In this episode, we announce and discuss the discovery of an undated get well greeting card to Marilyn Monroe from her father, Stanley Gifford. For years it was believed that Gifford was her father, and it was proven definitively through DNA testing earlier this year. However, there was never any evidence that father and daughter had any kind of relationship. The discovery of this greeting card rewrites history. There was indeed some kind of personal relationship between them, and this card proves it.
"I discovered the card purely by chance while I was preparing Marilyn's personal archives for auction at Julien's Auctions," said Scott Fortner, Marilyn Monroe historian/collector and co-host of the All Things Marilyn podcast, as quoted in a PEOPLE.com news article. "This is the only known documented evidence of a relationship between Monroe and Gifford, which solves the mystery of whether or not she knew or had contact with her biological father."
In today's discussion, Scott and Elisa cover many topics:
- What did Marilyn believe and know about her father when she was a child?
- How did Stanley Gifford and Gladys Mortensen meet, and what was the status of their relationship?
- Why did Gladys list husband Edward Mortensen on Norma Jeane's birth certificate when she knew Gifford was the father?
- Who discovered that Gifford actually was Marilyn's father?
- What were the sources for the DNA testing?
- How did Scott Fortner discover the card in Marilyn's archives, and where has it been for all of these years?
- Did Marilyn Monroe ever meet her father?
Marilyn Monroe's "Get Well" greeting card will be offered for auction at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills on December 17-18, 2022.
This episode covers many fascinating and revealing aspects of Marilyn Monroe's life and personal history. Don't miss it!
ATM Podcast: @allthingsmarilynpodcast
Scott @marilynmonroecollection
Elisa @la_woman_tours
Credits
Artwork by @marilynmexico
Soundtrack by @silver_technicolor
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