The Misfits: Photos from Behind the Scenes

Some of my favorite images from on and off the set of The Misfits.

For Sale: Marilyn Monroe Original Art

This one-of-a-kind art piece is currently available for sale directly from the artist, Yelena Tonoyan. This art work measures 40" x 40", and was created using markers and acrylics. It's truly a lovely piece!

If interested, please contact Yelena at y_tonoyan@yahoo.com.

Marilyn: The Premiere Collection. On Sale Now at Costco!

On sale now at Costco, Marilyn: The Premiere Collection. A collection of three DVDs with 17 of Marilyn's films.

Volume One: 1950-1952:
All About Eve
As Young As You Feel
Lets Make It Legal
Love Nest
Don't Bother To Knock

Volume Two: 1952-1953
Monkey Business
O. Henry's Full House
We're Not Married
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
How To Marry A Millionaire
Niagara

Volume Three: 1954-1961
There's No Business Like Show Business
The Seven Year Itch
Bus Stop
Some Like It Hot
Let's Make Love
The Misfits

Marilyn Sells Big at Christie's London Auction

Prices realized at the recent Film Memorabilia Sale at Christie's London, South Kensington show that Marilyn Monroe owned property is still hot!

Lot Description: Marilyn Monroe/Joe DiMaggio - A Yankee baseball 1936-1939 signed in black ink by Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gherig, Johnny Murphy, Joe Gordon, Bob Johnson, Chez Sanger, Red Rolf, Chad Ruffing and Ted Lyons; together with a circa late 1940s/early 1950s factory stamped souvenir ball sold at Yankee Stadium, signed in black ink by Casey Stengel, Ed Ford, Bob Grimm, Jimmy Martin and Gil McDougal (2)

Price Realized: £3,500 / $5,782

Estimate: £2,000 - £3,000/ $3,100 - $4,500

Lot Description: Marilyn Monroe - A handwritten, signed letter, not dated, on notepaper, 1p, folded, addressed, in blue ink; My Dearest Natasha, wishing the recipient Happy Christmas to you and Beatrice. I just want you to know, I'm grateful to you for much more than my life- signed Love Marilyn, with original envelope also addressed Natasha - letter 5¾x8in. (14x19.25cm.); together with two Bert Stern images of Monroe [later printings] - both 8x6in. (20x15cm.) (3)

Price Realized: £2,750 / $4,543

Estimate: £2,500 - £4,500 / $3,800 - $6,800

Lot Description: Marilyn Monroe - A colourless paste sunburst cluster brooch and Christie's lot card from the auction The Personal Property of Marilyn Monroe

Price Realized: £2,250 / $3,717

Estimate: £2,000 - £3,000/ $3,100 - $4,500

Modeled by Suzie Kennedy

Lot Description: Marilyn Monroe - A turquoise knitted mohair and wool vest-top, labelled inside Hand Knitted, Made in Italy; accompanied by an identical vest-top in cream; both with Christie's lot card from the auction The Personal Property of Marilyn Monroe (2)

Price Realized: £3,500 / $5,782

Estimate: £800 - £1,200 / $1,200 - $1,800

Lot Description: Marilyn Monroe - A handwritten, signed letter by Marilyn Monroe, not dated, on note paper, 1p. double sided; to Dear Natasha explaining that Hathaway had to leave early but that she spoke with him on the phone and that he hasn't finished it yet but will do so tonite (sic) on the plane also he said that if he liked it he planned to show it to Robinson who he will meet in Paris in a few days. She explains further that she had kept waiting to hear and had only done so late this afternoon, signed Love Marilyn - 5x7in. (13x18cm.); together with a Bert Stern image of Monroe [later printing] - 8x6in. (20x15cm.) (2)

Price Realized: £2,750 / $4,543

Estimate: £2,000 - £3,000 / $3,100 - $4,500

Lot Description: Marilyn Monroe = A pair of mixed cut, colourless paste, triple drop fringe ear pendants with clip fitting; and Christie's lot card from the auction The Personal Property of

Marilyn Monroe (2)Price Realized: £8,750 / $14,455

Estimate: £2,000 - £3,000 / $3,100 - $4,500

Lot Description: Marilyn Monroe - A three-quarter length evening dress of black silk jersey with rouched body and sleeves, with black silk three-tiered detail attached to hip, labelled inside Cecil Chapman; together with Christie's lot card from the auction The Personal Property of Marilyn Monroe

Price Realized: £9,375 / $15,488

Estimate: £6,000 - £8,000/ $9,100 - $12,000

Lot Description: Marilyn Monroe -A bright fuchsia pink silk evening stole with fringed edges -- 80¼in. (204cm.) long; and Christie's lot card from the auction The Personal Property of Marilyn Monroe

Price Realized: £4,750 / $7,847

Estimate: £400 - £600 / ($610 - $900)

Modeled by Suzie Kennedy

Marilyn Spotting: South Beach, Florida

A beautiful and colorful work of art in a shop along the ocean. Taken during my recent trip to Florida. Note the reflection of the palm trees on the artwork. Marilyn's "Frankie" is shown here also (upper left).

Have you taken photos of Marilyn Monroe during your travels? Would you like to share them with the world on The Marilyn Monroe Collection Blog? Forward to me at
Scott@MarilynMonroeCollection.com.

Some Rare Marilyn Monroe Images...

I'm always fascinated by images of MM I've never seen before. Here are several:

Above: Vancouver International Airport in August, 1953, during the time Marilyn was filming River of No Return.

Above: Marilyn with Buddy Adler, the Production Head of 20th-Century Fox.

Penny McGuiggan of Sweet Sue's Band from Some Like It Hot Has Passed...

Marilyn Remembered is sad to announce that Penny McGuiggan passed away on Sunday, November 15. Penny played trumpet in Sweet Sue’s Band in Some Like It Hot.

Penny was a long standing member of Marilyn Remembered, and she was a regular speaker at the Marilyn Monroe memorial service, often saluting Marilyn musically using the actual trumpet from the film.


I met Penny several times, and she was a warm and caring person with endearing charm and sparkling blue eyes. She was a joy to be around. Please join me in holding a good thought for Penny.

For Sale by Artist: Marilyn In Red

This original oil painting by fine arts painter Jorge Vargas is currently available for purchase. If interested, contact Jorge directly at jorgevargas94@gmail.com.

Hugh Hefner to Sell Playboy

Playboy founder Hugh Hefner changed American pop culture, one centerfold at a time.

With his Playboy Enterprises Inc in talks to be sold for about $300 million, the 83 year-old Hefner will be giving up control over the iconic adult entertainment empire he founded that was instrumental in shaping society's opinions on nudity, sex and free speech.

With $600, Hefner in 1953 published the first Playboy magazine with a partially nude photo of Marilyn Monroe at its center. The magazine would become not only one of the most successful publications ever, but also a brand that led many Americans to think about sex in a more carefree way.

"Hef" turned Playboy and its bunny head logo into a symbol for a lifestyle he embodied as bachelor extraordinaire, living in a mansion surrounded by wealth and beautiful women.

"This guy was one of the major players in the transformation of American culture in the second half of the 20th century and not just because he had a magazine with naked women in it," said Robert Thompson, a professor of pop culture at Syracuse University.

In 1972, Playboy had a worldwide circulation of 7 million, but that has been in decline ever since, as the liberalization of sexual attitudes Hefner promoted became more mainstream -- and more competitive.

But even as it grew ever more popular, the magazine created rivals such as Penthouse and Hustler. In the 1980s, adult videos grew into a major business and by the late 1990s, the rise of the Internet and free pornography on the Web became Playboy's greatest rival for an audience.

REALITY STAR

Hefner remains in the limelight today, showing up at media events with numerous girlfriends by his side. He enjoyed a role in reality television show "The Girls Next Door" on cable network E! and his dating life and break-up with model Holly Madison made him a staple of celebrity magazines.

Hefner has said that growing up during the depression he always looked back wistfully to the 1920s age of flappers as an era of freedom he had missed.

He has described himself as having liberated America from its Puritan past and experts agree he did make sexual images and content more acceptable to Americans.

But Playboy magazine also showed men how to enjoy stylish clothing, good liquor, sports cars and other luxuries, and became a standard bearer for that lifestyle -- real or imagined.

"All that kind of stuff just piled up issue after issue -- promoting that idea of consumer abundance as being synonymous with the good life in this country -- and Hefner is very important in promoting that idea," said Steven Watts, author of "Mr. Playboy: Hugh Hefner and the American Dream."

But as Playboy's fortunes waned, some of the symbols of wealth that surrounded Hefner became harder for him to hang on to.

In the early 1980s, he had to give up a private jet plane with a bedroom, a miniature disco and a kitchen, Watts said.

Through the decades and despite the loss of business, Hefner continued to live the good life and made sure everyone knew it.

"Hefner really tries to completely disengage the notion of guilt and sin from having a good time and, the last couple of generations, that has pretty much prevailed," said Thompson, the Syracuse professor. "Certainly, when I talk to my students, I don't get a sense they're feeling guilty about the good deal of fun they're having."

Source: Reuters

Marilyn Spotting...

I have some pretty incredible "Marilyn Spotting" photos to share today!

The wonderful photo below was submitted by Shar Daws. She took the picture when on vacation in Majorca in 2002. It was a huge billboard for local hairdressers. Quite fantastic! Shar's website is http://www.lovingmarilyn.com/. Check it out!


The photos below are from Liliana. They were taken in Amsterdam. You can tell that Amsterdam loves Marilyn! Thank you Liliana!

From Tara Hanks, author of "The Mmmm Girl." These photos were taken in Brighton, England. The exterior photo was taken outside somebody's house. The two interior photos are of a 50s-style cafe called Rock-Ola.

Tara's book is a great read. To learn more, go here: http://tarahanks.com/

Have you taken photos of Marilyn Monroe during your travels? Would you like to share them with the world on The Marilyn Monroe Collection Blog? Forward to me at Scott@MarilynMonroeCollection.com.