Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Playlists
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Blog
    Blog Events 3 Mins Read

    Marilyn Monroe in Korea (1954)

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    In February 1954, actress Marilyn Monroe travelled to Korea to entertain the American troops stationed over there.

    Marilyn was asked if she wanted to do a solo show or entertain as part of a ten-man package show which had been performing in Okinawa.

    She elected to be part of the troupe and was flown to Korea on February 16, dressed in drab combat boots, pants, and shirt.

    She carried a little make-up bag and a purple dress cut low. She described it as “a cocktail party dress or something like that. After all, I hadn’t expected this. I didn’t bring the right clothes.”

    But the 13,000 Marines who watched Marilyn sing had no gripes at all. They swarmed all over the stage, snapping their cameras left and right.

    After she finished her act, Marilyn said, “I’ve never seen so many men in my life. I’m just sorry Joe couldn’t come along but previous commitments wouldn’t allow a change in the schedule.”

    Said one Marine officer, “You were swell, absolutely swell. We’ve had them all but this crowd by far outdraws the best ever.”

    Marilyn had been flown by helicopter from Seoul to the 1st Marine Division, “and while I was scared, I tried not to show it.”

    Before she started her act on the Korean front, Marilyn announced that she could neither sing nor dance very well, but all she had to do was breathe and she provoked tremendous cheers from the 1st Marine and 3rd and 7th Army Divisions.

    The 40th Division, which consists of many California regiments, really broke the record.

    While the troupes preliminary acts were in progress at the 40th Division theatre, 10,000 soldiers pushed and elbowed forward in an effort to get closer to the stage.

    When it looked as if they would break through the military police line, Marilyn was told “to be ready for anything” while the regimental commander, Colonel John Kelly, went out front and temporarily halted the show.

    “You’re here to have a good time” he shouted. And there’s no sense in anyone’s getting hurt.”

    When the show resumed and Marilyn came out wearing the tight purple dress, the crowd surged forward and thousands of soldiers attempted to climb on the backs of their buddies.

    Over the course of four days, Monroe took a whirlwind tour of American military bases, putting on 10 shows for an estimated 100,000 very excited servicemen.

    When she finally finished at Taegu, she was dead tired but happy. “You know,” she told an officer, “I never felt like a movie star before – really in my heart – before I came to Korea. this is the high point of everything.”

    “Now I’m flying back to the most important thing in my life – Joe. And I want to start a family. A family comes before a career.”

    Back in Japan with Joe Di Maggio, Marilyn told her husband, “I’m so glad I went to Korea, Joe. I’ll never, never forget that experience so long as I live.”

    A man of few words, Joe took his wife in his arms and nodded understandingly. But he must have wondered how much longer he would have to share his bride with the world.

    “I never thought I had an effect on people until I was in Korea. It was the greatest thing that ever happened to me.”
    Marilyn Monroe. February 1954

    Related Posts

    • Hammer Horror - A House in the Country
      Hammer Horror - A House in the Country
      In the movies, few brand names are as instantly recognised…
    • Live Aid (1985)
      Live Aid (1985)
      On 25 November 1984, 36 British recording artists gathered at…
    • Civil Rights Movement
      Civil Rights Movement
      In December 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, a black woman named Rosa…
    • Emigrating to Australia in the 1970s
      Emigrating to Australia in the 1970s
      In late 1973, mum and dad asked my sister and…
    • The Beatles : American Backlash and Final Tour (1966)
      The Beatles : American Backlash and Final Tour (1966)
      "John, please don't go. They'll kill you," screamed one of…
    • Men of the Cloth - The low-down on four of London's key clothiers in 1965
      Men of the Cloth - The low-down on four of London's key…
      John Simons Little did he know it, but in 1965…
    • Reds Under The Bed
      Reds Under The Bed
      Cold War America was a hotbed of fear and suspicion…
    • The Beatles in Hamburg
      The Beatles in Hamburg
      On 27 December 1960 The Beatles appeared at the Litherland Town Hall…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleDon’t Talk to Strange Men (1962)
    Next Article Lights Out

    Comments are closed.

    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    You May Also Like
    • Get Shorty (1995)
      This adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s novel explores the […]
    • Are You Being Served? (1977)
      Having met with great popularity and success on television since […]
    • Mr Benn
      1 9 7 1 (UK) 13 x 15 minute episodes First seen on television on […]
    • North By Northwest (1959)
      Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest is a blithely […]
    • Carry On Dick (1974)
      This is a wonderfully bawdy celebration of legendary highwayman […]
    • Lakes, The
      1 9 9 7 – 1 9 9 9 (UK) 14 x 50 minute episodes Broke and […]
    Twitter Feed
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Popular Tags
    1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games Britpop Canada Crime Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Power Pop Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Surf music
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Copyright © 1998, 2022 Nostalgia Central
    • About
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.