Happy 85th Birthday Marilyn Monroe!

Oh Marilyn, Happy Birthday! Our Madonna has referenced and paid homage to Marilyn many times in her career and rightfully so. When asked by Regis Philbin in 1991 during her promotion for Truth or Dare why the references to Monroe, Madonna said something along the lines that she identified with how everyone always focused on and obsessed over each others sexuality.

@ 2:46

For me, Madonna always gave Marilyn a much needed shot of adrenaline. Twisting that vulnerability and drug addiction into strength. I think public opinion is different today on Monroe than it was 25 years ago. We look at her more as a strong figure rather than weak.

I always loved this SNL sketch of Madonna as Marilyn Monroe from 1985 when she hosted the show. We have one of my favorites, the fantastic Joan Cusack as the maid and Randy Quaid as Jack Kennedy. A young Robert Downey, Jr. plays Elvis Presley. Madonna would work later with Quaid in Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989) and John Lovitz in A League of Their Own (1992). And Robert Downey, Jr., of course, went on to star in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes (2009).

Miss Monroe, Miss Monroe, I can't figure out your new vacuum cleaner....

C'mon, C'mon

I had a dream about Mary Lambert last night.

It's always been about the Orange Pumps.

Mary was so wonderful in my dream. It was a dinner party atmosphere. I was telling her and her guests how fabulous she was. That I was 13 when I saw the Borderline video in early 1984 and how she and Madonna are responsible for my aesthetic. I was on about (when am I not?) the orange pumps(!!!), florescent green socks, the Keith Haring/Vivienne Westwood devil skirt, the cinematography, to the Los Angeles Salvadorean restaurant/bar on 6th Street. I was raising one arm to the sky to explain that's where Mary is and the other arm to the dirt floor as to where the others dwell. It was a hoot.

I guess this all has to do with Mary's sister, Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, and all the shyt regarding her senate seat this and last week . By the way, she triumphed when the odds were against her. xo

Anyway, here's Mary and what she's doing lately. She made the documentary about women in the senate called 14 Women and talking about an art show she had and how she tells stories with pictures. Still as brilliant, smart, beautiful, and wonderful as ever - check it out. She directed The Attic with Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) from my favorite television show Mad Men. I love Mary!!!! And she's a Libra.

We had a really hard time raising the money because women politicians are not as newsworthy as men...and I was told that. - Mary Lambert on 14 Women.

New Haven Register - June 4, 1985 - The Virgin Tour

Shak'n It at Her Pajama Party

Hard Copy: Body of Evidence Press Conference February 1992

Oh, I remember the day this was on Hard Copy. She looked so gorgeous. I've always loved this Body of Evidence press conference. They also ask her about doing A League of Their Own in Evansville, Indiana and show when the residents went to a mall parking lot and laid on the ground, spelled and [X]'d out her name with their bodies because it was said that she thought it was boring there...so jaded. Haha!

Before Michael Reached Down For His Vienna Sausage

Madonna was digging for nuggets.

Ain't No Big Deal. 2.5 Million Dollars for Madonna's 'Personal Diaries'? ***UPDATE journals Yanked off EBAY

The (not so) big deal - Madonna's 'Personal Diaries'

So, as most of you probably know by now, some dude bought some boxes at an auction that belonged to Madonna's ex-assistant Melissa Crow filled with some cool photos, the 1990 birthday poem and other trinkets, blah blah blah. The Ebay seller's big treasures are the legendary $50.00 Tower Records gift card from or to brother Christopher (I can't really figure that one out) and Madonna's Personal Daily Journals 17 pcs Lot '88-'92 that he's selling for the bargain 2.5 million dollars!!! As it turns out, these ARE NOT Madonna's personal diaries but rather her lists for her assistant.

YOU can own Madonna's itemized to do lists for a cool $2.5 mil

As comforting as it sounds, my idea of crawling into bed with a good book never really included an itemized to do list written out for Madonna's assistant. Looks like I won't have to take out that 2.5 million dollar loan, after all. Whew! I can also save that (currently) $52.11 on THIS 'autographed congratulations card' since it's a card called into a florist and signed by some sales-girl.

sales-girl signed flower card.

Is it just me or does his response to a potential buyer's question sounds a little bizarre?

Anyway, good luck and whoever comes out the happy winner, email me the Cliff Notes version of the 4 years and 17 notebooks worth of laundry and grocery lists for her assistant to take care of. Or better yet, maybe you can tell me the brand of popcorn she had Melissa buy for the this shoot?

***update - journals yanked off EBAY - Click HERE.

Thanks mnation09 for update info.

Corman 83

yeah, i changed the photo because this is the one!!!

oh, uh huh, right

'Secret' Camcorder Fan Footage - 1994

While shooting Secret in Harlem, fans shot this footage.

Madonna Louise Ciccone plus one

Speaking of Warhol...The Virgin Tour.

I posted an Andy Warhol diary entry yesterday from 1986. Here is the contact sheet from August 15, 1985 he took of her, Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, the dancers and Kenny Scharf backstage of The Virgin Tour.

1985 - This Is What It's All About - THAT FACE.

Late '88

I Know All The Words To Say

The Beastie Boys 1985 - Opening Act for Virgin Tour

Madonna TV - MTV

David Lee Roth, Michael Jackson and Bruce Springsteen - one pic - and The Only Woman here has two. Madonna. - scrapple.

The Roxy, Mudd Club, Danceteria...the newest club is opening up

1982