Marilyn Monroe-Early Work

 

 

While Dougherty served in the Merchant Marine, Monroe began working in the Radioplane Munitions Factory. It was mainly spraying airplane parts with fire retardant and inspecting parachutes. During that time, David Conover of the US Army's 1st Motion Picture Unit noticed her and snapped a series of photographs. None of the pictures appeared in Yank magazine. Conover encouraged her to apply to The Blue Book Modeling Agency. She signed with the agency, researching the work of Jean Harlow and Lana Turner. She was told that they were looking for models with lighter hair, so Norma Jeane bleached her brunette hair to a golden blonde.

 

Norma Jeane became one of Blue Book's most successful models; she appeared on dozens of magazine covers. Her successful modeling career brought her to the attention of Ben Lyon, a 20th Century Fox executive. Lyon was impressed and commented, "It's Jean Harlow all over again." She was offered a standard six-month contract with a starting salary of $125 per week. Lyon did not like the name Norma Jeane and chose "Carole Lind" as a stage name but  he soon decided it was not an appropriate choice.

 

Monroe was invited to spend the weekend with Lyon and his wife Bebe Daniels at their home. It was there that they decided to find her a new name. Following her idol Jean Harlow, she decided to choose her mother's maiden name of Monroe. Several variations such as Norma Jeane Monroe and Norma Monroe were tried and  "Jeane Monroe" was chosen. Eventually, Lyon decided Jeane and variants were too common. He suggested "Marilyn", commenting that she reminded him of Marilyn Miller. Monroe was initially hesitant because Marilyn was the contraction of the name Mary Lynn, a name she did not like. Lyon, however, felt that the name "Marilyn Monroe" was sexy, had a "nice flow", and would be "lucky" due to the double “M”. Thus Norma Jeane Baker took the name Marilyn Monroe.

 

The actress's first movie role was an unaccredited role as a telephone operator in “The Shocking Miss Pilgrim”, starring Betty Grable. She won a brief role that same year in “Dangerous Years” and extra appearances in the western film “Green Grass of Wyoming”, and  the musical film “You Were Meant for Me”. She also won a three-scene role as Betty in “Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!”, but before the film's release her part was cut-down to a brief one-line scene. Monroe's latest three films wouldn't be released until 1948, which was months after her contract had ended in late 1947.