# Thanks so much, Hollywood....I get your message loud and clear. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 30, 2001, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261 "2001-07-30T19:31:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261/81 "2001-08-02T02:09:18Z")
Ahhhhhh, my all-time favorite star! Marilyn! > [@](#): > > and so was Marlyn Monoroe Not necessarily true. Marilyn was curvaceous but contrary to rumor, she was nowhere close to being plump or thick. For some curious reason, statistics continue to pop up claiming her dress size varied between 12 and 16 and that she was chubby. Again, not true. From the official site (one of my favorite bookmarks): [http://www.marilynmonroe.com/bio.html](http://www.marilynmonroe.com/bio.html) Also Known As: Norma Jeane Baker Birth Name: Norma Jeane Mortenson Born: June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, CA Died: August 4, 1962 in Brentwood, CA Married To: Jimmy Dougherty, Joe DiMaggio, Arthur Miller **Measurements: 37-23-36 (Studio’s Claim) 35-22-35 (Dressmaker’s Claim)** Height: 5 feet 5 1/2 inches Whichever measurement you choose, neither is thick nor plump or even a little bit chubby, especially compared to Hollywood women in back in her time. Her weight varied from 110 to 118 and her dress size 8 to 12. Nowhere close to being fat. I am wracking my brain to remember so I may be a little bit off, but the dress she wore to sing Happy Birthday to President Kennedy was something like a size 6 or 8. IIRC If you have the opportunity to see some of her clothing on display (I have), you will see that she was actually a tiny little thing. Anyhow, just wanted to clear that up. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261/82 "2001-08-02T02:15:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by johnson \* > \*\* > in my view these comments do support **MGibson’s** earlier post. \*\* Everybody’s entitled to their opinion. In mine, you’re wrong. I said, truthfully, I dislike and do not indulge in making jokes about people based on their appearance. Marc made the \*\* completely false \*\* statment that I had done exactly that to Katherine Harris, and he compounded his false statement by claiming that I then made excuses for it by saying it was about her makeup, all in an attempt to make me look like a hypocrite. I don’t make jokes at the expense of others based on their appearance, and I never have. I don’t think there is anything inherently “funny” about physical imperfections. Having been made fun of all my life for my own, I can’t imagine what kind of mental gyumnastics would be required for me to ever do the same to anyone else. On the other hand, I find Karen Hughes repulsive in every way you can find a person repulsive, \*\* starting \*\* with who she is, who she works for, what she says and how she says it. She comes off as ugly in her manner,and I see her exactly that way. I dislike having to look at her or listen to her. Her appearance is repulsive to me because \* she \* is repulsive to me. And I said so. These are two completely different things. But again, everyone has an opinion. We’ve each expressed ours and I think it’s time to give the thread back. stoid ---
**Author:** ![johnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@johnson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnson)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261/83 "2001-08-02T02:27:36Z")
“We’ve each expressed ours and I think it’s time to give the thread back.” Scary–second time in the past month or so I’ve found myself in agreement with you. ---
**Author:** ![Sagasumono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Sagasumono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sagasumono)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261/84 "2001-08-02T05:57:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diane \* > \*\*Ahhhhhh, my all-time favorite star! Marilyn! > > > [@](#): > > > > and so was Marlyn Monoroe > > Not necessarily true. > > Marilyn was curvaceous but contrary to rumor, she was nowhere close to being plump or thick. For some curious reason, statistics continue to pop up claiming her dress size varied between 12 and 16 and that she was chubby. Again, not true. > > From the official site (one of my favorite bookmarks): [http://www.marilynmonroe.com/bio.html](http://www.marilynmonroe.com/bio.html) > > Also Known As: Norma Jeane Baker > Birth Name: Norma Jeane Mortenson > Born: June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, CA > Died: August 4, 1962 in Brentwood, CA > Married To: Jimmy Dougherty, Joe DiMaggio, Arthur Miller > **Measurements: 37-23-36 (Studio’s Claim) 35-22-35 (Dressmaker’s Claim)** > Height: 5 feet 5 1/2 inches > Whichever measurement you choose, neither is thick nor plump or even a little bit chubby, especially compared to Hollywood women in back in her time. > > Her weight varied from 110 to 118 and her dress size 8 to 12. Nowhere close to being fat. I am wracking my brain to remember so I may be a little bit off, but the dress she wore to sing Happy Birthday to President Kennedy was something like a size 6 or 8. IIRC > > If you have the opportunity to see some of her clothing on display (I have), you will see that she was actually a tiny little thing. > > Anyhow, just wanted to clear that up. 😃 \*\* Pretty Intresting. Yeesh,that’s closer to Madonnas size if anything. I always though Marlyn was a little thicker than that. Of course that was my point all along was that she was not fat or even chubby, but thick, in other words slighty more full figured than the average woman…then again what is the average woman anyhow? Ah well…damn she was still fine. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261/85 "2001-08-02T12:47:13Z")
According to [Snopes](http://www.snopes.com/movies/actors/mmdress.htm), your weight range for MM is a bit under, **Diane** , and cites a range of 118-140 pounds. Which is still not huge. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261/86 "2001-08-02T19:16:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diane \* > **the dress she (Marilyn Monroe) wore to sing Happy Birthday to President Kennedy was something like a size 6 or 8.** And that dress fit so tightly, it was necessary to sew it together with her inside it! (There were no zippers or fasteners.) To get it off her, they had to take it apart. (It was sewn back together later and I think it was recently auctioned off, or that it will be.) The point I’m making is that that dress alone would tell anyone what size MM was in 1962. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261/87 "2001-08-02T20:46:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jab1 \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Diane \* > > **the dress she (Marilyn Monroe) wore to sing Happy Birthday to President Kennedy was something like a size 6 or 8.** > > And that dress fit so tightly, it was necessary to sew it together with her inside it! (There were no zippers or fasteners.) To get it off her, they had to take it apart. (It was sewn back together later and I think it was recently auctioned off, or that it will be.) > \*\* About 18 months ago ( I think ), I shot a job with Barbara Walters at the Sotheby Parke-Bernet Gallery at Rockefeller Center. It was a preview of the Auction Tour of the M.M. stuff that they were to auction off at the conclusion of said tour. I’ve stood 12 inches from that ‘Birthday Dress’. Yes, she was sewn into it. The fabric, whose name escapes me now, is so thoroughly sheer that at some spots in the dress **15 LAYERS** of the fabric were used to…uh…preserve modesty. And still, the thing is astonishing in it’s revelations. The dress was show on a lucite dress form, so that one could quite easily see how SEE THROUGH the dress was. On stands behind it, and sees the small sequins in the front in amazing detail. M.M., according to the woman who was the Curator of this exhibit and auction, was a B cup. Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Sagasumono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Sagasumono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sagasumono)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261/88 "2001-08-02T21:25:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cartooniverse \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by jab1 \* > > \*\* > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > \*Originally posted by Diane \* > > > **the dress she (Marilyn Monroe) wore to sing Happy Birthday to President Kennedy was something like a size 6 or 8.** > > > > And that dress fit so tightly, it was necessary to sew it together with her inside it! (There were no zippers or fasteners.) To get it off her, they had to take it apart. (It was sewn back together later and I think it was recently auctioned off, or that it will be.) > > \*\* > > About 18 months ago ( I think ), I shot a job with Barbara Walters at the Sotheby Parke-Bernet Gallery at Rockefeller Center. It was a preview of the Auction Tour of the M.M. stuff that they were to auction off at the conclusion of said tour. > > I’ve stood 12 inches from that ‘Birthday Dress’. Yes, she was sewn into it. The fabric, whose name escapes me now, is so thoroughly sheer that at some spots in the dress **15 LAYERS** of the fabric were used to…uh…preserve modesty. And still, the thing is astonishing in it’s revelations. The dress was show on a lucite dress form, so that one could quite easily see how SEE THROUGH the dress was. On stands behind it, and sees the small sequins in the front in amazing detail. > > M.M., according to the woman who was the Curator of this exhibit and auction, was a B cup. > > Cartooniverse \*\* ONLY A B CUP?!?!?! ☹ time for new glasses… ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261/89 "2001-08-02T22:39:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sagasumono \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Diane \* > > **Measurements: 37-23-36 (Studio’s Claim) 35-22-35 (Dressmaker’s Claim)** > > Height: 5 feet 5 1/2 inches > > \*\* > > Of course that was my point all along was that she was not fat or even chubby, but thick, in other words slighty more full figured than the average woman…then again what is the average woman anyhow? > \*\* A 23 inch waist is a size 2 today. If you think that’s thicker than the average woman, then … I don’t even know what to say… ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261/90 "2001-08-03T00:38:47Z")
> [@](#): > > It was sewn back together later and I think it was recently auctioned off, or that it will be. The dress (which had over 6000 hand-sewed beads) was sold at Christie’s auction in October of 1999 for $1.15 million dollars. It was the highest paid price ever at an auction for women’s clothing. According to her various dress makers, her measurements were: 1945 36-24-34 1946 36-24-36 1950 36 1/2-23-34 1951 37-23-34 1952 36 1/2-23-34 1954 37-24-35 1955 38-23-36 1956 37-23-37 My father has an actual Marilyn shrine in his house (no kidding), has a huge library of Marilyn books and biographies. Other than the snopes site, I have never seen anything showing her weight to be over 120 lbs. > [@](#): > > M.M., according to the woman who was the Curator of this exhibit and auction, was a B cup. This was probably true of The Dress. Marilyn would often pack herself into smaller bra sizes to get the cleavage effect (as we women already know). Her actual bra size was a 36D. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261/91 "2001-08-03T00:56:05Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Diane \* \*\* > [@](#): > > This was probably true of The Dress. Marilyn would often pack herself into smaller bra sizes to get the cleavage effect (as we women already know). Her actual bra size was a 36D. \*\* I’m so sorry, I sit corrected, it was Christie’s Rockefeller Center. Now, what’s this about a “cleavage effect” ??? WHAT THE HELL HAVE I BEEN MISSING ALL THESE YEARS BY ONLY GAZING INTO A WOMAN’S EYES???/ 😉 Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261/92 "2001-08-03T01:09:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diane \* > \*\* Her actual bra size was a 36D. \*\* I’ve got a really big problem swallowing that. She doesn’t look anything like a D anywhere. Especially stark naked…check out Marilyn nudes, and you see clearly that she was at the very most a C and easily a substantial B. stoid ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261/93 "2001-08-03T01:44:27Z")
That, of course, depends on when the photo was taken. She was a slender B in the Playboy centerfold but a solid (and rather thick) C toward the end. No Jayne Mansfield, but no Twiggy. ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261/94 "2001-08-03T03:09:05Z")
Since my dad and his Marilyn collection are in Germany, I obviously can’t tell you the exact sites, but this information is listed in most publications that show dressmaker stats included in her biographies. Because I don’t have access to the “take them off the shelf weekly to sit and stare at the pages with that far-way fantasy stare” books of my dad’s, I just did a quick web search. Of all the sites I found (in a 10 minute time span) only two listed her bra size: - This site lists her bra size as 36D with the Los Angeles Herald Examine as their site (take that how you will) [http://www.angelfire.com/ny/marilynmonroegoddess/](http://www.angelfire.com/ny/marilynmonroegoddess/) - Again, on this site: “Bra size: 36D” [http://members.fortunecity.com/portraitofthegoddess/trivia2.html](http://members.fortunecity.com/portraitofthegoddess/trivia2.html) I certainly won’t argue if someone can find a site that shows something else, especially due the fact that her body size varied. In fact I would be interested to see the differences and I am always looking for more Marilyn links and info. Without the names of books, authors, and dressmakers, this is the best I could do before I got bored searching the web. ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261/95 "2001-08-03T03:28:52Z")
I should mention that you need to click on “Facts” on that first link to be sent to the page with her size. Found another one showing 36D. Still haven’t found anything in my search (I got a my second wind) to show differently. [http://www.geocities.com/rayeden1/vital.html](http://www.geocities.com/rayeden1/vital.html) ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261/96 "2001-08-03T04:09:39Z")
Not sure how this degenderated into a GQ about Marilyn’s measurements, but if MM had a 36-inch chest then she couldn’t possibly have been a 36-D bra size. A 36-D woman would have a 40-inch chest measurement. ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261/97 "2001-08-03T04:30:14Z")
Ummmmmm. . . . explain that one to me. Correct me if I am wrong, but the 36 is the inches around the bodice and the “D” is the cup size. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261/98 "2001-08-03T14:16:42Z")
When I was a size 12 I was told I was fat. I had measurements of 37-26-36 and was told I was fat and because of that, ugly. (my bra size then was 36D, but it that was snug enough for the cleavage effect.) I wear a size 28 now-a-days, and I am told I am sexy and beautiful everyday. Not just told, but shown. ---
**Author:** ![darian00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dfb087/32.png) [@darian00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/darian00)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261/99 "2001-08-04T05:28:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cartooniverse \* > Now, sit the fuck still while I rip your lungs out. > \*\* Does anyone else read this in R. Lee Ermey’s voice? Can’t you just see it? \*\* [Full Metal Jacket] [R. Lee has his arm shoved down Gomer Pyle’s throat] [Gomer is twitching accordingly] [R. Lee]Now hold the fuck still while I rip your lungs out! [yank] [/Full Metal Jacket] \*\* I’ve been laughing about this for days… whee…😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261/100 "2001-08-07T00:39:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diane \* > \*\*Ummmmmm. . . . explain that one to me. > > Correct me if I am wrong, but the 36 is the inches around the bodice and the “D” is the cup size. \*\* No, the number part of the bra size is the inches around the bodice (and here’s the wacky part) plus five. The cup size is determined by the difference between that number and the measurement around the fullest part of the chest. Uncle Cecil has dealt with this subject, as you can see here: [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000714.html](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000714.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-so-much-hollywood-i-get-your-message-loud-and-clear/74261.md?page=6)