Marilyn Monroe Movie Memorabilia

Norma Jeane Posters, Autographs, Costumes

The late Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) remains one of the most popular figures in Hollywood history. Collectors still love Marilyn, shelling out big money for movie posters, autographs, magazines, costumes, calendars, personal items and anything connected with the vaunted Blonde Bombshell.

Marilyn Monroe Movie Star

Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson in Los Angeles, California, on June 1, 1926. While working as a Blue Book model, young Norma Jeane completed a successful screen test for 20th Century Fox, signing a standard six-month contract at a starting salary of $125 a week. A name change was agreed upon, with Norma Jeane taking her first name from actress Marilyn Miller and her surname from her grandmother.

Monroe's first screen appearance came as a telephone operator in The Shocking Miss Pilgrim (1947). That was followed by other bit roles in such films as Dangerous Years (1947), Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! (1948), Love Happy (1949) and A Ticket to Tomahawk (1950). The "big" pictures later followed - Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), River of No Return (1954), The Seven Year Itch (1955), etc., with Monroe becoming one of Hollywood's greatest stars.

Monroe died of an accidental drug overdose at her Los Angeles home on August 5, 1962.

Marilyn Monroe Movie Posters, Lobby Cards, Stills

Monroe appeared in a total of 33 motion pictures from 1947 to 1962. Those 15 years in Hollywood generated quite an array of movie memorabilia, including film posters, lobby cards, stills and other artifacts.

Marilyn Monroe movie posters can be expensive, with many examples in top condition valued at $500 to over $3,000. Auction results include the following: Don't Bother to Knock (1952) standard one sheet poster ($1,015.75), The Seven Year Itch (1955) three sheet poster ($3,734.38), Bus Stop (1956) six sheet poster ($1,840) and Some Like It Hot (1959) insert poster ($1,035).

Lobby cards - so named because they were displayed in theater lobbies - are also popular. Generally issued in sets of eight, these cards feature various movie scenes. Auction results for Monroe titles in complete sets include The Asphalt Jungle (1950) at $1,840, Niagara (1953) at $920 and The Misfits (1961) at $191.20.

Marilyn Monroe movie stills - those 8x10 glossy promotional photos manufactured by the studios - are also fertile territory for collectors. Many examples from the early years can be quite valuable, as indicated by the following auction results: Monroe with tennis racket 20th Century Fox 1947 ($567.63), Monroe relaxing on the set of Love Happy with Groucho Marx United Artists 1949 ($418.25) and Marilyn wardrobe test still from We're Not Married 1952 ($388.38). Many stills carry their original "paperwork" on back, featuring photo credits and press releases.

Marilyn Monroe Autographs

Marilyn Monroe's autograph is one of the most coveted in Hollywood history. Photos, canceled checks, modeling contracts, letters or any other item signed by Monroe are sure to attract collectors.

A March 8, 1946, supplemental modeling release signed by Monroe as Norma Jeane Dougherty recently sold at auction for $7,259. Other Monroe-signed items include a 1951 agreement between the actress and 20th Century Fox ($2,716), a 1953 check made out and signed to her psychiatrist Dr. A. Gottesman ($1,553.50), a 1954 two-page handwritten letter ($17,925) and a baseball autographed by Monroe and husband Joe DiMaggio ($191,200).

Miscellaneous Marilyn Monroe Collectibles

Check out these auction results for other Marilyn Monroe memorabilia:

• April 7, 1952, Life magazine newsstand poster ($4,481.25)
• December 1953 premiere issue of Playboy with Monroe cover ($1,434)
• Monroe's personal phonebook ($5,975)
• 1955 Golden Dreams calendar ($191.20)
• Marilyn (1963) documentary one sheet poster ($45)
• Marilyn Monroe pastel on paper by noted artist Earl Moran ($11,950)
• Monroe black silk sleeveless cocktail dress ($5,400)

Sources

• Heritage Auction Galleries
• Julien's Auctions
• R&R Auction