Birthday remembrance for actor Robert Mitchum (August 6, 1917 – July 1, 1997). Robert co-stared with Marilyn in River of no Return, 1954. They had met previously as he was a former co-worker and friend of Marilyn’s first husband, Jim Dougherty.
Today we are remembering George Barris, born on this day (June 14th) in 1922. Barris was an American photographer and photojournalist was best known for his work photographing Marilyn Monroe at various points during her career. George was also a beloved member of the “Marilyn Remembered” Fan Club, attending many meetings, memorials and parties throughout the years. 
George speaking at the 2012 memorial service for the 50th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe’s passing held by “Marilyn Rememebred.”
George cutting the cake at a birthday party held in Marilyn’s name at the home of our club President, Greg Schreiner.
Marilyn Monroe and George Barris first met on the set of “The Seven Year Itch” in New York in 1954. Barris recalls:
“When I first caught sight of Marilyn, she was leaning out the window of a brownstone on fashionable 61st Street on the East Side of Manhattan, posing for a film scene. Actually my first glimpse was of her behind. When I took some photos of that now famous backside, the sound of the camera’s shutters surprised her. She quickly turned around, spotted me and smiled. I took a dozen more pictures, we both laughed and the ice was completely broken. She certainly had a sense of humour. I subsequently followed Marilyn around for days, interviewing her and taking photos. She was great to work with.
What I particularly liked about Marilyn was that she didn’t act like a movie star. She was down to earth. Although she was then twenty-eight, she looked and acted like a teenager. Sure, she was beautiful and sexy, but there was almost a childlike innocence about her. I was most impressed that Marilyn was always polite and friendly to everyone on the set. She was no phony or snob.”
Arguably, some of the most famous photographs that Barris ever took of Marilyn, turned out to be her last professional photoshoot taken July 1962, just a few weeks before her untimely passing. The photos show Marilyn looking beautiful, carefree and so full of life.
“Marilyn was a real trooper. Even when the sun went down and the wind blew and it became cold, and she shivered and her skin turned red and her lips blue, she hardly whimpered or complained. Only when the day was almost over and I had just one last bit of film in the camera, she said “This is for you George.” The she puckered up her lips and blew a kiss my way as I took the last picture of her ever on that beach. It was around 7.0pm, Friday, July 1th, 1962.
At the end of that same day I lost one of my shoes when a huge wave came and took it away. I asked her, “What do I do with one shoe?”
“The ocen apparently needs it more than you do,” she said, and with that, both of us barefoot, we left Santa Monica beach forever.
Happy birthday George, the Marilyn community misses you greatly.
Today we are wishing Dean Martin a very happy birthday on what would have been his 101st birthday. Martin was one of the most popular singers, actors, comedians and entertainers of the twentieth century with a career spanning over 5 decades. His musical hits include: “That’s Amore,” “Everybody Loves Somebody,” “Sway” and “Mambo Italiano” to name a few. He formed the immensely popular comedy duo “Martin and Lewis” with Jerry Lewis with Martin serving as the straight man to Lewis’ slapstick hijinks. Martin went on to become a star of concert stages, night clubs audio recordings, motion pictures and television and was also a member of the legendary “Rat Pack” alongside Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop.
Dean Martin, Marilyn Monroe and Jerry Lewis at the Master’s of ceremony for Redbook, 1953.
Taken from “The Marilyn Encyclopedia” by Adam Victor
“Crooning lead Martin made his name in the 1950’s in a double act with Jerry Lewis, before going on to a solo career in the 1960’s that ranked him with fellow Rat Pack member Frank Sinatra. These films included “The Stooge” (1952), “Pardners” (1956), “Rio Bravo” (1959), “Kiss Me Stupid” and many more.
Martin and Monroe almost worked together on “Some Came Running” (1958). After Marilyn moved back to Los Angeles in 1961, she saw a lot of Martin and his wife Jeanne.
Martin became involved in “Something’s Got To Give” after Marilyn picked him; in some reports he had invested a personal stake in the production. Martin gallantly stood up for his friend after she was dismissed by Twentieth Century-Fox. The studio hired Lee Remick as Marilyn’s replacement, but Martin invoked a clause in his contract allowing him approval of his opposite number, and informed the studio that he would not work with anyone except Marilyn on this picture. Fox sued Martin, Martin sued Fox, and then the picture was put back on track, to no small degree because of Martin’s intransingence and support for Marilyn.”
Monroe and Martin on the set of “Something’s Got To Give.”
Happy birthday Dino!
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Because of your generosity, we were able to raise OVER $1000 for Marilyn’s birthday fundraiser! Thank you to EVERYONE who donated money for Marilyn’s birthday flowers on behalf of Marilyn Remembered. This beautiful spray is from Parisian Florist, the same company Joe DiMaggio used to have roses delivered to Marilyn’s grave every week for over 20 years. Below is a snapshot of our birthday card for Marilyn, listing everyone who contributed money for this cause.
Extra proceeds from our fundraiser for flowers for Marilyn will be used to buy toys this Christmas for at-risk youth currently participating in programs at Camp Hollygrove/Uplift Family Services. Kathleen, our contact at Hollygrove, has let us know that the toys Hollygrove provides to their students are often the only toys the children will receive at Christmas. Your contributions truly matter. We will follow-up with everyone as we draw closer to the holiday season when we’ll be buying toys for Hollygrove’s children.
Happy Birthday Marilyn from your longest running fan club in existence today!
