Description:

A remarkable set of 20 original, candid photographs from Marilyn Monroe's historic 1954 concert for American troops in Korea, featuring a very rare image of Marilyn incognito!

A collection of 20 unpublished black and white photographs, 3.5" x 5" each, taken by a American G.I. stationed in Korea in early 1954, the majority of which document Marilyn Monroe's performance before 9,000 servicemen. The photographs bear some light marginal wear including a few small corner creases, a few mild scratches to the emulsion, else fine condition overall.

By the end of 1953, Monroe had grown weary of the terms of her contract with 20th Century Fox which gave her no power over the films in which she would appear_nor a salary commensurate with her rapidly growing stardom. Tiring of being typecast, she refused to appear on the set of her latest project, yet anther musical comedy, The Girl in Pink Tights, with Frank Sinatra. In response, the studio suspended Monroe. To counter any negative publicity, she embarked on a self-promotion campaign. On January 14, she married Joe DiMaggio and the pair flew to Japan, combining a honeymoon with a previously scheduled business trip in which DiMaggio, together with Lefty O'Doul, helped to promote baseball in that country.

Upon their arrival in Tokyo, the couple was overwhelmed by mobs of fans eager to see Marilyn, overshadowing her new husband_much to his chagrin. While DiMaggio and O'Doul attended to their coaching duties in Japan, Marilyn, together with O'Doul's wife Jean, flew to Busan, Korea where she performed a grueling series of ten USO shows in four days. While exhausting, Marilyn found the performances and the attention exhilarating. Speaking to reporters, she remarked, "I never felt like a movie star before _ really in my heart _ before I came to Korea." (AP, February 19, 1954)

Of particular interest is a rare candid shot of Marilyn incognito. She is wearing a pair of aviator sunglasses, a large military parka with her hair pulled back as she walks with Jean O'Doul and another unidentified woman. Marilyn Monroe had the rare ability to change in and out of her public persona at will. By merely changing her posture and walk, she could transform herself from an anonymous blonde into the familiar iconic bombshell. There is an oft-told story of Marilyn walking with a friend on a crowded New York sidewalk with a companion, donning a scarf, sunglasses and a big coat. To her companion's amazement she was unmolested by passers-by, despite her status as a celebrity. Amazed, her companion remarked at the circumstance, and Marilyn grinned and asked, "Do you want to see her?" At that point she took off her scarf and glasses, made a slight adjustment in her face and posture, and in an instant she magically transformed from Norma Jean into Marilyn. Within minutes, she was mobbed with autograph hounds.

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January 28, 2016 10:30 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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