My journey ends here...
1953
JANUARY
Marilyn moved in a new apartment located 882 North Doheny Drive (
,
).Friday, January 2, costume tests for "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" which production had started in Fall 1952
(
,
).Wednesday, January 21, release of "Niagara" (
,
,
,
).Monday, January 26 she received the "State's Most Popular Movie Actress" from the Independant Theater
Owners of Arkansas (
), given to her by the Arkansas Academy of Independant Theater Owners (
,
).She was on the front cover of the NAS (Naval Air Station) magazine after having been elected Miss NAS 1952
(
;
,
,
).She met the poet Dame Edith Sitwell (
,
) at the Hollywood Sunset Tower Hotel in Los Angeles.FEBRUARY
Tuesday, February 3, she attended the Redbook Magazine Awards party with her friend Sidney Skolsky
(
,
,
,
,
,
).Monday, February 9, Gladys, Marilyn's mother, entered a private institution for women, the Rockhaven
Sanitarium in Verdugo City, California (
,
,
,
). Photoplay magazine organized the prize giving "Fastest Rising Star of 1952" (
), in Marilyn's honor (
,
,
,
,
).THe party took place at the Crystal Room of the Beverly Hills Hotel. She was escorted by her friend Sidney
Skolsky (
). She wore one of the dress from "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" designed by WilliamTravilla (
,
).Saturday, February 14 picture session with Andre De Dienes (
,
).Wednesday, February 25, she received the "Silver Cup Award for Best Young Box Office Personality"
(
) from Redbook magazine (
,
,
).Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis attended the party (
,
).MARCH
Wednesday, March 4, with Joe DiMaggio (
) they attended the premiere of the play "Call Me Madam" (
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
) at theFox Ritz Theatre, a play in which played Ethel Merman, who would be her partner in "There's No Business Like
Show Business". Donald O'Connor, another partner of the movie also attended (
).Thursday, March 5 with Sidney Skolsky (
,
) they attended the wedding of thereporter Sheilah Graham (
,
-
,
) which took place at her home in Beverly Hills.Friday, March 6, end of the production of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes".
Marilyn still studied with Michael Tchekhov and he sent her to take drama and mime lessons with Lotte Goslar
(
) who ran the Turnabout Theater in Hollywood. Monday, March 9 beginning of the production of her new movie "How to Marry A Milionnaire?", directed by Jean
Negulesco (
), with actresses Betty Grable and Lauren Bacall (
,
,
).The Fox was proud of its first movie in CinemaScope, a process supposed to depose the television, with 3
leading stars. The screenwriter Nunnally Johnson (
) explained that he had created the charactersby adjusting them to the actresses' personality. The 3 of them got well along wth each other during the production.
Jean Negulesco, infuriated with Natasha Lytess' comments, fired her. The next day, Marilyn said she suffered from a bronchitis and didn't come to work. Marilyn's agent declared that she couldn't work without her coach and Natasha was reinstated.
She received the "Most Promising Female Newcomer in 1952" (
) from the Achievements Awards ofLook magazine (
,
,
).APRIL
Saturday, April 11, costume tests for "River of No Return" (
).Thursday, April 15 she received the prize "Halo For A Saintly Sinner" (
) for her help about givingmilk to educated children (
).The production of "How to Marry A Millionaire?" ended at the end of April.
MAY
Picture session with photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt (
), at her home in Doheny Drive (
,
,
,
).And at Harold Lloyd's, by himself (
,
,
,
,
,
).She posed for a garden furniture advert (
,
,
,
,
).Wednesday, May 13 she attended a party given by the journalist Walter Winchell in the honor of the columnist Louella Parsons, at Ciro's. The profits were given to the Damon Runyon Cancer Fund.
Many personalities attended this party, including Betty Grable (
,
,
), Jane Russell, Jimmy McHugh (
,
), the reportersSheilah Graham (
,
), Walter Winchell (
,
,
,
,
), Louella Parsons (
,
,
,
), Darryl Zanuck and Joe Schenck (
,
).Tuesday, May 19 she attended the Parsons Radio Show (
,
).Wednesday, May 20 she attended the premiere of Jimmy Mc Hugh's "Singing Stars" at the Cocoanut Grove
(
,
) at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.She was escorted with Joe DiMaggio (
,
,
,
,
).She met uup with the columnist Louella Parsons (
), the composer Cole Porter (
,
), the actor Donald O'Connor (
,
).
) from the The Detroit Free Press magazine; the columnist
Hedda Hopper gave it to her (
).
JUNE
Costume tests for "River of No Return" on Saturday, June 6 (
,
) and Monday, June 8 (
).She sang several songs in this western (
) directed by Otto Preminger (
,
.Picture session with the photographer Bert Reisfeld (
,
,
,
,
).Wednesday, June 17 she attended the "Rib & Roast Dinner" in honor of Charles Coburn's birthday.
The dinner took place at the Masquers Club (
) to which Coburn was a member (
,
,
,
,
).Afterwards she was interviewed by the journalist Earl Wilson (
,
,
).Friday, June 26 during the "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"'s publicity campaign, she put her prints in the cement, along with Jane Russell, in front of the Grauman's Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard, following a tradition
founded by Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks in the 1920s (
,
,
,
,
,
).Then she had dinner at Chasen's with DiMaggio (
,
,
).JULY-AUGUST
Friday, July 3 she was interviewed by Sidney Skolsky at her home in Doheny Drive (
,
,
,
) for Modern Screen magazine (
,
,
) which would be published in October 1953.The photographer Bob Beerman took the pictures (
,
,
,
).Wednesday, July 8, on the occasion of the release of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", Marilyn received the prize
"The Best Friend a Diamond Ever Had " (
) from the Jewelery Academy (
,
,
,
,
).Friday, July 10, she attended a charity gala organized by Danny
,
) for the creation of the Jude's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. It took place at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, with Jane Russell, Danny Kaye (
) and Robert Mitchum (
) , among others (
,
,
).Saturday, July 11 she did some shopping at the Beverly Silks and Woolens shop
(
).Between July 11 and 20 she spent few days in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, with Joe Di Maggio
(
,
,
,
).Wednesday, July 15, release of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (
,
,
,
,
).Saturday, July 25 she left to Canada, for the start of the production of "River of No Return".
She flew from Los Angeles to Seattle (
) then arrived at the Vancouver International Airport (
). A part of the crew travelled with her, including Robert Mitchum with his wife and daughter (
),Rory Calhoun and his wife Lita Barron (
), Tim Wallace, Mitchum's understudy, and Natasha Lytess.She was warmly welcomed at the airport (
,
,
). In Vancouver she visited the Stanley Park and met the Indian Chief Capilano (
). After a break at the Vancouver Hotel (
), she went to the train station where she took the Canadian National Train to Jasper, Alberta. She took some time to pose with the Canadian Police (
,
,
).She stayed at the Banff Springs Hotel (
,
).The shots were taken in the National Parks in Banff and Jasper, inside the Canadian Rockies
(
,
,
,
,
,
).The shooting was demanding (
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
). She had a clash with the directorOtto Preminger because he was infuriated with Natasha Lytess' omnipresence (
,
,
).Preminger had insisted that the actors had to perform the stunts themselves.
Wednesday, August 19 Marilyn hurt her ankle while falling from the raft on which she was standing on for the shooting.
She had to wear a bandage for a few days and had to walk with crutches (
,
,
,
,
,
).Joe DiMaggio spent 2 weeks there, accompanied with his New York friend George Solotaire (
). 
,
,
,
.Joe taught Marilyn how to play golf (
).Allan Snyder, Marilyn's friend, took care of her make up on the set (
,
) and thehairstylist Gladys Rasmussen took care of her hairstyle (
,
).The photographer John Vachon took many picures during the production (
,
,
). The outdoor shooting ended at the end of August (
,
,
,
,
).SEPTEMBER
,
,
) to LosAngeles (
,
). She had to shoot the indoor scenes, at the Fox studio.During the shooting, her friend the actress Shelley Winters visited her (
,
).Sunday, September 13, she started on TV with the presenter Jack Benny in the "Jack Benny
Show", recorded at the Shrine Auditorium (
). The rehearsals had taken place on Thursday, September 10 (
,
,
,
).Natasha Lytess escorted her (
) and she was prepared by both Allan Snyder (
,
) and Gladys Rasmussen (
).Marilyn played a sketch "Honolulu Trip" (
,
,
) and sang "Bye, Bye, Baby" a song from "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes". The program was broadcasted on CBS.Her contact with the Fox didn't allow her to be paid for this kind of appearance, but she received a black
Cadillac convertible as a gift (
).Picture sessions with Milton Greene : balalaïka (
,
), negligee (
,
), Laurel Canyon (
,
). Monday, September 28 Grace Goddard (
) was discovered unconscious on her bed (
). She died of a barbiturate overdose (
). OCTOBER
The funeral took place on Thursday, October 1 at the Westwood Memorial Park (
) but Marilyn didn't attend.The Fox was preparing a new movie "Pink Tights" with a part reserved to Marilyn. But her agent Charles Feldman announced that she didn't want to do this movie.
In October the photographer Milton Greene arrived in Los Angeles, with his new wife Amy, a former model of the photographer Richard Avedon and worked at that era as a fashion adviser.
Marilyn had several picture sessions with him for Look magazine (
;
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
).The magazine would be published on November 17, 1953.
Saturday, October 10 Marilyn and Joe DiMaggio went to San Francisco and lived in Joe's house on Beach
Street (
).Sunday, October 11 they attended a base-ball game (
,
).She attended the premiere of "5 000 Fingers for Mister T" with Tommy Rettig her young partner in "River of
No Return" (
,
).Picture sessions with Milton Greene, at Joe Schenck's :
,
,
,
,
, and at her home in Doheny Drive (
,
,
,
).
NOVEMBER
Wednesday, November 4, she got prepared (
,
,
,
) for the premiere of "How To Marry A Milionaire?" which took place at the Fox-Wilshire Theater
(
,
,
,
,
,
).
Thrn she attended the party that the director Jean Negulesco gave at his home (
,
,
).
Friday, November 6, the city of Monroe, State of New York, became for one day the city "Marilyn
Monroe" (
).
Tuesday, November 10, release of "How to Marry A Millionaire?" (
,
,
,
,
,
).
Satuurday, November 14, visit of King Paul of Greece and Queen Frederika, princess of Hanover, at the Fox
(
,
,
).
Tuesday, November 17, publication of Look magazine (
) with the pictures taken by Milton Greene.
End of November, Marilyn learned there would be a 10 days passing for the retake of some scenes of "River of No Return". That would postpone the production of her next movie she was supposed to work on for, but that she didn't intend to, "Pink Tights".
An appointment was schedulded with Lloyd Wright, Marilyn's lawyer : he had to renegotiate Marilyn's contract with the Fox studios.
She had a picture session with photographer Ben Ross (
,
,
,
).
Friday, December 4, she attended the annual party of the Los Angeles Examiner at the Shrine Auditorium
(
,
,
,
,
).
She was informed that she had to appear on Monday, December 7 for the beginning of the production of "Pink Tights".
Zanuck ordered her to come for the post-synchronization of a song for "River of No Return" (
), but she tought it was a trick. The Famous Artists, who represented her, informed her that she really had to go back to the studio to end "River of No
Return".
She would work at the Fox from Friday, December 11 until Wednesday 23.
She took part of the "Toys for Tot Campaign", sponsored by the US Marines in order to collect some toys for
unprivileged children (
).
The first issue of Playboy magazine was published in December (
).
Sunday, December 13, she was interviewed by the reporter Walter Winchell for his program on ABC
Radio (
,
).
Thursday, December 17, party at Bob Hope's (
,
,
).
Friday, December 18, interview with Vernon Scott from UPI, in her dressing-room at the Fox
(
).
Saturday, Decmber 19, party of the "8 Ball Welfare Foundation", founded by the Los Angeles Press Club
(
,
,
).
She was informed that the production of "Pink Tights" would start on Monday, January 4, 1954.
Wednesday, December 23 she went to spend the Season's Greetings in San Francisco. She travelled under
the name Norma Dougherty (
).
This year she received the "World Film Favourite" (
-
) from The International
Press of Hollywood", and the prize "Sweetest Girl in Motion Pictures" from the 20th Century-Fox Films Stars
(
).
,
,
,
) for the premiere of "How To Marry A Milionaire?" which took place at the Fox-Wilshire Theater(
,
,
,
,
,
).Thrn she attended the party that the director Jean Negulesco gave at his home (
,
,
).Friday, November 6, the city of Monroe, State of New York, became for one day the city "Marilyn
Monroe" (
).Tuesday, November 10, release of "How to Marry A Millionaire?" (
,
,
,
,
,
).Satuurday, November 14, visit of King Paul of Greece and Queen Frederika, princess of Hanover, at the Fox
(
,
,
).Tuesday, November 17, publication of Look magazine (
) with the pictures taken by Milton Greene.End of November, Marilyn learned there would be a 10 days passing for the retake of some scenes of "River of No Return". That would postpone the production of her next movie she was supposed to work on for, but that she didn't intend to, "Pink Tights".
An appointment was schedulded with Lloyd Wright, Marilyn's lawyer : he had to renegotiate Marilyn's contract with the Fox studios.
She had a picture session with photographer Ben Ross (
,
,
,
).DECEMBER
Friday, December 4, she attended the annual party of the Los Angeles Examiner at the Shrine Auditorium
(
,
,
,
,
). She was informed that she had to appear on Monday, December 7 for the beginning of the production of "Pink Tights".
Zanuck ordered her to come for the post-synchronization of a song for "River of No Return" (
), but she tought it was a trick. The Famous Artists, who represented her, informed her that she really had to go back to the studio to end "River of No
Return".She would work at the Fox from Friday, December 11 until Wednesday 23.
She took part of the "Toys for Tot Campaign", sponsored by the US Marines in order to collect some toys for
unprivileged children (
).The first issue of Playboy magazine was published in December (
).Sunday, December 13, she was interviewed by the reporter Walter Winchell for his program on ABC
Radio (
,
).Thursday, December 17, party at Bob Hope's (
,
,
).Friday, December 18, interview with Vernon Scott from UPI, in her dressing-room at the Fox
(
).Saturday, Decmber 19, party of the "8 Ball Welfare Foundation", founded by the Los Angeles Press Club
(
,
,
).She was informed that the production of "Pink Tights" would start on Monday, January 4, 1954.
Wednesday, December 23 she went to spend the Season's Greetings in San Francisco. She travelled under
the name Norma Dougherty (
).This year she received the "World Film Favourite" (
-
) from The InternationalPress of Hollywood", and the prize "Sweetest Girl in Motion Pictures" from the 20th Century-Fox Films Stars
(
).
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