Customer Reviews

Marilyn Monroe: Cover to Cover

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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.

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.

This is an unusual outstanding picture book.

Marilyn in unforgetable pictures.

Thank you!

I have to admit I was skeptical at first when I ordered this book...However, when I received it...I was thrilled with all the photos of Marilyn I had never seen before and it sparked my interest in collecting Marilyn memorabillia. Up 'til now, I have only collected books about her and miss her dearly every day of my life. The collection of magazine covers is astonishing. I know she was/is the most photographed woman who's ever lived (although Princess Diana is probably a close rival,) and I knew she modeled for several years. But I had never seen all those pictures. The only bad thing about it s the pics make me miss her all the more!

This thoroughly unique and enjoyable approach to the documentation of Marilyn's career is a comprehensive collection of magazine covers from all around the world, featuring her throughout her career. The whole is an eclectic gathering of photos highlighting her metamorphosis from unknown young model to luminous superstar.

Although many of the more well known American covers are absent, there is plenty here to satisfy! The variety and sheer number of colorful covers is impressive. The memorable quotes that accompany so many of the covers capture the essence of her endearing personality without being an actual biography, and the timeline is a good but brief overview of many of the important events in her life.

Although I am not an avid collector of MM memorabilia, I'm sure the pricing information would be valuable to those who are. I found comparing the various values to be very interesting reading. I can only imagine the painstaking work that went into identifying each of these photos and determining the worth of each cover.

This would be a welcome and unique addition to any MM library - highly recommended!

Clark Kidder has done it yet once again. His magnificent Marilyn Monroe magazine collector guide " Cover To Cover " is lavishly illustrated with gorgeous Norma Jeane covers from around the world. This book is very helpful for Marilyn Monroe collectors. I have been collecting Marilyn Monroe Memorabilia since 1991 and everytime one of Clark's great Marilyn books come out I learn so much valuable information. This book gets my highest recommendation. Simply delightful and is a definite must have referance guide for any serious Marilyn Monroe collector. Clark Kidder is a Marilyn Monroe Super Collector and his work promoting the hobby of collecting Marilyn Monroe memorabilia has done wonders for the hobby. Two Thumbs Up!

I absolutely loved this book! It was fantastic. Marilyn Monroe was such a beautiful, talented person and this book definitely shows it. The pictures are sharp and bright and the captions are wonderful. The variety is nothing short of impressive. I highly recommend this "coffee table book" to any Monroe fan!

Now in a revised second edition, Marilyn Monroe: Cover To Cover by Clark Kidder is a unique collection for the fans one of Hollywood's best known personalities, as it features full-color illustrations of numerous magazine covers that showcased this talented actress and American heartthrob. Each picture offers a brief caption or memorable quote (often by Marilyn herself) about the picture, as well as the average selling price for good condition copies of the magazine. Marilyn Monroe: Cover To Cover is a very highly recommended resource for celebrity memorability collectors in general, and Marilyn Monroe fans in particular.

The best unique Marilyn tribute ever done on her. Marilyn truly comes alive from "cover to cover" from her early years to the end. And the best part are the quotes along side each cover. An everlasting shrine of how the world appreciated her. Superb job inside and outside. A must have for all who admire MM!

for anyone thats an avid fan of Marilyn as I am this is a wonderful edition to add to whatever library that one may own in memory of her. I had been Looking Everywhere for this and was just elated to finally get it, i still haven't put it down yet even with the other new book on her that i purchased. You won't regret this one bit!