MARILYN MONROE TV LISTINGS: MARCH 2011

CANADIAN AND AMERICAN LISTINGS:
(check local listings for channels and times)

TUESDAY, MARCH 1: ALL ABOUT EVE - TCM
FRIDAY, MARCH 4: GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES - ENCw
FRIDAY, MARCH 4: LET'S MAKE LOVE - FMC
SATURDAY, MARCH 5: LET'S MAKE IT LEGAL
SUNDAY, MARCH 6: RIVER OF NO RETURN - FMC
MONDAY, MARCH 7: THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH - CINEMAX
TUESDAY, MARCH 8: RIVER OF NO RETURN - FMC
TUESDAY, MARCH 8: NIAGARA - FMC
THURSDAY, MARCH 10: THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL - ENCw

MARILYN MONROE EXHIBITIONS IN EASTERN CANADA

Source: Adam Martin-Robbins, York Region

If you’re a Marilyn Monroe fan you’ll want to set aside some time to visit the McMichael Gallery on the Family Day long weekend.

The kickoff for two new exhibitions — Life as a Legend: Marilyn Monroe and Marilyn in Canada — exploring the legend behind one of Hollywood’s most influential stars takes place Saturday, Feb. 19 with special programs running all weekend long.

“Although it has been fifty years since the death of Marilyn Monroe, worldwide interest in her life and career has sustained,” McMichael chief curator Katerina Atanassova said in a news release. “Our two exhibitions examine how the art world has been motivated by the myth and legend of this iconic actress.”

Life as a Legend, an international touring exhibition making its final stop in Vaughan, features paintings, photographs and prints by renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Robert Indiana, Eduardo Paolozzi, Richard Avedon and Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Marilyn in Canada provides a glimpse into Ms Monroe’s experiences while filming in Canada as well as her popularity among Canadian artists including Shelley Niro, John Vachon and George S. Zimbel.

During opening weekend, the gallery will feature movie theatre lobby décor, screenings of Ms Monroe’s films plus a special Marilyn prix-fixe menu at the Seven Restaurant.

You can also join McMichael educators for a series of 20-minute tours of Marilyn’s Fragments and Fabulous 1950s, check out documentary films chronicling Ms Monroe’s life and listen to music by DJ Goin’ Steady.

On Sunday, Feb. 20 those who dress up like Ms. Monroe will get in for free and have a chance to strut their stuff on the “red carpet” in the Grand Hall at 1 p.m.

Silkscreen workshops for the whole family will take place Monday, Feb. 21 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is at 10365 Islington Ave. just north of Major Mackenzie Drive.

For more information click here.

MARILYN MONROE TV LISTINGS: FEBRUARY 2011

CANADIAN AND AMERICAN LISTINGS:
(check local listings for channels and times)

Sunday, Feb 06: There's No Business Like Show Business, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes & Let's Make Love - FMC Network

Monday, Feb 07: Love Nest & Let's Make It Legal - FMC Network

Tuesday, Feb 08: A Ticket To Tomahawk - FMC Network

Wednesday, Feb 09: Niagara - FMC Network

Thursday, Feb 10: Some Like It Hot - HBOSGw Network

Saturday, Feb 12: Niagara - FMC Network

Sunday, Feb 13: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes & Let's Make Love - FMC Network

MARILYN ON THE BIG SCREEN

Marilyn & Jane on the big screen!

Last month I attended a showing of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at a local movie theatre in Vancouver, BC. I was very excited to be watching Marilyn on the big screen for the very first time! As the movie started, my mind travelled back in time to 1953 and imagined what it was like at the premiere of GPB.

It was a great experience to see Marilyn and Jane Russell on a movie screen and not my television. I really enjoyed hearing fellow fans laugh along during the movie as I'm used to watching Marilyn movies alone at home.

Other Marilyn movies playing at the theatre were How to Marry a Millionaire and Let's Make Love. I intended on watching these movies as well but we were hit with snow and I wasn't able to attend.

I'm just thankful I was able to see GPB in theatre, as that is one of my favorite MM movies! Such a great experience to see her larger than life and to be surrounded by fellow fans.

CANADIAN BUYS MARILYN MONROE

Upon the surprise to even the biggest MM fan, Marilyn Monroe LLC was sold this month. Anna Strasberg, who has been behind the Marilyn Monroe LLC estate, has sold her rights as the "owner" of Marilyn Monroe. However, she will still be a minority partner in the new venture with Canadian Jamie Salter of Authentic Brands Group LLC, the new owners of Marilyn Monroe.

In a conference, Anna Strasberg made the following statement: "In light of my caring for the preservation of Marilyn Monroe's image over the years, and my personal and professional commitments to my husband, Lee Strasberg's, work, teaching, lecturing, and directing The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institutes, and to my family, which now includes my grandchildren, I am pleased to let you know that I have entered into a partnership with Jamie Salter and ABG, who impressed me with their bold, imaginative ideas. I will remain involved, and I enthusiastically look forward to their innovative ideas and continuing to carry out with integrity Marilyn's great and timeless legacy."

Read the rest of the story below, as written by Janet Whitman for The Montreal Gazette

NEW YORK - Marilyn Monroe is about to get a makeover.
Rights to the late film icon's name and image were acquired Thursday from her estate by Toronto-based dealmaker Jamie Salter and his U.S. partners, who have plans to introduce a line of branded lingerie, handbags, jewellery and fragrances, and possibly a reality-TV show.

Mr. Salter, who divides his time between Toronto and New York, said the concept behind buying the rights to Marilyn Monroe was not unlike his purchase of a major stake in the rights to the image of Reggae singer Bob Marley with his former partners in Toronto a couple of years ago.

"Although there was some really good stuff and they did a lot of business, it was a lot of souvenirs like shot glasses and T-shirts," Mr. Salter told the Financial Post.

"Marilyn Monroe is no different than Marley. The brand needs to go into apparel, personal care, cosmetics, home, sunglasses, handbags, footwear, jewellery."
The aim is to target the mass-market to mid-tier.

"At the end of the day, we see her as glamour and high fashion, but at the same time she is loved by all," Mr. Salter said.

"She's the most iconic female personality in the world. She's timeless. The biggest and the best aspire to be like her: Madonna, Lady Gaga, Angelina Jolie, Lindsay Lohan. They love her."

Authentic Brands Group, the New York-based privateequity firm headed by Mr. Salter, purchased the rights to Marilyn Monroe with National Entertainment Collectibles Inc., an American manufacturer of collectibles.

Anna Strasberg, the wife of Ms. Monroe's former acting coach and now administrator of her estate, will remain as a minority partner in the joint venture.
Terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but a person familiar with the matter it was in the neighbourhood of US$20-million to US$30-million.

Although widely recognized around the globe, Ms. Monroe, who died almost 50 years ago, didn't make it into Forbes' annual Top-earning Dead Celebrities list.

Her likeness generated an estimated US$4-million to US$5-million in revenue last year.
Michael Jackson took the top spot with gross earnings of US$275-million, followed by Elvis Presley with US$60-million.

Mr. Salter said that with recent strides in technology, Ms. Monroe could appear in new movies.

The brand's new owners also have been in talks with a couple of partners about possible reality-TV shows themed around the deceased movie star and model.

Mr. Salter declined to discuss the proposals further. A report on Bloomberg News said one pitch was for a show called, Who Is the Next Face of Marilyn Monroe, which would feature contestants vying to represent the brand.

The 47-year-old dealmaker, who made a name for himself by snapping up famous brands such as Polaroid and Sharper Image, last year left Hilco Consumer Capital, the Toronto-based private-equity firm he helped launch four years ago.

His new private-equity fund, Authentic Brands, is backed by Leonard Green & Partners, a California privateequity firm that owns stakes Petco and Whole Foods.