The early years ...
Norma Jeane Mortenson (Marilyn Monroe) was born on June 1, 1926 to Gladys Pearl Baker and Martin Edward Mortensen.
Gladys had married Martin Edward Mortensen in 1924 but they parted right before the pregnancy to Marilyn. Later in the years, the
divorce documents were found and it showed that Mortensen filed for divorce from Gladys and it was finalized on October 15, 1928.
Throughout her life, Marilyn denied that Martin was her father. She would say, "when i was a child i was shown a photograph of a man that
my mom identified as my father, Charles Stanley Gifford." Soon after, Gladys got mentally ill and was unable to care for young Marilyn.
With out the extra help of a significant other, Gladys became very poor and placed Marilyn with foster parents.
The foster parents, Albert and ids Bolender lived in Hawthorne, California witch was where Marilyn lived until she was seven years old. Those few years were full of regret to Gladys. She fought hard to get her daughter back still knowing she was unstable and the situation as to not benefit her young daughter. Then in 1933, Gladys bought a house and brought Marilyn (Norma Jeene) to live with her. She also began a series of mental episodes that would plague her for the rest of her life. Monroe recalls her mother "screaming and laughing" and was removed to a Hospital in Norwalk.
By this time Grace McKee, one of Gladys good friends became Marilyn's new guardian. Grace told Marilyn that someday she would become a movie star. Grace would take Marilyn out all the time, to the movies, the hair salon and she would even let Marilyn where make up. This was forming the basis for Marilyn's fascination with the cinema and the stars on the screen.
Gladys had married Martin Edward Mortensen in 1924 but they parted right before the pregnancy to Marilyn. Later in the years, the
divorce documents were found and it showed that Mortensen filed for divorce from Gladys and it was finalized on October 15, 1928.
Throughout her life, Marilyn denied that Martin was her father. She would say, "when i was a child i was shown a photograph of a man that
my mom identified as my father, Charles Stanley Gifford." Soon after, Gladys got mentally ill and was unable to care for young Marilyn.
With out the extra help of a significant other, Gladys became very poor and placed Marilyn with foster parents.
The foster parents, Albert and ids Bolender lived in Hawthorne, California witch was where Marilyn lived until she was seven years old. Those few years were full of regret to Gladys. She fought hard to get her daughter back still knowing she was unstable and the situation as to not benefit her young daughter. Then in 1933, Gladys bought a house and brought Marilyn (Norma Jeene) to live with her. She also began a series of mental episodes that would plague her for the rest of her life. Monroe recalls her mother "screaming and laughing" and was removed to a Hospital in Norwalk.
By this time Grace McKee, one of Gladys good friends became Marilyn's new guardian. Grace told Marilyn that someday she would become a movie star. Grace would take Marilyn out all the time, to the movies, the hair salon and she would even let Marilyn where make up. This was forming the basis for Marilyn's fascination with the cinema and the stars on the screen.
Teenage into carrier years...
Marilyn Monroe attended Van Nuys high school in Los Angeles California. her grades were very high and she was very smart and intelligent. During
this time, she met a neighbors friend, Jim Dougherty and soon began a relationship with him. Soon after, Grace and her new husband Doc got a job offer in west Virginia. It was never stated why they would not take Marilyn with them, but with a limited amount of options left Grace looking up to the Dougherty family and suggested that Jim marry Marilyn so that she would not have to go to another orphanage. After the marriage Jim and Marilyn moved to Santa Catalina island California. News came by and they found out that Jim was going to be shipped out into the pacific for his serving in the Merchant Marine .
Frightened that he would not return, Marilyn begged him to have a baby with her before be left as she has always wanted one. Jim refused
knowing he was too young to have a baby, but promised her he would see her again. Meanwhile Marilyn moved in with Jim's mom and worked in the Radio plane Munitions factory. The owner of the factory was a famous movie star named Reginald Denney. During that time, U.S army air forces was sent to the factory by his commanding officer Ronald Regan to shoot morale boosting photographs for a magazine of young women helping the war effort. He noticed Marilyn and took a series of photographs and encouraged her to apply to the blue book modeling agency. When she did, she was told that they were looking for women with lighter hair, so she bleached her brunette hair to a golden blonde.
Marilyn Monroe became one of the most successful models in the agency. She was appeared on many magazine covers witch brought attention to
Ben Loyn, a 20th century fox who errand a screen test for her. He was impressed and offered her a six month contract with a starting salary of $125 a week.
Through the agreement, Ben did not like the name "Norma Jeene" And after a long time if deciding he chose Marilyn and she choose Monroe from her mother's name and it became "Marilyn Monroe." During her first months working in Century fox, Marilyn had no speaking roles in any films but took a lot of singing and dancing classes. At first she was only playing as extras in movies, but she was making progress.
this time, she met a neighbors friend, Jim Dougherty and soon began a relationship with him. Soon after, Grace and her new husband Doc got a job offer in west Virginia. It was never stated why they would not take Marilyn with them, but with a limited amount of options left Grace looking up to the Dougherty family and suggested that Jim marry Marilyn so that she would not have to go to another orphanage. After the marriage Jim and Marilyn moved to Santa Catalina island California. News came by and they found out that Jim was going to be shipped out into the pacific for his serving in the Merchant Marine .
Frightened that he would not return, Marilyn begged him to have a baby with her before be left as she has always wanted one. Jim refused
knowing he was too young to have a baby, but promised her he would see her again. Meanwhile Marilyn moved in with Jim's mom and worked in the Radio plane Munitions factory. The owner of the factory was a famous movie star named Reginald Denney. During that time, U.S army air forces was sent to the factory by his commanding officer Ronald Regan to shoot morale boosting photographs for a magazine of young women helping the war effort. He noticed Marilyn and took a series of photographs and encouraged her to apply to the blue book modeling agency. When she did, she was told that they were looking for women with lighter hair, so she bleached her brunette hair to a golden blonde.
Marilyn Monroe became one of the most successful models in the agency. She was appeared on many magazine covers witch brought attention to
Ben Loyn, a 20th century fox who errand a screen test for her. He was impressed and offered her a six month contract with a starting salary of $125 a week.
Through the agreement, Ben did not like the name "Norma Jeene" And after a long time if deciding he chose Marilyn and she choose Monroe from her mother's name and it became "Marilyn Monroe." During her first months working in Century fox, Marilyn had no speaking roles in any films but took a lot of singing and dancing classes. At first she was only playing as extras in movies, but she was making progress.
From this point on, Marilyn"s career began successfully. She worked very hard and it wasn't that long after when the big breakthrough happened. Marilyn had been released from her contract with 20th century fox and singed a bigger contract with Columbia Pictures. There she was introduced to the studios head drama coach and soon casted in a major role in the musical "Ladies Of the Chorus." Although it wasn't her most successful time, it was only the beginning.
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