A direct quote from the press release:
“A dress and tiara worn by Marilyn Monroe…are among a fascinating collection of showbiz memorabilia on display at Reading Museum later this week.
The Hollywood collection features alongside many other incredible exhibits from the world of entertainment at the Celebrity exhibition which opens on Saturday, October 9.
The glitzy showcase coincides with another exhibition called Dressed 2 Express, already running at the museum at Reading Town Hall, looking at how celebrity fashion reflects our personality.
(Above: Actual photo montage from press release.)The black, strapless, silk dress was worn by Marilyn to the televised birthday of John F Kennedy at Madison Square Garden, New York, and sold at auction for $1.26 million.
It was later gifted to her step-sister Bebe Goddard before being acquired by Heaven and Earth, which purchase Marilyn items for museums and private buyers from all over the world.
The stunning rhinestone tiara was a present from an admiring fan after he saw her in her 1953 film How To Marry A Millionaire in which she starred with Betty Grable and Lauren Bacall.”
Funny, I always thought Marilyn Monroe wore THIS dress to the JFK gala, and THIS dress later sold for $1.26 million.
Also, I don’t remember a tiara in How To Marry A Millionaire. However, there was a tiara in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Is it being implied that this is the tiara Marilyn wore in GPB?
The tiara on exhibit:
Marilyn in GPB with the actual tiara used in the film:
Obviously not the same bling.It’s a well known fact that Bebe Goddard “Marilyn Monroe owned” items are not authentic. However, even a casual Marilyn Monroe fan knows that she wore a nude colored gown embellished with rhinestones to the JFK birthday gala, not a black strapless evening dress.
I’ll give the museum a bit of slack because it is based in the UK, and not located in the US, but come on, do a little research!
www.readingmuseum.org.uk
Scott. Very interesting piece there..thanks. Of course, I would say most people know the dress was flesh coloured and not black. I have emailed the museum to ask them to clarify what dress is on display. Also, I'm not sure that the quotes above are an actual press release…or simply a press report. Point of order though on the UK issue as I'm not that sure location matters…Marilyn aficianados are worldwide!
Pete
Hmm…I wonder if this is meant to be the second dress that Marilyn had made prior to the event; the organizers were worried that she might wear something as provocative as the skin and beads gown and so she assured them she would wear a black, 'respectable' gown. Drat! I can't remember the source.
Hmm…I wonder if this is meant to be the second dress that Marilyn had made prior to the event; the organizers were worried that she might wear something as provocative as the skin and beads gown and so she assured them she would wear a black, 'respectable' gown. Drat! I can't remember the source.
From what I remember hearing in a TV documentary, the producers asked MM what she was going to wear at the JFK event and she allegedly reported back, "…a black, HIGH-NECK gown, that will be very dignified." (or close to that remark) She was obviously planning on stunning the world in what she knew would be completely opposite of what she had said. Pretty sure this is somewhat close…but could be wrong. Nevertheless, it was not the dress (from the early publicity shot) that is being reported.