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Official account for the Scott Fortner #marilynmonroe Collection, the world’s largest private collection of Monroe’s personal property & memorabilia.

The way I feel today. 🤗 Happy Inauguration Day

The way I feel today. 🤗 Happy Inauguration Day America! 🇺🇸 #marilynmonroe #usa

Early Marilyn, on her way to stardom, by Andre de

Early Marilyn, on her way to stardom, by Andre de Diennes. #marilynmonroe 💫

“What I really want to say, that what the world

“What I really want to say, that what the world really needs is a feeling of kinship.” Marilyn to Richard S. Meryman for the LIFE magazine interview, 1962. These words are still true today. In honor of the Martin Luther King Jr holiday, show others love, kindness, acceptance, and patience. And, always assume positive intent, everyday. #marilynmonroe #martinlutherkingjr

At times she was so beautiful she takes your breat

At times she was so beautiful she takes your breath away. At the Golden Globes award ceremony, 1962. #marilynmonroe

Whaddaya think? If you’d been the costumer for S

Whaddaya think? If you’d been the costumer for Some Like it Hot, would you have had Marilyn wear this hat in the film? #marilynmonroe

On this date, 67 years ago, Marilyn and Joltin’

On this date, 67 years ago, Marilyn and Joltin’ Joe got hitched. The marriage was short-lived, yet they stayed close throughout the rest of her life. He never stopped loving her, and sent flowers to her final resting place every week for 20 years. #marilynmonroe #joedimaggio

Baby Norma Jeane ➡️ Marilyn Monroe. 🍼🌟 #

Baby Norma Jeane ➡️ Marilyn Monroe. 🍼🌟 #marilynmonroe

Super, SUPER rare shot of Marilyn, 1954, while fil

Super, SUPER rare shot of Marilyn, 1954, while filming River of No Return. #marilynmonroe

Stories about Marilyn’s rendition of “Happy Bi

Stories about Marilyn’s rendition of “Happy Birthday” say she was drunk or got lost backstage. She was out of breath and anxious, and consequently was unable to sing properly. All of this is untrue. It’s documented in at least two books that Marilyn planned and rehearsed the song she was to sing for her performance, and she sang it to President Kennedy exactly the way she’d rehearsed it.

In her book, Marilyn and Me, Susan Strasberg writes about Marilyn rehearsing the song. Page 220: Mother was a wreck when she got home from the rehearsal at Marilyn’s apartment. “It keeps getting sexier and sexier. If she doesn’t stop, it will be a parody. Richard Adler was crazed (Richard had written the special lyrics for the song), he made Peter Lawford call the president, who just laughed and said, ‘Great.'” “What did you say?” I asked. “Mom, why didn’t you tell her the truth?” She looked chastised. “She didn’t want to hear it. She’s determined to do it sexy,” she told us. “‘How else can I top everybody else?’ There’s nothing anyone can tell her about this, except maybe your father, but he won’t because it’s not important enough to him. They’ll probably blame me…Maybe they’ll love it.” Marilyn had worn out three pianists rehearsing for this song. She’d sung it in the bathtub, on the plane, night and day.

Eunice Murray, Marilyn’s final housekeeper, also writes in her book, Marilyn: The Last Months, about Marilyn rehearsing for the gala. Page 102: While the dress was being fitted, she began to sing “Happy Birthday” just the way, she said, she was going to sing it at the party. She almost let the secret slip when she got to the phrase, “Happy birthday, dear Mr. Pr___.” She broke off abruptly laughing. “I didn’t say anything,” she told Jean Louis. “You didn’t hear a thing.” Marilyn worked very hard to make her singing as special as the dress. She rehearsed with a tape recorder on her living room floor and before intimate friends for days.
And photos from the rehearsal show Marilyn using the same hand gestures that she used during the actual performance.

And now the rest is history. It’s the most famous rendition of “Happy Birthday” ever.

#marilynmonroe

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