Recently found Marilyn Monroe rare pictures from 1949 (Marilyn part 1)

Marilyn Monroe The Final Days (Part 1)

RARE PHOTOS: Marilyn Monroe, Starlet in Training

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In the notes accompanying Eyerman’s pictures, LIFE Los Angeles correspondent Carlton McKinney describes the diligence of the young actress and the vets who helped her along: “The processes shot are not terribly complicated, showing as they do how Marilyn trains herself for hoped-for movie stardom by consulting specialists in singing, dancing and drama and how she is worked on by them in the effort to produce a wrapped-up package of talent to back up her photogenic sex appeal.” Here, with her hair pulled back, Marilyn and two other students practice stance in a class instructed by Nico Charisse, who, according to LIFE correspondent McKinney’s notes, was the ex-husband of dancer/actress Cyd Charisse and “runs one of the best-known dancing schools hereabouts.”

RARE PHOTOS: Marilyn Monroe, Starlet in Training

What does it take to become a star? In the fall of 1948, Marilyn Monroe had just a few roles in box office flops on her resume — but LIFE photographer J. R. Eyerman apparently saw enough of a glimmer in the 22-year-old starlet to follow her through the showbiz training that promised to make her big. The incredible — and seldom seen — images in this gallery are the first a LIFE photographer ever took of Monroe, though the magazine did not publish them at the time. (In fact, she wouldn’t show up in LIFE’s pages until October 1949, along with seven other then-unfamiliar Hollywood “girls”). But now, in celebration of what would have been Monroe’s 85th birthday (June 1, 2011), LIFE.com presents these rare gems, restored to their original glory and showing early-career Monroe in the dance, acting, and voice classes that helped make her an icon for the ages. Here: Marilyn runs a hand through her long curls — dyed but not yet that famous platinum hue — in one of Eyerman’s portraits. Dancer in Training

Of this photograph McKinney wrote, “She assumes the classic, much-painted posture of ballet girls adjusting their shoes.” Around the time of Eyerman’s shoot, Monroe was signed with Columbia Pictures, after a brief and unsuccessful six months at 20th Century Fox, and could be seen on screen as a dancer in Ladies of the Chorus. Ultimately, that movie tanked, and Monroe was once again dumped by a major studio — but she would continue undeterred in her quest for fame.With Her Acting Coach

Though her contract with Columbia wouldn’t last, Monroe continued to work with the drama coach the studio hired for her training, Natasha Lytess, until 1955 (by which time, of course, Marilyn was a giant star). The lessons photographed by Eyerman show Lytess trying to coax her young student into several different moods. Marilyn may not have been able to put all of them across, but there was no denying her sheer exuberance, as illustrated in the following several slides and LIFE contributor McKinney’s cheeky notes.

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‘Bosom to All the World’

“Marilyn strains, back against the mirror, bosom to all the world, in an attempt to get a mood of elation.” After more practice, McKinney writes, “Marilyn plays the scene and her elation nearly pops her sweater if not her eyes.”

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Last hours of Marilyn Monroe’s life indicates she committed suicide because of unhappiness

May 31, 2011 – 11:59 pm

I Still Haven’t Found What Im Looking For Live From Milan Marilyn Monroe THE LAST INTERVIEW Part 1 Wikipedia notes: Many questions remain unanswered regarding the circumstances and timeline of Monroe’s death after her body was found. 7-7:15p.m. Joe DiMaggio, after trying to get in touch with Monroe all day, speaks with Monroe about DiMaggio’s broken […]

By Everette Hatcher III | Posted in Current Events | Edit | Comments (0)