Why Did Marilyn Monroe Define The 1950s
Although very few stars are compelling enough to define the era in which they lived and in which they created their most outstanding work, Marilyn Monroe undoubtedly defined the 1950s.
Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson was burdened with a difficult childhood. In 1926, she was born into a broken home with an unsuitable mother, Gladys Baker. Norma Jeane was put under the care of foster parents, and after many attempts, Gladys Baker got her daughter back in 1933. At this time, the young girl’s mother became mentally unstable and was forcibly removed and admitted to the state hospital. Norma Jeane then became a ward of the state and her mothers’ best friend, Grace McKee, became her guardian. In 1935, Grace McKee married and sent 9 year old Norma Jeane to live at the Los Angeles Orphans Home where she then moved back and forth to different homes and ended up landing back with Grace McKee and her husband in 1937. In 1942, at age 16, Grace McKee and her husband relocated to Virginia and Norma Jeane married her neighbour, James Dougherty. …show more content…
It was here where she was discovered by photographer David Conover. Conover’s pictures of Norma Jeane appeared in Yank Magazine in 1945 for “females working for the war effort”. David Conover showed Norma Jeane’s photos to a commercial photographer by the name of Potter Hueth. She would keep her day job at Radio Plane and model at night. Hueth’s photos of Norma Jeane caught the attention of Miss Emmeline Snively, who ran the Blue Book Model Agency, the largest model agency in Los Angeles. Snively offered Monroe a change at full-time modeling; this is where the blonde bombshell was
Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson was burdened with a difficult childhood. In 1926, she was born into a broken home with an unsuitable mother, Gladys Baker. Norma Jeane was put under the care of foster parents, and after many attempts, Gladys Baker got her daughter back in 1933. At this time, the young girl’s mother became mentally unstable and was forcibly removed and admitted to the state hospital. Norma Jeane then became a ward of the state and her mothers’ best friend, Grace McKee, became her guardian. In 1935, Grace McKee married and sent 9 year old Norma Jeane to live at the Los Angeles Orphans Home where she then moved back and forth to different homes and ended up landing back with Grace McKee and her husband in 1937. In 1942, at age 16, Grace McKee and her husband relocated to Virginia and Norma Jeane married her neighbour, James Dougherty. …show more content…
It was here where she was discovered by photographer David Conover. Conover’s pictures of Norma Jeane appeared in Yank Magazine in 1945 for “females working for the war effort”. David Conover showed Norma Jeane’s photos to a commercial photographer by the name of Potter Hueth. She would keep her day job at Radio Plane and model at night. Hueth’s photos of Norma Jeane caught the attention of Miss Emmeline Snively, who ran the Blue Book Model Agency, the largest model agency in Los Angeles. Snively offered Monroe a change at full-time modeling; this is where the blonde bombshell was