Sometimes you run across a story that completely changes the way you thought about a person. I see Marilyn Monroe in a whole new light now. Read on to find out why...
Apparently in the 50s, a popular nightclub, Mocambo would not book Ella Fitzgerald because she was black. Fortunately for Ella, she had a powerful and unlikely benefactor,
“I owe Marilyn Monroe a real debt…it was because of her that I played the Mocambo, a very popular nightclub in the ’50s. She personally called the owner of the Mocambo, and told him she wanted me booked immediately, and if he would do it, she would take a front table every night. She told him - and it was true, due to Marilyn’s superstar status - that the press would go wild. The owner said yes, and Marilyn was there, front table, every night. The press went overboard. After that, I never had to play a small jazz club again. She was an unusual woman - a little ahead of her times. And she didn’t know it.” - Ella Fitzgerald
I love this story. It's so great to hear about a woman giving another woman a boost despite differences in race especially in showbiz.
I wonder how much of this happens today and we just don't know about it?
What do you think about the story? Had you heard about it before. Let me know in the comments
7 comments:
Fabulous story, just shows what a thinking person Monroe was.Great photo too.
I loved this article so much....I loved this era...and the fight for justice...along the way GOD place someone in their direction to help them overcome...
I reposted this on my blog and it's link to yours thanks for sharing!!!!
I really loved this story...thanks for sharing it! I had to share it!
This is a beautiful story, thanks for sharing it!
I loved this story. Ella is, in my opinion, the greatest female jazz singer ever. I was never a big fan of Marilyn but I see her differently now.
Our tour guide on our hollywood tour bus told us this exact story today!!! And he showed us their houses which were across the street from each other!! Awesome story!
Yes I had heard the story before. I think most people know very little about Marilyn Monroe, mainly because few of the people who wrote biographies, had actually even met never mind known her. She had a sister, most people don't know that either, who wrote a book all about the Marilyn she knew. A shy woman, who loved books, played and taught her niece piano and whose Mother, often depicted as insane, had a nervous breakdown because, alone, she couldn't keep up her mortgage payments. I think Marilyn could empathise with and care very much for, people who got a raw deal. Great photo and article, thanks for posting.
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