Marilyn Monroe Dyed Here: More Locations of America's Pop Culture Landmarks [Paperback]

Chris Epting (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2004

This encyclopedic look at America's most famous and infamous pop culture events includes historical information on more than 600 landmarks and their exact locations. Sites include the Hollywood Boulevard beauty salon where Marilyn Monroe first dyed her hair blonde, the prison used in the Shawshank Redemption, and the birthplace of the hot fudge sundae. Special sidebar sections are dedicated to Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Ernest Hemingway, Bonnie and Clyde, Alfred Hitchcock, and more. An amazing portrait of the bizarre, shocking, weird, and wonderful moments that have come to define American culture, this follow-up to the acclaimed James Dean Died Here continues to uncover the unseemly and beautiful in the American landscape.

Editorial Reviews

Review

". . .From Christopher Columbus and Johnny Appleseed to Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Smart, [this book] spans American history." -- RoadTripUSA.com

"A guide to not-so-famous cultural landmarks. . .these off-the-beaten track sites aren't easy to find, but that's precisely the point. . ." -- National Post

"A virtual roadmap of Hollywood and pop culture history." -- ABC News

"Author Chris Epting identifies pop-culture landmarks that have yet to be turned into official attractions." -- Wall Street Journal

"Everything [is here] from where Truman held up that famous newspaper to where Johnny Appleseed planted his famous trees." -- NPR’s Talk of the Nation

"Makes the random, unusual and weird cool again." -- Knight-Ridder

"Relive your favorite moments in celeb meltdowns with [this] guide to the locations of America’s most famous... celebrity shenanigans." -- New York Daily News

"Tabloid readers and tourists will love [this] Hollywood Babylon meets Fodor's guide to the historic, tragic and scandalous." -- Los Angeles Magazine

"Ton[s] of information here . . . this fun and irresistible guide [of] palatable pop culture chunks . . . will keep you entertained for hours!" -- Chicago Tribune

About the Author

Chris Epting is the author of James Dean Died Here and Roadside Baseball. He lives in Huntington Beach, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Santa Monica Press (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1891661396
• ISBN-13: 978-1891661396
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #472,545 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #62 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( M ) > Monroe, Marilyn

More About the Author

Chris Epting is the author of 17 travel/history books, including James Dean Died Here (Santa Monica Press), Roadside Baseball (McGraw Hill) and most recently The Ruby Slippers, Madonna's Bra and Einstein's Brain -- The Locations of America's Pop Culture Artifacts (Santa Monica Press). He has contributed articles for such publications as the Los Angeles Times, Westways and Travel + Lesiure magazine, and writes a weekly newspaper column for the Huntington Beach Independent. He is the national spokesman for Hampton Inn hotel's Hidden Landmarks program and hosts the weekly syndicated radio show, The Pop Culture Road Trip. In addition, Chris is a frequent talk show guest, appearing on shows including National Public Radio, the E! Channel and Access Hollywood.Originally from New York, Chris now lives in Huntington Beach, California with his wife and their two children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun look for history off the beaten path, July 4, 2004

By 

J. J. Kwashnak "voracious reader" (Monroe, LA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Marilyn Monroe Dyed Here: More Locations of America's Pop Culture Landmarks (Paperback)

Epting showed us where to find those places read about or seen in the movies, or on TV with his first boo "James Dean Died Here." In "Marilyn Monroe Dyed Here" he's back for another round of our cultural history, the book is not as rich as his first one. Sometimes it feels as if he's being forced to scrape the barrel a bit more for his landmarks. There are still a lot of fascinating places to be found and visited, but his first book used most of his 1st string material, so here he is often forced to revisit movies and events, and find the *other* places that might not be so important or known. As others have said, one would like to have more pictures, but a number of the places visited this time can't have pictures - the site is gone, or are a bit more generic. Would the listing for the hospital where the first test tube twins were born be a better listing if there was a picture of the building? I think not.

That said, the book is still a great trip along memory lane. Finding places where the famous and infamous met their end (there's a great section on the end of many of the gangsters we have heard about) or the building we saw in the movies, or every week on TV. Epting also is very good at noting what places are private, helping to try and prevent the curious trespassing. For those with a literary leaning, many of our famous authors are put in the locations where they produced their masterpieces. It's the kind of book you toss into the car for a road trip, or leave out on the coffee table for a conversation starter. The two volumes make an indispensable set for any fan of popular culture and the offbeat.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marilyn Monroe Dyed Here, May 23, 2004

By 

John Severinsen (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marilyn Monroe Dyed Here: More Locations of America's Pop Culture Landmarks (Paperback)

Another well written (and well researched) book by Chris Epting. No matter what interests you this is one of those books can't put down. Who knew that the apartment I used to drive by in San Francisco was once home to Osama bin Laden in the 1970s. Want to see it now? The address is right there in the book. Buying some flowers in Sherman Oaks? That shop used to be the gas station where James Dean bought gas for his Porsche just hours before he died. Stopping at the North Hollywood Bank of America to use the ATM? Did you know that this was the site of one of the biggest shootouts in the long history of the LAPD? Hundreds of stories from all corners of America are documented, along with photos and addresses so that you can stand where history was made. This is a book you will want to take with you whenever you travel and also would make a great gift for anyone of any age. The only negative is that we will probably have to wait at least a year for Mr. Epting's next book. If you know anybody with the Travel Channel get them this book-it would make a great TV series.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Conversation, June 4, 2004

By 

Marcus A Vadas (Newport Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marilyn Monroe Dyed Here: More Locations of America's Pop Culture Landmarks (Paperback)

"Marylin Monroe Dyed Here" is one of those books that spawn great conversations. For those of you that own or have read Epting's first book, "James Dean Died Here" you know exactly what I'm talking about. It is FILLED with all kinds of killer facts and locations where historical Pop-Culture events took place. For instance, did you know the community park where "Bad News Bears" was shot, was actually built for the movie? Or do you know the location where the Rolling Stones recorded "Satisfaction" or "Paint it Black"? Or the fact that the opening for the show "Three's Company" was shot on the Santa Monica boardwalk? There are tons of facts from movies and music, to celebrations and murders!

You'll be amazed with all the information you'll find in this book (not to mention the cool cover design). And no matter where you live, there is probably an event that took place in your town which makes it relevant to practically everybody living in the United States. This book has facts which go back hundreds of years all the way up to stuff that happened last year. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Pop-Culture. It is a MUST HAVE!