"I cannot say goodbye. Marilyn never liked good-byes, but in that peculiar way she had of turnin things around so that they faced reality - I will say au revouir"

Lee Strasberg Eulogy at Monroe's Funeral

I guess my immersion into Marilyn Rememb....oops, wrong club....my badd...(where am I again? Oh yeah)......Immortal Marilyn probably until 2003 or 2004. But it was immediately like discovering you had this family that you never new about with this "Earth Mother Mary" who could really be Ana Lower reincarnate. Never before have I met a woman with so much devotion in her heart. Not only to her husband, family and friends, but to an organization that she believed as much as Ana did in Norma Jeane's stardom.

Mary Sims is the heart of Immortal Marilyn.

Now, I'm not forgetting the wonderful staff (many whom I've had the incredible pleasure of meeting and the honor of calling them friend) who have worked steadily along side Mary for many years to give Immortal Marilyn the stellar reputation that it has in the Monroe Community. I'm not going to name names as I'll probably forget a few - but each and every one deserve a standing ovation with a round of applause, because what they have done, isn't easy and takes dedication and love for not just MM, but her fans as well.

And while I was going to write about what IM has meant to me and possibly get all sobby, I'm choosing to look at this as only a change, not an ending.

True, we will be losing the daily emails that would clog my box if I wasn't on digest, but it doesn't mean that IM is vanishing into the horizon. With IM.com, a virtual tribute will be created and not only will past and present members be able to relive memories, but even those future fans will see what an incredible contribution IM made to the MM Community. And will continue to do so into the future because it's not like we'll never see each other again. Who's to say that there cannot be smaller "gatherings" of fans that live with hundreds of miles of each other? Or that we can't plan an event in New York City (when it's warm).

Certainly the UK group can continue the tradition of the June Get-Together. And airfares from NYC to London can be VERY CHEAP for us Yanks. Heck, maybe we could do something in Florida and combine it with a Disney experience or Universal (Heater and Sean).

Perhaps something even to consider is doing a forum similar to everlastingstar or magicalmarilyn. We'd still be able to communicate with each other but at our own leisure. Certainly we can moderate ourselves and having threads and topics in their own categories would keep everyone happy. If not, there can be a few moderators as it's not a full time daily job.

So, let's not say goodbye to Immortal Marilyn, but "see you soon" and perhaps in a whole new light, look and direction.

emw aka Pollyanna
Eric Monroe Woodard


My last video/another longer one!

Dear Alberto,

That was absolutely brilliant, I think this sums everything up really well & thanks for workng so hard to change it, what a farewell...

It's very special & unique, just like the members and staff here, the friendships that have been established and the love among the group for one very special, unique, talented, and much adored woman we know as Marilyn Monroe...

You have been such a treasure to this group. You've worked so tirelessly & did so much to unite us all in the Immortal Marilyn community, all your DVDs and CDs have been so generously distributed around the globe and at times when it's been quiet you have kept us going with interesting news items relating to Marilyn & worked so hard at keeping the staff and members motivated with your enthusiasim...

One day I would love to meet you in person and spend time with you seeing your marvelous country, which has always fascinated me.
I hope one day it may be a reality.

The years spent with Immortal Marilyn will always be etched in my heart and memory as one of the most happiest & positive times of my life. When I look back over the past few years and all the heartache I have went through in my personal life, IM has been a tower of stength and my wonderful colleagues here, past and present have been more supportive to me than most of my family and some of my friends...
I thank you all for that.
Mary, as our leader you have had the patience of a saint at times & I can't find enough words to say how much of an honour it has been for me to write the book reviews. You were so encouraging at the start and have always been so supportive. I would never have done it without you. Without you the group would not have been so successful.. . you are one-of-a-kind and there's not many people like you who are truly devoted & who have worked so hard for no pay... I know you must have found it very rewarding in other ways but I can totally understand how you feel and why IM has had to close... you deserve a nice long rest Mary, but I know we will never lose touch.

with lots of love & good thoughts

Fraser xXx


Good bye IMM

I am so sorry to see Imm go, as I write this I can feel tears in my eyes. I want to thank every one for welcoming me when I joined a couple of years ago. I learned a lot thru many of the people in this group. I learned a lot about Marilyn here, and also the love of coloring a black and white picture of her. I tried to learn as others turned in work. Thank you all for putting up with my colorizations when I started, I know they were horrible and you probably thought what is she thinking!! But no one ever made fun of my work. We all share our love of Marilyn and will carry that with us no matter where we all go. I hope to keep in touch with everyone that wishes to. Marilyn brought us all together and she will keep us together no matter thru a group or what. I wish everyone well. And Holding a good thought for Marilyn! Always! All my respect to all. Hugs, Julia


Hello There

Hi Mary !

I am touched by your compliment. You are also very sweet, and I would like nothing more than to be able to keep in touch with you after IM closes. I am so sad about it. I will miss everyone so much. I was writing to Shaney telling her that to me, belonging to this group was an escape from my daily stressors. I've met some wonderful people that have become my friends. The beautiful, rare photos, the information, everything on Marilyn was just amazing. It's the best group I've ever belonged to. As much as I hate to have to say goodbye to it, I am proud to have been a part of it.

Have a wonderful evening.

Sandra

XXX


IM Updates

Hiya everyone,

I feel as if I'm showing up in the 11th hour of our club, but I'm so happy to be able to make a few last posts. Some of you may remember me. I was one of the "oldies" who helped transition this club into the enigma it became. My name is Lisa Bates-Slone and I am so proud of all the club has done over the years since my retirement from VP to keep Marilyn's memory alive and well. She is timeless and will never be gone from us. Not as long as we love her, seek her out and want to talk about her. It sounds like Mary has set up a forum on her webpage to do just that. The path seems pretty clear... I will quote "Field of Dreams" one of my favorite movies... "If you build it, they will come". And so they will...

Mary, there hasn't been a word invented yet to describe your devotion and dedication to this club. Let it be said forever here,and I can seriously argue this with anyone... Marilyn, after her death, never had a better friend. (Oh, I'm sure we could debate this, but for the amount of time and personal selfless, non-profit sacrifice Mary Sims has put into this club, are there any real arguments here? Besides, to know Mary is to love her... period.) Mary your devotion amazes me. I'm not trying to say you love Marilyn more than anyone else, but I know personally the work, and the time and the sacrifices you have made to make this club a loving environment and a place of learning and sharing... what more could we have asked for??? Thank you.

To those of you I had the opportunity to get to know personally, I think of you so often, and wonder how you are. I always hold a good thought for all of you... always. And for those of you who joined the ranks long after my retirement.. . you've enjoyed something very special here. They say lightening doesn't strike in the same place twice, and with that in mind... Immortal Marilyn Yahoo Groups has earned it's right to twinkle among the stars. Take solice, that you've been among some of the best, most knowledgable and generous fans in the world.

If you gained even the smallest admiration for Marilyn Monroe as a person, an real individual with doubts and fears and joy and sorrow, not just a pretty photograph or a comedic character in a film, our mission is complete. It's up to you to keep the candle burning in the wind.

Mary, thank you so much for carrying on without us. --- I'm without words, and as much as I love to go on and on and on...that's saying a lot. You've done it all, now sit back and enjoy your family, your life and your friends... Marilyn will be there... after all, she's IMMORTAL MARILYN, and I believe somewhere, whereever she may be, she knows your heart... and I know it's a good one!

Love without measure,
Lisa ~ former VP Immortal Marilyn

"I'm not interested in money. I just want to be wonderful" ~Marilyn Monroe


Re:IM Updates - LISA!

OMG now I am crying! Lisa! My Lisa! I can't tell you what it means to see your name here in the mail, I did a double take! *LOL* I am a slobbery mess reading your beautiful letter. I just don't know what to say, how blessed am I to have such wonderful friends made through Marilyn and IM.
Folks....this beautiful lady was a very important part of Immortal Marilyn, she helped build this club from its meager beginnings, and in fact she had one of the deciding votes on what IM's new name would be, "Immortal Marilyn" after we left Hollywoodland behind.
If you were lucky enough to be a member of the club back then you got to enjoy Lisa's awesome write ups and insights on our Marilyn, and you surely learned from her. She is after all a teacher!
She is also one of the dearest, most precious people in the world to me. She helped with planning two IM gatherings for Marilyn's memorials, in 2002 and 2003. Those of you who got to be in LA for the Memorials in 2002 and 2003 surely remember our Lisa.
We also got to have a long weekend in Chicago together while she was still on staff, we saw the Titanic exhibit that weekend that was making its way around the world and met up with fellow IM'er Stacey! Stacey I hope you see this! But this is the memory that came to mind I want to share. Picture 3 nutty Marilyn fans by the names of Lisa, Leja and Mary on Hollywood Blvd at midnight. The street are all but deserted but for the homeless and some stray sight see-ers just not giving up the night on the blvd. We made our way down there at that hour from the Orchid to get these tracings (see pics) of Marilyn's star and her hand-prints, these were the only hours the street would not be crowded with pedestrians. We did manage to draw small crowds who watched us and made comments like "Why didn't we think of that!" "Oh coooool!" "Look at that!"
I still have mine and I bet Lisa and Leja still have theirs too. Greeeat memory!
I love you Lisa, thank you for all you gave to IM!
I thank God and Goddess for you Dearie.

x0x0x
Mary


My time with IM

My time with Immortal Marilyn has been truly wonderful. I remember the day I found the club clear as anything! I was searching through Google for a specific pic of Marilyn wearing a white fur coat and also just looking
for information on our girl when I stumbled upon IM. 'Oooooh, this looks good!' I said to myself and joined at once. A few hours later I got my welcome letter from Fraser, which I thought was uncanny as I had only emailed him the week before to tell him how much I loved his Marilyn website!!

From then on I just loved this place, as a newbie I had Shar and Shaney take me under their wings and look after me and I just thought 'what a lovely crowd of people, and what an excellent Marilyn resource!' That is the first thing I think of when I think of IM, what a fantastic place it is to learn and find info that is always forthcoming. I remember asking if anyone had info on two pics I had on my mobile phone display and one of our members Lasse not only emailed in with the info on the Greene and Rizzo shoots, but a load of pics too! And another time when I wanted a good picture of the corset Marilyn wore when she appeared at a benefit riding an elephant our darling Linda emailed me straight back with not only a clear picture of the corset on a mannequin, but practically ALL the pics from the benefit and a write up too! Talk about going out of her way to help me the angel!

Oh lord, how I will miss this! IM has been my little hide away place when they world gets too much, where I can disappear into Marilyn's world if only for a little while and forget my troubles by talking to all my wonderful friends from around the world. I hope we will be able to recreate a little of this magic over at my board, but it will NEVER replace IM!

Someone once quoted the John Lennon quote to me, 'Love is the answer, and you know that for sure', well I do know it for I love you all, and this love will never die. And just as we love Marilyn, I just know she smiles down on each and every one of us and loves us back just as much. Just sit and think about her for a few seconds and you will feel her love for you floating down from wherever she is now :)

Lets never forget as well as her family, we are eachothers family too.

You are all so special to me, just as IM's memory will be too.
Claire xxxxxx.


Re:- My time with IM

Claire thank you for sharing this amazing and moving description of your experience at IM. As I read it here with my morning coffee, my heart ached but I found myself smiling at the same time, because it felt so much like my own short experience. Thank you for helping each of us recall why this has been such a special place - a place where not only is Marilyn cared about but also where her adoring fans are cared for.

Where else can someone ask a simple question and be showered with such an embarrassment of riches as you so perfectly describe? I have had the same thing happen too many times to count.

Thank you for warming my heart this cool foggy fall morning.
Woody/aka Bruce


Re:IM Updates

Lisa:
I am one of those new members you mention, and I must say your reading of this place and of Mary (and the rest of the IM Staff) is still square on as I see things from my rookie position.

It has been so painful to feel Camelot slipping away from me that most of the time I simply have to ignore that inevitability. Your glorious recommendation to Mary also spoke loudly to me... so going forward into these last sad days I will try hard to remember that I have been blessed to have been "among some of the best, most knowledgeable and generous fans in the world".

Thank you ever so for this touching letter... I only wish I had had the chance to meet you - but... then again, who knows?

I'll leave you with a clip from a song that somehow has been echoing in my mind for the past few weeks: "In short, there's simply not a more congenial spot for happily-ever-aftering than here In Camelot".

And thank you Mary for helping to bring so much to this old fella's life!
Love ya all.
Woody/aka Bruce


Marilyn, and Judy Garland

I am truly saddened that this wonderful group is closing. I have been mainly a lurker here but have enjoyed reading the posts and have been constanly amazed by the endless stream of rare photo's and files that have been posted. This group was definitely more than a little slice of (Marilyn) heaven.
I hope I am not too out of line by doing this but I would like to extend an invitation to any of you that are interested to come and check out
The Judy Garland Experience
Like this group, we feature tons of rare photo's and everchanging and impossibly rare audio files of Judy (and sometimes her friend Marilyn Monroe). So if you have any interest in Judy, or simply want to learn more about her, please stop by and visit us.
Good luck to everybody in this group, and once again, thank you to the people who created it. I, for one, am going to miss it very much.
Daniel


IM as Camelot - Final Reprise...

Each evening, from December to December,
Before you drift to sleep upon your cot,
Think back on all the tales that you remember
Of Camelot.

Ask ev'ry person if he's heard the story,
And tell it strong and clear if he has not,
That once there was a fleeting wisp of glory
Called Camelot.

Camelot! Camelot!
Now say it out with pride and joy!

Camelot! Camelot!

Yes, Camelot, my boy!

Where once it never rained till after sundown,
By eight a.m. the morning fog had flown...
Don't let it be forgot
That once there was a spot
For one brief shining moment that was known
As Camelot.

Woody/aka Bruce









*Photograph taken by Eve Arnold on a one-day trip to Bement, Illinois, in 1955 to honor Abraham Lincoln and the towns centenary.


All photos are COPYRIGHTED & should not be used for commercial purposes.