Essentially Marilyn: An Exhibit at The Paley

The mere mention of her name conjures up a million dazzling images – flickers of light that capture the incandescent glamour of arguably Hollywood’s greatest icon.  The legend of Marilyn Monroe continues to fascinate us decades after she first dazzled audiences in a series of films that defined her alluring on-screen persona for fans the world over. 

In celebration of her enduring artistic legacy, the Paley Center is proud to showcase a new exhibit, presented by Profiles in History, featuring an extraordinary private archive of Monroe treasures including signature costumes from her films Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Prince and the Showgirl and How to Marry a Millionaire, personal treasures such as her heavily hand-annotated script from 1955’s The Seven Year Itch (providing a unique window into her artistic process), wardrobe pieces, artifacts, and much more.

The exhibit is framed by elegant and stunningly beautiful large format photographs of Monroe captured by her friend, famed fashion and celebrity photographer Milton H. Greene, and unique historic video material from the Paley Archive chronicling the icon’s contributions to television.

Photograph by Milton H. Greene ©2018 / Joshua Greene