Marilyn Monroe’s Personal Receipts Related to Her 1960 Birthday Party on the Set of Let’s Make Love
From the Personal Files of Marilyn Monroe: This group of original receipts documents purchases made in preparation for Monroe’s thirty fourth birthday, which she marked on June 1, 1960 while filming Let’s Make Love at Twentieth Century Fox.
Among the records is a receipt from Gill’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream dated June 1, 1960 for one hundred ice cream treats. Another receipt from Paper Unlimited, Inc., dated May 24, 1960, lists party supplies including forks, spoons, napkins, plates, and a tablecloth. Both documents are made out to Hazel Washington, Monroe’s studio maid, who assisted with her day to day needs during production.
Photographs taken on the Fox lot that day show Monroe celebrating with cast and crew. Items consistent with those listed on these receipts can be seen arranged on the tables around her.
Together, these records provide clear documentation of how a personal occasion was organized within the structure of a working film set. Preserved among Monroe’s personal files, they offer a direct administrative link to a specific moment in her life during an active period of her career.
Collector’s Note
As a collector, I am often interested in documents that show how personal moments were managed within the structure of Marilyn Monroe’s professional life.
These receipts record the practical arrangements made for her thirty fourth birthday while she was working on Let’s Make Love at Twentieth Century Fox. They show that even a private celebration required coordination, assistance, and advance planning within the studio environment.
What stands out to me is how clearly they place Monroe at the center of both worlds. She was actively engaged in production while also creating space for a personal milestone. The involvement of her studio maid, Hazel Washington, further reflects the support systems that helped her navigate daily routines during filming.
Records like these help illustrate how Monroe’s life operated in real time. They show the intersection of work, relationships, and ordinary needs. For me, they are useful because they document not the image of Marilyn Monroe, but the logistics of being her.
Scott Fortner
Marilyn Monroe Collection
Founder & Owner
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