Before Marilyn: The Blue Book Modelling Years

by Michelle Morgan, Astrid Franse

Before Marilyn tells the story of Marilyn Monroe’s modelling career, during which time she was signed to the famous Blue Book Agency in Hollywood. The head of the agency, Miss Emmeline Snively, saw potential in the young woman and kept detailed records and correspondence throughout their professional relationship and beyond. On the day of Monroe’s funeral, Snively gave an interview from her office, talking about the girl she had discovered, before announcing, rather dramatically, that she was closing the lid on her Marilyn Monroe archive that day – to ‘lock it away forever’. This archive was purchased by Astrid Franse, and together with bestselling Marilyn Monroe biographer Michelle Morgan they draw on this collection of never-before-seen documents, letters and much, much more. Before Marilyn explores an aspect of Monroe’s life that has never been fully revealed – by charting every modelling job she did, and illustrating the text with rare and unpublished photographs of the young model and her mentor.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Photography

240 pages, Hardcover

First published July 6, 2015

About the author

Michelle Morgan is the author of The Ice Cream Blonde, The Mammoth Book of Hollywood Scandals, Marilyn's Addresses, and Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed. She has been interviewed on dozens of radio stations and featured on many television programs, including the BBC National News.

Reviews

[George Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not knowing much about the early modelling stages of Marilyn Monroe's life, this taught me so much. When Michelle Morgan and Astrid Franse released the information that they were going to write this book, I was already excited! Morgan being a celebrated author, particularly an author of several Marilyn Monroe books, I knew she would do a fantastic job! Franse's story is so interesting. I read this book in the space of 4 nights. I am a casual reader and I never go through books that fast! I couldn't put it down as it was so, so interesting!

[Christine Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great early photos of Marilyn, along with her history at Blue Book Modeling Agency in the '40s prior to her acting career. It's a sad story, not just in light of Marilyn's death, but also that of her earliest mentor, Emmeline Snively, the owner of the modeling agency. Miss Snively, whose archives were discovered by accident years after her death, had intended to produce a play, then write a book about her most famous pupil. She discovered Jayne Mansfield as well, who also went on to a successful career in movies and a tragic death. Miss Snively died as the result of a stroke on Sept. 19, 1975 at age 66. "Not one person attended her memorial service. Not one. Nobody stood in the chapel and spoke animatedly about her days in Hollywood. Nobody declared their love or expressed how much Miss Snively had changed their lives . . . no one . . . picked up her ashes from the memorial park" and they remain unclaimed in storage to this day. SO sad.

[Paul Monroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is a completely different approach to a period of Marilyn's life many of us don't know a lot about . I liked to get to know what young Marilyn did before she got to be THE Marilyn Monroe. I wouldn't say that this is just a MM bio BUT a glimpse into the life of two hard working women . Miss Monroe AND Miss Snively who was one of the first people who believed in young Marilyn

Worth the read !

[Wendelle]

americana/relevant to popular culture studies

[Claire Biggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great insight into the early years of Marilyn's modelling years

[Emily Finch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marilyn's time with the Blue Book Modelling Agency has always intrigued me. Unfortunately, there's never been a lot of information about her time there around. Only bits of pieces never a lot of information, which is fine, I'll take what I can get. Nevertheless, I still wanted to learn more.

So when I heard that Micelle Morgan was bringing a new book out - boy was I excited. I pre-ordered as soon as it was available to pre-order. And I am not disappointed in the slightest. I only read Michelle's other book 'Marilyn: Private and Undisclosed' not long ago, despite having it for a few years (whoops!), and that was fantastic too. I could hardly put this book down - I just don't want to. I enjoyed it immensely. It was nice to read more about Miss Emmeline Snively too. There was never a lot of credit to her for Marilyn's career when she definitely deserved a percentage. This is a look into Marilyn's life and into Snively's.

Fantastically written and presented. Even though it doesn't tell the full story of Marilyn's life, read Michelle's other book for that, it is a must have for fans.

Edit: Was very sad to read about Snively's ending. How awful that no one went to her memorial service. Poor woman.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books about Marilyn Monroe are practically a genre among themselves. Astrid Franse, owner of the archive of the Blue Book Modelling Agency, has collaborated on this book with Michelle Morgan, author of one of the best biographies,'MM: Private and Undisclosed.' Emmeline Snively, who founded the agency, kept a detailed file on her star pupil, Norma Jeane Dougherty. While many people - usually men - claimed to have 'discovered' Monroe, Snively (who had more input than most) always saw their work together as a collaboration. This is both a biography of Snively, a self-made career woman in an era when that was still rare, and a study of a hopeful, relatively untroubled period in the future Marilyn Monroe's life. After reading it, I had a much better understanding of Marilyn's modelling career, and her relationship with Snively. It provides a much-needed backstory to her early photo-shoots, and also includes a handful of images never seen before. Beautifully written and presented, this book has both style and substance, and while it may not tell the full story of Marilyn's life, it will be a must-have for dedicated fans.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An accessible, insightful look into Marilyn’s rise to stardom, her time as a model and everything that went on in other aspects of her life during then. This also talks a fair bit (A LOT) about the lady who took a chance on her at the modelling agency.

Not to toot my own horn here but I see a lot of myself in Marilyn; in the originally dark and unruly curly hair, in her hourglass measurements and height that continuously caused people to tell her she wasn’t built for Fashion modelling. Often seen as quiet but charismatic/warm, over-sexualised & struggling to even have enough to eat sometimes. In the face of adversity, she was always perseverant, independent and extremely hardworking. A person can only be endowed with so much, strength of character is what will determine the lengths you achieve.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

~Disclaimer: I revived this book for free in a giveaway~

A lovely hardcover book about the life of Marilyn Monroe focusing on the time before she took up her Marilyn name.

It has many photographs and letters within, but is very structured in the layout. There is some issues with flow in the storytelling. And as it relies heavily on Snively's perspective it is likely biased at time. However, it provides lots of details I had not read anywhere else and that is a huge plus in it's favor.

However, I enjoyed reading about Marilyn from a different perspective and feel like this is a great addition to my collection. Worth a read for those who loved this fashion icon or for those more generally interested in fashion or modeling.

[Strawberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a few Marilyn Monroe biographies, and they always seem to just skim over her early years and career. It was nice to find a collection of photographs from her modelling days, many of which I have never seen before!

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book to see such Beautiful pictures and learn about a true beauty queen was amazing.