Marilyn Dress Display in Reading, PA

Collage by Marilynette Lounge

WFMZ-TV reports on a screening of My Week With Marilyn last night at GoggleWorks in Reading, Pennsylvania, was followed by appearances from local film historian Robert P. Metzger (author of the 1988 book, Reagan: American Icon), and Monroe collector Gene London, who brought along a white dress designed as a costume for Marilyn in The Prince and the Showgirl.

‘”Everything about Marilyn was special. And Ms. Williams captured her,” said Gene London.

Former  television host of Cartoon Corners General Store, Gene London is also a Hollywood fashion collector and self-proclaimed Marilyn Monroe expert.

“There are times in the movie, when I– who am super critical about Hollywood when I have to be– I look at her and she is Marilyn,” said London, “And it’s breathtaking.”

“My Week with Marilyn” is based on the time Marilyn Monroe was working on the movie “The Prince and the Showgirl.”  In it she wears a dress that Gene London now owns.

“You can see by this dress that Marilyn’s figure was ample,” said London pointing to the white gown. “She’s very curvy which was the style then, no longer the style now.”

London said he had his eye on this dress when he was buying other costumes from a man in Wisconsin.

“The one thing he wouldn’t give me was this dress,” said London, “I wanted it the most of all of them.  He said nope, that’s going to my children.”

But London said the grandchild called 25 years later.

“I adored the way she acted,” said London about Monroe. “I adore the way she sang ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.’  I just love her.  It’s hard to explain why. I just do.”‘

Leave a Reply