Robert Slatzer; Independent obit (Marilyn's "husband")
Hyfler/Rosner
April 30, 2005, Saturday
ROBERT F. SLATZER;
WRITER/DIRECTOR WHO 'MARRIED' MARILYN MONROE
BYLINE: DICK VOSBURGH
As well as many screenplays and television scripts, Robert
F. Slatzer wrote two books in which he tried to prove that
he was once briefly married to Marilyn Monroe, and to
disprove that she committed suicide.
Born in Marion, Ohio, in 1928, Slatzer decided on a writing
career at the age of 14. He recalled:
At the time I was a reporter on my high-school news sheet,
and, as a reward for being monthly honour pupil, my English
teacher took me to Columbus, where John Barrymore was
appearing in the play My Dear Children. Barrymore granted me
an interview, and after that, I knew I wanted to become a
reporter and head out to Hollywood the first chance I got.
After attending Ohio State University, Slatzer worked as a
reporter and sports writer for the Columbus Dispatch and
other newspapers before finally braving Hollywood in 1946.
That same year, according to his book The Life and Curious
Death of Marilyn Monroe (1974), he first met the future star
in the reception room at 20th Century-Fox. He was writing
for fan magazines and she, separated from her first husband,
Jim Dougherty, was then working as a photographic model. By
1949, Slatzer claimed, he and Monroe were living together,
and in 1952 they were secretly married in Tijuana, Mexico:
We lived together as man and wife for two days. But then it
was all over . . . Our relationship was strained and I
finally decided that it had to come to an end. 'I think we
should go back to Tijuana and get the marriage annulled,' I
suggested.
Slatzer wrote that, on their return to Mexico, the official
who had married them refused to grant an annulment, but
burnt their marriage certificate after being given a $ 50
bribe.
Over the next 56 years, Slatzer's writing included film
scripts for various studios, the television series Highway
Patrol, a biography of Bing Crosby and The Marilyn Files
(1992), a second book on Monroe. He also wrote and directed
the low-budget features The Hellcats (1968) and Big Foot
(1969). Of the latter movie, the Motion Picture Guide wrote,
Up in the Northwest forest the missing link (if a skinny guy
in a shabby gorilla suit can be considered as such) kidnaps
women so he can hear the pitter-patter of little Bigfeet.
There's a fight between the creature and a bear, some
motorcycle gang action, lots of bikini-clad girls, and
old-time cowboy star Ken Maynard in a supporting role.
Pretty hokey.
A lifelong lover of westerns, Slatzer wrote for the
television series Wagon Train, and, with his friend Andrew
Ettinger, collaborated on both a biography of John Wayne and
the recently completed book The Celluloid Cowboy. Although
conclusive proof of a Marilyn Slatzer has yet to be
established, there was indeed a Mrs Robert F. Slatzer; his
wife Deborah survives him.
Robert F. Slatzer, writer and director: born Marion, Ohio
1928; married; died Los Angeles 28 March 2005.