Marilyn Monroe spent a mid-1950s summer in Westport. She rented at Old Mill Beach, if the stories are to be believed.
Not up for dispute: She bought a black 1956 Thunderbird convertible — from a dealership here in town.
Now you can own it too. According to the New York Post, it will be auctioned off in November.
Marilyn Monroe’s Thunderbird (Photo courtesy of New York Post)
Of course, it’ll cost you. The Post said bids are expected to range between $300,000 and $500,000.
Monroe owned the T-bird from 1955 to 1962 — the year she died. She and Arthur Miller drove it to their 1956 wedding.
“In recognition of the car’s important provenance, special heed was given to the retention of original parts, with most driver and passenger touch surfaces left undisturbed,” the owner said.
Think this is #fakenews? The Post notes: “Julien’s Auctions is behind its sale and reportedly has documents from the current owner proving the vehicle’s authenticity.”
(Click here for the full story. Hat tip: Rob Corona)
Before coming here, she spent more than 20 years at Long Wharf. In 1994 she worked on the world premiere of “Broken Glass” — a riveting story of Kristallnacht and Jewish identity. Playwright Arthur Miller was there for most rehearsals.
Annie Keefe and Arthur Miller. (Photo/T. Charles Erickson)
Keefe recalls:
The material was fascinating, dense and complex, and we were the first people to explore it. It was thrilling to watch the actors, along with Arthur, tease out the plot and build the characters. It was a complicated and difficult birthing process. Director John Tillinger and Arthur were longtime friends, and there were post-rehearsal conversations I wish I had had the sense to focus on. But there were production notes to be sent and schedules to be made and things in the rehearsal hall to reset for the next day.
On Wednesday (October 6), the curtain goes up on the Playhouse production of “Broken Glass.” Keefe looks forward to artistic director Mark Lamos’ interpretation.
She’s also thinking about Arthur Miller. The legendary playwright’s connections with the Playhouse — and this area — are strong.
This will be the 6th Miller production at the Playhouse. “Death of a Salesman” was 1st, in 1966. “The Price,” “All My Sons” (twice) and “The Archbishop’s Ceiling” followed.
In the late 1950s, Miller lived here with his then-wife, Marilyn Monroe.
Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller.
A few years ago, Daniel Brown wrote about the couple for the arts journal AEQAI.
One morning, when he was 12, he saw Miller and Monroe at Weston Market. She wore blue jeans and sunglasses. A babushka covered her head. Brown wanted an autograph; his mother said no, she deserved privacy. He could, however, say “Good morning, Mrs. Miller.”
She replied, “Hello, little boy.” But she looked unspeakably sad.
Brown left the store with his mother.
“Mom,” he asked, “why did Marilyn Monroe look so sad? Doesn’t she have everything she wants? And who is that old guy she’s with?”
(For more recollections from Keefe, click here for the Westport Country Playhouse blog. For information on “Broken Glass,” click here. For Daniel Brown’s full recollection of Arthur Miller and Marilyn Monroe, click here. For Mark Lamos’ thoughts on Miller, click the YouTube video below.)
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