Five rare photographs of Marilyn Monroe, taken in 1949 by Milwaukee photojournalist John Ahlhauser when she was an unknown 23-year-old actor, are being auctioned to mark her 100th birthday on June 1. The photos, shot during a 30-minute session for a publicity tour promoting the Marx Brothers film "Love Happy," were kept hidden for decades due to legal contention over Monroe's image rights, controlled by Anna Strasberg until her death in 2024. Ahlhauser's daughter, Mame O'Meara, inherited the images from his estate and is auctioning five of the seven photos via proxy bidding, while keeping two for the family.
The auction matters because these images capture Monroe before her iconic transformation—before her nose job and platinum blonde hair—offering an unguarded, vulnerable portrait of a future star. The photos also highlight the complex legal battles over Monroe's legacy and the careful preservation of a photojournalist's archive, revealing how even a routine assignment can yield historically significant art. The sale allows buyers to acquire copyright, enabling commercial use, which underscores the enduring market value and cultural fascination with Monroe's image.