Marilyn Monroe Encyclopedia by Adam Victor
These stunning pictures of Marilyn Monroe during her trip to Bement, Illinois in 1955 have recently surfaced online. Fans have been taken aback by how fresh and new they look, as if they could have been taken in 2019.
Monroe arrived in Bement on August 7th 1955 to judge a beard contest celebrating the towns centennial celebrations. She looks relaxed and happy as she leaves the areoplane, posing for photographers and gently tugging on one of the entrants whiskers!
