1962 Archives -

Published August 9, 2020

COLOUR PHOTOS EMERGE OF MONROE’S FUNERAL

Countless photographs and even video footage of Marilyn Monroe’s funeral on August 8th 1962 at Westwood Memorial Chapel have always been been readily available to the public, but only in black and white… until now.

These never-before-seen colour photographs of Monroe’s funeral have recently surfaced and have rocked the Marilyn community to its core.

Many thanks to Tracy Knauss, who uploaded the photographs with this caption:

“Never-before-seen, rare color photos of Marilyn Monroe’s funeral. A client of mine was only 22 years old when he accidentally came upon the funeral of Marilyn Monroe. He jumped the fence and got a handful of shots that hadn’t been seen until I scanned these images for him last month. Monroe died 58 years ago today in 1962. You might find some of them interesting. This guy was an amateur photographer and his pics are candid but historic in some regard, especially since all of them were in color. Enjoy.”

The Marilyn community would love to thank Tracy’s client for sharing these incredible images with us. They are truly special.

Published May 19, 2019

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR PRESIDENT AT 57

“I can now retire from politics after having had ‘Happy Birthday’ sung to me in such a sweet, wholesome way.”
– John F. Kennedy May 19^th 1962

On May 19^th 1962, Marilyn attended the 45^th Birthday celebrations for the then President Of The United States, John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Gardens in New York. The event was a fundraising gala for the Democratic party and was attended by more than 15,000 people, including celebrities, each guest, including Marilyn paid $1,000 to attend.

It was a star studded evening, with performances from the likes of: Ella Fitzgerald, Danny Kaye, Jack Benny, Henry Fonda, Maria Callas, Elliott Reid and Peggy Lee to name a few. But it is undoubtedly Marilyn Monroe’s breathy and iconic rendition of “Happy Birthday” that has permanently been engrained in people’s memories and turned what should have been a musical moment lasting only a few minutes, into an historical moment lasting a lifetime.

It was an honour for Marilyn to be invited to sing for the President, but she was very nervous about performing live in front of 15,000 audience members, joking that she might even forget the words!

Peter Lawford, President Kennedy’s brother in law introduced Marilyn that night. She was introduced several times in what would be an obvious light hearted dig at her inability to appear on time, the spotlight would shine to where Marilyn should enter.. but nothing.. of course, this was all planned to be this way! She was in on the joke too!

Finally, Marilyn appeared on stage (after Lawford refers to her as “The Late Marilyn Monroe”) and the crowd go wild, a collective gasp could be heard as she took off her fur shawl to reveal the gown underneath… the rest is history..

“Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday Mr President,
Happy Birthday to you…

Thanks Mr President,
For all the things you’ve done,
The battles that you’ve won,
The way you deal, with US steel,
And our problems by the ton,
We thank you so much!”

The latter verse was a snippet from the classic song, “Thanks For The Memory,” for which she had written new lyrics specifically aimed at Kennedy.

It still to this day remains one of the most recognisable and iconic moments in pop culture history.

Published January 7, 2019

MARILYN AT THE GOLDEN GLOBES

Marilyn in 1960 with her Golden Globe for “Best Actress In A Musical Or Comedy” for “Some Like It Hot.”

Award season is well underway in Tinsletown as the Golden Globe Award ceremony is taking place at the Beverley Hilton Hotel in California tonight (Jan 5th 2020.)

Thoughts always turn to Marilyn and her peers whenever the annual celebrations of awarding the entertainments finest takes place. You remember all the talented individuals and classic Old Hollywood films that made their mark and took home the industries most coveted accolades.

Marilyn Monroe and Rock Hudson in 1962, holding her award for “World Film Favourite.”

Marilyn herself was nominated three times for a Golden Globe Award in her lifetime, taking home two out of the three nominations.

Golden Globes Won:
* 1962 Henrietta Award For World Film Favourite.
* 1960 Actress In A Leading Role Or Comedy (Some Like It Hot.)

Nominated:
*1957 Actress In A Leading Role – Musical Or Comedy (Bus Stop.)

In addition to that, many of the films that Marilyn Monroe starred or featured in, were Golden Globe Award winners in their own right:

Golden Globe Winners and Nominees:

‘All About Eve’
* 1951 Best Screenplay – Motion Picture – Joseph L. Mankiewicz (WINNER)
* 1951 Best Director – Joseph L. Mankiewicz (NOMINEE)

* 1951 Best Preformance By An Actress In A Supporting Role – Thelma Ritter (NOMINEE)
*1951 Best Preformance By An Actor In A Supporting Role – George Sanders (NOMINEE)
* 1951 Best Preformance By An Actress In A Leading Role – Bette Davis (NOMINEE)

THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH

*1956 Best Actor In A Leading Role – Tom Ewell (WINNER)

BUS STOP

*1957 Best Motion Picture – Musical Or Comedy (NOMINEE)
* 1957 Best Actress In A Leading Role – Marilyn Monroe (NOMINEE)

SOME LIKE IT HOT

*1960 Best Motion Picture – Comedy (WINNER)
*1960 Best Actress In A Leading Role Musical Or Comedy – Marilyn Monroe (WINNER)
*1960 Best Actor In A Leading Role Musical Or Comedy – Jack Lemmon (WINNER)

LET’S MAKE LOVE

*1961 Best Picture – Musical (NOMINEE)

Marilyn attended the 17th Golden Globe Awards held on Tuesday, March 8th at the Cocoanut Grove, Ambassador Hotel, when she won as Best Actress for the comedy Some Like It Hot. Looking every inch the movie star, photographs show just how elated she was that night, as if she were on top of the world.

A year later she returned on March 5th 1962 on the arm of Jose Bolanos, but some of the most iconic pictures of her that night saw her with friend and fellow actor Rock Hudson. She wore a shimmering green evening gown with earrings given to her by Frank Sinatra. The gown was one of the many items auctioned off at the famous Christie’s 1999 auction, fetching $96,000. Most recently, her 1961 World Film Favourite Golden Globe was auctioned off for a staggering and record breaking $250,000.

For more information on the Golden Globes, head to their website: https://www.goldenglobes.com/

Published December 8, 2018

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WALLY COX

Remembering actor and comedian Wally Cox on his birthday. He was born on December 6, 1924, in Detroit, and was childhood friends with Marlon Brando, who he met after his family moved to Illinois. Wally was cast as the nerdy shoe salesman Marilyn, as Ellen, tries to pass off as her island companion in Something’s Got to Give. Wally and Marilyn left the set together on her last day of work, which was also her birthday, June 1, 1962. Although Wally was typically cast as meek or mild mannered characters, in real life he was athletic, a master metalworker and a military veteran.