"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. PRESIDENT"

JOHN F. KENNEDY'S 102ND BIRTHDAY

Brookline, Massachusetts (JFK+50) On May 29, 1917, 102 years ago at 3 p.m. today,  John Fitzgerald Kennedy, future 35th POTUS, was born here in Brookline.  It was a Tuesday.  JFK was born in the second floor master bedroom of the family home at 83 Beals Street.

John F. Kennedy, who would be called Jack, was the second child of Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy.  The baby was delivered by Dr. Frederick Good.  The twin bed nearest the window was chosen for the birth to provide the best light for the doctor.

The Kennedy birthplace was purchased for $6500 by Joe Kennedy, Sr. in 1914. JFK lived in Brookline for 4 years.  He was baptised at nearby St. Aidans Roman Catholic Church.  The family moved to Riverdale, New York in 1921.

The house at 83 Beals Street, built in 1909, is a Colonial Revival structure which boasts a spacious porch.  In 1961, Brookline placed a bronze plaque in front of the house to mark it as the birthplace of the new POTUS.

In 1966, the house was bought back by the Kennedy family for restoration and on May 29, 1969 it was "dedicated and gifted to the National Park Service."  Lily Ruso says that Rose never cared for the original dark forest green color and had the house repainted blue.

JFK+50 NOTE:

Probably the most famous singing of HAPPY BIRTHDAY for a POTUS came on May 19, 1962 at Madison Square Garden when actress/singer Marilyn Monroe honored JFK with her rendition of "Happy Birthday To You" along with a reworked stanza from "Thanks for the Memories." She sang...

"Thanks, Mr. President, for all the things you've done
 The battles that you've won
 The way you deal with U.S. Steel
 And our problems by the ton." 

SOURCES

"Five Things You Didn't Know About JFK's Birthplace", by Lily Ruso, May 25, 2017, Home and Prosperity, www.bostonmagazine.com/

"John Fitzgerald Kennedy Birthplace, Brookline, Massachusetts," Houses of the Presidents, Childhood Homes, Family Dwellings, Private Escapes and Grand Estates, by Hugh Howard, photography by Roger Straus III, Little, Brown & Company, New York, 2012.

Marilyn Monroe
Sings Happy Birthday to JFK
Madison Square Garden
May 19, 1962
Photo by Cecil Stoughton
JFK Library Image

SKIN AND BEADS

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 2076

MARILYN MONROE'S BIRTHDAY DRESS TO GO ON AUCTION BLOCK

New York City (JFK+50)  The famous gown that actress Marilyn Monroe wore when she sang 'Happy Birthday' to President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden here in New York on May 19, 1962 is going to be sold at auction on November 17, 2016.

The dress, described as a "flesh-colored, skin-tight beaded gown," is to be offered to the highest bidder by Julien's Auctions of Los Angeles, California.  It is estimated that the iconic garmet will go for between two and three million dollars.

Marilyn referred to the flesh-colored dress as her "skin and beads" but UN Ambassador Adlai Stevenson, who also attended JFK's 45th birthday party, said he had not noticed the beads.

Marilyn's dress, made by Jean Louis, was so tight that it had to be sewn onto her body.  It was acquired by financier Martin Zweig who displayed it in a case at his Pierre Hotel penthouse here in New York.  The dress, according to Ula Ilnytzky of the Associated Press, is being sold as part of the late financier's estate.

Julien's is also offering 1300 other artifacts associated with Marilyn in their three day auction.  Before the auction, the dress will displayed at MANA Contemporary in Jersey City, NJ and at the Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge, Ireland.

SOURCE

"Marilyn's 'Happy Birthday' gown going to auction in the fall," by Ula Ilnytzky, Associated Press, The Knoxville News-Sentinel, September 11, 2016, www.knoxnews.com/

Sculpture of Marilyn Monroe

Haugesund, Norway

Photo by DeFacto (2006)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. PRESIDENT

MARILYN MONROE SANG TO JFK 53 YEARS AGO 

New York City (JFK+50) Fifty-three years ago tonight, May 19, 1962, President John F. Kennedy celebrated his soon to be 45th Birthday by having 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President' sang to him by Marilyn Monroe*at Madison Square Garden here in New York City.

Miss Monroe, dressed in a skin-tight, flesh-colored, rhinestone studded dress, sang in a sultry, sexy voice.  The show's director called the President after rehearsal for the event because he was concerned that Marilyn's style of singing would be "too steamy".  JFK told him to let her go ahead and perform it the way she wanted.

Newspaper columnist Dorothy Kilgallen supported the director's opinion as she wrote...

"It was like Marilyn...was making love to the President in direct view of 40 million Americans."

The 15,000 invited guests in attendance were left aghast by Marilyn's performance, not to mention her attire.

Miss Monroe also sang "Thanks for the Memories" but with the lyrics changed for the birthday celebration.

"Thanks, Mr. President
  For all the things you've done
  The battles that you won
  The way you deal with US Steel
  And our problems by the ton
  We thank you so much."

After the singing, President Kennedy came to the podium and said:

"I can now retire from politics after having had 'Happy Birthday' sang to me in such a sweet, wholesome way."

In 1999, Paul Rudnick wrote in Time magazine...

"Marilyn Monroe's tabloid appeal is infinite.  At her peak, Monroe was very much like Coca Cola or Levi's - she was something wonderfully and impressively American."

Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell

Los Angeles, California (1953)

LA Times/UCLA Library Photo

                    
*Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) was born in Los Angeles.  Her mother, Gladys Pearl Baker, was placed in a mental hospital while Norma Jeanne was raised by foster parents.

At the age of 19, she signed with a modeling agency and later 20th Century Fox and Columbia Pictures.

Having changed her name to Marilyn Monroe, the young movie actress appeared on the cover of Life magazine and starred in films such as Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and Bus Stop.

MM was married and divorced 3 times.  Her 1st husband was James Dougherty (1942-46), her 2nd was NY Yankee star Joe DiMaggio (1954) and the 3rd was playwright Arthur Miller (1956-1961).

MM died at the age of 36 in her Brentwood apartment.  The death was ruled a probable suicide by the LA Coroner's office.

                           

MARILYN MONROE

 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. PRESIDENT' 

New York City (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy celebrated his forthcoming 45th Birthday 52 years ago this evening, May 19, 1962, by having 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President' sang to him by Marilyn Monroe*at Madison Square Garden here in New York City.

     Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell
       Los Angeles, California (1953)
      LA Times/UCLA Library Photo

                    Miss Marilyn Monroe
                   Publicity Photo (1946)
                       by Joseph Jasgur

Miss Monroe, dressed in a skin-tight, flesh-colored, rhinestone studded dress, sang in a sultry, sexy voice.

The show's director called the President after rehearsal for the event because he was concerned that Marilyn's style of singing would be "too steamy".  

JFK told him not to worry and to let her go ahead and perform it the way she wanted.

Apparently newspaper columnist Dorothy Kilgallen supported the director's opinion over the President's because she wrote...

"It was like Marilyn...was making love to the President in direct view of 40 million Americans."

The 15,000 invited guests in attendance at Madison Square Garden were left aghast by Marilyn's performance, not to mention her attire.

Miss Monroe also sang "Thanks for the Memories" but with the lyrics changed for the birthday celebration.

"Thanks, Mr. President
  For all the things you've done
  The battles that you won
  The way you deal with US Steel
  And our problems by the ton
  We thank you so much."

After the songs, President Kennedy came to the podium and said:

"I can now retire from politics after having had 'Happy Birthday' sang to me in such a sweet, wholesome way."

In 1999, Paul Rudnick wrote in Time magazine...

"Marilyn Monroe's tabloid appeal is infinite.  At her peak, Monroe was very much like Coca Cola or Levi's - she was something wonderfully and impressively American."
                                                                                                                      

                       Marilyn Monroe 
                      "Yank Magazine"
                         June 26, 1945
              Photo by David Conover

*Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) was born in Los Angeles.  Her mother, Gladys Pearl Baker, was placed in a mental hospital while Norma Jeanne was raised by foster parents.

At the age of 19, she signed with a modeling agency and later 20th Century Fox and Columbia Pictures.

Having changed her name to Marilyn Monroe, the young movie actress appeared on the cover of Life magazine and starred in films such as Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and Bus Stop.

MM was married and divorced 3 times.  Her 1st husband was James Dougherty (1942-46), her 2nd was NY Yankee star Joe DiMaggio (1954) and the 3rd was playwright Arthur Miller (1956-1961).

MM died at the age of 36 in her Brentwood apartment.  The death was ruled a probable suicide by the LA Coroner's office.

                           You Tube Video

MARILYN SANG 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. PRESIDENT' 51 YEARS AGO

MAY 19, 2013

MARILYN SANG 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. PRESIDENT' 51 YEARS AGO

New York City (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy had 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President' sang to him by movie star actress/singer MARILYN MONROE* 51 years ago tonight, May 19, 1962, at Madison Square Garden here in New York City.

     Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell
       Los Angeles, California (1953)
      LA Times/UCLA Library Photo

Norma Jeanne Baker, a.k.a. Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) was born in Los Angeles.  Her mother, Gladys Pearl Baker, was placed in a mental hospital while Norma Jeanne was raised by foster parents.

At the age of 19, she signed with a modeling agency and later 20th Century Fox and Columbia Pictures.

                    Miss Marilyn Monroe
                   Publicity Photo (1946)
                       by Joseph Jasgur

Having changed her name to Marilyn Monroe, the young movie actress appeared on the cover of LIFE magazine and starred in films such as NIAGARA, GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, and BUS STOP.

MM was married and divorced 3 times.  Her 1st husband was James Dougherty (1942-46), her 2nd was NY Yankee star Joe DiMaggio (1954) and the 3rd was playwright Arthur Miller (1956-1961).

MM died at the age of 36 in her Brentwood apartment.  The death was ruled a probable suicide by the LA Coroner's office.


Miss Monroe, dressed in a skin-tight, flesh-colored, rhinestone studded dress, sang in a sultry, sexy voice.

The show's director called JFK after rehearsal for the event because he was concerned that Marilyn's style of singing would be "too steamy".  

JFK told him not to worry and to let her go ahead and perform it the way she wanted.

Apparently newspaper columnist Dorothy Kilgallen supported the director's opinion over the President's because she wrote...

"It was like Marilyn...was making love to the President in direct view of 40 million Americans."

The 15,000 invited guests in attendance at Madison Square Garden were left aghast by Marilyn's performance, not to mention her attire.

Miss Monroe also sang "Thanks for the Memories" but with the lyrics changed for the birthday celebration.

"Thanks, Mr. President
  For all the things you've done
  The battles that you won
  The way you deal with US Steel
  And our problems by the ton
  We thank you so much."

After the songs, President Kennedy came to the podium and said:

"I can now retire from politics after having had 'Happy Birthday' sang to me in such a sweet, wholesome way."

In 1999, Paul Rudnick wrote in TIME,

"Marilyn Monroe's tabloid appeal is infinite.  At her peak, Monroe was very much like Coca Cola or Levi's - she was something wonderfully and impressively American."
                                                                                                                       

                       Marilyn Monroe 
                      "Yank Magazine"
                         June 26, 1945
              Photo by David Conover

                           You Tube Video