Jan 25, 2007 - Sale 2100

Sale 2100 - Lot 42

Price Realized: $ 2,400
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 1,000 - $ 1,500
MARILYN MONROE
Internal memo from Ben Lyon to George Wasson requesting a contract for Norma Jeane Dougherty. July 25, 1946.
1 page, 8 1/2x11 inches. Signed by Ben Lyon. Chips and tears at edges, holes punched in the top margin.

The memo requests a 6-month optional contract and gives Norma Jeane's home address -- 11348 Nebraska Avenue -- and phone number -- AR 3-2487.

At the time of this letter, Lyon was working as a casting director at Fox. He is credited with "discovering" Norma Jeane who had been working in a munitions factory and had modelled for Yank magazine. His first meeting with Norma Jeane -- who marched into his office without an appointment -- was the week prior to this memo.

one of the earliest surviving pieces to document the beginning of marilyn monroe's career.