Hollywood marks Marilyn Monroe centennial with month-long tribute to cinema icon
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Hollywood officially launched a month-long tribute on Monday to mark the centenary of Marilyn Monroe, the quintessential icon of the cinema’s golden age. Born in Los Angeles on June 1, 1926, the legendary actress is being honored through a series of exhibitions, retrospectives, and auctions across the city that once served as her home and stage.
Fans gathered at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre to commemorate the occasion. The site, which bears the permanent handprints of Monroe and co-star Jane Russell from their 1953 hit “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” served as the stage for a collective rendition of “Happy Birthday,” a nod to the actress’s iconic and sultry performance for President John F. Kennedy in 1962. The tribute included a ceremonial display of 100 roses and a commemorative cake.
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The commemorative festivities began Sunday at the Academy Museum with the opening of “Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon,” an exhibition scheduled to run through February 2027. The collection features hundreds of rare artifacts, most notably the iconic pink gown worn by Monroe during the “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” performance. Throughout June, the museum will also host screenings of her most celebrated works, including “The Asphalt Jungle,” “Niagara,” “The Seven Year Itch,” “Some Like It Hot,” and “The Misfits.”
Collectors will have the opportunity to acquire pieces of film history on June 4, when Julien’s Auctions hosts “100 Years of Marilyn.” The auction features approximately 200 personal items, including rare photographs, handwritten notes and the original script from her unfinished final film, “Something’s Got to Give,” personal recipes, and her favored Elizabeth Arden lipstick.
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Monroe’s journey to superstardom was marked by early adversity. Raised in orphanages and foster homes, she married at 16 before being discovered by a photographer while working in a factory during World War II. Her transition from model to global phenomenon was cemented when she adopted her signature platinum blonde look and signed with Fox Studios, establishing herself as a worldwide brand before the age of 30.
Beyond her screen persona, Monroe was a trailblazer who challenged the systemic constraints of the mid-century studio system. She founded her own production company and studied at the Actors Studio in New York. Notably, she stood up to Twentieth Century Fox in the 1950s, refusing to appear in “The Girl in Pink Tights” due to subpar scripts and a pay gap that left her earning three times less than her male lead, Frank Sinatra. Decades before the #MeToo movement gained global momentum, Monroe was already speaking out against the predatory industry dynamics that targeted young actresses.
Though her life ended prematurely at age 36 in August 1962, the scale of this week’s celebrations underscores her enduring legacy. Decades after her passing, Hollywood remains captivated by the woman who transformed from a troubled youth into an immortal cinematic icon.
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