9780446198189

When Norma Jeane Baker became famous as Marilyn Monroe in the 1950s, she said her mother, Gladys Baker, was either dead or not a part of her life, depending on the publicity campaign of the moment. However, neither was true. Marilyn's mentally ill mother was very much present in her world, and the complex family drama that unfolded behind the scenes is a story that has never before been told until now.

J. Randy Taraborrelli is a respected journalist, a recognizable entertainment personality, and in-demand guest on many television programs. He is the bestselling author of eight books. Taraborrelli is a reporter for the Times (London), Paris Match, and The Daily Mail (UK) and a contributor to Redbook,McCall's, and Good Housekeeping.

Preface	p. xiii
Prologue	p. 1
The Beginning	p. 7
Norma Jeane's Foster Mother, Ida	p. 9
Norma Jeane's Grandmother, Della	p. 12
Marilyn's Mother, Gladys	p. 17
Norma Jeane Is Born	p. 22
Della's Terrible Fate	p. 25
Living with the Bolenders	p. 28
A Frightening Encounter with Gladys	p. 33
Ida Wants to Adopt Norma Jeane	p. 37
ôNow It's Time to Know Your Motherö	p. 39
A New-and Temporary-Life	p. 44
The Voices Return	p. 50
Grace Is Norma Jeane's Legal Guardian	p. 55
Norma JeaneÆs Troubling Visit with Gladys	p. 58
Norma Jeane in an Orphanage	p. 60
Grace v. Ida	p. 66
Norma Jeane Learns She Has a Half Sister	p. 70
Norma Jeane Marries	p. 72
Transitioning	p. 79
Crazy?	p. 81
Gladys's Clever Plan	p. 84
Trouble in Paradise	p. 87
Overnight Success	p. 91
Gladys Is Released	p. 94
Gladys's Plea to Norma Jeane	p. 96
Jim Gets a Surprise: Gladys	p. 99
How Gladys Lost Her Children	p. 101
The First Norma Jeane	p. 106
Jim's Ultimatum	p. 108
Final Cofrontation
Norma Jeane Signs with 20th Century-Fox	p. 112
Marilyn	p. 117
Marilyn Trying to Understand Gladys	p. 119
Getting Through to Gladys?	p. 124
Wayne Bolender's Fatherly Advice	p. 128
Giving Up Her Soul	p. 130
Natasha	p. 135
Disappointment	p. 138
Johnny Hyde	p. 140
Gladys Marries	p. 145
Fifty Bucks for Nudity?	p. 147
Stardom	p. 151
Unwelcome Visitors	p. 153
The Asphalt Jungle	p. 156
All About Eve	p. 158
Dumb as a Blonde Fox	p. 161
Suicide over Johnny?	p. 165
Marilyn Tries to Meet Her ôFatherö	p. 168
Early Films	p. 172
Jasper Dies	p. 174
Don't Bother to Knock	p. 177
Joe DiMaggio	p. 180
The Nude Calendar Scandal	p. 186
Gladys: ôI'd Like to Have My Child's Loveö	p. 189
Marilyn and Joe: Tumultuous Already?	p. 194
Gladys's Surprise Visit	p. 196
Niagara	p. 200
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes	p. 202
Gladys Threatens Grace	p. 205
Gladys's New Home	p. 209
How to Marry a Millionaire	p. 212
River of No Return	p. 215
Difficult Times	p. 217
Grace's Upsetting Secret	p. 219
Grace Learns About Marilyn's Troubles	p. 221
A Graceful Exit	p. 225
A Shocking Discovery About Grace	p. 226
Marilyn's Rebellion	p. 229
Natasha Continues Her Dual Purpose	p. 232
Mrs. DiMaggio	p. 234
There's No Business Like Show Business	p. 239
The Seven Year Itch	p. 242
Marilyn Divorces Joe	p. 246
Sinatra	p. 249
The Wrong Door Raid	p. 253
Marilyn in New York	p. 259
Arthur Miller	p. 268
Why Marilyn Was Investigated by the FBI	p. 272
Bus Stop	p. 274
Natasha Non Grata	p. 276
Vioces	p. 281
The Misery of Arthur Miller	p. 283
Marilyn and Arthur Marry	p. 285
The Prince and the Showgirl	p. 287
Arthur Miller's Damning Journal	p. 293
Quiet Before the Storm	p. 296
Marilyn's Depression	p. 301
Some Like It Hot	p. 306
A Sign from God?	p. 312
Slow Death	p. 315
Giving Voice to the Voices	p. 317
Marilyn and Pat	p. 323
The Misfits	p. 331
No Relief	p. 338
Marilyn Is Committed	p. 344
ôYou Are a Very, Very Sick Girlö	p. 347
ôI'm Locked Up with These Poor Nutty Peopleö	p. 350
ôHow Dare You Betray Me!ö	p. 353
Gladys's Sheets, Soaked with Blood	p. 355
Returning to the Safety of Sinatra	p. 358
A Reunion with Berniece	p. 365
Greenson's Diagnosis	p. 370
A Second Opinion	p. 374
Marilyn's Drugs of Choice	p. 376
Dr. Greenson in Control	p. 383
Eunice Murray	p. 387
The Kennedys	p. 391
Kennedy Style	p. 393
Marilyn and Bobby	p. 398
JFK: ôFinally! You're Here!ö	p. 403
Notorious Players	p. 406
Marilyn's Weekend with the President	p. 409
Something's Got to Give	p. 412
Marilyn's Fascination with the President	p. 415
Marilyn's Surprise Visit to Pat	p. 419
An Overdose Because of JFK?	p. 421
Were Marilyn and Bobby ôThe New Itemö?	p. 422
Bobby: ôThe President Wants It and I Want Itö	p. 428
ôHappy Birthday, Mr. Presidentö	p. 433
Sad Endings	p. 441
Marilyn Fired	p. 443
Gladys: ôI Don't Say Goodbyeö	p. 449
Pat: ôMy Friend Is Dyingö	p. 457
The Lost Weekend	p. 461
ôMaybeö	p. 467
Final Curtain	p. 470
Appendices	p. 477
After Marilyn	p. 479
After MarilynÆs Death	p. 479
Glady's Life After Marilyn	p. 482
Perspective: Marilyn and the Kennedys	p. 485
The FBI's Files on Marilyn	p. 489
The John Miner Transcripts	p. 492
Acknowledgments	p. 495
Sources and Other Notes	p. 503
Marilyn Monroe Filmography	p. 527
Index	p. 542
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe

0446198188

Supplemental Materials

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Rewards Program

Write a Review