contributions to my life. In fact, it means the world to me to be blessed with so many good friends, including: Al Kramer, Richard Tyler Jordan, Steve Ivory, Hazel and Rob Kragulac, Bruce Rheins and Dawn Westlake, Manuel Gallegos, Lisa Reiner, Matthew Barasch, Steve Ridgeway, Andy Skurow, Billy Barnes, Scherrie Payne, Lynda Laurence, Barbara Ormsby, John Passantino, Linda DeStefano, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Tumolo, Daniel Tumolo, Charles Casillo, John Carlino, David Spiro, Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Steinlen, David and Frances Snyder, Abby and Maddy Snyder, Maribeth and Don Rothell, Mary Alvarez, Andy Steinlen, Jared Murphy, Mark Bringelson, Hope Levy, Tom Lavagnino and little Sam, Michelle Caruso, Leslie Miller, Roman D’Angelo, Yvette Jarecki, Scott Allen, Phil Filomowicz, Jonathan Fousek, Master Aaron Lawrence of Quest Martial Arts, as well as Nolan Blackford, Erik Rodriguez, Brandon Visco, Magda Vamos, and Daniel and Erika Feser.
There are two other fellows who have meant more to me than I can say over the last few years—G.C. and B.P. They know who they are and the impact they’ve had on my life. Both have my undying loyalty. Also, I want to thank D.B. and V.B. for their many kindnesses along the way.
I have always been so blessed to have a family as supportive as mine. My thanks and love go out to: Roslyn and Bill Barnett and Jessica and Zachary, Rocco and Rosemaria Taraborrelli and Rocco and Vincent, and Arnold Taraborrelli. Special thanks to my father, Rocco, who has always been my inspiration. He has encouraged me in ways too numerous to mention.
My mom, Rose Marie, would have loved this book as she did pretty much everything I ever wrote. She was my biggest fan, and I was most certainly hers. We miss her very much.
Finally, I must also acknowledge those readers of mine who have loyally followed my career over these many years. As I have often said in the past, the reason that I write about people such as Marilyn Monroe is to bring about an exchange of ideas concerning how others have lived in the hope that we may learn by their choices. Never did I dream that I would have a global audience for such communication. I am indebted to each and every reader who has stuck by me over the course of my career. I receive so many letters from people who have enjoyed my books—as well as from those who have taken issue with certain aspects of my work. Whatever the response, I am eternally grateful to anyone who takes the time to pick up one of my books and read it.
Thank you so much,
J. Randy Taraborrelli
Winter 2008
MARILYN MONROE FILMOGRAPHY
Betty Grable, Dick Haymes, Anne Revere
Boston and the Gay Nineties provide setting and period, as Grable strikes a blow for women’s rights while learning the typewriter. In Technicolor. Monroe appears (unbilled) as a telephone operator. 85 minutes.
20th Century-Fox
PRODUCER: William Perlberg
DIRECTOR/WRITER: George Seaton
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Leon Shamroy
Billy Halop, Scotty Beckett, Marilyn Monroe (waitress)
A half dozen former child stars play overage juvenile delinquents in this low-budget exploitation film. They seem unwilling to be rehabilitated, but we don’t really care. Marilyn has a bit as a waitress at the Gopher Hole, a juke joint where the juvies hang out. 62 minutes.
20th Century-Fox
PRODUCER: Sol M. Wurtzel
DIRECTOR: Arthur Pierson
WRITER: Arnold Belgard
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Benjamin Kline
June Haver, Lon McCallister, Marilyn Monroe (girl in canoe)
June Haver competes with a pair of prizewinning mules for the affections of farmboy Lon McCallister in rural Indiana, all dressed up in Technicolor. Marilyn can be spotted in two scenes. 98 minutes.
20th Century-Fox
PRODUCER: Walter Morosco
DIRECTOR/WRITER: F. Hugh Herbert
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Ernest Palmer
Peggy Cummins, Robert Arthur, Marilyn Monroe (extra at square dance)
A second sequel to Mary O’Hara’s beloved story
20th Century-Fox
PRODUCER: Robert Bassler
DIRECTOR: Louis King
WRITER: Martin Berkeley
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Charles G. Clarke
Adele Jergens, Marilyn Monroe (Peggy Martin)
Beautiful blonde Adele Jergens is a former burlesque queen who aims to see that her daughter (Monroe) avoids the same mistakes she made. Marilyn is impressive in her first lead, sings two songs. 61 minutes.
Columbia Pictures Corp.
PRODUCER: Harry A. Romm
DIRECTOR: Rick Karlson
WRITERS: Joseph Carole and Harry Sauber
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Frank Redman
Harpo Marx, Groucho Marx, Marilyn Monroe (chorus girl)
This is mostly Harpo’s show (he wrote the original story), and is remembered mainly as the sad cinematic swan song of the legendary Marx Brothers. A low-budget backstage romp, involving an impoverished theatrical troupe trying to put on a Broadway show. Detective Groucho is the story’s narrator, his trademark zaniness reined in, as he tries to solve the theft of a Romanov diamond. 85 minutes.
United Artists
PRODUCER: Lester Cowan, Mary Pickford (as a founder of UA)
DIRECTOR: David Miller
WRITERS: Ben Hecht, Frank Tashlin (story by Harpo Marx)
CINEMATOGRAPHER: William C. Mellor
Dan Dailey, Anne Baxter, Marilyn Monroe (Clara)
A race between a train and a stagecoach will determine the owner of the rights to the passenger route to Tomahawk, Colorado. Comic, colorful actioner, set against the towering Rockies near Durango. Marilyn has a bit part as one of Madame Adelaide’s showgirls. 90 minutes.
20th Century-Fox
PRODUCER: Robert Bassler
DIRECTOR/WRITER: Richard Sale
COWRITER: Mary Loos
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Harry Jackson
