Aug. 5, 2012 is the 50th anniversary of the death of Hollywood's most beloved blond, Marilyn Monroe. Half a century later, and we're still talking about her. From her gowns to her modest Hollywood home, Monroe items are popping up for auction. Stores like H&M continue to produce Monroe-inspired apparel. Conspiracy books and websites abound, and a documentary, titled Marilyn Monroe: Murder on Fifth Helena Drive, is due out this year.
Just like the late James Dean, the endless fascination with Monroe’s iconic status seems to overshadow who she was and what she accomplished during her short life. Kelleen Crawford, moderator of 1962, one of the largest online communities devoted to Monroe, is one fan who works tirelessly to preserve the memory of her idol's life.
Crawford, whose smile and luminous complexion are reminiscent of Monroe herself, is an aspiring actress living in Hollywood. Originally from small-town Missouri, Crawford recalls watching classic movies with her stepmother as a four-year-old. Not fully understanding why, Crawford "gravitated" toward Monroe. Anxious to know more about the star, Crawford collected Monroe biographies before she was old enough to read them. Now 25, Crawford estimates that she has read close to 80 books about Monroe. "When reading about Marilyn, you have to be so careful," says Crawford. "Her name is such a great way to sell a book. Seventy-five per cent of the books out there on Marilyn won’t really have their facts straight at all."
Crawford is the go-to girl for Monroe trivia. A conversation with her debunks many Monroe myths. For instance, Crawford insists that Monroe was never "plus-sized." The footage of her where she appears curvier than usual during the filming of 1959's Some Like It Hot were taken when she was five months pregnant. She also finds it hard to believe all of the men who have claimed, in recent years, to have been intimate with Monroe. "If she had slept with all of those men, she’d have had time for little else," argues Crawford. "While most Marilyn fans know to disregard these types of tall tales, the average person might accept their story. And that’s really sad.
