Episode #176 | 05.21.24
Marilyn Monroe (Part 2): The Three Deaths of an Iconic American Actress
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In this episode
The conspiracy theories surrounding Marilyn Monroe’s death in 1962 continue to entertain the imaginations of those obsessed with celebrity and scandal. The stories, many of them fantastical and one of them true, feature cameos by the likes of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, and Rat Pack members Frank Sinatra and Peter Lawford. Somewhere in the pile of countless rumors, innuendos, and crackpot theories is a closer understanding of exactly what happened and why the world lost its most iconic American actress at the young age of 36.
This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including sexual assault and suicide. If you’re thinking about suicide, or are worried about a friend or loved one, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
Sources
Marilyn Monroe: The Biography, by Donald Spoto
Marilyn Monroe: A Biography, by Barbara Leaming
Music for Chameleons, Truman Capote
The Murder of Marilyn Monroe: Case Closed, by Jay Margolis and Richard Buskin
The Guardian: Michel Schneider’s top 10 books about Marilyn Monroe
Time: The Best Response Ever to a Celebrity Nude Photo Scandal
Fox 5 San Diego: Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood
Marilyn Forever: A History of Suicide Attempts
Newsmax: Sexual Exploitation by Therapists
Alarabiya News: Bobby Kennedy ordered murder of Marilyn Monroe, new book claims
Daily Mail: Did Marilyn Monroe abort JFK or RFK’s love child?
Nashville Noise: Marilyn Monroe Songs: The Bombshell’s Best Music Moments
New York Times: Channeling a Bombshell, One Jazzy Note at a Time
Time: The Story Behind the Only Known Photo of Marilyn Monroe and John F Kennedy Together
Credits
Hosted and written by Jake Brennan.
Copy edited by Pat Healy.
Scored and mixed by Colin Fleming.
Additional music and score elements by Ryan Spraker.
DISGRACELAND theme song, “Crenshaw Space Boogie,” written and produced by Jake Brennan. Performed by Jake Brennan, Bryce Kanzer, Jay Cannava, and Evan Kenney. Mixed and engineered by Adam Taylor.
*illustrations by Avi Spivak @avispivak