Just wanted to give everyone a head's up that the top ten archived episodes of the My Marilyn Podcast will no longer be available online as of May 1, 2016.
Since I don't anticipate continuing with a podcast anytime soon I have decided that it is just not worth paying for the additional hosting of these files. I may put them up on youtube as a free option in the future but this will be the last way to actually download the files.
In honour of Marilyn's upcoming 90th birthday, big band leader Ray Anthony has released a short film about his time with her. As fans know Ray wrote a song called "Marilyn" and threw a party for her in 1952. This event featured some of the most beautiful footage and photos of Marilyn.
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 does exist from Marilyn's appearance at the Oscars!
The franklin mint also released a doll featuring Marilyn's beautiful gown from this event.
Lucky fans in the Toronto area can view some Marilyn films on the big screen. TIFF in Toronto is screening several Marilyn and Liz Taylor movies to coincide with a Warhol exhibit. These are the upcoming titles:
Just thinking about Joe DiMaggio today on what would have been his 101st birthday. I thought I would share some excerpts from this amazing letter that was auctioned off by Juliens in December 2014 for $78,000. Joe was such a private person and never spoke of Marilyn so it is rare to get insight into his personal feelings.
A Joe DiMaggio three-page handwritten letter to Marilyn Monroe postmarked October 9, 1954. DiMaggio dates the letter as "Saturday - a.m." and greets Marilyn "Dear Baby." The letter came to Marilyn on the heels of her October 6th announcement to the press that she and DiMaggio were divorcing. In the letter DiMaggio discusses watching the announcement. The letter reads in part, "Don't know what you're thoughts are about me, - but I can tell you I love you sincerely, - way deep in my heart, irregardless of anything." Accompanied by original transmittal envelope addressed to the house the couple shared in Beverly Hills, California.
"I love you and want to be with you."
"There is nothing I would like better than to restore your confidence in me."
DiMaggio wrote in his letter that he learned Monroe was leaving him when he saw her make the announcement on television.
"My heart split even wider seeing you cry in front of all these people," he wrote in the letter addressed to "Mrs. Joe DiMaggio" and mailed special delivery.
