History Daily – "The Most Iconic Marilyn Monroe Photograph"

Date: September 15, 2025
Host: Lindsey Graham
Production: Airship | Noiser | Wondery

Episode Overview

This episode explores the story behind one of the 20th century's most recognizable photographs: Marilyn Monroe’s subway grate scene from “The Seven Year Itch.” Host Lindsey Graham chronicles Marilyn’s rise from humble beginnings to tragic icon, providing historical context and insight into the personal cost of her dazzling fame. The episode weaves in critical moments from Monroe’s career, her troubled marriages, her struggle for respect as an actress, and the enduring impact of the famous photograph taken on September 15, 1954.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Night of the Photograph (00:00–03:38)

• Scene Setting: The episode opens in the early hours of September 15, 1954, on Lexington Avenue and 52nd Street, NYC. A crowd has gathered for a publicity stunt—to film Monroe’s famous subway grate scene for "The Seven Year Itch.”
• Joe DiMaggio’s Reaction: Although a Yankees legend and Monroe's husband, DiMaggio is ignored by the crowd, who focus solely on Monroe. Watching his wife’s skirt billow provocatively, he becomes furious and storms off.
  • Quote: "Red in the face, he storms away, pushing past photographers and fans, unable to contain his anger.” (02:09)
• Aftermath: Monroe’s willingness to film the scene, and DiMaggio’s reaction, contribute to the breakdown of their marriage. Monroe soon files for divorce, but the resulting photograph becomes iconic, “endlessly reproduced, recreated and parodied for decades after.” (03:16)

2. Norma Jeane to Marilyn Monroe – The Early Years (04:37–11:00)

• Discovery in Wartime Factory: In 1944, factory photographer David Conover spots Norma Jeane (Monroe’s birth name), an 18-year-old munitions worker, and encourages her to model.
  • Quote: "David can tell she's a natural. He asks for her name, and she introduces herself as Norma Jean Doherty." (05:22)
• Modelling Success and Reinvention: Norma Jeane achieves rapid modeling success, leading to overexposure. To remain fresh, her agency suggests dyeing her hair blonde.
• Marriage and Independence: Her husband disapproves of her career, and after the war, Monroe chooses ambition over domesticity, divorcing and moving to LA.
• Becoming Marilyn Monroe: During a 1946 screen test at 20th Century Fox, she adopts her famous stage name at the studio’s suggestion.
  • Quote: "So Norma Jean Doherty sits up straight, and for the first time, she says the name that will soon be famous all around the world. Marilyn Monroe." (10:43)

3. Struggles for Artistic Respect (11:14–15:24)

• The Prince and the Showgirl (1956):
  • Clash with Laurence Olivier: On set in England, Monroe’s quest for depth is dismissed by Olivier, who patronizes her and demands she focus on “seeming seductive.”
    • Quote: "He suggests that if she's struggling with her character's motivation, she should just focus on what she's good at. Seeming seductive on screen." (12:27)
  • Personal Turmoil: The pressure, lack of respect, and insomnia lead her to rely on sleeping pills and alcohol.
• Later Career:
  • Return to NY: Monroe marries playwright Arthur Miller, but her mental and physical health deteriorates after repeated miscarriages and substance dependence.
  • Some Like It Hot (1959): Despite tension with director Billy Wilder over her character’s depth, Monroe delivers a standout comedic performance, winning a Golden Globe.
    • Personal Disappointment: Monroe fails to secure an Oscar nomination and becomes convinced she's shunned by Hollywood.
  • Quote: "Even in a moment of triumph, Marilyn fixates on her disappointments." (14:45)
• Decline: As her marriage dissolves and her reputation for difficult behavior spirals, Monroe’s personal struggles intensify.

4. The Final Years & Lasting Legacy (16:50–19:50)

• JFK’s Birthday Gala (1962):
  • Marilyn’s Iconic Performance: Monroe delivers a legendary, intimate performance of “Happy Birthday” to President Kennedy, wearing a shimmering, form-fitting gown.
  • Scandal and Stress: Rumors of an affair intensify, adding to her emotional burden.
• Tragic End: Less than three months later, Monroe dies from a probable suicide at 36.
  • Legacy: Despite her efforts to be taken seriously, Monroe remains best remembered for the playful, sensual image immortalized on that New York subway grate.
  • Quote: "Because of all the memorable images of Marilyn, none will be more famous than the picture of her smiling playfully as her white dress billows up around her." (19:34)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments with Timestamps

• DiMaggio’s Anger at the Scene:
  "Red in the face, he storms away, pushing past photographers and fans, unable to contain his anger.” (02:09)

• Norma Jeane’s Discovery:
  "David can tell she's a natural. He asks for her name, and she introduces herself as Norma Jean Doherty." (05:22)

• Adoption of Her Stage Name:
  "So Norma Jean Doherty sits up straight, and for the first time, she says the name that will soon be famous all around the world. Marilyn Monroe." (10:43)

• Laurence Olivier’s Patronizing Advice:
  "He suggests that if she's struggling with her character's motivation, she should just focus on what she's good at. Seeming seductive on screen." (12:27)

• Marilyn’s Golden Globe and Disappointment:
  "Even in a moment of triumph, Marilyn fixates on her disappointments." (14:45)

• Marilyn’s Lasting Image:
  "Because of all the memorable images of Marilyn, none will be more famous than the picture of her smiling playfully as her white dress billows up around her." (19:34)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Opening: The Night of the Photograph – 00:00–03:38
• Norma Jeane’s Discovery and Modeling Rise – 04:37–11:00
• Hollywood Career and Name Change – 10:00–11:00
• Clash with Laurence Olivier & Acting Struggles – 11:14–15:24
• Some Like It Hot and Legacy – 14:20–16:50
• JFK Birthday Gala & Monroe’s Death – 16:50–19:50

Tone and Language

Lindsey Graham's narration is empathetic, vivid, and historically anchored, often evoking the personal and emotional dimensions of Marilyn’s life without losing sight of her enduring mythos. He balances narrative drama with nuanced retelling, emphasizing both Monroe’s star power and the pain beneath the glamorous exterior.

Summary

This episode of History Daily provides a compelling, humanizing account of Marilyn Monroe’s life as refracted through her most iconic image. While the white dress photograph cemented her as a symbol of playful sensuality for generations, the episode reveals the complexities and struggles behind the smile, offering listeners a richer, more poignant understanding of Monroe as both a celebrity and a woman striving to control her own story.