The night, just three months before her death, that Marilyn Monroe sang ‘Happy Birthday’ in sultry tones at a Democratic Party fundraiser celebrating John F Kennedy’s 45th birthday caused quite a sensation.
Her dress, made of a sheer and flesh-coloured fabric and sewn with 2500 shimmering rhinestones, was so tight-fitting that, though otherwise naked, she had difficulty putting it on.
Sold for £6000 by Bloomsbury Auctions (24/18/12 buyer’s premium) was a copy of the commemorative programme signed by Marilyn, Maria Callas, Jimmy Durante, Peter Lawford, Eddie Jackson and Henry Fonda (right). The signatures were obtained by Monroe’s NYPD bodyguard.