Source: Word of Mouth segment with Arlene Dahl, Turner Classic Movies channel
One night I noticed a big commotion and I looked at the door and there was this gorgeous blonde in a white satin, slinky gown and I knew who it was, it was Marilyn Monroe. And all conversation stopped and she, with her marvelous walk, walked over to the Mendles and said, “Hello,” and the conversation began again.
And I remember I was in a corner with Fred Astaire, Clark Gable and Reginald Gardner talking about Walt Whitman. And Marilyn happened to overhear the name “Whitman” so she slunk over to the three gentlemen standing there, and I was just standing there to one side, and she said, “Oh!,” she said, “Whitman! I just love his chocolates!”
Well, all conversation stopped in the room. And Fred, who is such a darling and such a gentleman, didn’t laugh. He said, “Oh, Marilyn, we all do.”
And I thought that was so brilliant of him and so nice of him to say that to Marilyn who never knew that she made a gaffe. At all.
Wasn’t Fred Astaire just grand in his graciousness? What would you have done?
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To be perfectly honest, I think I might have said the same thing as Monroe, but as a joke.
Again I agree with many of the posts above, she may just be embellishing the truth rather than lying. Just because someone is famous does not mean that everything they say is the truth. Sometimes, for theatricality or attention, a famous person does, in fact, embellish the truth, or even lie.
If there was any truth to this story, in all probability, Marilyn was probably fully aware of what she was saying and said it as an intentional joke rather than the ditzy blonde she is often portrayed to be.
@admin: I agree! Even if she was just joking, or knew who Whitman was but didn’t know what the conversation was about, it doesn’t matter – Astaire’s remark kept anyone from feeling awkward or embarrassed. I like this story, it’s very sweet and endearing.
Graciousness like that probably helped warm people to him, and earned him his success in life.
Apparently marilyn Monroe new perfectly well who Walt Whitman, james Joyce and others were and was putting on an act. Arlene Dahl however is sniping. Typical of jealous old ladies. Typical also of those who are basically forgotten and want to denigrate those who may possibly NEVER be forgotten. Like Lady Gaga, how much of Marilyn was an act, and how much was a brilliant performer tweaking the “straights”?
I agree with Lizza!
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