Marilyn

Marilyn's memorable character in The Seven Year Itch was known only as "The Girl" - yet she stole the show... The exterior filming for The Seven Year Itch took place in the early hours of September 15–16, 1954 outside the Loew’s State Theater on Lexington Avenue and 52nd Street. More than 2,000 spectators gathered after Fox publicists tipped off the press. The crowd whistled, shouted, and cheered every time Marilyn’s dress blew up. Joe DiMaggio became increasingly infuriated. The whistles, catcalls, and general chaos made the live footage unusable. Director Billy Wilder eventually had to reshoot the scene on a Hollywood soundstage for the final film. He quipped later that the whole thing was less about making a movie and more about “staging a publicity stunt.” The filming of The Seven Year Itch’s famous “subway grate” scene on Lexington Avenue at 52nd Street in Manhattan has become one of the most legendary moments in movie and pop culture history—and also one of the most chaotic film shoots ever staged in New York.

(original artwork by Hunt Slonem, 2026 - Available for purchase)

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Marilyn permanently relocated to the East Coast, and January 1955 marked a new chapter in her life with the formation of Marilyn Monroe Productions alongside photographer Milton Greene. Greene was a trusted friend who photographed her extensively, capturing some of her most iconic and intimate images. Their relationship was marked by mutual respect, loyalty, and a shared vision for her independence in Hollywood. Their first project, Bus Stop, showcased her dramatic depth and earned critical acclaim. The next project partnered Marilyn with Laurence Olivier on The Prince and the Showgirl. This bold career move exposed Marilyn to intense artistic and public scrutiny while giving her a chance to redefine herself beyond the Hollywood stereotype. However, the press conference at The Plaza Hotel created a frenzy among photographers and reporters, when one of the thin straps on Marilyn’s black velvet dress snapped, instantly becoming part of Hollywood legend.

Against the odds, Marilyn did succeed in achieving greater autonomy, focusing on the pursuit of personal understanding and professional control. She entered self-directed psychoanalysis under Dr. Marianne Kris and enrolled in Lee Strasberg’s Actor’s Studio, cementing her commitment to serious dramatic training alongside her self awareness and creative independence. In early 1956, she legally changed her name to Marilyn Monroe, unifying the woman she was becoming with the identity she had created. This era marked Marilyn’s greatest triumphs as actress, personality, and businesswoman.

Marilyn and Arthur Miller first met in the early 1950s, but their connection deepened into an affair in 1955 after Marilyn moved to New York to reinvent herself creatively and personally. Drawn to Arthur’s intellect, stability, and literary world, Marilyn Monroe found in him a very different kind of partnership from the Hollywood relationships that had defined her earlier years.

On June 21, 1956, during a break from hours of testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), Arthur stunned reporters by announcing that he and Marilyn were going to marry — news that reportedly surprised Marilyn herself. The couple wed just eight days later on June 29, 1956, quickly becoming one of the era’s most talked-about pairings, famously dubbed by the press “The Hourglass and the Egghead.”

Together, Marilyn and Arthur became fixtures of New York’s cultural and social scene. Arthur supported Marilyn’s ambitions as a serious actress while trying to protect her from the relentless pressures of fame and Hollywood.

Arthur Miller began writing The Misfits in the mid-1950s as a kind of love letter to Marilyn, shaping the character of Roslyn as a reflection of her vulnerability, sensitivity, and longing for authenticity. He wanted the script to be a gift, a story that would showcase Marilyn’s depth beyond Hollywood stereotypes. But as the years passed, their marriage faltered, and the production exposed the growing cracks between them. What began as an ode to his wife turned into a painful mirror of their unraveling relationship. By the end of 1960, the writing, filming, and emotional strain of The Misfits ultimately marked the end of their marriage. 

Following her divorce on January 24, 1961 in Juarez, Mexico, Marilyn Monroe returned to New York and reconnected with Joe DiMaggio, who was then living at the Lexington Hotel. Whether or not rumors of a reconciliation were true, theirs remained a relationship defined by enduring affection, loyalty, and mutual support—one that lasted a lifetime.