Marilyn Monroe Centennial Celebration

Marilyn: The Lost Photographs, The Last Interview
Panel Discussion, Book Signing, and Special Artifact Display

As part of Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday commemorations — and in celebration of the Los Angeles Central Library’s own centennial year — join All Things Marilyn podcast hosts Scott Fortner and Elisa Jordan for a rare and illuminating panel discussion centered on the newly released book Marilyn: The Lost Photographs, The Last Interview.

Completed in July 1962, just weeks before Marilyn’s death, journalist Richard Meryman’s final interview with Monroe captured her at a deeply reflective moment in her life and career. Over the course of several hours, she spoke candidly about her childhood, fame, the studio system, her creative ambitions, and the personal challenges she faced as she sought greater control over her public image and professional future. Only a small portion of this historic conversation was ever published during her lifetime.

Accompanying the interview was Marilyn’s final formal photographic session, conducted in her Brentwood home by legendary LIFE magazine photojournalist Allan Grant. His images present an intimate and unguarded portrait of Marilyn during her final weeks, revealing moments of warmth, humor, vulnerability, and quiet strength.

The new book publishes in full the complete transcript of Monroe’s final interview. While only a handful of Grant’s photographs were originally published, this volume presents more than 400 images, most being seen publicly for the first time.

Authors Jason Greene and Chris Flannery will share the story behind the preservation and publication of these long-hidden materials, offering insight into the process of bringing Marilyn’s own words and Allan Grant’s extraordinary photographs to a new generation.

Adding a uniquely personal dimension to the program are special guests whose families were directly connected to the creation of this historic work:
Meredith Landis, daughter of journalist Richard Meryman
Karin Grant, wife of photographer Allan Grant
Krissi Grant, daughter of Allan Grant

Following the discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a book signing with the authors and special guests.

In conjunction with the event, a selection of original Marilyn Monroe artifacts from The Marilyn Monroe Collection will be on display, offering visitors a rare chance to experience personal items connected to her life and career.

Together, the panel, book signing, and artifact display will explore Marilyn Monroe’s final weeks through the eyes of those who documented her story, while highlighting the continuing importance of preserving her truth with depth, humanity, and historical integrity.

Presented during a year marking one hundred years of both Marilyn Monroe and the Los Angeles Central Library, this special program reflects on legacy, storytelling, and the enduring power of cultural memory.

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Host or Publisher Los Angeles Public Library