Norma Jeane 2011 Vintage Calendar

Richard C. Millers images transport us back to Los Angeles in the spring of 1946 just months before she would go on to Hollywoodfor rare glimpses of an unknown model named Norma Jeane, whose stunning beauty, mesmerizing smile and effervescent spirit herald the imminent arrival of a goddess. Asgard Press is honored to present sixteen rare and previously unpublished photographs in this unique calendar format for the first time ever. Printed on heavy, 100% recycled paper with soy-based inks, this eco-friendly edition is a timeless tribute to an incomparable icon. This calendar features images that are perforated to fit any 11""x14"" frame. It's a wire-bound collection of archival-quality prints, cleverly disguised as a calendar. Norma Jeane Baker Known throughout the world as Marilyn Monroe, Norma Jeane Mortenson (later changed to her mother s maiden name, Baker) was born on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California. At age seven, her mother was hospitalized after being diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, leaving Norma Jeane in a series of foster homes and the LA Orphans Home Society. On June 19, 1942, at the age of sixteen, Norma Jeane married neighbor James Dougherty. The marriage would all but end when James left for active duty with the Merchant Marines in 1943. During World War II, Norma Jeane worked at the Radioplane Company in Van Nuys, California, where she also enrolled in a three-month modeling course. She was soon discovered by photographers, and quickly became aware of the effect her considerable charm had on men. After obtaining a divorce from Dougherty, Norma Jeane headed for Hollywood in the autumn of 1946. Ben Lyon, in charge of casting at Twentieth Century Fox, arranged for a screen test, and on August 26, 1946, the young woman signed a contract with the studio for one hundred twenty-five dollars a week. Widespread celebrity was still a few years away, as Lyon suggested a new name for the aspiring actress: Marilyn Monroe. Much has been chronicled about the life of Marilyn Monroe from her difficult childhood and meteoric rise to stardom, to her turbulent love life and tragic death and ultimate transcendence to become one of pop culture s true immortals. Miller s images transport us to a time and place before Marilyn, for rare glimpses of an unknown model named Norma Jeane Baker, whose stunning beauty, mesmerizing smile and effervescent spirit herald the imminent arrival of a goddess. About the Artist Born on August 6, 1912, in Hanford, California, Richard Dick Miller s interest in photography was sparked early on by his father s 3x4 folding roll-film camera. In 1929, he was introduced to the Leica and Speed Graflex cameras. He later studied cinematography at Stanford University and Pomona College. While in his first year at Stanford, Miller won the welterweight boxing championship, and retained his title until moving on to Pomona and finally USC. It was there he met Margaret, his future wife of seventy years and the luckiest thing he ever did . At first, the couple stayed in his parents garage, where an 8x10 bathroom was soon converted into a darkroom. Early in his career, Miller traveled to New York, where he met acclaimed photographer Edward Steichen. Encouraged by Steichen s response to his work, Miller decided to give up acting and pursue photography full time. By the 1930s and 40s, Miller was one of the few photographers working with the carbro tri-color printing camera known for vivid, electric colors and prints of archival longevity. Many of the images in this calendar were produced with this process.