Palm Springs prefers blondes, but must give big goodbye to 17-ton Marilyn Monroe statue

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – Palm Springs is singing “Goodbye, Norma Jean.”

The city is throwing a send-off party Thursday night for a massive statue of Marilyn Monroe that has become beloved by both tourists and locals in the two years it was on loan from The Sculpture Foundation.

The Desert Sun (http://bit.ly/1mxlYak ) reports the downtown public party will include a performance by the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus and guests will include Carol Channing, who originated on Broadway the role Monroe played in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”

In a few days the 26-foot-tall, 34,000-pound statue named “Forever Marilyn” will be taken from California to Hamilton, N.J., where it will be part of an exhibit honouring its designer, Seward Johnson.

The sculpture depicts Monroe in her memorable billowing skirt pose from the “The Seven Year Itch.”

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Information from: The Desert Sun, http://www.mydesert.com/