Marilyn Monroe’s first ever film contract signed with Twentieth Century Fox in 1946 for $150-a-week when she was still 20-year-old Norma Jeane Dougherty is set to sell for up to $35,000
Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe’s first movie contract has come up for sale at auction.
The starlet, who used her birth name and her first husband’s last name, put pen to paper in 1946.
Then 20-year-old Norma Jeane Dougherty had done a few modeling jobs, but was a relatively unknown budding artist.
As a result, Twentieth Century Fox put her on a modest six-month contract while she honed her acting talent. She paid her $150 a week, about $2,350 (£1,854) in today’s money.
In her late 1950s heyday, she was making $500,000 per film – the equivalent of more than $5 million (nearly £5 million), adjusted for inflation.
The contract is expected to sell for up to $35,000 (£27,600) when sold through Christie’s in New York.
Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe’s first film contract is up for sale for £25,000. The star, then known as Norma Jeane Dougherty because she used her original birth name and her first husband’s surname, put pen to paper in 1946. Above: The model poses on the beach in Los Angeles in 1946
The then 20-year-old had done a few modeling jobs, but was a relatively unknown budding artist
While under this first contract, she changed her name to Marilyn Monroe on the advice of film executive Ben Lyon.
The deal was renewed in February 1947 and she had small parts in Dangerous Years (1947) – playing a waitress – and Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! (1948).
But the movie studio dropped her in August 1947 and she worked odd jobs and small theater roles before Columbia Pictures picked her up.
She appeared in one film, Ladies of the Chorus (1948), before rejoining Fox, who put her on a $500-a-week contract.
It wasn’t until 1953 that she became a superstar after her appearances in the films Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire.
The original four-page contract, signed by hand and dated July 25, 1946, was additionally signed by Twentieth Century Fox CEO Lew Schreiber, her legal guardian Grace Goddard, and attorney June Downey.
A Christie’s spokesperson said: ‘A 20-year-old Marilyn Monroe signs her first contract with Twentieth Century-Fox.
The ambitious Norma Jean Dougherty was already enjoying some success as a model and set her sights on an acting career. She signed with agent Harry Lipton and then National Concert & Artists Corporation (NCAC) in June 1946.
After an unsuccessful interview at Paramount, Fox executive Ben Lyon arranged a silent screen test on July 19, 1946, which led to Lyon recommending that the studio offer her an option deal for a film and sound test.
‘The present document was drawn up in late July 1946 and required the studio to conduct a screen test within 45 days of the agreement, with an additional 10 days from the date of the screen test to decide whether or not to offer a contract.
The then 20-year-old had done a few modeling jobs, but was a relatively unknown budding artist. As a result, Twentieth Century Fox put her on a modest six-month contract while honing her acting skills and paying her $150 (£120) a week.
Marilyn Monroe starred in Ladies of the Chorus in 1948 with Adele Jergens (left)
It wasn’t until 1953 that she became a superstar after her appearances in the films Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire. Pictured: Marilyn in How to Marry a Millionaire with David Wayne
Marilyn Monroe in the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, one of the roles that propelled her to superstardom
Monroe died at age 36 of a barbiturate overdose at her Los Angeles home on August 4, 1962
How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) with Marilyn Monroe as Pola Debevoise
Marilyn Monroe stars as Rose Loomis in “Niagara,” directed by Henry Hathaway
That screen test took place on August 14, and while Fox chief Darryl Zanuck wasn’t thrilled with the results, he decided to offer her a six-month contract to prevent her from signing with rival RKO.
On August 24, she signed a six-month deal with Twentieth Century-Fox.
With the help of Ben Lyon, she would quickly choose her stage name.
“Marilyn had been suggested by Lyon because it reminded him of Marilyn Miller, and Norma Jean chose Monroe, her mother’s maiden name.”
The contract has been put up for sale by an undisclosed source.
Peter Klarnet, Christie’s senior book and manuscript specialist, said: “This document represents the genesis of the screen phenomenon that would become Marilyn Monroe.”
Monroe died at age 36 of a barbiturate overdose at her Los Angeles home on August 4, 1962.
The sale will take place on October 19.