https://www.facebook.com/107073508919190/

Hollywood Archivist, Los Angeles, CA (2026)

05/20/2026

Whatever happened to Marilyn Monroe’s first wedding gown? ✨

On June 19th, 1942, sixteen year old Norma Jeane Baker (later known as Marilyn Monroe) married twenty one year old James “Jim” Dougherty in the neighbourhood of Westwood, Los Angeles.

Norma Jeane’s beloved “Aunt” Ana Lower carefully and lovingly hand made her wedding gown from scratch. The gown consisted of long sleeves with frills at the wrists and at the neckline, layers of sheer white fabric lined with beautiful lace and of course a gorgeous veil which was attached to a transparent flat frilled hat.

Norma Jeane and Jim Dougherty would divorce four years later in September of 1946. Still, Norma Jeane kept the handmade wedding gown close in her possession. Ten years later in 1952, (now) Marilyn would gift the gown to her thirteen year old niece, Mona Rae Miracle. Mona Rae would later alter and modernise the gown to fit a more 1950’s like appearance so she could wear it to her junior prom.

Marilyn’s wedding gown would remain in the possession of Mona Rae and her mother Berniece Miracle (Marilyn’s half sister) until they consigned it for auction along with many other Marilyn related mementos at Sotheby’s in 2001.
The gown was estimated to fetch between $60,000 and $80,000.

05/20/2026

Marilyn Monroe’s time at the Los Angeles Orphans Society

On September 13th of 1935, Norma Jeane Baker (later Marilyn Monroe) walked through the gates of the Los Angeles Orphans Society on North El Centro Avenue in Hollywood. This was to be her new home for the next thirteen months.

At night, in her shared bedroom which adorned 27 other beds, Norma Jeane would sit on the windowsill and stare at RKO Studios (now Paramount) and think of her mother, Gladys Pearl Baker, who had previously worked there as a film cutter. At that time Gladys was living in an institution.

Norma Jeane would spend her time working in the orphanage’s kitchen to make money, going to Sunday school and going on outings with the other children. Grace (McKee) Goddard, Norma Jeane’s legal guardian and the best friend of her mother, Gladys, would also make an effort to take her out for the day, which included taking her to get her hair curled. Due to her financial position and state regulations, Grace wasn’t able to move Norma Jeane into her home at that time.

Unfortunately, the original Los Angeles Orphans’ Society main building and dormitory bungalows were demolished in 1956. The orphanage was rebuilt and reopened with the new name of “Hollygrove” on May 28th of the following year. Thank you to as always, for clarifying this. Thankfully, the original entrance gates to the property still remain.

In October of 1936, when Grace was able to, she collected Norma Jeane and brought her to live with her and her family in their home.

“Hollygrove” closed its residential orphanage program in 2005 and now acts as community based social service centre for children.

04/13/2026

The lovely Valerie Lee Shepard, one of three surviving cast members from The Wizard of Oz, has peacefully passed away at the age of 94.

Born in Los Angeles in 1931, Valerie spent her childhood living in a bungalow with her family, opposite the Disney family on Kingswell Avenue in Los Feliz. At a young age, she began working as a child extra in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films, including ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and the iconic ‘Our Gang’ comedy series.

I was so fortunate to spend some time with Valerie a few years ago. Valerie spent the afternoon graciously sharing her stories of what Hollywood was like in the 1930s and on-set memories of ‘The Wizard of Oz’, where she was honoured to be cast as a ‘Child Munchkin’.

When Valerie started talking, you could see her mind vividly placing herself on the Oz set as a little seven-year-old. She shared how the cast and crew all gathered around to celebrate her seventh birthday on set with a cake, how Bert Lahr (The Cowardly Lion) would pull up a stool, pick up a Munchkin and perform a ventriloquist act. She also shared that Margaret Hamilton (The Wicked Witch) was the nicest lady and how she looked out for each of them, particularly the children.

Rest in peace, lovely Valerie. It was an honour and a pleasure to spend time with you. Sending my condolences to Elise and family. 🪽🌈

03/28/2026

The final apartment of starlet & dancer Jean Spangler, who mysteriously vanished 76 years ago

Located in the Park La Brea housing complex of the Fairfax District, this simple two-storey apartment was once home to 26-year-old actress, film extra and showgirl dancer Jean Spangler, who lived here with her five-year-old daughter Christine (whom she had with her ex-husband, Dexter Benner) and her sister-in-law Sophie.

On the afternoon of October 6th, 1949, at 5:30pm, Jean came down the stairs of her apartment and told Sophie that she was “off to work” and gave her a wink. By 7pm, Jean had been sighted by a store clerk at the local Town & Country Market on W 3rd Street whilst searching for a small purse to buy her daughter, Christine. This was the last confirmed sighting of Jean Spangler.

Two days later, Spangler’s torn black purse was discovered discarded at the Ferndell entrance of Griffith Park. Inside the purse featured a written note in Jean’s hand that read: “Kirk – Can’t wait any longer. Going to see Dr Scott. It will work best this way while Mother is away.” Thus, the LAPD began a massive hunt for Spangler and the mysterious “Kirk” and “Dr Scott”. Dexter Benner collected Christine Spangler the next day and was eventually awarded custody.

Today, it has been 76 years since Jean Spangler disappeared without a trace. There hasn’t been one single lead, and her case has become one of the biggest in Los Angeles crime history. There have been many theories as to what became of Jean, including the involvement of her ex-husband Dexter Benner and even legendary actor Kirk Douglas. Jean’s heartbroken mother, Florence, spent the rest of her life wondering whatever happened to her daughter.

Jean’s sister-in-law Sophie always believed Dexter Benner to be the perpetrator. She remained silent, living in fear of Benner, and only spoke to one journalist about Jean’s disappearance before her own passing in 2007.

On the very highly unlikely, slim chance that anyone, or maybe a relative, has absolutely any information regarding the disappearance of Jean Spangler, please contact the LAPD missing persons unit.

02/02/2026

Wishing a very Happy Heavenly Birthday to Farrah Fawcett 🪽

This angel would have turned 79 years old today, if she were still here.

Throwing it back to the iconic and forever timeless red swimsuit” photographs taken by Bruce McBroom in 1976.

“Every day is a good day, just some days are better”

Happy Birthday Farrah🤍

01/24/2026

Wishing a very Happy Heavenly Birthday to Sharon Tate 🤍

Today, if Sharon were still here, she would have turned 83.

Sharon was the absolute definition of kindness, innocence, selflessness and graciousness. She was the one with a kind heart that nobody ever had a bad word to say about, even 56 years after her passing. I think in this day and age, we should try and aim to have more of Sharon’s values.

Happy Birthday, Sharon. 🤍🪽

01/24/2026

Judy Garland’s first Californian home ✨

Located in the neighbourhood of Atwater Village in Los Angeles, this charming Spanish-style bungalow was the very first Californian home to Judy Garland and her family. The house was built in 1926, so we are led to believe that the Gumm family were the very first residents of this gorgeous little bungalow.

After leaving their hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, the Gumm family moved to Los Angeles. With the bright lights of Hollywood shining in the eyes of mother, Ethel Gumm. Los Angeles was the land of show business and big opportunities for her three daughters, Mary Jane, Dorothy Virginia and Frances (later known as Judy Garland). Whilst being in the middle of it all, it was easy for her to drive her girls to theatre engagements and auditions at various studios and companies.

The home consists of two bedrooms and one tiny bathroom. Quite tiny for a family of five, don’t you think? The Gumm family lived here from November 1926 to April of 1927. Whilst only residing here for five months, it gave them time to find a larger home. They would later move an hour’s drive away to the town of Lancaster.

The Gumm family bungalow remained virtually untouched for 94 years and recently underwent a renovation in 2020 (see before and after photo).

I’m thrilled that we still have so many reminders of Judy’s early life in the city of Los Angeles. It’s fabulous to be able to visit the places that she once called home and retrace her iconic footsteps! ✨

01/12/2026

Step inside the very first Hollywood home that the legendary Lucille Ball ever owned! ✨

Originally built in 1919, this gorgeous craftsman-style bungalow was the very first home that Hollywood’s most famous redhead, Lucille Ball, ever owned in Los Angeles.

After moving from her apartment near the RKO studios (to which she was under contract), Lucille and her brother, Fred, relocated to this home in 1933. Lucy herself cleaned up the home. The Ball family, including her mother DeDe, her grandfather Fred, and her cousin Cleo, would later join them from their hometown of Jamestown, New York.

Not long ago, I was so grateful and fortunate to have been given a private tour of the home by its very kind owner. It sure was fun to walk through the rooms of the place that Lucille once called her cherished home so early in her career.

The current owners have done such a wonderful, tasteful job of preserving this gorgeous craftsman’s bones and history, whilst still adding their modern touch. As a tribute, they have various photos and mementoes of Lucy hanging on the walls throughout the property. They even did their best to restore the original garage, where Lucille’s grandfather, Fred Ball, would play cards most days.

This was such a fun, memorable experience!✨

01/11/2026

Oz history still very much exists on the old Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studio lot!✨

Located in Culver City in California, the MGM studio was the filming location for one of the most beloved films of all time ‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939). Filming within the walls of the studios famously large soundstages began in October of 1938 and was completed in early March of 1939.

MGM was later sold and Sony Pictures have now taken over, but Oz film history very much still survives. Through the many soundstages that still stand, and other sneaky little special locations - Like the trap door on Soundstage 15 that Margaret Hamilton melted right through, to very the wall that Judy Garland would prop up a chair and read LIFE Magazine during her break, to the recording stage where the entire score of the film was recorded (which is completely untouched) - It’s really quite surreal.

Whenever I visit the MGM lot, I always feel like I’m in a real life fantasy land. I have to remind myself that this is where it all happened 87 years ago. It never fails to take my breath away!
🌪️🫧🧹✨

01/04/2026

Did you ever visit the famous ‘Luau’ restaurant of Beverly Hills whilst their doors were open? 🗿🧉🌺✨

Officially opened by restauranteur (and husband of actress Lana Turner) Stephen Crane in 1954, the Luau offered an exotic tropical/Polynesian dining and drinking experience for all of the many guests that crossed the bridge atop a Hawaiian lagoon to walk through its doors.

The restaurant was filled with large Tiki statues, fire torches that were mounted on the walls, many waterfall and rock pool features, Hawaiian canoes that were strung across the ceilings, and green walls that featured colorful tropical plants. Of course the scent of rum, pineapple, and strong tiki drinks was in no shortage either. Just look at those food prices on the menu! How times have changed.

The Luau was one of the top locations that many families chose to visit to celebrate all special occasions. Being located in Beverly Hills, seeing a Hollywood star wasn’t out of the ordinary. Being owned by her husband, Lana Turner was there many nights. Before she became well known, Sharon Tate appeared at the Luau as a “Kelly Kalani Girl” during a promotional campaign in 1963. Dean Martin, Mitzi Gaynor, and Annette Funicello were also regulars.

The Luau officially closed its doors in 1978, after 24 memorable years for all the families who passed through. The building on Rodeo Drive was demolished the following year in 1979 to make way for a shopping complex, which still sits on the site today.

The Luau closed before my time, but do I wish I were able to visit. Did you or a family member ever go to the luau? Leave your memories below. I’d love to hear them!! 🌺✨🗿

(Please note that the cover image of the exterior has been expanded with AI)

Hollywood Archivist

05/20/2026

05/20/2026

04/13/2026

03/28/2026

02/02/2026

01/24/2026

01/24/2026

01/12/2026

01/11/2026

01/04/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Museum

Shortcuts

Share