Los Angeles.- To the tune of “Happy Birthday dear Marilyn,” Marilyn Monroe fans gathered this Monday at the Hollywood Chinese Theatre to celebrate the actress’s centenary, a day in which cake, one hundred roses, and postcards with her image were distributed in her honor.
The event, which took place in front of Monroe’s handprints, was attended by Lawrence Schiller, considered the last living photographer to have worked with the star, and served as the finishing touch to several days of tributes dedicated to the Hollywood legend.
The actress left her signature and hand and footprints in 1953 to promote the premiere of ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’, a film that will be screened again this Monday at the same venue.
“Her influence was enormous and remains important. It is interesting that a hundred years later we still remember her. She was unique in many ways, she did not fit people’s expectations,” animator Jeff Etter, who was at the celebration this Monday, replied to EFE.
California embraces his memory
The celebrations began even before the official date. Just this weekend, 1,037 people dressed as the ‘Niagara’ actress broke a Guinness record by gathering in front of the ‘Forever Marilyn’ statue in Palm Springs, California, easily surpassing the previous mark of 254 people dressed as the legendary Hollywood star.
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The tributes also include ‘Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon’, an exhibition at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures that showcases hundreds of the actress’s personal items, as well as some of her most famous costumes, notably the fuchsia dress from ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ in which Monroe sang the popular song ‘Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend’.
The exhibition is accompanied by a retrospective of his films that includes titles such as ‘The Asphalt Jungle’ or ‘All About Eve’, while the subscription television channel TCM will pay tribute to the star by screening his films every Monday starting June 1st.
In addition, auction houses such as Julien’s Auctions or Heritage Auctions have two active sales that bring together personal items of the actress ranging from photographs and letters, to makeup and underwear.
Other activities in his/her name
Numerous admirers are also expected to flock to the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park cemetery in Los Angeles, where the actress’s remains rest.
“I would describe Marilyn as the most beautiful woman in the world. She means so much to so many people,” Jessica ‘Sugar’ Kiper, an actress and admirer of Monroe, told EFE. Dressed as the Hollywood star, she was in charge of singing the traditional “Happy Birthday” and serving cake.
Born in Los Angeles in 1926 under the name Norma Jeane Mortenson, Monroe transcended her era to become an undisputed icon of cinema and one of the most recognizable figures of the 20th century.
