Norma Jeane Mortenson was born on the first of June, 1926, in the charity ward of the Los Angeles General Hospital to Gladys Baker. Due to the identity of her father being undetermined, she was later baptized Norma Jeane Baker. Most of the childhood of Norma Jeane was spent in foster homes and orphanages since her mother had psychological problems that eventually led to her becoming committed to a mental institution.
In 1937, Norma Jeane was taken-in by family friend, Grace McKee Goddard. However, in 1942, Grace's husband was transferred to the East Coast and were financially forced to leave Norma Jeane behind. Norma Jeane was now faced with two options: return to the orphanage or get married.
On June 19, 1942, at the age of sixteen, Norma Jeane wed her 21-year-old neighbor and good friend, Jim Dougherty. Unfortunately, Jim joined the Merchant Marines and in 1944, was sent to the South Pacific.
ja: 新婚旅行中に帝国ホテルに滞在す...
Cropped screenshot of Marilyn Monroe from the trai...
U.S. army - June 26, 1945 YANK magazine photo (col...Now that Jim was away, Norma Jeane began feeling lonely so she started working on the assembly line at the Radio Plane Munitions factory in Burbank, California.
Norma Jeane had always dreamt of being in the spotlight and it appeared to her that this was about to come true. A photographer, David Conover, took pictures of her for Yank magazine and then began sending modeling jobs her way. Within two years, Norma Jeane was a reputable model and had her face on the covers of numerous popular magazines. She studied the work of legendary actresses and enrolled in drama classes to follow her dreams of stardom.
However, in 1946, Norma Jeane had to choose between her marriage to Jim (he wanted her to settle down and be a housewife) and pursuing her career. Norma Jeane divorced Jim Dougherty in June of 1946 and signed her first contract...