TIMELINE 1945
With her husband Jim Dougherty serving in the Merchant Marines, Marilyn begins working in the Radioplane Munitions Factory, mainly spraying airplane parts with fire retardant and inspecting parachutes. The factory was owned by movie star Reginald Denney.
During this time, the U.S. Army Air Forces’ First Motion Picture Unit is sent to the factory to shoot morale-boosting photographs for Yank, the Army Weekly magazine of young women helping the war effort. Marilyn is noticed and a series of photographs are taken of her, none of which appeared in Yank magazine. The photographer encourages Marilyn to apply to The Blue Book Modeling Agency. Marilyn is told that the agency is looking for models with lighter hair, so Marilyn bleached her brunette hair a golden blonde. Marilyn is signed to the agency.