Thank YOU! It's Customer Appreciation Week!
EXTRA 11% OFF Orders $100+ With Code: THANKYOU
EXTRA 11% OFF Orders $100+ With Code: THANKYOU
Cheers
Give a Cheer
Give a Cheer
Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson (June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962) but raised as Norma Jeane Baker, was an American actress, singer and model. After spending much of her childhood in foster homes, Monroe began a career as a model, which led to a film contract in 1946. Her early film appearances were minor, but her performances in The Asphalt Jungle and All About Eve (both 1950) were well received. By 1953, Monroe had progressed to leading roles. Her "dumb blonde" persona was used to comedic effect in such films as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) and The Seven Year Itch (1955). Her dramatic performance in Bus Stop (1956) was hailed by critics, and she received a Golden Globe nomination. Her production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions, released The Prince and the Showgirl (1957), and she received a Golden Globe Award for her performance in Some Like It Hot (1959).
The final years of Monroe's life were marked by illness, personal problems, and a reputation for being unreliable and difficult to work with. The circumstances of her death (from an overdose of barbiturates) has been the subject of conjecture. Officially classified as a "probable suicide", the possibility of an accidental overdose, as well as the possibility of homicide have not been ruled out. In 1999, Monroe was ranked as the sixth greatest female star of all time by the American Film Institute.
When Norma Jeane was 16 her foster family moved to another state without her. Rather than being placed in an orphanage she agreed to marry her neighborhood boyfriend, James "Jim" Doughtery. Shortly after the wedding he joined the Merchant Marines. While Doughtery was away Norma Jeane found employment in the Radioplane Munitions Factory. She sprayed airplane parts with fire retardant and inspected parachutes. During this time an Army photographer snapped a photograph of her for a Yank magazine article. He encouraged her to apply to The Blue Book Modeling Agency. She signed with the agency and began researching the work of Jean Harlow and Lana Turner. She was told that they were looking for models with lighter hair, so Norma Jeane bleached her brunette hair to a golden blonde.
Norma Jeane Dougherty became one of Blue Book's most successful models, appearing on dozens of magazine covers. Jim Dougherty was oblivious of his wife's new job until he discovered one of his shipmates admiring a revealing photo of Norma Jeane in a magazine. Dougherty corresponded with her via several letters stating that once he returned from service, she would have to give up her modeling. A dissatisfied Norma Jeane, who now saw the possibilities of a modeling and acting career, decided then to divorce Dougherty. The marriage ended when he returned from overseas in 1946.
In 1951, Joe DiMaggio wanted to meet Monroe when he saw a picture of her but they did not meet or have a first date until 1952. Two years later they eloped at San Francisco City Hall on January 14, 1954 and honeymooned in Japan.
On September 14, 1954, Monroe filmed the famed skirt-blowing scene for The Seven Year Itch in front of New York's Trans-Lux Theater. DiMaggio was watching the filming and the surrounding media circus angered him which led to the couple having a "yelling battle" in the theater lobby. Monroe filed for divorce on grounds of mental cruelty 274 days after the wedding.
On June 29, 1956, Monroe married playwright Arthur Miller in a civil ceremony in White Plains, New York. City Court Judge Seymour D. Robinowitz presided over the hushed ceremony in the law office of Sam Slavitt (the wedding had been kept secret from both the press and the public). Monroe and Miller wed again two days later in a Jewish ceremony before a small group of guests.
Miller's screenplay for The Misfits, a story about a despairing divorcée, was meant to be a Valentine gift for his wife, but by the time filming started in 1960 their marriage was beyond repair. A Mexican divorce was granted on January 24, 1961
On May 19, 1962, Monroe made her last significant public appearance, singing "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" at a birthday party for President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden. (The dress that she wore to the event later sold at an auction in 1999 for $1.26 million US dollars.)
On August 1, 1962, DiMaggio asked her to remarry him. (She died almost exactly a year later but they never remarried.)
Monroe reportedly had an affair with President John F. Kennedy. Reliable sources say (it is even documented in several books) that Monroe was in love with President Kennedy and wanted to marry him in the early 1960s; that she called the White House frequently; and that, when the married President had to break off their affair, Monroe became even more depressed, and then turned to Robert Kennedy, who visited Monroe in Los Angeles the day that she died. For this reason there is speculation that Monroe committed suicide and there is also speculation of a conspiracy theory that Monroe was murdered because of her relationship with JFK.
After Monroe's death on August 5, 1962, DiMaggio claimed her body and arranged her funeral. On August 8, 1962, Monroe was interred in a crypt at Corridor of Memories #24, at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Westwood, Los Angeles. DiMaggio took control of the funeral arrangements which consisted of only 31 close family and friends. Her casket was solid bronze and was lined with champagne colored silk. She was wearing her favorite green Emilio Pucci dress. In her hands was a small bouquet of pink teacup roses.
For the next 20 years, a half-dozen red roses were delivered and placed in a vase attached to her crypt, courtesy of Joe DiMaggio.
The crypt space immediately to the left of Monroe's was bought and reserved by Hugh Hefner in 1992. He affirmed that the initial success of his magazine directly corralated with Monroe.
This seems almost too bizarre to be true, but it is. It has nothing to do with Marilyn Monroe other than it involves the crypt directly above hers. The gentleman interred in that crypt is Mr. Poncher. His wife, Elsie Poncher was in serious financial arrears so to raise enough money to pay off the $1.6 million dollar mortgage on her Beverly Hills mansion, she put her husband's crypt, in which he was still interred on eBay with plans to get out of debt and have her husband exhumed and moved to an adjacent crypt. The winning bid for the crypt above Monroe was for $4.6 million dollars but the bidder backed out when he was unable raise the funds. As far as I know, Mr. Poncher is still in the crypt above Monroe.
No products have been added to this project.
Thanks for spreading positivity!
February 24, 2012
February 24, 2012
July 27, 2011
June 27, 2011
June 26, 2011
June 26, 2011
June 25, 2011
June 25, 2011
June 25, 2011
June 25, 2011