My journey ends here...
1948
JANUARY
In January Marilyn's agent, Harry Lipton, asked Maxwell Arnow, scout talent at the Columbia, to watch thescreen test Marilyn had done at the Fox. He asked Natasha Lytess (
),
drama teacher at the Columbia studio, to prepare Marilyn for an
audition for this studio. They worked the part of a girl in "They Knew
What They Wanted". Marilyn and
Natasha worked hard and it paid : Marilyn signed a contract with
the Columbia in March. Natasha helped her to develop and reveal her talents and interest for the theater and general knowledge.
She taught Marilyn the nuance in gesture, manner of speaking, elocution and breathing.
During a party at John Carroll and Lucille Ryman's home, Marilyn was introduced to Pat De Cicco, a manufacturer who had made a fortune in candies sold in movie theaters. De Cicco was friend with Joseph Schenck,
head of the Fox (
). Schenck used to organize poker parties in his luxurious mansion (
). De Cicco asked Marilyn to escort him : that's the way she met Joe Schenck.FEBRUARY
Friday, February 20, brothers James and Stanley Seesman, owners of two jewelery shops "Carlyle's Jewelery Store" in Salinas, California and Hollywood, wanted to hire a starlet for the promotion of their production.
Noreen Nash had quit and Marilyn was chosen (
;
-
).
,
,
).During this stay she was sacred first "Artichoke Queen" at the Castroville Artichoke Festival
(
,
).Publication of Holiday magazine
,
,
.MARCH
In March she appeared in several acts of the Fox studio talent showcase "Strictly for Kicks" (
) atthe Fox Studio Club Little Theater (
,
,
,
).Tuesday, March 9 Marilyn was hired by the Columbia studio, for 6 months. She would be paid $125 a week.
Photo sessions with Ed Cronenweth (
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
).Grace Goddard informed her about the death of Ana Lower on Sunday, March 14, from a heart failure she
suffered from several years (
).Natasha Lytess prepared Marilyn for an audition for a musical "Ladies of the Chorus". She got the part
(
,
,
,
).She was addressed to Fred Karger, singing teacher and arranger, who gave her diction and singing courses
(
,
). Recently divorced, he lived in a big house with his mother Anna and his sister Mary. Marilyn fell in love and became attached to this family.APRIL
Thursday, April 8 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, she took part to an hairstyle presentation made by Helen Hunt,
head of the hairstyling department at the Columbia (
-
).
One of the pictures taken this day would be used for the movie "Riders
of the Whistling Pines", produced this year by the Columbia (
,
).Wednesday, April 14, release of "Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hey!" (
,
,
,
).Thursday, April 22, start of the production of "Ladies of the Chorus". It took only 10 days.
She played Peggy Martin, a music hall singer (
) who fell in love with a man from the high society (
,
). She sang "Everybody Needs a Da-Da-Daddy" and "Anyone Can See I Love You" with a smooth voice.During this production, she met the head of the costume department, Jean-Louis (
). He dressed her for the shooting and would accompany her during her whole life.MAY
In May she posed with the "The Swich" model, from swimsuits designer, Rose Marie Reid (
,
).Publicity pictures for "Ladies of the Chorus"
.JUNE
Wednesday, May 26, she attended the premiere of the movie "The Emperor Waltz" with Mickey Rooney
(
,
,
) at the Paramount Hollywood Theatre.Wednesday, June 2, she was the hostess of the Los Angeles Press Club Ball (
,
).Tuesday, June 8, she attended the premiere of a George White play at the Florentine Gardens
(
).Wednesday, June 9, she moved in once again at the Studio Club (
,
,
,
). She stayed room 334 until March 1949.Wednesday, June 16 she attended the premiere of "Lend and Ear" at the Hollywood Las Palmas Theater
(
).JULY
In July, photo session for the Columbia (
).Tuesday, July 6, photo session at the Los Angeles Town House Hotel (
,
).AUGUST
Friday, August 6, photo session with a swimsuit designed by Rose Marie Reid (
,
).The Columbia studio didn't extend her contract.
SEPTEMBER
From Sunday, August 15 to Sunday, September 12, she had a part in the production "Stage Door" at the Bliss-Hayden Theatre.
Friday, September 3, she attended the performance of "Madama" at the Hollywood Bowl with Bill Pursel
(
).OCTOBER
In October she had a light car accident. Among the crowd was the photographer Tom Kelley. He gave her his business card.
Friday, October 22 release of "Ladies of the Chorus" (
,
,
,
).NOVEMBER
In November, picture sessions with J.R.Eyerman, for an article for Life magazine, which dealt with the way she
prepared herself for a part : by taking drama lessons with her Columbia coach, Natasha Lytess (
,
,
), dance lessons with Nico Charisse (
,
,
) and singing lessons with Phil Moore (
,
).Tuesday, November 16, signature of a contract with Earl Moran (
), who took many pictures(
,
,
,
,
,
,
).DECEMBER
Friday, December 31 the producer Sam Spiegel organized a New Year party at his home in Beverly Hills
(
,
).There were many famous guests : Otto Preminger (
), William Wyler, John Huston (
), Henry Hathaway, Jean Negulesco (
), Anatole Litvak among others.During this party where she was invited (
,
,
), Marilyn wasintroduced to Johnny Hyde (
), one of the head of the famous William Morris agency.She posed for the photographer Douglas White (
,
,
,
).
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