Marilyn Monroe’s first photoshoot was to publicize the new Douglas DC-6 for the Douglas Aircraft Company in late 1945.
In 1942 Marilyn Monroe, who was born Norma Jeane Mortenson (later changed to Baker) on June 1, 1926, married a 21-year-old employee of the Douglas Aircraft Company James Dougherty.
This led Marilyn to secure the photoshoot assignment which showed her on the cover (below) of the Douglas “Airview” staff and customer magazine.
These unique black and white pictures of the photoshoot in the DC-6 cabin mockup were given to AirlineRatings.com by a retired Douglas engineer and have been colored by Frenchman Benoit Vienne.
In 2013 in a special poll, Marilyn Monroe was voted the world’s most glamorous flight attendant.
In a survey of 1000 people conducted by American Airlines in the UK, Marilyn Monroe was selected as the first-choice fantasy flight attendant from the golden era of film with 22 percent of the overall vote. Audrey Hepburn was the second choice with 20 percent.
The survey was conducted to launch American Airlines’ new B777-300ER aircraft on the route from London (Heathrow) to Hollywood (LAX).
Here are the colorized pictures:
