Monroe’s fiery looks and breathy delivery made her one of the most bankable movie stars of her era.
Los Angeles:
The Los Angeles home where Marilyn Monroe died was declared a historic landmark Wednesday, thwarting current owners’ plans to demolish the property.
The house was home to the “Some Like It Hot” siren for the last six months of his life, until his death from a drug overdose in 1962.
More than half a century later, Monroe remains one of the most beloved figures in U.S. pop culture, and fans as well as conservationists have closely followed the discussion over the house’s future.
Property heiress Brinah Milstein and her reality TV producer husband Roy Bank bought their Spanish Colonial-style home in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood last summer for $8.35 million.
The couple owned the house next door and intended to combine the two properties. This construction would involve demolishing the Monroe home.
But when a demolition permit was issued last September, a furor quickly ensued and local politicians moved quickly to designate the building protected status.
Last month, the owners sued the city of Los Angeles for “illegal and unconstitutional conduct.”
Their petition noted that Monroe “occasionally” lived in the house for “only six months,” and the couple claims that more than a dozen previous owners since 1962 have already changed the building beyond recognition.
Those objections were overruled on Wednesday when councilors approved the home’s designation as a historic cultural monument.
Marilyn Monroe’s last home in the Brentwood neighborhood
Photo credit: AFP
Monroe purchased the 3,000-square-foot, single-story farm in 1962, shortly after her divorce from playwright Arthur Miller.
“There is no other person or place in the city of Los Angeles as iconic as Marilyn Monroe and her home in Brentwood,” said Councilwoman Traci Park, whose district includes the house in question.
“Some of the most famous images ever taken of her were in that house, on that lot and near the pool.
“There is probably no woman in history or culture who captures the public’s imagination the way Marilyn Monroe did. Even after all these years, her story still resonates and inspires many of us today.”
Monroe’s fiery looks and breathy delivery made her one of the most bankable movie stars of her era.
The “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” star was linked during her lifetime to some of the most sought-after men of her time, including President John F. Kennedy, who sang “Happy Birthday, Mr President” at Madison Square Garden.
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