Forever Marilyn

Palm Springs Art Museum

2021

It's a wrap!  Forever Maryilyn is at its new forever location! 

Forever Marilyn is a giant statue of Marilyn Monroe designed by John Seward Johnson II. The statue is a super-sized tribute to one of Marilyn Monroe's most famous scenes from Billy Wilder's 1955 comedy, The Seven Year Itch with the figure capturing the instant blast of air from a NYC subway grate raises her white dress.  The 26-foot-tall Marilyn weighs 30,000 pounds and is manufactured of painted stainless steel and aluminium. Created in 2011, the statue has been displayed in a variety of locations in the United states and in Australia. The statue is made up of five parts:  her legs, her arms, her torso, her skirt and parts of a base.  Forever Marilyn has been displayed in several locations: Chicago, Illinois in 2011 and 2012; Hamilton, New Jersey in 2014 and 2015; Bendigo, Australia in 2016; Stamford, Connecticut in 2018 and Palm Springs, California in 2012 and again since 2021.  The statue is owned by PS Resorts.

The Famous Scene

from

The Seven Year Itch 

Circa 1955

Marilyn Monroe was 29 years of age when she made the film.

"The Subway Dress"

Auctions for $5.6 million!

Marilyn Monroe's ivory "subway dress", the costume that contributed heavily to Americia's love affair with the iconic beauty, sold for $5.6 million at an auction in Beverly Hills in 2011.  The Travilla* halter dress with accordion pleats, which Monroe wore in the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch, remains one of the most recognizable dresses in film history. The scene was generating buzz before it was even shot.  Details about the filming were revealed to the public.  By the time the publicity stunt/film shoot occurred on 52nd Street and Lexington Avenue, thousands of men were present to catch a glimpse of Monroe, but being Monroe she kept it classy.

*William Travilla (1920-1990) was an American costume designer for theatre, film and television.  He is best known for designing costumes for Marilyn Monroe in eight of her films.

The 12-hour auction sold nearly 60 costumes belonging to actress and collector Debbie Reynolds.  Other notable bids included Monroe's red-sequined dress from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes which sold for $1.2 million.  Audrey Hepburn's Ascot dresss from My FairLady sold for $3.7 million.

In 1999, the sheer flesh-colored dress Monroe wore when she breathlessly sang "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" to John F. Kennedy was sold for a hefty $1.26 million which was the highest price tag for a Monroe dress.

The dress sold in 1999 at an auction in New York City for over $1.6 million (equivalent to $2.17 million in 2023).  Canadian billionaire, Jim Pattison subsequently purchased the dress on November 17, 2016 at a Los Angeles auction for $4.8 million, making this iconic dresses one of the most valuable dresses in history! 

 

In Chicago, it was displayed at Pioneer Court which is part of the Magnificent Mile.  In Palm Springs it was displayed at the corner of Palm Canyon Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Way.  It was given a farewell sendoff during the Palm  Springs Village Fest on March 27, 2014 and was relocated to the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, New Jerey as part of a 2014 retrospective honoring sculptor, Seward Johnson. 

In 2016, the larger-than-life depiction of Monroe statue traveled to Rosalind Park in  Australia for the Bendigo Art Gallery's Marilyn Monroe exhibition.  In 2018, the statue was displayed at Latham Park in Connecticut as part of a large public art exhibition, again, honoring the works of Johnson.  Thirty-six sculptures were placed throughout the streets and parks in Stamford with Forever Marilyn being the highlight of the exhibit.  The statue sparked controversy when it was placed in Stamford with complaints arising due to her appearing to flash her underwear at the nearby First Congregational Church.

In September 2019, Mayor Robert Moon of Palm Springs announced the statue's return to Palm Springs as a permanent fixture after being stored in a dismantled state in New Jersey.  The artist, Seward Johnson (1930-2020) was an American artist and was the grandson of Robert Wood Johnson, the co-founder of Johnson and Johnson. 

Johnson created Forever Marilyn for his celebrated ICONS REVISITED series which explores images that have grown larger than life as time passes. In life, Monroe was about 5-foot, 6 inches.  In the many years since her passing, Monroe has only grown in stature wielding a larger-than-life presence in pop culture and serving as a muse or inspiration for numerous artists over the decades. 

If Marilyn Monroe lived her life like a candle in the wind, Marilyn Monroe is standing tall in the afterlife.  Very tall.

Her unique patina involves 10 layers of hues with a matte finish (except for the glossy elements of her lips, toe nails and the pearlized finish on the earrings).

Although Forever Marilyn has traveled the world, there is perhaps no better location for this work than Palm Springs.  Marilyn Monroe's connection to Palm Springs is legendary.  In 1949, at age 22, Marilyn was "discovered" in Palm Springs by William Morris talent agent, Johnny Hyde.  Many famous photos of Marilyn were taken around the Racquet Club's swimming pool.  In the 1950s, she was a regular visitor to Palm Springs with her second husband, basebell great Joe DiMaggio and by the 1960s she had a home in the  Vista Las Palmas neighborhood.  Marilyn Monroe loved Palm Springs and the exhibit of Forever Marilyn is a true homecoming!

In 2024, the statue welcomed more than 996,033 visitors!

Welcome Home, Marilyn!

and 

Thank You, Seward Johnson

Goodbye Norma Jean

Though I never knew you at all

You had the grace to hold yourself

And it seems to me you lived your life

Like a candle in the wind

Never knowing who to cling to

When the rain set in

And I would've liked to known you 

But I was just a kid

Your candle burned out long before

Your legend ever did

 Ultimate Disco Cruise and Beyond 2025

This Ultimate Cruise

featured

Boogie Wonderband

from Montreal, Canada

🇨🇦 

Many of you may recall the many times Boogie Wonder Band performed on the Bemus Bay Pops floating stage in Bemus Point, NY.   After their first visit to Bemus Point, Dan Dalpra, CEO/Founder of the Bemus Bay Pops heard me say these 3 words ..

 Bring Them Back!  And the rest is history!

The Boogie Wonderband is a a 10-piece band that plays funk and disco music.  The have performed in many cities around the word including the United States, Canada and other countries such as The Bahamas, Bermuda, Cuba, China, Italy, Ecador, Hawaii, Monaco, France, Japan and India. They have played in over 1,000 cities, worldwide.  They have played in casinos, theatres, festivals, clubs and even on a floating stage!! 

They have shared the stage with Kool and the Gang, Village People, Rick James, Chic, KC and the Sunshine Band, Gloria Gaynor, Maxine Nightingale, The Trammps, Paul Shaffer, The Pointer Sisters, Styx and Foreigner just to name a few.  Boogie Cindy originally from Toledo, Ohio is the founder of the group.  The group had no financial backer or investor in the band.  They started in smaller venues and just built the show over the years.  Boogie Wonder Band started in 1996.  Boogie Cindy hand picked each of the members of the band. Some of the band members she knew while others were by word of mouth. The band has worked with choreographers over the years though the show still evolves and that is the beauty of live shows.  

"Sometimes the band just creates stuff on the spot!"

Boogie Cindy had no idea the success Boogie Wonder Band would experience.  She just put the band together and things fell into place pretty quickly.  

"It was just a good time, a good place."

Boogie Wonder Band has had the chance to share their musical talent with other artists.  They played 10 or 12 years with Evelyn "Champagne" King, Yvonne Elliman and Tavares.  

Boogie Wonder Band have become the most celebrated disco band of their generation!

www.BoogieWonderBand.com

 

Ice Fishin' on Chautauqua Lake

Chris Yasko

Chris Schuster

Chris Schuster and Jason Milnes

Jason Milnes 

Justin Yasko

Chris Schuster, Bob Yasko and Justin Yasko

Chris Yasko

Hard Water, Bare Hooks

"Sun's just peakin' over Chautauqua Lake, cups full of coffee, ice shacks startin' to wake.  Griff's in sweatpants, says he's feelin' just fine.  But we know it's that whiskey keepin' him warm inside."

Jason Milnes and Jordan Griffith 

The cold had settled deep into Chautauqua Lake, turning its surface into a frozen highway, thick and solid beneath our boots.  A January morning below twenty degrees wasn't enough to keep six of us from heading out, fueled by coffee and a stubborn optimism that today would be the day we'd land a haul worth bragging about.  As we parked at Long Point and trekked across the ice, the scene was a winter wonderland - a snow-covered lake, dotted with ice tents like tiny fortresses against the wind.  This had to be a good spot.  The crowd of fisherman already out there told us so (or maybe it was just the easiest to get to).  

We are amateurs, painfully aware of our lack of preparation as we hauled our gear in a flimsy plastic bin that we bought at Walmart, while seasoned anglers zipped by on snowmobiles, dragging heavy-duty sleds packed with everything, but a guarantee of success.  Still we set up as best we could, drilling holes at various depths, every breath visible in the icy air.  The plan was walleye, though we'd settle for perch or really, anything that bit.  But as the hours passed and the only thing biting was the wind, we turned to our backup plan: hot dogs and burgers sizzling on a travel grill, stories shared over the hiss of propane, and the occasional sip of something strong enough to warm the bones.

The wind slammed against our budget ice hut, its walls threatening to rip away and expose us to the full fury of the lake.  Laughter echoed across the ice, blending with the occasional groan of frustration, and maybe even some tears.  Someone in the group swore he wasn't crying, it was just cold wind cutting his face.  Sure.

This old saying holds true --a bad day fishing still beats a good day working.

As the sun dipped low, we tallied our catch:  a single perch, pulled up from forty feet of water.  Not exactly a feast for six.  But there was always the Green Door Tavern, where wings and cold beer would serve as consolation prizes.

Next year, we'll be back--better prepared, better equipped, and maybe, with better luck.

Jason Milnes 

Jason Milnes

Headin' to the Green Door

.. until next year ..

🐟 🎣 🐟 

March 2022

 

 

Quaker Oats Magazine Advertisement

Circa 1905

In 1850, Ferdinand Schumacher founded German Mills American Cereal Company in Akron, Ohio.  During the same period, John Stewart established the North Star Mills Company in Canada. In 1877, Quaker Oats registered as the first trademark for a breakfast cereal.  The trademark was registered with the U.S. Patent Office as "a figure of a man in 'Quaker garb'.  In 1891, the Quacker brand becomes the first brand to feature a recipe on its box.  The recipe was for oatmeal bread. In 1901, American Cereal changed its name to The Quaker Oats Company. In 1922, Quaker introduces Quaker Quick Oats, one of the first convenience products.  In 1966, Quaker Instant Oatmeal is introduced.  In 1970, the first instant oatmeal flavor is introduced being Maple & Brown Sugar.  In 1981, Quaker introduces the world to Quaker Chewy granola bars.  In 1987, actor Wilford Brimley is the first celebrity to work with the Quaker brand.  In 1997, the Quaker brand introduces the first food-specific health claim for oatmeal which is approved by the FDA saying it may improve heart health. 

The iconic cylindrical package was introduced in 1915.  Although Quaker Oats Company states that the "Quaker man" is not meant to resemble or represent an actual person, the company identified the Quaker man as William Penn.

In 1983, Quaker acquired Stokely-Van Camp, Inc. the maker of Van Camp's and Gatorade.  In 2001, PepsiCo bought Quaker Oats for $14 billion, primarily to acquire the Gatorade brand.  

In 1972, Quaker Oats purchased Louis Marx and Company, a company that created one quarter of all toys and trains manufactured in the mid-1950s.  It sold the business after four years.  

In 2017, Quaker celebrated their 140th year anniversary.  Congratulations.  And in honor of this milestone, here is a great recipe for Vanishing Oatmeal Cookies.  Enjoy!

 

Former Adolphus Busch Summer Home 

Cooperstown, New York

A sprawling 18 acre estate with 12,000 square feet faces Otsego Lake.  This waterfront property has six bedrooms, six and half baths and nine fireplaces. The architect of this federal-style estate named it "Farmlands".  The home was built in 1901 for hops dealer, Simon Uhlmann in 1901 and named Uncas Lodge.  In 1904, Uhlmann sold the estate to a man with a last name that might sound familar:  Busch as in Adolphus Busch, co-founder of Anheuser-Busch. This estate was owned by the Busch family and their descendants for 117 years though in 2021 the time had come for the property to pass onto new ownership.  

 

The Budweiser Clydesdales

Circa 1933

The Budweiser Clydesdales in 1933 were first introduced to the public in St. Louis, Missouri and are a symbol of Budweiser and American history.  August A. Busch, Jr. and Adolphus Busch III surprised their father, August A. Busch, Sr., with the gift of a six-horse Clydesdale hitch to commemorate the repeal of Prohibition of beer.  

During the Clydesdales' early tour they delivered a case of beer to President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House.  They toured New England and the Mid-Atlantic states and also visited NYC where they presented a case of Budweiser to former Governor Alfred E. Smith at the Empire State Building where they drew a crowd of thousands!

The Clydesdales are raised at Warm Springs Ranch near Boonville, Missouri and 150 miles west of St. Louis. The hitches travel to communities across the United States.  A Dalmatian accompanies each hitch, representing the mascot that was introduced in 1950. 

The Budweiser Clydesdales are a group of Clydesdales horses used for promotions and commericals by the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company.  There are several "hitches" or teams of horses that travel around the United States and other countries that remain in their offical homes at the company headquarters at the Anheuser-Busch brewery complex in St. Louis, Missouri or at Merrimack,  New Hampshire.  At St. Louis, they are housed in an historic brick and stained glass stable built in 1885.  There are eight horses driven at any one time, but ten horses are on each team to provide alternates for the hitch when needed.  Clydesdales are also used as animal actors in television commericals for Budweiser beer, particularly in Super Bowl ads and the ever-popular Budwesiser ad during the holiday season filmed in the New England area. Using the Clydesdales in parades and advertising campaigns has been a very successful marketing display for Anheuser-Busch when these horses are seen pulling a restored turn-of-the-century beer wagon.  

A hitch of Clydesdales pulled the City of St. Louis float, co-sponsored by Budweiser in the Tournament of Roses parade from 1954 to 2011.  In 2014, the Clydesdales returned to the Rose Parade, this time pulling their beer wagon.  The President of the Tournament of Roses rode on the beer wagon instead of the usual classic car.

The Tournament of Roses Parade

To properly prepare the Clydesdales for their appearances, a team of dedicated handlers oversees their care.  Exper groomers travel on the road with the hitch at least 10 months out of the year.  Another team oversees their diet.  Each hitch horse will consume as much as 20 to 25 quarts of whole grains, minerals and vitamins, 50 to 60 pounds of hay and on a warm day up to 30 gallons of water!  They stand 18 hands tall and weigh around 2,000 pounds.  These horses were chosen to represent Anheuser-Busch due to their strong, iconic image associated with the beer brand.  The horses large size and majestic appearance further contribute to this image.  The large, powerful Clydesdale horses create a striking visual that is easily recognizable and associated with quality and tradition. 

"Gentle Giants"

A Budweiser Clydesdale is worth at least $15,000 as they are highly trained horses with a rich history.  Their origin is Scotland and life expectancy is 25-30 years. Anheuser-Busch owns a total of about 250 Clydesdales.

.. THE DAY THE FAMOUS CLYDESDALES VISITED BEMUS POINT, NEW YORK ..

July 28, 2004

Dan Dalpra and Daughter, Deanna

Mayor Brian Dahlberg aboard the famous Budweiser Beer Wagon 

It was a Budweiser Day!

The arrival of the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales in Bemus Point, New York was a moment of immense pride and excitement for our businesses, residents and community.  Their majestic presence not only honored tradition and history, but also brought people together creating unforgettable memories while boosting local businesses.  We are incredibly grateful to the Arthur R. Gren Company for making this speical visit possible and for their continued commitment to our community.  Their efforts in bringing such a legendary experience to Bemus Point are truly appreciated, reinforcing the charm and vibrancy of our beloved town.

Dan Dalpra, Founder/CEO Italian Fisherman restaurant

www.anheuser-busch.com