Marilyn Monroe: Cover to Cover [Paperback]

Clark Kidder (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2003

Marilyn Monroe is still very hot in the collectible business. In just a 16-year career, Marilyn captured the hearts of many as cover girl on hundreds of magazine covers, immortalizing her legendary beauty. In this second edition of his top seller, Marilyn Monroe expert Clark Kidder unveils more than 300 stunning photographs of her most beautiful and memorable magazine covers and provides updated values (in US dollars). He also features a Marilyn time line and the star's life-revealing anecdotes.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Clark Kidder is a highly sought-after appraiser of Marilyn Monroe items and has written Marilyn Monroe: Cover to Cover, 1st Edition, and Marilyn Memorabilia, among other titles. He owns an extensive collection of Marilyn Monroe collectibles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Krause Publications; 2 edition (February 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873495969
• ISBN-13: 978-0873495967
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,026,307 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Clark Kidder resides in southern Wisconsin. He is a freelance writer for International publications, and has authored several books, including Marilyn Monroe UnCovers (Quon Editions, 1994); Marilyn Monroe Cover To Cover (Krause Publications, Inc., 1999); Marilyn Monroe Collectibles (HarperCollins, 1999); Orphan Trains and Their Precious Cargo (Heritage Books, Inc., 2001); Marilyn Monroe Memorabilia (Krause Publications, Inc., 2001); Marilyn Monroe Cover To Cover, 2nd Ed. (Krause Publications, Inc., 2003); A Genealogy of the Wood Family (Family Tree Publishers, 2003, and Higginson Book Company, 2007); A Genealogy of the Butts/Butz Family (Higginson Book Company, 2007), and The Brave Journey of an Orphan Train Rider (2008). His magazine articles have appeared in The Wisconsin Magazine of History, Family Tree Magazine, Fancy Fowl (in England), Avicultura (in Holland), and Poultry Press. Kidder was the recipient of the Hesseltine Award in 2004 for his article titled West by Orphan Train, which appeared in the Winter 2003-2004 issue of the Wisconsin Magazine of History. Kidder has been interviewed by numerous reporters for articles in such newspapers as the Los Angeles Times, and the Chicago Tribune. He has appeared on MSNBC, PAX, and WGN television, as well as numerous radio shows around the nation. Kidder was host of his own television show called Book Talk on JATV, in Janesville, Wisconsin. In addition, he has provided consultation and photographs for documentaries and television shows produced by CBS, and October Films in London, England.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book of Marilyn Monroe cover appearances., September 10, 1999

By 

Joe, The "50sfan" (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Marilyn Monroe: Cover to Cover (Paperback)

I have been a fan of Marilyn Monroe since 1953/1954 when my Mother took me to see "How To Marry A Millionaire" at Radio City Music Hall (thanks, Mom). But I became an avid collector in the summer of 1959 when Marilyn blasted me away as Sugar in "Some Like It Hot". From that time I have been on a quest to acquire everything about her. I have amassed a formidable collection of magazine articles and whenever possible complete magazines featuring Marilyn on the cover. It had always been a goal of mine to have some kind of checklist of every magazine cover she appeared on and it wasn't until 1994 that Clark Kidder came to the rescue to provide the possibility of such a checklist.

His book "Marilyn Monroe Uncovers" by Quon Editions out of Canada (ISBN 0-9695539-7-8) packed 160 pages with hundreds of photos of magazine covers. This book was like bread to a starving man. It was by no means the complete record of Marilyn Monroe magazine covers but it did provide the avid collector with the means to identify a great many that might be missing from his/her collection. This book satisfied. But now, five years later, Mr. Kidder has outdone his first effort. With the release by Krause Publications of "Cover To Cover" we have a great deal more to thank Clark Kidder for. He has put together a 159 page book to rival his first book. While there are several covers that are repeated again in this book, there are a great many

others that appear for the first time making this a Volume 2 of a 2 volume reference set.

The advantage of "Cover To Cover" over "Marilyn Monroe Uncovers" is that it presents the evolution of the girl Norma Jean posing early in her modeling career through the glamorous Marilyn Monroe modeling phase into the Marilyn Monroe screen goddess phase and ending with the sad and troubled Marilyn in her last days. A time line of the most fabulous face ever to grace the camera. The chronological presentation guides the casual reader through the stages of Marilyn's life and career. And for the hard-core collector, Mr. Kidder has provided pricing ranges for complete magazines with each cover portrayed. His prices come from his personal knowledge in acquiring the magazines that are featured in his books. I have seen his ads running in collector publications seeking any magazine with Marilyn Monroe on the cover.

Comparing the two books one finds several differences in styles. "Marilyn Monroe Uncovers" provided the prices in the 3 page - 2 column index at the back of the book. It also covered more of the American movie magazines with a sprinkling of foreign publications. The book was oversize with dimensions of 9" by 12". "Cover To Cover" provides the prices along with the cover and the index has been reduced to a single 4 column page. There are many more foreign publications even from the beginning of the book, which measures 8 1/4" by 10 3/4".

Remarkably, both books show a strikingly limited display of Life, LOOK, Time and Newsweek covers although she had appeared on these publications many times. Corresponding with the author, I discovered that the Time/Life giant wanted substantial fees for permission to reprint their covers.

Clark Kidder's breathtaking projects prove that the loving devotion to a superstar can result in an admirable tribute to her. These are books he has every right to feel proud of. Whether he attempts to continue his quest to complete the record or not, he has provided us all with a glorious set of one-of-a-kind books.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful book that chronicles Marilyn's life., September 9, 1999

By 

Irvin Goodman - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Marilyn Monroe: Cover to Cover (Paperback)

Features 160 pages with 200 large (some full page), sharp full color magazine covers from all over the world. Includes numerous quotes and anecdotes accompanying the pictures. Estimated values are shown. All of this is in chronological order. The volume is completely indexed. A history of the legend and a timeline of her life from 1926 to 1962 is provided. This volume is a collectible in its own right. If you collect Marilyn Monroe memorabilia, this 5 star rated book is essential.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT PHOTOS OF MARILYN!, March 11, 2007

By 

Jeffrey R. Schoner "pittsburgh man" (Hattiesburg, MS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Marilyn Monroe: Cover to Cover (Paperback)

This is an unusual outstanding picture book.

Marilyn in unforgetable pictures.

Thank you!