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You probably know Marilyn Monroe for her blond curls, curvy body and infamous “Happy Birthday” song to President John F. Kennedy. You may not know, however, that this sexy star recently made history yet again – with a record-breaking sale of the dress Monroe wore during that same presidential birthday.
The truth is, although Monroe died in the 1960s, her impact is still seen around the world today in fashion, makeup and, perhaps most intriguingly, in auction houses.
What are some of the most interesting pieces of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia that have ever been sold? What secrets (and secret talents) have Monroe’s belongings revealed about this iconic star? And how much would you really have to shell out to get your hands on a Monroe dress? Here are seven pieces of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia that will blow you away with the history they hold, the secrets they tell- and the prices they sold for at a recent auction by Julien’s Auction!
Marilyn Monroe is a known muse of countless artists, but she hasn’t received nearly enough credit for being an artist herself. Apparently, she enjoyed dabbling in sketches, mainly using Conté crayon.
READ MORE: Alternative Occupations for the Artist in You
The sketches boast a variety of different – though equally amusing – names and styles. “Jumping from the frying pan into the fire” uses bright oranges, reds and yellows and seems to be a loose outline of a woman’s body, with the woman’s face cropped out of the canvas. “Viewed from a night table” shows a cocktail drink, a book of poems and a clock on a bedside table while “I must concentrate” is the most abstract of the group, possibly featuring a woman’s face.
Marilyn Monroe: “I want to be an artist, not an erotic freak. I don’t want to be sold to the public as a celluloid aphrodisiac.”
Niagara pic.twitter.com/oP5kKDVM8y
— TATJANA SL (@TATJANASL) November 19, 2016
Marilyn Monroe took an art education course at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1951 and letters in the late 1950s reveal that she was taking a correspondence art course. These paintings show, however, a side of Marilyn Monroe that we often don’t hear about: a woman behind the canvas, instead of being painted upon it. The sketches were sold separately, with “Jumping from the frying pan into the fire” bringing in the most money at $25,000.
Here’s one piece of memorabilia you probably aren’t surprised by: the dress Marilyn Monroe wore while singing”Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy. The dress, designed by Jean Louis, was originally sketched by the 19-year-old Bob Mackie. If the sheer silk gauze doesn’t catch your eye, the 2,5000 rhinestone crystals hand-sewn across the gown definitely will. Louis tailored the gown so closely to Monroe’s body that she had to be sewn into it before walking on stage.
READ MORE: How to Recreate Marilyn Monroe’s Classic Pinup Style
According to Susan Shelley at LA Daily News, the dress was a sign of the infinite possibilities of the 1960s … at least before Monroe was discovered dead in her home in 1962 and Kennedy was assassinated the following year. It is perhaps this “wistful longing for a time before assassinations and overdoses” that caused dress to sell for a whopping $4.8 million just last year. The winning bidder, Ripley’s Entertainment Inc., plans to display the dress in its Hollywood museum, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
You’ve probably never considered how much your driver’s license (or, in Monroe’s case, United States Department of Defense Identification Card) would be worth if you become famous. But everyone got to discover that for themselves thanks to the next item offered by Julien’s Auctions: Monroe’s signed ID card.
The card is dated February 8, 1954, and boasts a photo of Marilyn Monroe will her signature platinum curls. However, Marilyn Monroe experts will appreciate that the name she signed was her given one: “Norma Jeane DiMaggio.” The card even features Monroe’s fingerprints stamped on the back, as well as her descriptive information. If you’ve ever had to pay for a replacement driver’s license, that fee will seem super cheap after you hear that this card sold for a whopping $25,600. Who needs a new car or a house down payment when you can own a piece of Marilyn Monroe history instead?
“Marilyn Monroe is attractive but Norma Jean Baker gets to my heart”
? they’re the same person tho…. ?— Juju (@xo_JayBaby) December 1, 2016
If you’ve ever wondered how Monroe kept her famous figure, this diet plan will answer all of your questions! This two-page dietary plan was created by Dr. Leon Krohn and was recently put up for sale by Julien’s Auctions. Although some of the device is questionable (1000 calories? Is that breakfast and lunch or?), other recommendations – like limiting sugar and fats – match today’s standards.
According to the menu, the famous star’s breakfast could include fresh fruit, one egg, half a slice or bread and a cup of milk. Meanwhile, for lunch and dinner she could enjoy a serving of meat, fish, fowl or cheese, cooked and raw vegetables and a little fruit. While women certainly shouldn’t be valued or remembered solely for their diet or figure, this sheet does provide some interesting insight into Monroe’s daily life. Apparently the winning bidder agreed … the final price tag? A cool $3,437.50.
You’ve probably heard the cliche, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” If that is true, Marilyn Monroe’s address book proves that she was destined for success.
The Gucci address book boasts a personalized brown leather cover stamped with “M.M.” on the front. Out of the many handwritten entries, some of the highlights included: Marlon Brando (the actor your grandmother had a crush on), (actor and director) Lee Strasberg, (actress) Maurine Stapleton and (director and drama critic) Harold Clurman. One of the most interesting parts of this address book, though, are the personal notes Marilyn Monroe wrote to herself. What did this star have to work on? Apparently, “as often as possible, observe Strassberg’s [sic] other private classes,” “never miss my actors studio session” and “make a strong effort to work on current problems and phobias that out of my past has arisen.”
#MarlonBrando #MarilynMonroe
When Marilyn suffered
Marlon Brando supported
her by writing this letter: pic.twitter.com/OMNNWetKGx— eva maria saralynja (@evamariasaralyn) December 29, 2016
Besides showing how well Marilyn Monroe networked throughout Hollywood, this address book proves that even icons have their issues – making it well worth the $44,800 price tag for the right fan.
If you ever become famous, you may want to burn your old diary … or you could end up like Marilyn Monroe and have it sold at auction. This black journal, with a simple “RECORD” inscribed on the front cover, includes 14 pages of Monroe’s personal thoughts.
READ MORE: Marilyn Monroe Letters Reveal Intimate Thoughts
Besides reflecting on events in her present (famous) life, Monroe also wrote several notes about her childhood. In particular, she explores how Ida Bolender, Monroe’s foster mother, impacted her present life. One of the more moving lines? “Ida – I have still been obeying her – it’s not only harmful for me to do so but unrealality [sic] because in my work – I don’t want to obey her any longer.”
“Alone!!! I am alone, I am always alone, No matter what.”
– Original handwritting found in one of Marilyn Monroe’s diary. pic.twitter.com/mX7Ft0ZCuT
— ♛ (@q_vs98) November 6, 2016
Apparently, you aren’t the only woman who’s ever struggled balancing her dreams of the future with her upbringing. Another fun fact: you’re selling yourself short at a penny per thought. Monroe’s thoughts sold for $19,200.
You might wonder if celebrities are more annoyed by gossip magazines than entertained. When it comes to Marilyn Monroe at least, that isn’t the case. The auction featured a group of nine gossip magazines, which were packed in a trunk when Marilyn Monroe was moving out of her Roxbury, Connecticut, home. She previously shared it with Arthur Miller, but left once they separated.
60 Years Ago Today: #MarilynMonroe married Arthur Miller.
A photo posted by Marilyn Monroe (@marilynmonroe) on
So what exactly did the blond bombshell enjoy reading? The magazine titles include Inside Hollywood (May 1960), Hush-Hush (November 1960), Confidential (September 1961), ‘Movie Fan’ (July 1954), Untold Secrets (October 1961), Screenland (July 1962), Movie World (March 1953), Movie Life (May 1948) and Kroniek Van De Week (March 1949). These magazines not only give insight into Monroe’s reading habits, but also 1960s culture overall. (And if you’re a fashion magazine lover, what could be a better way to travel back in time?) Of course, today’s magazines are a bit cheaper than the $10,625 price tag for Monroe’s nine.
Marilyn Monroe has made history for plenty of reasons though the years. She has inspired a sexually liberated form of fashion. She has shown that she’s a woman of many hidden talents – including, one for art. In a way, her blond hair made her so iconic, she has become a female version of Midas: Nearly everything she touched is now as valuable as gold. (Or diamonds, as Marilyn seemed to prefer).
However, these famous auction items show more than just Marilyn Monroe’s lasting legacy in society. They also reveal Monroe’s humanity; like us, she had flaws, enjoyed celebrity gossip and, yes, tried her fair share of diets. But rather than making Marilyn Monroe any less iconic, these “human” facets only serve to make Marilyn even more impressive. After all, she proved that a mere mortal can still capture the attention of the world.
