Marilyn Monroe, Black Lagoon
Availability & Purchase Enquiry
Signed lifetime prints by George Zimbel are available through the archive and our partner galleries. To learn about pricing, availability, or to ask a question, please complete the form below and let us know whether you’d prefer to purchase directly, connect with a gallery, or join the waiting list for future digital prints. We’ll reply within one business day.
Learn the story behind this piece
From the Movies to the Moment
Marilyn Monroe Black Lagoon places Monroe under the glowing sign of the Trans-Lux Theatre at Lexington Avenue and 52nd Street. The marquee announces Creature from the Black Lagoon, the very film her character and Tom Ewell’s had just seen in The Seven Year Itch. In the story, they exit the theater and walk home, pausing above a subway grate where the famous skirt-blowing scene takes place.
Why This Location?
This explains why director Billy Wilder staged the scene here, in front of a real Manhattan movie theater. George Zimbel’s photograph captures not only Monroe in her white halter dress, but also the cinematic world around her: the marquee, the city street, and the suited men observing nearby. The picture ties Monroe’s performance to its place — blending Hollywood fantasy with the everyday fabric of New York.
Why Collect Black-and-White Photography?
Because it fixes story to place. In Black Lagoon, black-and-white strengthens the glow of the marquee against the night sky, and highlights the brightness of Monroe’s dress amid the shadows. Collectors value images like this because they show how legend is built not in isolation, but in context — city, cinema, and star colliding at once.
Cultural Significance
This image is treasured because it grounds Monroe’s most iconic moment in the film’s actual narrative. It is not just spectacle — it is a story beat made visible, embedded in a specific corner of New York. The documentary The Night I Shot Marilyn shows what that corner looks like today, underscoring how photography preserves places even as they change.
Availability & Enquiries
Signed lifetime prints by George Zimbel are available through the archive and our partner galleries. To learn about pricing, availability, or to ask a question, please complete the form below and let us know whether you’d prefer to purchase directly, connect with a gallery, or join the waiting list for future digital prints. We’ll reply within one business day.
More about George Zimbel: About George Zimbel. More about Andrew Zimbel: About Andrew Zimbel.
Shipping & Framing Info
Delivery & Framing Options
We’re happy to deliver anywhere in the Greater Toronto Area in person. For orders outside the GTA, shipping rates are quoted post-purchase—we ship worldwide and always strive to keep costs fair. If you’d prefer a gallery handle framing or delivery, our partner galleries can help:
Please let us know whether you’d like to purchase directly through us or connect with a gallery for purchase or framing assistance.
Special Projects & Licensing
George Zimbel’s photography is available for licensing and creative collaborations. His work has been featured in the Four Seasons Hotel Montreal and on international book covers, and is widely represented through Getty Images.
Our team — Andrew Zimbel (creative consultant), Matt Zimbel (producer & creator), and Elka Weinstein (museum and heritage specialist) — brings experience in art, media, and exhibition design. We work with interior designers, film producers, publishers, and advertising agencies to adapt George’s timeless imagery for spaces, stories, and campaigns.
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