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In this episode of All Things Marilyn, Scott Fortner and Elisa Jordan welcome acclaimed author and photography historian David Wills for a thoughtful and deeply engaging conversation about Marilyn Monroe’s enduring legacy through the lens of photography.

Best known to Marilyn fans for his celebrated books Marilyn in the Flash and Metamorphosis, David shares the personal story behind his lifelong fascination with books, classic Hollywood, and Marilyn herself. From childhood memories of discovering old movies in Australia to working with original photographic transparencies decades later, his journey reflects a passion for preserving visual history and understanding the artistry behind iconic images.

Together, Scott, Elisa, and David explore Marilyn’s instinctive genius in front of the camera, her collaboration with photographers, and how her evolving photographic image shaped public perception. David also offers insight into his upcoming book Marilyn Monroe: Body and Soul, created as a monumental tribute for her 100th birthday year.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

• How David Wills first became fascinated with Marilyn Monroe and classic Hollywood
• Why Marilyn’s photographic presence remains unmatched in celebrity culture
• The artistic process of restoring vintage transparencies and negatives
• What sets Marilyn apart from other legendary screen stars in portrait photography
• The inspiration and vision behind David’s new book Marilyn Monroe: Body and Soul
• Why Marilyn’s legacy still resonates worldwide nearly 100 years after her birth

Throughout the discussion, listeners will gain a deeper appreciation for Marilyn’s intelligence, determination, and creative control over her image, qualities that continue to inspire generations of admirers today.

About Our Guest

David Wills is an internationally recognized author and photography specialist known for his visually rich books on film, fashion, architecture, and cultural icons. His Marilyn Monroe titles, including Marilyn in the Flash and Metamorphosis, are widely regarded by collectors and fans as essential visual studies of her image and transformation.

With more than two decades of experience working with original negatives and transparencies, David is dedicated to preserving photographic history and presenting classic imagery with exceptional fidelity. His latest project, Marilyn Monroe: Body and Soul, is a large format tribute volume celebrating Marilyn’s artistry, intelligence, and enduring impact.

About Marilyn Monroe: Body and Soul

AUTHOR: David Wills
FORMAT: Hardcover with dust jacket
DIMENSIONS: 14 x 18 inches

PAGES: 288

MARILYN MONROE: BODY AND SOUL is a celebration and an appreciation of Marilyn—the human being, the woman, the actress, and the icon.

ATM Podcast: @allthingsmarilynpodcast
Scott @marilynmonroecollection
Elisa @la_woman_tours

Credits
Artwork by @marilynmexico
Soundtrack by @silver_technicolor

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In this first episode of 2026, All Things Marilyn returns to mark a historic milestone: the forthcoming 100th birthday of Marilyn Monroe. Hosts Scott Fortner, historian, collector, and founder of The Marilyn Monroe Collection, and Elisa Jordan, author, tour founder, and Marilyn Monroe historian, reunite to explore the global celebrations, exhibitions, books, and conversations shaping Marilyn’s centennial year.

After a brief hiatus, Scott and Elisa return with renewed focus, setting the stage for one of the most significant cultural anniversaries of the 21st century.

This episode centers on Marilyn Monroe’s worldwide centennial recognition, including major museum exhibitions in Los Angeles, London, and Paris. Scott shares details about contributing personal artifacts from his collection to all three exhibitions, offering rare insight into how institutions curate and present Marilyn’s private life and public legacy for an international audience.

The conversation also turns to Los Angeles, Marilyn’s hometown, where planning for a series of centennial events is underway. Elisa discusses the return of her Marilyn Monroe sites tour, alongside panel discussions, screenings, and fan gatherings timed around Marilyn’s birthday and the opening of major museum exhibitions in Los Angeles, Londoon, and Paris.

A significant portion of the episode is devoted to the many books being released in honor of Marilyn’s 100th birthday. Scott and Elisa discuss new and recent publications, including:

• The Marilyn Monroe Century by Joshua John Miller, grandson of photographer Bruno Bernard
• A forthcoming centennial book by David Wills, following his acclaimed titles Metamorphosis and Marilyn in the Flash
• Dear Marilyn: The Unseen Letters and Photographs, from the Shaw family archives
• Marilyn Monroe 100, the estate’s official centenary publication
• Marilyn Monroe: The Last Photographs, The Lost Interview, produced by Jason Green and Chris Flannery, featuring never-before-published photographs and Marilyn’s final interview transcript

Looking ahead, the episode previews an exceptional lineup of upcoming All Things Marilyn podcast guests for 2026, including:

• Jason Green and Chris Flannery, discussing archival stewardship, unpublished materials, and honoring Marilyn’s final photo session and interview
• David Wills, on creating a centennial book that blends rare imagery with new written scholarship
• Dawn McGovern, author of Murder Orthodoxies, offering an evidence-based examination of Marilyn Monroe’s death
• James Haspiel, who personally knew Marilyn Monroe in New York and documented their time together through photographs and film

Thoughtful, historically grounded, and deeply personal, this episode establishes the tone for a year-long exploration of Marilyn Monroe’s legacy, one rooted in evidence, archival responsibility, and respect for the woman behind the icon.

ATM Podcast: @allthingsmarilynpodcast
Scott @marilynmonroecollection
Elisa @la_woman_tours

Credits
Artwork by @marilynmexico
Soundtrack by @silver_technicolor

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In this episode of the All Things Marilyn Podcast, hear Part II of Scott and Elisa's conversation with David Stenn. (In Part I, we covered the true origin of Marilyn Monroe's birth name, Norma Jeane.)

In Part II, we talk about an article David authored for the September/October 1982 issue of Film Comment magazine, in which he detailed the incredible mismanagement of Marilyn Monroe's estate after she died, which lasted for 20 years. Through research that started with his review of Marilyn Monroe's probate file, David uncovered astonishing facts about how poorly her will was administered following her death. The people Marilyn wanted taken care of after her death had to wait years for their inheritance from her. It was all due to the negligence of one man. This all started when David asked himself, "Who is it that's making the money from all of the Marilyn merchandise I see?"

We cover the following topics in our conversation:

• Was Marilyn Monroe really broke when she died?
• Who did Marilyn leave her money and her personal possession to?
• Who was Marilyn Monroe's personal attorney, and executor and trustee of her estate?
• Who was primarily responsible for following the direct wishes of her will?
• Were the explicit directions in her will actually followed?

Tune in to learn the truth about how Marilyn Monroe's last wishes were not followed until years after she died.

David is an American television writer, producer, biographer, film preservationist and historian David Stenn. His television credits include Untold Hollywood, Boardwalk Empire, Girl 27, the L Word, 21 Jump Street, Hill Street Blues, and Beverly Hills 90210. He's known for his biographies of Hollywood Stars, Clara Bow and Gene Harlow.

Follow David online here:

Instagram: @realdavidstenn

YouTube: @realdavidstenn

See David's article in the September/October 1982 issue of Film Comment magazine here.

ATM Podcast: @allthingsmarilynpodcast
Scott @marilynmonroecollection
Elisa @la_woman_tours

Credits
Artwork by @marilynmexico
Soundtrack by @silver_technicolor