IN SEARCH OF THE SONS OF BARNUM

From the outset, Marilyn Monroe had numerous press agents spinning her image. As a starlet, she was owned by 20th Century Fox who made up numerous stories, then Roy Craft who invented myths around her, long term manager Milton Greene, who got her the best deals and the svengali, Johnny Hyde, who built her up to be the star she was.

In the early days at 20th Century Fox, Marilyn was represented by a small time agent Harry Lipton. She was earning $125 per week. Marilyn got a bit part in the film “Scudda Hoo” alongside the blonde female lead June Haver. Some time after shooting, Marilyn was cut out of the movie as the director thought it was too confusing to have two blondes in the movie. Monroe never forgot this. As her fame grew, so did her ego. Some years later when Marilyn appeared in “Bus Stop”, she was a big star. This time she was the lead and another blonde, Hope Langes, was starring along side her. Marilyn decided to object to this, saying it was too confusing to have two blondes in the film. Marilyn insisted that Langes’ hair be dyed dark. The director refused and Marilyn had a huge tantrum and literally walked off set and wouldn’t return until she got her way. Finally the director capitulated.

This was the first time that her publicist at 20th Century Fox, Ray Craft, noted her tantrums. From now on, Marilyn’s tantrums became well known and Ray had to try to divert negative attention away from Marilyn who was by now followed around by pack of journalists, all keen for a story.

Ray Craft decided to hire a California Stripper named Stormy Lee Scott who was used to “entertain” the press during parties that were specifically put on for them in hotel rooms wherever Marilyn went.

Filled with free booze, the journalists received a private strip to divert their attentions elsewhere. It worked; Craft managed to spin the stories; instead of the truth, journalists referred to Monroe as “unreachable” and “Mythical goddess”.

By the time Monroe was managed by Milton Greene, she was followed everywhere. He came up with a “disguise” that Marilyn was to wear whenever she went out. This was yet more spin.

The so called “disguise” consisted of Marilyn in smoked glasses, no make up, a brown Venetian gondola straw hat and a floor length mink coat over a man’s sweater and grey pin strip trousers. As this was such a conspicuous look for the time, the camouflage calculatedly got Monroe even more attention.