The Cutest Salt 'n Pepper Shakers Ever

This isn't Marilyn related but it was too much fun not to share.  If you live in Canada you may be familiar with the Knorr Sidekicks commercials featuring a sad salt shaker.  The character is advertising their new lower sodium products, so the joke is that the shaker is sad because he isn't being used as much anymore.

Here is the original ad that pulls at your heartstrings and makes you fall in love with poor Salty.



This was a follow up that I only saw online.  They should keep them coming - they are great!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdP45YMfIhI

Currently, if you live in Canada you can mail away for your own set of shakers.  Be patient, they took 8 weeks to come but it was worth the wait.  Here they are!!!  I smile every time I walk into the kitchen.  BTW, the card that comes around his neck says, "Please only use me sparingly."  Too cute.

5 Marilyn Tattoos Added

Thanks to Valarie, Anthony, Lorraine, Lauren and Frankie for sending in photos.  I have added them to the tattoo section.

Marilyn Monroe Hoodies

Thanks to Valarie for sending along this link.  This guy hand makes zip up hoodies (he uses American Apparel brand) with faces on the hoods.  One of the designs features Marilyn.

http://www.headhoods.com/style13.html

Rare Footage From Some Like it Hot

Looks like there is some more rare Marilyn footage up for auction.  It is wonderful how all these great treasures keep showing up!

Bideo.com is hosting an online auction for a never before published amateur video of Marilyn Monroe on the set of the film Some Like It Hot. The listing marks the 50‐year anniversary of Monroe’s Golden Globe victory for her historic performance in the highly acclaimed comedy on March 8, 1960. The 20 day auction will run concurrently from March 8th to March 28th, the 51st anniversary of the movie’s 1959 premiere.

Captured by a young sailor who was personally invited to the set by Monroe, the 2‐and‐a‐half minute home video reveals a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of what the American Film Institute dubbed the greatest American comedy of all time. It depicts a casual, candid and carefree side of the venerated actress on the beach, dressed in a bathing suit and short terrycloth robe, as she playfully interacts with cast, crew and fans between takes at the Hotel Del Coronado Resort.

Also visible in the film is celebrated director Billy Wilder, in shades and baseball cap, angrily brooding back‐and‐forth with frustrating demeanor. Monroe’s infinite breaks and frequent distraction from working were constant sources of stress and annoyance for Wilder, resulting in a notoriously turbulent on‐set relationship between director and star. The footage dates back to a difficult and important period in the actress’ life, as her pregnancy began inducing noticeable weight gain and complications in her highly publicized marriage to Arthur Miller proliferated.

Co‐star Tony Curtis also makes an appearance from the familiar wicker sun chair featured in the memorable beach scene where Curtis first explains and reveals the film’s title in an exchange with Monroe. Off set Curtis infamously likened kissing Marilyn to “kissing Hitler.”

Presumed lost for decades, the original 8mm reel recently resurfaced in Australia when the creator’s daughter discovered it among his belongings. In 2008 it was sold to an anonymous collector in Melbourne for $14,624.00 USD. Plans to commercialize the video never materialized, and the current owner is hoping to find it a more suitable home by selling the full copyright and original reel through the Bideo platform.

Bideo.com, launched in January, is an online auction house for newsworthy user generated photos and video. The site was created for “right‐place‐right‐time” citizen journalists as a profitable alternative to giving away their exclusive and often amazing images to publications for free.

CEO and founder Pike Barkerding considers the shot an ideal opportunity for the new exchange. “This is precisely the kind of situation Bideo is meant to facilitate. And as one of the first examples of user generated video, it’s about as symbolic as it is iconic,” says Barkerding. “We hope it will further prove Bideo’s value to the abundance of citizen photojournalism seen today, which is too often given away without proper compensation or recognition to the creator.”

The 3‐week auction is currently underway on Bideo.com, where the starting bid is set just below the former sale price at $14,000 USD. On March 28th the winning bidder will receive the non‐watermarked digital file, a DVD copy, the original 8mm Kodak reel, and exclusive, full commercial rights to the footage. All copies including the watermarked proof will be deleted thereafter.

To view the clip, please visit www.bideo.com. For additional information, please contact Matthew Bowes at 504/897‐0462 ormatthew@bondpublicrelations.com.

Marilyn was never nominated for Academy Award

With the 82nd Annual Academy Awards upon us I thought we could visit Marilyn's brushes with Oscar.

Although there is no more enduring Hollywood star or icon of the film industry than Marilyn, she never received an Academy Award in recognition of her talent, either in her own lifetime or posthumously.  Recognition was more forthcoming from other countries (France and Italy) than from her own.

The closest Marilyn ever got to an Oscar was in 1951, a year before she had graduated to top-star billing, when she went to the Pantages Theater (6233 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood) to present the Best Achievement in Sound Oscar to Thomas Moulton for his work in ALL ABOUT EVE (1950).  For the occasion she looked resplendent in a off-the-shoulder gown borrowed from the Fox wardrobe department.  There was drama just before she was due to go on stage, when she noticed a small rip in the dress.  A bevy of Fox handlers had to fix the rip ad calm her nerves sufficiently for her to conquer her stage fright.

The closest Marilyn came to winning on her own merits was rumors of a Best Actress nomination for her performance in BUS STOP (1956), and then two years later for SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959).  On neither occasion did the nomination materialize; the Oscars going in 1956 to Ingrid Bergman (Anastasia) and in 1959 to Simone Signoret (Room at the Top). Her co-star Don Murray was nominated for his role in BUS STOP.   On two separate occasions, film columists have suggested giving Marilyn a special posthumous career Oscar, first in 1963, then ten years later.

-from The Marilyn Encyclopedia by Adam Victor

Footage from Marilyn's appearance at the 1951 awards does exist.  A 2 second clip was shown in a compilation of presenters shown on the awards in the 1980's.



The Franklin Mint even commemorated this event with a doll in 2007.