New Monroe sketches discovered
Two previously unshown sketches are on display at the
Council-run Assembly Rooms in Bath, as part of the Travilla:
The man who dressed Marilyn Monroe exhibition, which opens on
Tuesday 29 July. The sketches depict two outfits originally
designed on paper for Marilyn Monroe, but which never came to
fruition.
Andrew Hansford, organiser of the touring exhibition, which is
being hosted by Bath & North East Somerset Council at the
Assembly Rooms, commented:
“One of several roles created for Marilyn in 1962 was Lila, a
small town stripper with Hollywood dreams and aspirations, from the
stage play A Loss of Roses by William Inge, who also wrote
Bus Stop, another Monroe vehicle”.
"Bill Sarris, Travilla’s former partner, remembers ‘Travilla was
excited about returning to Twentieth Century Fox and working with
Marilyn again after six years.’"
“Unfortunately, Monroe's untimely death prevented their reunion
from occurring. These sketches were put away in the Estate Archives
where they remained for forty-five years away from the public eye,
until their recent discovery in preparation for this
exhibit”.
“Travilla's illustrations show a more mature and refined Marilyn
than their earlier collaborations, though the smaller image showing
one of the character's performance costumes is a definite ‘homage’
to his iconic white dress design from The Seven Year Itch".
“Retitled The Stripper, actress Joanne Woodward filmed the
role wearing other costumes designed by Travilla, for which he
received his fourth and final Academy Award nomination”.
This is a touring exhibition in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society,
promoted by Andrew Hansford on behalf of Bill Sarris, owner of the
William Travilla collection.
Stephen Bird, Head of Heritage Services at Bath and North East
Somerset Council, said, “This is the second externally-organised
exhibition that the Assembly Rooms has hosted, following ‘Their
Past, Your Future’ in 2005, and is a wonderful way in which the
Council can make use of this splendid building for the benefit both
of residents and of visitors to the city ”
Admission to the exhibition in the Great Octagon is included in
the Fashion Museum ticket, which is free to residents of Bath &
North East Somerset with a Discovery Card. The Fashion Museum is
open daily 10.30am-6pm, last entry 5.00pm Visit http://www.fashionmuseum.co.uk/
for details.