Comments
I was standing at the corner of New York’s 52nd street, Lexington Avenue, map in hand. Passersby stopped across the road, pointing to the subway. A few others clicked pictures, almost as if they expected that in one miraculous moment Marilyn Monroe would come alive in her white dress and strike a pose at the subway grate a laThe Seven Year Itch .
It’s been over 50 years since the sensational diva left a void in Hollywood. And though she spent just a few years in New York City, she is still an intrinsic part of the city’s tourism, art, culture and fashion scene. The map in hand was a guide to the city’s Marilyn Monroe landmarks — where one could soak in her witty humour, catty remarks, ‘oomph’ style, cinema trysts and impeccable taste, and relive a part of her eventful life.
Smart art
An interesting memorabilia to take home from New York are the breezy artworks sold on the sidewalks. Metal art signs with Marilyn’s witty remarks are a hit among tourists and fans. Women, in particular, throng the little carts, picking up signs such as: “Today's menu: take it or leave it” with Monroe wielding a ladle, or “I understand the concept of cooking and cleaning. Just not as it applies to me.”
What makes Marilyn-themed shopping more fun are the guffaws and squeals you hear from passersby as they read out her quotes. Popular ones include: “I am not really a bitch, I just play one in your life” and “I can please just one person and I choose me.”
The classic heroine
For the movie buff, Marilyn was, and always will be, the epitome of all things beautiful, charming and sassy. Newer actresses and cinema styles may have captured modern tastes but she remains the classic heroine across eras. It is not surprising then that one of the most sought-after tours in New York features her presence in the city. On the occasion of her 50th anniversary last year, NYC Discovery Tour organised a ‘Marilyn Monroe’s New York’ tour that took fans to popular sites closely associated with her professional and private life — with the subway grate being an all-time favourite spot.
Other hotspots are her 13th floor apartment at 444 East, 57th street, her home at Sutton Place, Howard Johnson’s and Toots Shor’s restaurants, and Saks Fifth Avenue (her favourite boutique). Tourist guides usually have a list of such must-see locations.
Fashion goddess
Sexy white dress, luscious red lips, tousled blonde hair, dramatic shots, flirty twirls — Marilyn was not just an icon of ‘oomph’, but also a fashion inspiration. Fans can now look forward to luxury make-up offerings from brands like Dior, Dolce&Gabbana, and MAC.
Whether it’s through photography and art exhibitions, museum sightings, Broadway shows, over three million Facebook likes, or lookalikes, Marilyn has kept her presence alive in New York City in more ways than one. From a sexpot to a model feminist, she has metamorphosed after her death to a larger-than-life celebrity. New Yorkers are hoping that a chain of the much talked about Marilyn-themed cafes and spas will soon grace the city — and bring her even closer to them.
Comments
COMMENT NOW
Comments
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.