On loan from Madame Tussauds New York, wax figurines Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio will take residence in the lobby of the Lexington Hotel from August 4th-17th, the pairs old marital home in the 50s.
The couple lived in Hotel Suite 1806 during the filming of The Seven Year Itch in the summer of 1954, and boy do we wish we could have been a fly on that wall! The Lexington Hotel was also the location for their scandalous argument that supposedly led to end of their 274-day marriage.
The story goes that while Monroe was shooting the famous subway grate scene (just a short distance from The Lexington Hotel), “hundreds of gawkers, almost all men … catcalled and yelled things like, ‘Higher! Higher!’ as Ms. Monroe’s dress blew up over her head,” wrote the New York Times. According to Monroe’s book Marilyn: Her Life in Her Own Words, such public exposure of her bottom half was the “last straw” for DiMaggio. Three weeks later, Monroe filed for divorce nine months after they got married.
Both figurines took six months to create from a team of highly skilled sculptors, colorists, hairdressers and stylists at Madame Tussauds’ London studio. Hundreds of archival photos were studied and referenced to replicate the pairs striking features to the highest of detail.
“Madame Tussauds has always been known for creating immersive encounters with the most beloved celebrities, and there’s really no more iconic face in pop culture history than Marilyn Monroe,” says Joerg Hanel, General Manager at Madame Tussauds New York. “What better location for an interactive experience than the actual place Marilyn and Joe once called home? Partnering with The Lexington Hotel to recreate their ‘steamy blow up’ harkens back to the rich tabloid-esque legacy of Marie Tussaud herself, creating wax figures of Europe’s famous and infamous.”
Guests can even book a stay in Hotel Suite 1806 (now known as the Norma Jeane Suite)! Relish in the Hollywood glam as you explore the 600-square-feet suite that has a private balcony, velvet and silk furnishings, monogrammed Dorothy Draper cocktail glasses, and a King bed. Book here.
When: 24/7 August 4th – 17th
Where: Lobby of The Lexington Hotel