Friday, April 08, 2022

Let's Make Love at Grauman's!



How about this gorgeous shot of the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre forecourt from September 1960? Even if the slide hadn’t been date stamped, the larger-than-life cutout of Marilyn Monroe on the left-hand side advertising her latest movie, “Let’s Make Love” would have been a tip-off, since the movie was released September 8, 1960.



Here’s an onset celebration of Marilyn’s 34th birthday photo, with costar Yves Montand. From the Marilyn Monroe collection website:

A receipt from Gill’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream, dated June 1, 1960, for 100 ice cream treats, together with a receipt from Paper Unlimited, Inc. for forks, spoons, napkins, plates and a tablecloth, dated May 24, 1960. Both receipts are addressed to Hazel Washington, Monroe’s studio maid at Twentieth Century Fox. Monroe celebrated her 34th birthday on the set during filming of Let’s Make Love. It’s compelling that Marilyn, one of the biggest film stars at Twentieth Century Fox, would have to provide supplies and refreshments for her own birthday party on the set of her current film project.



Compelling? I find it quite sad. A closeup of her “Happy Birthday” card:



Back to the 1960 Grauman’s set, our vintage photographer captured a few of the celebrity cement prints as well:



Zooming in you can see one for Jean Hersholt, right next to Lana Turner:



Hersholt is known for playing Shirley Temple’s beloved grandfather in “Heidi” (1937):



See more Grauman’s Chinese Theatre photos at my main website.

2 comments:

Nanook said...

Grauman's is always so photogenic. Although it may be "original", the forecourt without the 'hard-top' version of the canopy, installed around 1957 - replacing the canvas canopy, itself installed in the late 1930's - always seems so naked. (I notice the original trees - removed around 1974 - didn't magically make a re-appearance...)

Also of note - the film playing before Let's Make Love opened on August 24th... oh, that would be Pollyanna-!

Daveland said...

Nanook - I am impressed that you know the Grauman's schedule!