Tag Archives: John F. Kennedy

Marilyn and the Other John Kennedy

Posted on April 20, 2013 by marina72

Butterfly in the Typewriter is Cory McLauchlin‘s new biography of John Kennedy Toole, the New Orleans-based novelist whose comic masterpiece, A Confederacy of Dunces, was unpublished until long after his suicide in 1969, aged 31. Fans of the author may not … Continue reading →


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Phil Ramone 1934-2013

Posted on April 5, 2013 by marina72

Legendary music producer Phil Ramone, who arranged Marilyn’s iconic performance of ‘Happy Birthday Mr President’, died in New York on March 31st, aged 79. Here is an excerpt from an interview he gave to the Chicago Sun-Times in 2010: “Q. You were the … Continue reading →


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Lana Del Rey’s ‘National Anthem’

Posted on June 27, 2012 by marina72

 Lana Del Rey recreates Marilyn’s ‘Happy Birthday Mr President’ in the opening sequence of her new video, ‘National Anthem’. The president is played by rapper A$AP Rocky. Lana goes on to embody the Camelot myth, giving her own take on … Continue reading →


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Richard Adler 1921-2012

Posted on June 24, 2012 by marina72

Richard Adler, the Broadway composer and producer, has died aged 90, reports The Guardian. Best-known for hit musicals The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees, Adler also produced the birthday gala for President John F. Kennedy in 1962. In their 1992 … Continue reading →


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Bill Ray Exhibit in Lincoln, Nebraska

Posted on June 17, 2012 by marina72

This iconic shot of Marilyn singing ‘Happy Birthday Mr President’ to John F. Kennedy in 1962 is featured in ‘Bill Ray: A LIFEtime of Photographs’, a new retrospective at the Museum of Nebraska Art, reports Lincoln’s Journal-Star. “‘It had been … Continue reading →


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Marilyn Goes Global

Posted on May 19, 2012 by marina72

A series of lurid allegations from celebrity muckraker Darwin Porter’s forthcoming book, Marilyn at Rainbow’s End, are published in this week’s Globe. Most of these rumours are nothing new, and some I find hardly believable. You can read the article here. … Continue reading →


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Fifty Years of ‘Happy Birthday’

Posted on May 19, 2012 by marina72

Today marks the fiftieth anniversary of Marilyn’s ‘Happy Birthday Mr President’ performance for John F. Kennedy. Cultural historian Martin Kemp writes about the event for Oxford University Press. “In a glittering faux-nude dress tighter than her own skin and enveloped in … Continue reading →


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‘Presidential Bombshell’ at LA Creamery

Posted on May 17, 2012 by marina72

Saturday, May 19, marks the 50th anniversary of Marilyn’s sultry performance of ‘Happy Birthday’ to President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden. And what better way to celebrate than by tasting the new ‘Presidential Bombshell’ ice cream from L.A. Creamery, … Continue reading →


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Sinatra Home Up For Sale

Posted on April 30, 2012 by marina72

Frank Sinatra’s former California home, the Farralone estate, is currently on the market for $12 million. The property, which recently featured on an episode of TV’s Mad Men, is also rumoured to have been the site where Marilyn had trysts … Continue reading →


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Lohan’s MM Sketch Cut From SNL

Posted on March 11, 2012 by marina72

Those among you who were surprised that Lindsay Lohan’s recent stint  as a Saturday Night Live didn’t feature yet another MM impersonation may be interested to hear about this sketch that was cut at the last minute. (I’m somewhat relieved … Continue reading →


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