Overview
- The Academy Museum opened the exhibition “Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon” on May 31, displaying hundreds of original items including the pink Travilla gown from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and remaining on view through February 2027.
- Hollywood staged public tributes on June 1 at the TCL Chinese Theatre with fan ceremonies, screenings and ceremonial roses that highlight the star’s pull as a tourist and cultural draw.
- Julien’s Auctions will hold a near‑200‑lot “100 Years of Marilyn” sale on June 4 that includes unpublished photographs, personal items and a script from her unfinished film, signaling strong collector demand.
- Coverage of the centennial emphasizes Monroe’s dual legacy: she remains a global style and pop‑culture icon while scholars and curators stress her efforts to win creative control, such as founding Marilyn Monroe Productions in the 1950s.
- The celebrations feed a wider reassessment shaped by recent cultural debates and works like the 2022 film Blonde, with licensing by companies such as Authentic Brands Group turning interest into revenue and attracting a young social‑media audience.