Monroe dresses, photos going up for auction

LOS ANGELES — Dresses that belonged to Marilyn Monroe along with an autographed photo thanking the executive who launched her Hollywood career will go on display before heading to auction.

Auction house Profiles in History said the items will be exhibited in Beverly Hills starting Aug. 18. An auction will follow in late October.

They include a photograph

taken during the filming of “The Seven Year Itch,” the 1955 movie that provided history’s lasting image of Monroe, standing over a subway grate and holding down her white dress.

A version of the dress, made by the original designer Bill Travilla for Monroe for tours and exhibits, is also among the items up for sale, along with her hand annotated script for the film.

Also in the auction are Monroe’s personal childhood photographs 15 costumes she wore in films, including dresses from “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and “How to Marry a Millionaire.”

This combination photo shows actress Marilyn Monroe posing over the updraft of a New York subway grate while filming “The Seven Year Itch” in New York and the dress she is wearing on a mannequin.