In this excerpt from his ground-breaking biography, charles casillo explores how the actions of one army photographer sparked the transition of norma jeane into marilyn monroe. Why was norma jeane renamed? Why did conover ask norma jeane to pose? · when he was discharged from the army, conover did not hear a word about norma jeane for many years. Asking if she would skip lunch for an impromptu photoshoot, the obliging nineteen year old norma jean donned a red sweater that she kept in her locker, and a hollywood legend was born. Did david conover sexually conquer norma? Meanwhile, he and his wife jeanne were concentrating on fulfilling his childhood dream to buy wallace island, an uninhabited refuge from reality where he had magical camping holidays as a boy. Separation during the war would eventually lead to divorce for norma jean and james dougherty in 1946. Encouraged by conover ’s interest—he called her “a real morale booster”—she left the factory floor and began modeling for him and other photographers. As conover passed through the rows of workers, he couldn’t help but spot norma jean dougherty. The discovery photographs, summer 1945’ portfolio featuring a suite of 18 photographic prints of norma jeane from her iconic early photo shoots with army photographer david conover in the summer of 1945. Why did david conover photograph norma jeane? Defying her husband’s wishes, she signed with the blue book model agency in 1945. Why did conover not hear about norma jeane? Apparently the movies taken of norma jeane that day have been lost to history. For norma jeane, the encounter was life-changing. Conover , who saw norma’s potential as a model almost immediately, continued to photograph her throughout the spring and early summer. Beautiful limited edition ‘norma jeane / marilyn monroe: Eventually conover s work for the army took him to the philippines and the two lost touch. How old is norma jeane?
