(Editor's Note: This is part of our ongoing series about the history of Palm Springs and its connection to Hollywood's Golden Age.)
While it’s debatable whether or not it qualifies as art, there’s no denying that the Forever Marilyn statue is a (literal) huge draw in Palm Springs, providing an epic photo-op for Instagram. But there’s also a solid historical reason why the 26-foot structure — depicting Monroe in an iconic scene from Billy Wilder’s “The Seven Year Itch” — should tower above a major parcel in the center of downtown.
As told by P.S. Resorts, the then 22-year-old aspiring actress was discovered in 1949 at Charlie Farrell’s famous Racquet Club (a neighborhood in which ACME House Company currently has several properties for rent) by William Morris talent agent Johnny Hyde. In the ensuing years, many images of Marilyn were snapped in and around the Racquet Club’s famous swimming pool. By the 195Os, Marilyn — a major Hollywood star by that point — had become a Palm Springs regular while married to her second husband, baseball Hall-of-Famer Joe DiMaggio.
In the years leading up to her untimely death in 1962 at age 36, Monroe had a home in Vista Las Palmas — a neighborhood known for its mid-century modern architecture and famous former residents, such as Dean Martin, Kirk Douglas, Dinah Shore, Debbie Reynolds, Joan Collins, John Phillips and Trini Lopez.
A Lost Weekend with Marilyn
Another former Palm Springs resident, the late jazz singer/pianist Buddy Greco revealed in 2010 that he had visited with Marilyn during her last days, along with desert Rat Packers Frank Sinatra and Peter Lawford.
“We’d said hello a few times, but were never properly introduced,” the late bandleaders told England’s Daily Mail. “When Frank (Sinatra) introduced us, I said, ‘You won't remember me, but I was the piano player when you auditioned for the Benny Goodman band in 1948.’
“She got emotional at that and hugged me. She had such warmth — and I was moved. Somebody took some wonderful shots of that moment, of us hugging.”
Indeed, at the time of his death in 2017 at age 90, Greco had six black and white prints from a roll of film taken over the course of that weekend. He had kept more in a safety deposit box at the World Trade Center, but they were lost in 9/11.
"The people in those pictures were among the great entertainers of our time — Marilyn, Frank, Dean Martin,” Greco said. “It was an unrepeatable moment, a time that would never happen again.”
Lost to time, but never forgotten.
And that’s just one of the legendary stories linking Hollywood to Palm Springs. On June 1, be sure to raise a glass to Marilyn on what would have been her 97th birthday — because in Palm Springs, Marilyn truly is Forever.
The Timeless Allure of Palm Springs
Located within two hours from Los Angeles (plus San Diego and Orange County), Palm Springs is a desert paradise that continues to beckon with its warm weather and cinematic landscapes framed by the San Jacinto Mountains. It’s a magical place where celebrities, innovators and influencers come to bask in the spotlight or escape it, all while relaxing by a private pool. And nobody helps you customize your desert getaway better than ACME House Company — the most respected vacation rental company in Greater Palm Springs.
With an array of properties currently in its vast inventory, ACME House clients enjoy everything that Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe found so appealing about Palm Springs. To book your next stay, click HERE.
ABOUT ACME HOUSE COMPANY: Acme manages Luxury Vacation Rental Homes & Condos in Greater Palm Springs and the surrounding desert cities, catering to those looking to travel to the world-renowned destination for the season, week-long stays and extended weekends. Fabulous pool homes for when you and your peeps want some together time. Visit Acme’s Website to explore more Palm Springs Vacation Rental Homes.