Gary Vitacco-Robles - Icon: The Life, Times, and Films of Marilyn Monroe Volume 1 1926 to 1956

The Life, Times, and Films of Marilyn Monroe is the result of a decade of research culminating in two volumes reviewing five decades of literature on this extraordinary subject. My previous book, Cursum Perficio: Marilyn Monroes Brentwood Hacienda, resonated with her many fans across the globe who contacted me with appeals to write an unabridged biography. I extend appreciation to the many people who have supported this project.

Christelle Montagner graciously served as my overseas volunteer research assistant. She created a timeline of Marilyns life and organized her archive of documents and photographic images into a visual biography. Christelle was especially helpful in identifying the context of Marilyns life through photographs and scans of letters that Marilyn had written.

Prolific author Michelle Morgan served as my advisor, cheerleader, and coach. As a researcher and biographer of film stars of the Golden Age of filmmaking, she related to my frenzied excitement over finding an obscure article published nearly seventy years ago containing a tidbit of information, and validated such discoveries as worthy of a day of investigation. From across the Atlantic Ocean, Michelle took my hand and wisely guided me to Ben Ohmart of BearManor Media, who believed in and accepted my manuscript. My thanks also go out to Beth Jacques at Mptvimages.com who facilitated the licensing of the covers 1953 photograph by Frank Powolny (1901-1986), chief portrait and still photographer at Twentieth Century-Fox Studios.

I am grateful to those who participated in interviews:

Greg Schreiner of Marilyn Remembered provided a private tour of his exceptional collection of Marilyns personal property and archive and served as a consultant.

Scott Fortner of The Marilyn Monroe Collection also permitted my access to his colossal archive of Marilyns documents and personal property, which had recently been displayed with Gregs at the Hollywood History Museum in Los Angeles. Both collections serve as artifacts documenting a personal archeology.

The late Evelyn Moriarty spoke to me at length about Marilyns generosity and the productions of Lets Make Love, The Misfits, and Somethings Got to Give.

Marilyns internist, Dr. Hyman Engelberg, corresponded with me and requested that I write questions on index cards and mail them to him. Like a devoted pen pal, the retired physician jotted down his responses on the cards and returned them.

During Marilyn Monroes fiftieth anniversary memorial service, Joshua Greene of The Archives of Milton Greene and Amy Greene shared their personal memories of Marilyn as a member of their household.

James Haspiel provided consultation through a surprise long distance telephone call on New Years Eve 1999 and discussed his memories of Marilyn in Manhattan.

Stylist Mickey Song invited me into his home in Los Angeles and recounted his encounter with Marilyn at President John F. Kennedys birthday gala in 1962.

Jason Dow discussed his adolescent encounter with Marilyn on North Redington Beach, Florida, in March 1961.

Sal Arena discussed Marilyn as a customer in his pet shop in Manhattan, where she regularly purchased canine vitamins for Hugo, her Basset Hound.

James Dougherty exchanged email messages with me and shared fond personal memories of his young bride, Norma Jeane. Our communication branched into many other topics until his death.

Phyllis Goddard, who managed an archival website dedicated to William Spratling, discussed the American expatriates friendship with Marilyn and her trip to Mexico.

Margot Stipe of The Archives of Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona, shared with me floor plans of Wrights design for the Monroe-Miller house, and we often digressed to stories about our mutual love for dogs.

Eric Monroe Woodard assisted with information about Marilyns Brentwood hacienda and ill-fated production of Rain for the NBC television network. Eric provided a fateful introduction to Greg Schreiner of Marilyn Remembered.

Michael Greenwald discussed the history of Brentwood, Los Angeles.

Ceasar Vasallo shared his expansive archive, including a photograph of Marilyns childhood pet dog, Tippy.

George Bailey, Niagaras local historian, discussed the production of Niagara (1953). He also honored me by serving as best man at my wedding in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Ernie Garcia nurtured my interest in Marilyn during the twentieth anniversary of her death and provided articles dating back to 1962; it was during the editing process of this project thirty years later that we reunited via social media.

Marilyn Monroe has an international following of devoted fans who generously offered to share their astounding knowledge of the details of her life. Through the Internet, I was able to reach across the globe to consult with many experts to clarify a date, a name, or an event. Their enthusiastic willingness to answer a question or identify a source at any hour of the day or night is greatly appreciated. The lovely Mary Sims, President of Immortal Marilyn Fan Club, assisted in researching rare and vintage periodicals. Special thanks to: Jackie Craig, Melody Lockard, Dorothy Bartlett, Sebastien Cauchon, Ashlee Davis, Shar Daws, Marijane Gray, Jane Guy, Brandon Heidrick, Roman Hryniszak, Michelle Justice, Leslie Kasperowicz, David Marshall, Hanna Nixon, Angie Paul, Tony Plant, Judy Stetson, Rebecca Swift, Sunny and Greg Thompson, Roy Turner, Marco van der Munnik, Miguel Angel Gomora Vazquez, and Peggy Wilkins. Please forgive any oversight in acknowledgment of every Monrologist who answered a question or pointed me in the right direction.

I am indebted to the biographer Sarah Churchwell, who provided encouragement via email across the Atlantic; she generously permitted me to include quotations from the definitive The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe. Sarahs observations about Marilyn are priceless gems, and were essential as textural source material.

I am grateful to Joshua Greene for permission to include Marilyns own words from her 1954 autobiography, My Story. The photographic archive of Milton H. Greene, his father, can be accessed at www.archivesmhg.com.

I am also appreciative to Mona Rae Miracle, Marilyns niece, for her authorization to include quotations from My Sister Marilyn. Please see www.MonaRaeMiracle.com.

Additional thanks to Jonas Mekas for permission to quote extensively from his poetic review of The Misfits; Luke Yankee for permission to quote extensively from his memoir, Just Outside the Spotlight: Growing Up with Eileen Heckart; and TIME/LIFE for permission to quote from Richard Merymans interview with Marilyn from the August 3, 1962 issue of Life. Thank you, Amy Wong of TIME/LIFE, for assistance.