London: Marilyn Monroe’s previously unseen intimate photos, along with the legendary actress’ memorabilia, are being auctioned to mark her 50th death anniversary. Laughing and smiling in the great outdoors and on film sets, these intimate photos show the happy Monroe that her long-term friend Allan “Whitey” Snyder knew, a leading daily has reported.
As the actress’ personal make-up artist from her first screen test in 1946 until her early death in 1962, Snyder became one of her closest confidantes. The two met at Twentieth Century Fox in 1946 when Monroe was snapped up at first sight by the studio, going on to make 26 films for them.
Emmy-nominated Snyder, who died in 1994, not only prepared her for the movies throughout her career, but he was also a friend who even did her make-up for her funeral. The 100 photos up for sale show all sides of life with Monroe - Snyder reportedly was asked to photograph her whenever she was jittery on set. With some of the photos, the buyer also gets the copyright, meaning they can earn money by republishing them. Letters, telegrams and a money clip from Monroe are also among the lots set to be sold during Julien’s Auctions’ Hollywood Legends sale.
Among the varied mix of other memorabilia up for grabs at the Hollywood auction are her pantaloons worn in ‘River of No Return’; Charlie Chaplin’s iconic cane and his driving licence; and a Christian Dior gown and Catherine Walker dress worn by Princess Diana. There’s also superhero clothing - a Christopher Reeve Superman costume, a complete Batman outfit and a Turbo Man costume from the Arnold Schwarzenegger film ‘Jingle All The Way’. The black and white photos were taken just before the blonde bombshell exploded on to the Hollywood scene. The starlet, who was 24 at time, was snapped by LIFE’s Ed Clark in LA’s Griffith Park in 1950.
ANI