“There are a lot of stories told about those calendar pictures. When the story came out, I’d already done Asphalt Jungle and was rehired at Fox with a seven-year contract. I still remember the publicity department calling me on the setand asking, ”Did you pose for a calendar?” And I said, “Yes, anything wrong?” Well, they were real anxious and they said, “Don’t say you did, say you didn’t.” I said, “But I did, and I signed the release, so I feel I should say so.” They were very unhappy about that. And then the cameraman who was working on the film then got hold of one of the calendars and asked me if I’d sign it, and so I said yes, I would. I signed it and wrote “ To…”and then his name, and I said, “This isn’t my best angle, you know.” And of course the studio got even madder! Anyone who knows me knows that I can’t lie. Sometimes I leave things out or I don’t elaborate, to protect myself or other people – who probably don’t even want to be protected – but I can never tell a lie. I was very hungry, four weeks behind in my rent, and needed money desperately. I remembered that I’d done some beer ads for Tom Kelley and his wife, Natalie, and that they had asked me to pose nude. They told me there was nothing to it and that I would earn a lot – fifty dollars, the amount I needed. Because they were both very nice to me I called them up and asked Tom, ”Are you sure they won’t recognize me?” He said, “I promise.” Then I said, “Well, if it’s at night and you don’t have any helpers … you know how to put up the lights … I don’t want to expose myself to all the people you have.” He said, “All right, just Natalie and me.” So we did it. I felt shy about it, but they were real delicate, you know, about the whole situation. They just spread out some red velvet and had me lie down on it. And it was all very simple – and drafty! – and I was able to pay the rent and buy myself something to eat.” - Marilyn Monroe on posing naked in 1949.
