I feel like Marilyn looked fake, honestly. One, her hair often looks artificial blonde (unlike say, Grace Kelly), and two, the sex symbol appeal was just overdone. After seeing stuff like How to Marry a Millionaire, non-sexual comedy was much more her knack (I really think she could have ranked up there with Carol Burnett or Lucille Ball if she worked at it). Being a sex symbol will eventually fade, being able to make people laugh never will. Sadly, that's not what the studios and media wanted in her.

Okay, that would make sense. She strongly gives off the vibe of "big country", which is in line with Tennessee and a few other states culturally. Thanks for sharing.

So many celebrities die from that, either due to being unable to handle the stress of fame or because that said fame doesn't allow them to properly address their psychological or emotional needs/issues. As one celebrity put it, "fame is a curse".

Was she a Texan by chance? She just seems like one of those 1980s big-haired Texas ladies.

Feminine strength as well. I've always seen her as a steel rose, a woman you would not want to get on the bad side of.

I'm imagining this now: "Grace, get out of my chair!" *Grace Kelly turns and gives Grant one of her elegant, but nasty glares* "On second thought, never mind." *Grace smirks in satisfaction*

She was one woman where you'd be a little afraid to ask to her to move. Highly elegant, but fierce and sometimes even intimidating.

Man, the Raiders just seemed to have so many celebrity players (meaning beyond just football). If only Bo Jackson's career had lasted longer.

They flew them to Britain and other areas as well, from what I've read. Truly astonishing ladies.

That's because they were technically an auxiliary force, not true enlisted military ladies like say the Army WACs or the Navy WAVES. They were retroactively declared military some decades later, since they had flown strictly military aircraft, etc. I think it's only fair.

Looks like your "Pop" had seen some real crap. Was he a World War II vet?

Korean War vet, I presume?

Wow, that's a dirty trick they pulled. Sounds like the Soviets were desperate for good talent or something, if they were doing crap like that though.

Tan brown suit? Yep, definitely the 80s.

"Whatever Frank, just keep Jerry Lewis out of it. I've had enough of that screecher for a lifetime".

A very elegant lady, and fascinating story.

Aw man, sorry to hear about that, and what your grandfather turned into. I've read stories about how countless World War II and Korea veterans struggled for years with inadequate mental help (even though thankfully a lot of them did not become violent). Some would literally wake up screaming and sobbing from PTSD, their only hope being a supportive family. War does absolutely horrific things to human beings.

From the look on his face, your grandpa definitely saw some sh*t. Korea was a pretty nasty experience for any poor fella who had to fight in it. At least he made it home.

What was your mother's job (or was it classified)? I know some of those ladies did some pretty wild stuff during the war (one team of WAVES was actually tracking down Nazi U-Boats in the Atlantic and passing the intel on to the combat boys, their methods were so secretive IIRC that they couldn't talk about their work for decades). Regardless, a very courageous and seemingly very kind lady.

What makes the southern states look even more pathetic is when you read about how some states like Iowa had enforced integration for decades by the 60s (all public accommodations HAD to serve them). The South had no excuses for their treatment of others.

I think that was true to an extent with non-white folks in the British Army too, at least some of them. I've heard Indian officers were not allowed in the Club. It sounds like racial/ethnic prejudice was a problem on both sides of the Atlantic, even if it was significantly different.

Imagine if Michael Jackson ever met them. Three icons of their respective genres, all in one room.