Was in Palm Springs over the weekend for the unveiling of FRASEIR co-creator, David Lee’s Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Fame. Its in front of the art museum and down the block from the Marilyn Monroe statue. Apparently there has been much controversy over this magnificent sculpture. Understandable cries of misogyny and protests have sprouted. On the other hand, some have countered by saying that when Marilyn’s husband, Joe Dimaggio, learned of that scene he forbid her from doing it and she said she would do whatever the fuck she wanted. (Apparently, tension over this issue contributed to their divorce.) So the statue could be perceived as a monument to women’s empowerment. You decide.
There are also those who resent walking out of the museum and seeing Marilyn’s crotch. Okay, it’s hard to counter that one.
I will say this, when the star ceremony was over we were invited to a nearby restaurant for drinks. The instructions were “Go through Marilyn’s legs and turn right.”
Hairy Palm Springs
ReplyDelete✋😉🙂
DeleteM.B.
I have enjoyed looking at the names on Palm Springs Walk of Fame. Sort of related, we had dinner at Sherman's in Palm Springs. On the walls, they had autographed pictures on the wall of celebrities who had dined there. I saw a picture of David Schwimmer, but it was labeled as Ron Glassman.
ReplyDeleteI did mention it to the food server, so maybe it was fixed.
The statue is Forever Marilyn by Seward Johnson (of the Johnson and Johnson family). It was the centerpiece of a Seward Johnson retrospective at New Jersey's Grounds for Sculpture in 2014-2015.
ReplyDeleteI know some people are up in arms over it, but I always considered it a fun piece.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forever_Marilyn
I'll err on the side of women's empowerment.
ReplyDeleteGillian Anderson had fine turn playing Marilyn (then the incarnation of "Media") in the second episode of AMERICAN GODS.
ReplyDelete"The instructions were “Go through Marilyn’s legs and turn right.” "
ReplyDeleteYeah, well, a lot of people apparently did.
Some people just need to learn to relax! That is such an iconic scene and from what you posted, it seems she did not object enough to performing that scene.
ReplyDeletePEOPLE — RELAX & BREATHE!
Marilyn Monroe has recently been getting a lot more credit as an outspoken feminist.
ReplyDeletehttps://medium.com/lessons-from-history/marilyn-monroe-is-a-feminist-icon-fc88148ff330
She was also a proponent of civil rights.
- When she learned that the talented Ella Fitzgerald, a jazz singer, was denied performance at a white-only club, Marilyn Monroe contacted the owner and said she would make an appearance on the condition that Ella performed.
According to Ella herself: “I owe Marilyn Monroe a real debt … she personally called the owner of the Mocambo, and told him she wanted me booked immediately, and if he would do it, she would take a front table every night. She told him — and it was true, due to Marilyn’s superstar status — that the press would go wild. The owner said yes, and Marilyn was there, front table, every night. The press went overboard. After that, I never had to play a small jazz club again. She was an unusual woman — a little ahead of her times. And she didn’t know it.” -
Marilyn and Ella developed a close, mutually supportive friendship. A few years ago I read about a play based on their relationship that sounded really interesting.
Mike Barer 3/22/2022 7:46 AM
ReplyDelete“Sort of related, we had dinner at Sherman's in Palm Springs. On the walls, they had autographed pictures on the wall of celebrities who had dined there. I saw a picture of David Schwimmer, but it was labeled as Ron Glassman.”
That’s what happens to celeb poor tippers.
“Ron Glassman” must be the restaurant industry’s equivalent of “Alan Smithee.”
Fun story. I look forward to seeing it again as a rerun in 2032.
ReplyDeleteThe statue depicts a scene far more famous that the film it appears in - plus, it seems too tall to be "misogyny".
ReplyDeleteTarantino invented Jack Rabbit Slim's (in Pulp Fiction) - a restaurant that apparently regularly "reprised" that scene.
Accuse him for that of "misogyny" - he might say he rejects the hypothesis.
Related to your post the other day where you posted the picture of John Mulaney from SNL, I'd be interested in your opinion. I've never seen anyone LESS funny than he is. I mean he's NEVER funny - EVER. I just don't get it. "I went to the post office today" - hysterical laughter. ??? What am I missing?
ReplyDeleteI have never been to Palm Springs Although, I have always wanted to go. To show you how twisted I really am I want to go in the middle of summer just so I can experience the heat for myself. I want to know if I can take it.
ReplyDeleteThis morning I heard on the news that Christie's is going to auction one of Andy Warhol's Marilyn portraits. They expect to get +/- $200- million. No word on how much they would get for the statue. Although, as far as I know it's not for sale.
M.B.
If the Kennedys can see Marilyn's crotch, so can I.
ReplyDeleteMore on the mega-Marilyn: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forever_Marilyn
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the photos two movies came to mind- the second being "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman" (the original, not the remake).
ReplyDeleteGet me a jury and show me how you can say "in July," and I'll...go through Marilyn's legs for you.
ReplyDelete@Jeff Boice - Lest we forget, Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold ! It's a smile.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I see complaints on the scene or statue, I remember that I first saw the movie in the heavily prude-centric commercial TV of the era, then later on a large screen that seemed unchanged of the TV edited version. Look at a clip online. Less was revealed than in a teen beach movie. If recreated for a modern remake, she'd be wearing a thong and the dress would go over her head.
ReplyDeleteEugene said
ReplyDeleteMike Barer 3/22/2022 7:46 AM
“Sort of related, we had dinner at Sherman's in Palm Springs. On the walls, they had autographed pictures on the wall of celebrities who had dined there. I saw a picture of David Schwimmer, but it was labeled as Ron Glassman.”
That’s what happens to celeb poor tippers.
“Ron Glassman” must be the restaurant industry’s equivalent of “Alan Smithee.”
There actually IS a Ron Glassman, he starred in the short lived sitcom "Undatable". However, Eugene, there may be some wisdom in what you say. The picture was/is right next to the Men's Room.
Sorry, It was Rick Glassman in Undatable. I forget if the picture said Ron or Rick
ReplyDeleteI would rather look at Marilyn than a Confederate statue
ReplyDeleteAs for Fred’s “Hairy Palm Springs”— I was always amused Michael Caine’s perhaps most frequent role was a secret agent innocently (?) named Harry Palmer
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