Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962), the stage name of Norma Jeane Baker, was an American beauty and Hollywood actress. She appeared in the first issue of Playboy magazine and in dozens of largely forgettable films in the 1950s. What she is most remembered for is her beauty and a life cut short.
The best-selling song of the 1900s was written by Elton John about her: “Candle in the Wind”. Andy Warhol’s most famous painting is of her. She is far more famous now than she ever was in life.
Her best-remembered films are “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953) and “Some Like it Hot” (1959). She wanted to be a serious actress, not just a blonde beauty. She modelled herself on Jean Harlow and Lana Turner.
The daughter of a Hollywood film cutter, she grew up in Los Angeles never knowing her father and barely seeing her mother, who was in a rest home. In 1942 she married at age 16. Two years later her husband went off to war. While he was gone, she worked at a parachute factory and started modelling.
In 1946 she signed with Twentieth Century Fox as an actress, making $125 (150 crowns) a week. She coloured her hair, took the stage name of Marilyn Monroe and divorced her husband. “Monroe” was her grandmother’s name.
On May 27th 1949, short on money, she posed naked for some pictures for Tom Kelley for $50 (70 crowns). Four years later in 1953 those same pictures would appear across the country in the first issue of Playboy magazine. It made her famous.
She was different than most Hollywood beauties that came before her. In the 1940s they tended to be thin with dark hair and great legs. But Monroe had light hair (coloured, not natural), large breasts and an hourglass figure. She acted innocent and brainless, not worldly.
She shaped white American ideas of beauty and its effects can still be seen today more than 50 years later. The hourglass figure is out, but the blonde hair and large breasts are still in. Madonna in the 1980s and Anna Nicole Smith in the 1990s both modelled their look directly on hers.
Monroe was briefly married to baseball great Joe DiMaggio in 1954. Then she went to New York to study acting and there she had an affair with writer Arthur Miller. They were married from 1956 to 1961. He wrote “The Misfits” (1961), the last film she appeared in. He wrote her part especially for her.
Some say she slept with President John Kennedy in 1961 and maybe his brother Robert Kennedy. She certainly knew them.
She was found dead on August 5th 1962 at age 36 of a drug overdose. The police called it a “probable suicide”, but some suspect murder, perhaps at the hands of the Kennedys. The police said “probable” not because they thought it might be murder but because it is unclear if she meant to kill herself.
Her body is in a crypt in Los Angeles. Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy, owns the place next to hers.
In 1986 feminist Gloria Steinem wrote a book about her life.
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Although Im not a fan of everything she symbolised and was, I do tend to like her…
And wasn’t she bi-polar?
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It’s interesting to me how the tragedy of her life has become a symbol of some strange form of heroism, especially among the gay community, which seems to embrace the concept that victimhood equates with heroism.
There is reportedly a film in existence that graphically portrays MM peforming fellatio on a gentleman wearing a suit, possibly a Kennedy. A year or so ago it was quietly purchased, for a large sum of money, by a private collector who vowed to never allow it to be seen by the general public.
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http://blog.synthesis.net/2008/04/14/the-long-lost-marilyn-monroe-sex-tape-found/
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Whoa!
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Not sure if she was bipolar. I would not be surprised. Her mother had mental problems, which is why Monroe saw little of her growing up.
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She was a very pretty woman, but she was sexually abused by an uncle and it was common knowledge that she was passed around Hollywood a lot. She was exploited–her need for love was taken advantaged of. Men used her, but rarely wanted to stick around to really love her. The Kennedy men passed her around and used her. I feel sorry for her. She had such sadness in her eyes. She may have been bipolar, but back then, all they did was give her pills to pop. Such a tragic end…
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Wow, how sad.
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I am a pretty big fan of hers. Such a sad life and end…
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Im a huge fan of Marilyn Monroe. I watched evey movie that she has made. Im a gemini too, on June 9th 1971. She was very talented and such a pleasant smile to brighten everyone’s day. I would like to say “I wish I was living back then.” I will see you later Marilyn then we can chat.
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I dont get it when people regard her as some sort of loose-headed incapable person. Obviously a lot of people took advantage of her all the time, but apart from that she was an astonishing person with a lot of courage, huge spirit and plain intelligence. She was a completely amazing actress for one. And as a person extremely smart and totally fierce, genius, vibrant and cool. Charisma might look easy but is a true art that you have to work for with your mental energy. Too bad people didnt see the real her, werent able to take her and her emotional needs seriously pr appreciate all sides of her and were objectifying her too much all the time which probably helped cause her downfall. But she did make it an Icon and she deserves it, but I think she owned more(with hard work) of a human appeal then just for the male public. complete entertainer/charmer.
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and she always seemed like a very loving person you can see it in her movies. 🙂
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Some say Norma Jean had some black in her–it’s possible if you look at how shes built and with the bleached hair and nose job. I wonder if her mom went through some weird stuff like looking ‘black’ [lightskinned] and she was ostracized when her husband found out. (her mole was fake too)
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First let me say i am a huge fan of Marilyn Monroe, and she was the most gorgous and intellegent women ever to live.To those who thought she was bipolar, she wasn’t. but i can see how you would think that, because in her personal life she was very deppresed, which is a family treat in her family, she pretended to be happy, most of the time, for her puplic image.
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She seemed so sweet and vibrant, yet vulnerable. I’d like to think that if I were living back then, she would be the kind of person to give a person of color a smile and not a sneer. So tragic. There’s definitely more behind her death than the general public knows.
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This is my opinion on Marilyn Monroe. I like her because she was a beautiful woman but men and Hollywood took advantage of her. Men took advantage of her looks and body so that they can sleep with her. Hollywood took advantage of her lack of acting talent and let her appear in movies anyways because her appearance in movies brought in a lot of money. And because she was this ”sex symbol”. Plus Marilyn seems to be a nice and cool person to talk to although I have never met her and I am only 16. I didn’t really like her sex symbol status nor did I like all the nude pictures and I wished she was a more serious actress like Audrey Hepburn. It was sad to hear she died at age 36 of a overdose of sleeping pills. Poor girl. May she rest in peace!
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The picture of which you speak taken of her in 1949 – I have an original print of it – which is black and white. It has 3207 on the left bottom corner.
What do you think it is worth?
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Anyone know what it is worth???
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I always felt sorry for her she was used by men and sexually abused she was a tragic figure.
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boomer babe
Some say Norma Jean had some black in her–it’s possible if you look at how shes built and with the bleached hair and nose job
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I think you might be confusing her with Jayne Mansfield?
In fact, to the contrary, I suspect Monroe’s fame is precisely because of her facial structures resemblance to some unspoken “white ideal” that white people claim ability to detect; but not define with words.
On the other hand, Jayne Mansfield was criticized for being Marilyn Monroe on “11”.
Her response was a version of “don’t hate the player, hate the game”. Maybe this is why she was rumored to be a “roon?”
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Marilyn Monroe : 1) Red Wemettle claims that Frank Schweihs told him that He (another guy) whacked Marilyn Monroe with Supository? 2.), Eugenia Pappas, who, upset by the knowledge,(schweihs reveal he whack Monroe) was soon shot through the chest and dumped into the Chicago River. Pappas’s brother came forward in 1986 to reveal what his sister had told him about her “killer fiancFrank Schweihs”- -leading to this book.Author: Adela Gregory, Milo Speriglio 3)Felix milw Phil Alderisio said to Frank Schweihs a order came from Sam Giancana to whack Marilyn Also Schweihs told Alderisio he told his g/f Pappas inwhich Felix reply whack her? 4.Double-Cross Chuck Nicoletti told Chuck Giancana that Sam Giancana order 4 men to fly to San Francisco to Whack Marilyn and Chicago Chemist made Suppository. These men came at darkness sneak in whack marily .5) Double Cross Sam Giancana told Chuck Giancana He stood at foot of Marilyn bed at Cal Neva Lodge That he had Marilyn many times before He wanted her now & but what he didn’t tell bro he have Marilyn life too? 6) Frank Sinatra /Sam Giancana used women (judith Exner Campbell/Marilyn Monroe& others) as bait to trap Kennedys and To be Ho’s,Spys,couriers or to bring back information ?Just as Giancana used others it wonder that Phylls McGuire didn’t get hit by Giancana?7).Frank Cullotta on Utube Chuck Nicolette came to his Lounge(bar) 1st shortly before he was to go to a meeting (why?)March 29,1977,Nicoletti got whacked(.Only 3 miles from Melrose park to NorthLake IL,)That Frank said Nicoletti power go to his head but didn’t mention HSCA for Nicoletti /Sam Giancana /John Roselli ? Frank Said he Knew Joe Lombardo, Felix Milw Phil Alderisio & Frank Schweihs which were associates of Chuck Nicoletti and Frank pal Tony Spilotro ?8), Jeanne Carmen claims that Marilyn call her bday aug4 she was to busy,but next day aug5,1962 John Roselli told Carmen to leave Town (la) Carmen went Scottsdale Az Then Nov 16/18,1963 Mort Friedman & Johnny Roselli fly in Phoenix, Roselli – Friedman observed MtnShadowResort(2 or more days).Mountain Shadows Resort is located at 5445 E Lincoln Dr, Paradise Valley,only 3.5 miles paradise valley to Scottsdale Az.and 11 miles Phoenix to Scottsdale Az. Later Roselli call Carmen 1975 come Vegas then He told her not to worry no more because He whack Giancana?9.). Columnist Jack Anderson says that Roselli admitted knowing Ruby.Lewis McWillie work vegas & cal Neva Lodge was Ruby pal. Sinatra Employee Mike Shore got call from Ruby& Shore called Ruby bro & Irwin Weiner got call from Ruby ? Sinatra & Giancana partner cal Neva Lodge. Sam English/Joesph English bro Chuck English own Rim Rock RR ranch near Lake Montezuma Az And English called CalNeva Lodge1960s.Charles English / Dominic Blasi last ones to leave party Giancana home 6-19-75? Barney Perlman DOB 2-20-1913 associate Alderisio. lience cal neva lodge around 1961 (fewyrs) Perlman work Vernon Country Club Vernon Hills Il.
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