The day Marilyn Monroe visited Horsham

On this day (October 13) in 1956 there was disbelief when international Hollywood film star Marilyn Monroe and her husband, the playwright Arthur Miller, visited Horsham!

Monroe was probably the most famous person on the planet at that time. She’d already married and divorced baseball legend Joe DiMaggio and had a string of successful movies behind her, such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How To Marry A Millionaire and The Seven Year Itch.

In 1956 she was in England to film The Prince And The Showgirl at Pinewood Studios with Sir Laurence Olivier co-starring and directing (incidentally, Olivier came to live in Ashurst, south of Horsham, in his retirement).

Monroe had married Arthur Miller in June that year and so they had been featured heavily in the various English national newspapers.

So, when the couple suddenly appeared on the streets of Horsham it was no surprise that they were instantly recognised.

As the local paper, the West Sussex County Times, announced, “…even a country market town has its hazards for those with famous features.”

Monroe and her husband arrived on the Saturday afternoon in the Bishopric (there used to be a car park at the top of the road), being chauffeured in a black Jaguar – so hardly in discreet fashion!

The couple strolled down the road to XVIIth Century Galleries (an antiques shop) and went inside to look round.

However, they had already been spotted by a young couple and by the staff of E.G. Lyne, a nearby butcher’s shop.

A small crowd gathered on the pavement and some brave souls entered the shop itself.

Realising the problem, the chauffeur nipped into the local chemists (Wm Evans Ltd) to buy what was described as “somewhat exotic-looking white-rimmed dark glasses”.

Miss Monroe popped these on (Arthur Miller was already wearing his own dark glasses), and after a few minutes more in the shop they were driven off up West Street.

So, what did the people of Horsham think of Marilyn Monroe?

Mr Williams, of the XVIIth Century Galleries, spent several minutes chatting with the star and said “She was a perfect lady”.

There was also comment about the fact Miss Monroe, who was dressed in a light-coloured two-piece, wasn’t wearing only make-up.

The six foot Arthur Miller, who by default was now almost as recognisable as his wife, also came in for praise for his good looks.

Plus, of course, the Jaguar was mentioned as being impressive!

There is no mention why the famous couple came to Horsham in the first place. We can only guess that someone had recommended the antiques shop as it was the only one visited.

It’s probably a sign of the times that this story, while being featured on the front page of the local paper, didn’t make the lead story that week!

That went to fears about the trees on Chanctonbury Ring being lost due to recent gales and general wear and tear (most of them were eventually blown down during the hurricane of October 1987).

Our thanks to the West Sussex County Times for the information.