Hello dear members:

I would also like to express my sentiments about the closing of Immortal Marilyn and what the group has meant to me from the beginning, but after reading the posts from other members, for now I would like to save my thoughts because others have expressed it so well for me; specifically the words of Woody, Stacey and Grazia. They summed it perfectly for me: yes, IM was a part of my morning routine as well - like a cup of coffee or a good book, this group was a daily and nourishing fix for me! And it's weird to admit, but yes, when I was away from the computer, my mind would occasionally return to the thought of the group and what I was missing!

I sincerely hope to see you guys on other groups. I see alot of members joining All About Marilyn or Forever Marilyn, so I will likely follow in their steps.

Now I would like to share my favorite Marilyn photos. It is thanks to this group that I have discovered the following pictures to add to my growing collection, and now I would like to give back just a little bit of what this group offered on a overwhelming, almost daily, basis: in words and pictures, the absolute joy of Marilyn...

Til we meet again,
Edgar

my thoughts

Hi everyone,
Reality will set in on Friday but for me, the closing of IM will leave a void that will be hard to fill. No more going on-line in the morning as I enjoy breakfast and seeing a multitude of messages waiting, some with pictures I have never seen or some with pictures that had seen many times. Before I joined a few years ago, I had looked through all the Marilyn groups to see what was offered, and after searching, it was apparent to me that the majority of people had chosen IM, and I could not have joined a better Marilyn Yahoo group. It wasn't just a club or organization but a world-wide family of Marilyn fans who were quite willing to share any information to answer your questions and offer pictures you might be interested in. It wasn't possible for me to attend the Memorial trips due to my health, but thanks to the many members who took photos of the trip, I could follow along with the tour. Just the 7YI file I have has grown quite large thanks to all who have shared their pictures, some being rare or hard to find. And I believe that the club has grown to its size due to the fine guidance of Mary and the staff, both senior and junior members. It was quite a task to keep everything running smoothly, and Mary, you have my heart felt thanks for keeping this ship sailing along. Staff members did not hesitate to cover for each other when a member had problems or issues to deal with, and I have to give each of you thanks for helping keep this ship going full speed ahead. It has been an honor to be a part of IM and I will miss the club and the experience very dearly. Some time ago, I started a file saving pictures of all the members I could, and this file will be treasured much more than the 7YI one- it was so nice to see who I was talking with when finding information or just sharing pictures. To Mary, Heather, Shaney and all the other staffers, best of luck in the future and I shall begin looking again to find a club. I believe I have seen several talking about All About Marilyn so I'll have a look there.
Warm Wishes,
Tommy


a message for everyone

If I should stay, I would only be in your way
So I'll go but I know, I'll think of you each step of the way

And I will always love you, I will always love you.

Bittersweet memories, that's all I am taking with me
Goodbye, please don't cry,
we both know that I am not what you need...

But I will always love you, I will always love you.

I hope life treats you kind and I hope that,
you have all that you ever dreamed of.
And I wish you joy, and happiness...
But above all of this, I wish you love.

And I will always love you, I will always love you

I will always love you

Fraser

My memories of IM

Well my memories of finding IM came somewhere around the late 1990s. I've tried to remember exactly when I discovered it, but my memory isn't that good!

I do know that it was called Hollywoodland and was run by Debbie Jasgur. The group was taken over later by Leslie (I think!) and renamed Immortal Marilyn. The great thing at that point was that a newsletter came along too; an offline newsletter which was full of interviews, news and gossip. I still have all of my issues, along with the membership certificate; I was a gold member!!

Unfortunately, a number of issues forced IM to close the newsletter and it went back to an online club only, which was very sad as I know how much was put into the newsletters. However, at around this point I was beginning to research my book, and I found that not only were the posts very helpful to me, but the photo archives were incredible and hugely useful! I found many unseen photos in the vaults and so many members were very quick to help me try to trace the copyright holders. Over the course of writing the book, I made many new friends, and became close to so many people on the forum. Everyone was so excited to hear about the book, and when it was finally published, I was thrilled to be able to acknowledge the members of both IM and Forever Marilyn in it.

I was so happy to be a member of IM and I will miss it incredibly. I can't believe it is finally closing tomorrow and I for one am very sad and dreading it too. I wish everyone on IM congratulations for making this a brilliant Marilyn club, and hope you all enjoy life after IM.

I would also encourage everyone to join Forever Marilyn, which is another truly wonderful place to hang out. I'll miss you all, but please stay in touch.

Love, Michelle

xxxxx


Time To Say Good-bye

Hello Everyone,

I've put this off for as long as I can and now it's time to face reality.

It was quite by accident that I stumbled onto a Marilyn internet club called Hollywoodland back in August of 2001. I had watched the made for TV show Blonde with Poppy Montgomery. My fascination with MM had begun many years previous when I was still a schoolboy but this show peaked my interest, even though by all accounts it was not a very good production. I began searching the web for anything and everything Marilyn and the rest, as they say, is history. Alberto was the first person to contact me through the friendship committee and Mary was the first to respond to one of my posts. She was so warm and friendly and upbeat...I felt like someone actually cared about what I had to say. This was home. Hollywoodland became Immortal Marilyn and over the years has become in my humble opinion, the best MM club in the world. I have met so many wonderful people through this club. My knowledge of Marilyn and that era of Hollywood has grown by leaps and bounds...not to mention all the incredible pics everyone has posted. Joining IM was one of the best things I have ever done...and my life has never been the same since. I was fortunate enough to attend the 2004 Memorial and the first NYC get together in 2005. Those memories will be with me forever and I would not trade them for anything. Thank you to all involved...all the members and staff for making this an experience of a lifetime. But all good things must come to an end and so it is. It has been an incredible ride, hasn't it. And now, it is with heavy heart that I say...good-bye. I wish you all the best of times. But for every end, there is a new beginning... see you all on the other side.

Peter


Goodbye Immortal Marilyn

Now it's time for me to say goodbye to Immortal Marilyn. Thanks to Mary, Shar, Becka, Claire, Linda, Shaney, Paul, Alberto, and Fraser for making me so welcome as a member, and for showing me the ropes during the short time I've been on staff here. I've also been very glad to meet and chat with Carla, Edgar (our wonderful IM poet), Betsy, Mark, Eric, Karen, Boppa, Cindy, Melissa and many other great people. The Marilyn community will not be quite the same without the warm, welcoming atmosphere of IM. But we all still have each other, and our love of Marilyn which to me has always meant a love of humanity. Just think how proud little Norma Jeane would be to know she is still bringing people together to care and share all over the world. Our club may be closing its doors but others will grow from its foundations. So goodbye for now but let's continue to enjoy Marilyn and spread the understanding!

All the best and lots of love,
Tara xxxx

PS I still keep a website with news on my book, 'The Mmm Girl', which will be published in November, as well as my other projects. Visitors are always welcome - http://www.tarahanks.org


Farewell

Hi everyone! I thought I'd sneak in my farewell before the group closes. I don't write as much as many, but I always enjoy reading everyones emails, seeing pictures of Marilyn I had never seen before and looking at all the awesome art everyone does. I've only been a member of IM for about 9 months, but let me tell you this such an awesome group! Everyone is sooo nice and loves Marilyn sooo much! I am so glad to have found this group, and I wish it could have lasted forever! The group might be closing, but the friendships that were made here will continue! Marilyn Monroe has brought so many great people together and I know we will find other groups where everyone can continue to communicate and share the Marilyn love (and where I can continue to see and learn new things about her that I never did before. Thank you to everyone who let me join this wonderful group and welcomed me as if I was already part of this great FAMILY! Everyone here is AWESOME! This is not goodbye, just farewell! God bless all!

Michelle


Farewell

I too am one that came from Hollywoodland. the neat thing about online clubs is talking to people about a mutual interest. Getting to know them - then getting to meet them. I have to say people I have met on this forum and in person at the get togethers have become some of the dearest people to me on earth. A big bear hug from Mary is one of the warmest welcomes one will ever receive. And all the people I have had the privilege to meet have enriched my life. Thank you IM for bringing us all together. And thank you Mary and staff for your hard work.

Will miss IM but hope to see you all again someday.

Roy


So Sad To Say Goodbye

Dearest Mary and all the wonderful staff and members of I.M.
I can't believe this will be my last message to the group. I do feel very sad that this will all end tomorrow. I remember when I first found the group, over 3 years ago now, I was so excited to find all these people who felt the same way as I did about Marilyn, and it was not just about sharing our love of Marilyn, but also the welcome I received on joining, and the friendship and love that I have experienced from so many during my time with you all. Others have already shared their feelings of sadness, and I don't think I can add much more to what has already been said. I do wish I had made it to LA and have met more of you, maybe one day, I will get back there? So to you all wonderful people, I will say Goodbye, there are many I will keep in touch with, and I hope us UK'ERS will be able to still have our own get togethers?
I send my love to you all, and may IM remain in our hearts forever.
Valerie xxxxxxx


Time To Say So Long

The funny thing is, even though I know I'll be in touch with so many of the IM folks, and that some of the IM members will become a part of Forever Marilyn, I'm still getting all emotional thinking that tomorrow will be the very last day of Immortal Marilyn. It's only fitting that I should want to share my IM story as well, especially after reading so many wonderful memories the rest of you have..

I came to IM late in the game. Back in early 2002 I first learned of the existence of the online groups & and was told that I should check out the many MM groups Yahoo hosted. When I did go through the many listed, there were only two that really called out to me: Immortal and Forever Marilyn. And you know, the only difference I could see between the two was that Immortal seemed HUGE. At the time I was still plenty shy and I wasn't sure if I could handle dropping in on a group with that many members. I think the word is intimidated. So I joined up with Forever Marilyn and was soon heading up the newly created spin off group, as well as being asked to join the staff. Through Forever Marilyn I met so many people who have become lifelong friends and one thing I kept hearing about was Immortal Marilyn, which, to my mind, still loomed as this massive group where I was sure everyone would be far too advanced in MM Studies to ever want to hear anything I might want to toss in.

In 2003 I went down to LA for the memorial but stayed only a few days – I had a great time and roomed with Roy and Eric for the first time. But I was still hesitant about this whole Westwood thing and so I headed back home before the actual memorial service. Taking baby steps, the following year I joined up with Eric and went down to LA for the birthday celebration and the release of Hometown Girl. But by 2005 I was ready to jump in and see what the whole Marilyn Community would be like in person.

I still fully remember the Orchid pool party and how incredibly anxious and nervous I was about the whole thing. I was rooming again with Roy and Eric so felt at home with good friends but meeting all these people I knew were from Immortal Marilyn that scared the heck out of me. But I decided, screw that, and talked myself into pretending that I was this really outgoing person who had no problem whatsoever in meeting complete strangers, no matter how intimidated, I was determined not to let any of these people scare me.

So guess what? Within, literally, minutes of walking out there to join the party, all of the Immortal Marilyn people were so incredibly welcoming that I didn't have to pretend at all. Mary, Heather and Sean, all of the Immortal people made me really see for the very first time that this whole concept of the 'Marilyn Community' was real. It didn't matter what group you belonged to. It didn't matter how old you were. It didn't matter if your body wasn't quite in the shape it might have been at one time. These people were real and they were just excited to meet someone who shared their love for Marilyn. I tell you, I felt at home.

One memory that will forever stay in my mind, one memory that showed me what Immortal Marilyn truly meant: Sitting on a little cement bench with Mary waiting for the rest of our group before boarding the boat out to Catalina, simply talking to Mary, not even anything about Marilyn. Learning about her life, what her day to day world was like, just listening to this incredibly warm and wonderful woman and feeling like I had known her for all of my life, and knowing that she felt pretty much the same way.

When I got back from the memorial I joined up as a member of IM right away. I may not have had as much time to spend at IM as I would have wished, not nearly enough time to read all the posts or send in much myself, but I felt right at home and never once intimidated. The warm welcome Mary and all of the IM members showed me at the memorial has stayed with me ever since, something that was still right there as expected when we met up again this year. Total acceptance, never in any way, shape or form judgmental, just good, nice, wonderful people who even if you've never met face to face before, is a good solid friend. We are the Marilyn Community, something I never pout quotation marks around anymore because IM taught me it was a very real thing.

The feeling survives throughout all of the MM groups and even after Immortal Marilyn closes down, that feeling will still hold on. It's something, for me, Mary and all of the Immortal staff personifies. And I tell you, I am damned glad I got to be a part of it.

David.


So Sad To Say Goodbye

I am sad to be saying goodybye to Immortal Marilyn. I know i never post much and am pretty quiet, but i have enjoyed this group very much. This is a very special group with special people. Everyone take care...
Shauna










*Photograph taken by British born Cecil Beaton for Harper's Bazaar in February 1956 in NYC.

"Miss Monroe calls to mind the bouquet of a fireworks display, eliciting from her awed spectators an open mouthed chorus of wonderous 'Ohs' and 'Ahs.' She is as spectacular as the silvery shower of a Vesuvius fountain; she had rocketed from obscurity to become our post-war sex symbol - the pinup girl of any age. And whatever press agentry or manufactured illusion may have lit the fuse, it is her own weird genius that has sustained her flight."
~ Cecil Beaton


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