The site where Marilyn Monroe's dress photo was taken

This is the location where Marilyn Monroe's famous dress scene was filmed.

It is situated outside 590 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, New York.

The actress stood between the 5th and 8th grates from the southwestern corner of Lexington and 52nd Street.

Although the original grates were later altered, the general layout of the street remains the same.

The Seven Year Itch (1955)

Monroe's white cocktail dress billowed up around her hips during the filming of the romantic comedy The Seven Year Itch.

Thousands of people gathered to watch Monroe and her co-star, Tom Ewell, film the scene on Wednesday, September 15, 1954.

To generate publicity for the film, the studio leaked the location to the media hours beforehand. While this succeeded in attracting attention, it caused significant issues for the production team.

The crowd had grown impatient by the time Monroe arrived. The delay, combined with the excitement of watching the actress film such a "racy" scene, led to onlookers pressing in on the film crew.

Men began whistling, chanting, and shouting, "Higher!" whenever the dress flew up.

Although director Billy Wilder shot the scene more than a dozen times, he was unable to use the footage because the spectators generated too much background noise.

Consequently, the crew was forced to re-create the corner of Lexington Avenue and East 52nd Street on a set in Hollywood.

This explains why the iconic dress photograph differs from the scene that appeared in the film.

Joe DiMaggio

At the time of the photo shoot, Monroe was married to former New York Yankees center fielder Joe DiMaggio.

The couple had married just nine months earlier.

DiMaggio was jealous and controlling throughout their marriage.

That night, he stood in the crowd and watched Monroe filming the scene. The couple later argued over its sexual nature.

The incident proved to be the final straw, as Monroe filed for divorce in October 1954.

Changes

The area has changed significantly, as nearly 70 years have passed since the scene was filmed.

The businesses that were visible in the background, Wright's Food and Fleurette Jewelry, no longer exist.

A French restaurant called Le Relais de Venise l'Entrecôte occupied the corner unit until 2021. In November 2023, it reopened at a new location on East 54th Street.