Vintage Movies and Theatre: The Glamorous and Tragic Parallel Lives of Marilyn Miller and Marilyn Monroe, Part 1
The true story about two classic film and fashion icons; how their lives were oddly, hauntingly, intertwined.
Ten years after Marilyn Miller died, Norma Jeane Baker (Mortenson) was endowed with Miller’s first name and became Marilyn Monroe. This was decided when Norma Jeane Baker first met 20-Century Fox Film Executive Ben Lyon at her first contract signing.
It was no secret that Lyon’s love for Marilyn Miller still ran deep. He had once co-starred with her and the two were engaged briefly, although they never married.
The film executives that day all agreed that Norma Jeane Baker had to ditch her name for something more memorable and attractive. Lyon eyed Norma Jeane and commented that she reminded him of Marilyn Miller with her bright, smiling innocence, friendly nature, and eager general appearance. As they discussed her new stage name, Norma Jeane was delighted that she was compared to such a famous star from the 1920s and so, they easily settled on Marilyn. Monroe, her new surname, was plucked from her mother’s maiden name.
That day, Norma Jeane became Marilyn Monroe, and history would show that her life would also closely parallel Miller’s. Both Marilyns were famous beyond all others during their years on stage; they were both married three times and suffered from migraines, depression, substance abuse, and career problems. Similar to Monroe, Marilyn Miller’s life was also cut short. But there is one similarity that would outweigh the rest: Marilyn Monroe actually became Marilyn Miller after marrying playwright, Arthur Miller.
Biographers and media accounts written throughout their lives, and after, confirm that the two Marilyns always gave all they had to the stage. The two exquisite women captivated audiences when they performed. And, although personal tragedy loomed behind the curtains, both women never, ever, stopped smiling for that applause.
But just who was Marilyn Miller? Although not a familiar name today, she had the same popularity and fame that Marilyn Monroe famously enjoyed during her lifetime. Marilyn Miller was the first glowing star for stage and movies between the years 1902 through 1936. She was an accomplished ballet and tap dancer, a singer, and actress. She modeled for the most glamorous and costly clothing designers; she posed for the most luxurious fashion magazines. Most of all, she was renowned as one of Florenz Ziegfeld’s favorites and a featured star in his opulent Ziegfeld Follies productions.
Although we don’t recognize her name quickly today, her legacy is still in the air.
Look for the Silver Lining was Marilyn Miller’s theme song in the 1920 musical hit Sally, produced by Florenz Ziegfeld; it was the longest running show on Broadway at the time. Later, Marilyn Miller would also star in the 1929 film version.
Through the decades, that song has remained a classic. Famous vocalists such as Judy Garland, Dean Martin, Aretha Franklin, and so many others have performed Look for the Silver Lining; the music is forever memorable. Most recently, Look for the Silver Lining hit Number One on the Traditional Jazz Albums chart with Tony Bennett in his album entitled “The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.”
(Below is a clip from the first film rendition of Sally, dated 1929 with Marilyn Miller. In this scene, Alexander Gray sings Look for the Silver Lining. By this time, The Silver Lining was widely known as Marilyn Miller’s theme song.)
Marilyn Miller was most assuredly looking for that silver lining in her personal life by the time she first starred in Florenz Ziegfeld’s Sally. Opening night for the lavish Ziegfeld production was on December 21, 1920, only six months following her husband’s funeral. Although she laughed, danced, and sang with cheerful energy throughout that run on Ziegfeld’s stage…
and performed as if she hadn’t a care in the world…
in real life, Marilynn was mourning….
(Part 2 of this series will tell the fascinating story, with newly acquired information following my research, about Marilyn Miller, the 1920s icon.)
Fascinating. I was familiar with the younger Marilyn (of course), but this was my introduction to the older one. Definitely heading to Part 2 right now!