Blogfinger

Marilyn Monroe, no longer in the dark.  Photographer George Barris made Marilyn smile.  I always imagined that she was smiling at me.

By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger  (re-posted from November, 2014)

Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jean Mortenson in Los Angeles on June 1,  1926.  She tragically died at the age of 36. She was the pin-up girl for most of the guys from my generation.  Marilyn was not only a movie star, but she also was a singer.  Remember “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes?

Many years ago I found this photo of MM in a shop on Thompson Street in  Greenwich Village where they sold images of Hollywood stars.  I loved her smile, her hair, and her towel. The picture was provocative even though it is rated PG. (my initials)

Marilyn has been on the wall of my dark room for many years, so she was always smiling at me, keeping me company, while I was engaged in that solitary activity. Now, as I take down that old technology, the photo of Marilyn will remain, as the dark room takes on new digital form.

There were many photographers who were known for their images of her—tens of thousands of photos of Marilyn exist.

Those who were privileged to photograph her included many great names such as  Avedon, Bachrach, Eisenstadt and Newman.

Earlier  we wrote a post about the photographers on the movie set of The Misfits, where MM was photographed with Clark Gable, Montgomery Clift, Arthur Miller, and Eli Wallach.   BF about The Misfits

She was a passionate and vulnerable  person who, like a beautiful butterfly,  flitted from one to another without landing happily.  Here is a quote from Marilyn herself, “I knew I belonged to the public and to the world, not because I was talented or even beautiful but because I had never belonged to anything or anyone else.
” –From the Unfinished Biography of Marilyn Monroe

Her singing was wispy and sexy. Recently Barry Manilow decided to make an album of “Dream Duets” using technology to bring him together in song with his departed musical heroes.

Here is the one cut containing Marilyn Monroe:

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