My Marilyn Moment. . ..

Seems like Marilyn Monroe is hot news again, with a new movie about her coming out and the hit TV show "Smash" doing a takeoff on the legendary sex symbol.

All the chatter reminded me of my "Marilyn Moment". It happened in June of 1952 and I was, for the moment, a stay-at-home Mom with a three month old baby girl named Andrea Jean. Her dad (and my first husband) was working in the music business as an advance man for the Ray Anthony Orchestra. On that June day, he was in California to help promote the band's newest recording titled "Marilyn", in honor of you know who.

Herewith, the phone conversation as best I remember it.

Husband: "Joan. . you need to come out to California and run a party for Ray at his house in the Valley.

Joan: "What am I supposed to do with the baby. . and by the way, what kind of a party are you talking about?

Husband: The party is for Marilyn Monroe. . she's coming with Joe DiMaggio. Don't ask questions. Just get on a plane and come out here.

I'm sure there was more conversation than that, but that's pretty much what I remember. I also remember that our bank account in those days didn't allow for me to fly TWA to the West Coast as he had on the band's money. So I flew "The Flying Irishman Airlines", a wannabe airline that sprang up after World War 2 and disappeared shortly afterwards. Suffice to say, I was the only passenger on the 10-hour plane ride wearing white gloves and carrying a suitcase that wasn't held together with a rope.

In later life as a pr maven, I would plan and execute many parties and special events for clients, without a moment's nervousness. In 1952, I was a true neophyte in the business of party planning, but plan I did, with no time for nervousness. Right down to finding a florist to create a flower-covered float for the swimming pool that spelled out MARILYN in capital letters. Ray Anthony's wife, a confirmed alcoholic, took care of ordering the liquor.

Marilyn and Joe arrived by helicopter. . setting down on the spacious lawn of the home. She stepped out looking absolutely gorgeous, wearing a skin tight red satin cocktail dress that was obviously sans any sign of underwear. As a matter of fact, as I looked around at the guests in attendance, I was pretty sure I was the only female at the party wearing underwear. I was also the only one wearing crinolines under my demurely full skirted dress that I had borrowed from my sister for the occasion. It would have been a smash at a party in Mt. Vernon, NY, where I came from, but not quite de rigeur in Hollywood, California.

The party was a huge success, and the ex went on to be a big man in the music business, but that's another story. Marilyn was not only beautiful, but sweet and charming that day. I don't remember how well the record did, but it was a learning experience about being resourceful that served me well in the following years.

By the way. . Ray thanked me by flying me home on a real airline. I think I would have walked if he hadn't.
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