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1949

Johnny Hyde () had a true love at first sight for Marilyn. He acquired her contract ()

which linked her to Harry Lipton (), by giving him a weak commission on the takings from Marilyn's movies.

Since this year, the William Morris Agency would represent her since March 2, 1949.

Johnny Hyde introduced her to the producer Lester Cowan who produced with Mary Pickford, a crazy comedy

called "Love Happy" about which they hoped it would revive the Marx Brothers' career (,

).

The shooting took place in the RKO studios. Marilyn only had a single afternoon shooting. She was paid $500 plus a $300 extra bonus for the publicity pictures.



Sunday, March 13 she moved in at the Beverly Carlton Hotel, room 350.



Beginning of April  she posed for a photo session for Life magazine with the photographer Philip Halsman.
The magazine would be published in October.

A letter from Grace Goddard informed her about her mother Gladys' remarriage with an electrician named John Stewart Eley. The wedding took place on Wednesday, April 20.

From Monday, April 25 to Thursday, April 28 she took part of the 4th Pacific Coast Antiques Show, at the

Pan Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles (,).

At the end of Spring, Johnny Hyde, in love with Marilyn, left his wife and children. He moved in at 718 North

Palm Drive () in Beverly Hills and convinced Marilyn to live with him (,

,).

However she kept her room at the Beverly Carlton Hotel.

Hyde hired hairstylists for her regular bleaching sessions and bought her new clothes.

Now she was seen with him in popular places ().




Beginning of May she posed for the photographer Tom Kelley for an advert for Pabst Beer brand

().



Wednesday, May 25, Kelley contacted her again. The advert had interested John Baumgarth, a calendar manufacturer in Chicago. For the next calendar he wanted a new model, a nude artistic picture that Marilyn agreed to do.

Friday, May 27 she signed a contract with Kelley under the name of Mona Monroe.

Saturday, May 28 picture session for the calendar. The session lasted 2 hours. Natalie, Tom Kelley's wife was

there. Kelley took 24 pictures; only 2 would be published : a nude profile in front of a draped fabric ()

and a bust "Golden Dreams" (). She was paid $50 while Kelley sold the copyrights to the Baumgarth
company for $500.




Marilyn was bound to ensure the promotion of "Love Happy", even if her appearance on the screen was negligible.

The production paid her $100 a week for 5 weeks, plus the entertainments expenses, and sent her on tour through the USA.

So she left Los Angeles on Friday, June 10 juin. She traveled through the country by train and arrived on

Sunday, June 12 in Rockford, Illinois, where she stayed a whole week (,).

Tuesday, June 14 for "Flag Day" she posed with the American flag in front of Owen's shop ().

She also posed for the publicity for a swimsuit sold in this shop ().

She visited the Rockford's orphanage () and in the evening she attended the pre-premiere

of "Love Happy" at the State Movie Theatre in Rockford  ().

She was chosen by Photoplay magazine for giving the prize of the "Dreamhouse" contest.

Tuesday, June 21 she went to Warrensburg, State of New York with Photoplay representativese

(,,,,).




Saturday, July 2 she was in Detroit (,).

Saturday, July 9  she attended a base-ball game at the Wrigley Field Stadium in Chicago

(,).

She attended a party with Roddy Mc Dowell at the Rickett's Club in Chicago (,

,).

Friday, July 15 and Saturday, July 16, she was in Milwaukee where she posed for another picture session

,

Then she arrived in New York City (,). She stayed at the Sherry Netherland Hotel.


Saturday, July 23, she had a picture session at Tobey Beach, Long Island with Andre De Dienes (,

,,,,).

Also a session with Weegee at the Jones Beach Club (,,,

,).



During her stay, she went to one of the most chic night-club in New York, the El Morocco. She met there the

clothes designer Henry Rosenfeld (). They would be friends during their whole life.




Exhausted by the journey, she went back to Los Angeles and didn't attend the premiere of "Love Happy" in Milwaukee, on Saturday, August 6.

Back to California she had a new audition at the 20th-Century Fox.

She was chosen to play Clara, a singer in "A Ticket to Tomahawk", a musical western musical shot in Technicolor.

Friday, August 5 costume tests for the part of Clara (,,).

Saturday, August 27 she left Los Angeles and went to Durango, Colorado where a part of the movie was shot

(;,;,,,).



Softball friendly game for the benefit of the Durango Mercy Hospital Fund (,).

At the Trimble Hot Springs Resort and Spa with the team members (,

).
 
Party at the Kiva Theatre in Durango .

Publicity for "Kyron Way Diet Tables"


The director John Huston () was preparing his next movie "The Asphalt Jungle" distributed by the MGM.

Lucille Ryman (), MGM casting director who had taken Marilyn under her wing, suggested her to take part in the audition.
Marilyn worked with Natasha Lytess and won the part.



In September she met Rupert Allan (), publication director of Look magazine. During this party she met

the photographer Milton Greene, aged 27 (). She was thrilled about his enthusiasm.

Sunday, September 25 party at the Mocambo ().

She appeared on the cover of So Rite magazine ().




Monday, October 10 publication of Life magazine with the article " Eight Girls Try Out Mixed Emotions" with the

pictures taken by Philip Halsman in April (,). Marilyn, like the other starlets,

expressed herself in 4 different situations : facing a monster (), drinking a delicious beverage

(), listening to a joke (), being kissed by a lover ().


Publication of Photoplay magazine (,).


The production of "A Ticket to Tomahawk" ended on Friday, October 21.

Beginning of the production of "The Asphalt Jungle" (,,,

,).

During the whole production, Natasha Lytess was constantly on the set, nodding or shaking her head to let Marilyn know her satisfaction or disapproval.

With this movie, Marilyn won her status as an actress. Her name was credited.

She celebrated the New Year Eve on Saturday, December 31 at the Racquet Club in Palm Springs with Johnny

Hyde (,).

 

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