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Thursday, September 11, 2014

SKIRTING HISTORY / THE 60 YEAR ITCH





HEY, MARILYN--Sixty years ago at midnight on September 11, 1954 film director Billy Wilder alerted the media that a scene from “The Seven Year Itch” was going to be shot near the corner of 52nd Street and  Lexington Avenue in Manhattan.  Photographers swarmed to the scene.

Even six decades later, film buffs from around the world will immediately recognize the icon image of Marilyn standing over a sidewalk grate.  The air shooting up from a passing subway train beneath the grate caused her dress to billow.

George Zimbel, then a 25-year old photo agency photographer was assigned to the photo op.  If you go to his website you will read an eyewitness account of the session.

The image above was the one selected by Wilder’s studio for publicity posters.  It was not snapped by Zimbel, however, his account written in 2000 is entertaining.




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