Marilyn at 80: some still like it hot: a series of unique photo exhibitions of America's former—but still foremost—sex symbol could help save a historic California theatre built during the Roaring Twenties, with a storied past of performing arts, vaudeville, and motion picture presentations

"If I am a star, the people made me a star. No studio, no person, [only] the people did it." Monroe commented in 1955. As the 20th century's most enigmatic film icon. Marilyn had her own favorite photographers with whom she enjoyed working. Among them were Milton H. Greene. Bert Stem, and George Barris.

Reflected famed photographer Edward Weston on his extensive collection of Monroe images. "I started collecting Marilyn a number of years ago after meeting some of the photographers that took her most famous pictures. I was personal friends with several of them and. after their passing, received a large portion of their own collections. I once received a phone call from a fellow in Japan who happened to be on the ship Marilyn and Joe DiMaggio were honeymooning on, listed on board as 'precious cargo.' On her 75th birthday anniversary, the man came over for the party we were having, bringing with him the negatives and signed 75 copies of the rare photographs."

Each of the 1,000 original and exclusive photographs to be auctioned and passed on to new generations are authentic and signed. The series includes Monroe filming "Some Like It Hot" at the Hotel del Coronado, never-before-published shots of her and Joe DiMaggio honeymooning in Tokyo in 1954, and Stern's "Last Sitting" for Vogue taken in Hollywood in June 1962. Also available will be Barris' photos taken the last week of Monroe's life in July 1962 at her home in North Hollywood and on the beach in Santa Monica.

Bill Bailey is secretary of the Balboa Theatre Foundation and serves on its executive committee.

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