First up, let me just say that I've never really given a hoot about Marilyn Monroe. I have nothing against her, mind you, but I just don't buy into the cult of adoration that continues to surround her this many decades after her tragic demise. While she's the central figure in this photograph, she's kind of incidental to this post.
I spotted the above photograph earlier this month on Marilyn's birthday, and it struck me as curious in the same way that King Crimson crowd shot did earlier this summer. Its source cites it as "Marilyn Monroe in Central Park in 1957" by photographer Sam Shaw, but there are no specifics beyond that. Is it at the Harlem Meer? The boat pond? Look at those buildings in the background. What body of water is that?
So, my question for you are:...
Where in Central Park was this photograph snapped?
GO!
Is it the Kerbs Boathouse at about 74th-75th Street? The water would be Conservatory Water, where people can sail their model boats.
Posted by: BabyDave | August 30, 2012 at 06:16 PM
That domed building in the background is a hospital on 5th Ave opposite of the conservatory gardens. So yeah, the body of water behind Marilyn is the Harlem Meer. I have no clue what structure she is in though. I don't think it is the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, as she is not close enough to the water for that. And I doubt it's the Lasker Rink and Pool, as I feel that is located to far too the west for this picture to be taken there. Hum.
Posted by: sebastian | August 30, 2012 at 11:52 PM