Marilyn Monroe Memorabilia up for Bid at Franke Center Fundraiser Saturday

Serious fans of the late movie star Marilyn Monroe have an extra incentive to attend the Franke Center for the Arts‘ annual gala fundraiser on Saturday, April 9th.

During intermission for the night’s showing of “Some Like it Hot,” a donated piece of memorabilia related to the actress and model will be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

“One of the Franke’s supporters, Gary Reed of Marshall, has donated a beautifully framed reproduction of the famous 1953 calendar featuring Miss Monroe – and that item is for adults only,” said John Sherwood, who will serve as master of ceremonies for the event.

Reed received as a gift in the 1980s, and Sherwood said the calendar appears to be a reproduction but is in pristine condition and is framed in oak. The item will be displayed prior to the auction only to serious bidders.

The doors for the event will open at 6:30 p.m. for early-bird patrons to visit the concession area and buy contest tickets. Beer and wine will be among refreshments available. The program itself will start at 7 p.m.

Admission tickets are being sold on a reserved-seat basis at $15 each, available for purchase online at www.frankecenterforthearts.org, by calling the box office at (269) 781-0001 or at the door.

The classic cult comedy stars Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon as the two on-the-run men dress up as women to elude the perpetrators of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. The movie is No.1 on the American Film Institute’s list of the funniest American movies ever made.

Audience members are being encouraged to dress however they’d like, whether casually or in costume. Contests will be held for the best Monroe look-alike, the best “man in drag” and the man who’s most skilled at walking across the Franke Center stage in high heels.

The movie will be shown in two parts, with a 25-minute intermission, during which food and concessions will be available. Raffles, prizes, intermission treats and other entertainment will fill out the evening, Williams said. A two-night stay in Chicago’s Intercontinental also will be given away as one of the evening’s top raffle prizes.

The community fundraiser will support ongoing projects intended to further upgrade the building’s infrastructure and performance venue.

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[Image credits]
Billy Wilder, Doane Harrison, I.A.L. Diamond, MGM.