A newspaper clipping from an appearance by Marilyn at Carlyle’s Jeweler’s in Salinas, California, in 1948 (during her trip she was also crowned ‘Artichoke Queen’ in nearby Castroville.)
“In 1948, she came here to help promote a diamond sale at Carlyle’s Jewelers, 362 Main St. The store had hired a starlet named Noreen Nash, but Nash had to cancel.
So Monroe filled in.
On that trip, she checked into a room at the Jeffrey Hotel in the 200 block of Main Street.
Before her abrupt arrival, she’d been baking in the sun in Palm Springs. Her nose had burned. It had begun to peel. Still, Marilyn showed up. She stood behind the counter at Carlyle’s.
Patrons squeezed in. Marilyn flashed her brilliant smile. She chatted in an amiable way and autographed pictures of herself.
That day, the jewelry store sold lots of diamonds.”
Last year’s collection of Marilyn’s writings, Fragments, includes a diary entry recording a bus journey to Salinas (though not necessarily at the same time.)
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How fortunate and lucky were those who attended the diamond sale in Salinas that day. To have seen, and possibly met, the greatest Star of all time would have been a lifetime high-light.
Yes, indeed! I hope they will give her a star as it would be a lovely tribute
Certainly a lovely tribute Marina, but also an excellent promotional application for Salinas and would be a point of interest for many visitors to that great city.
My goodness that baby in the picture is me. My Mother still has one of the autographed pictures that Marilyn signed that day. Marilyn was also Artichoke Queen of Castroville just a few miles out of Salinas.
What a lovely surprise, that’s amazing! Thanks for letting us know, Trinette