Photos of Marilyn Monroe at her last major public appearance before her death. Madison Square Garden, May 18 & 19, 1962. Marilyn Monroe's dress worn that night was one of the most expensive dresses ever auctioned in 1999, with the final price of 1.2 million dollars.

Marilyn Monroe arrived in New York at Madison Square Garden May 18, 1962 for a rehearsal to prepare for what would be one of her most memorable major public appearances, but tragically, her last. She had left Hollywood against the wishes of studio executives while filming "Something's Got to Give", a film that was never completed, to perform at the Democratic Party fundraiser and birthday salute for President John F. Kennedy. Reportedly, Marilyn herself paid $1,000 for her ticket to the event.

Approximately 17,000 people filled Madison Square Garden on the evening on May 19, 1962 to take part in this gala which featured Jack Benny and a host of stars, among them Maria Callas, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimmy Durante, and Peggy Lee. Famed producer Richard Adler was in charge of the musical portion of the show and had rehearsed with Marilyn to prepare her in singing "Happy Birthday" to the President.

What occurred that evening has become a legendary moment in the history of American pop culture, with politics and Hollywood colliding head to head while the entire nation looked on. Captured on a few minutes of grainy celluloid, the image of Marilyn Monroe's breathy, nightclub version of "Happy Birthday" is forever stamped in our collective consciousness. Wearing a Jean Louis gown which Adlai Stevenson described as "skin and beads", Marilyn's disjointed and uncertain performance gives us a glimpse into the vulnerability and insecurity that plagued her entire life and career. That gown was sold at auction by Christie's of New York in October of 1999 for a record breaking price of 1.2 million dollars and the public interest in Marilyn Monroe continues to grow deeper with each passing year.

The photos taken by Mr. Helou at Madison Square Garden those nights offer an extraordinary "fly on the wall" glimpse of the late movie star, as she unknowingly entered the last 3 tumultuous months of her life. We are allowed two views of this complex woman through these photos. Her playful and cheerful side is evident in the casual rehearsal shots on May 18th 1962, and the striking transformation into glamorous Hollywood movie star electrifies the backstage shots on May 19th 1962. Very few photos of Marilyn from this evening have ever surfaced. Don't miss this chance to own a remarkable moment in American culture. Click here for order and price information.