Bab 215: Chapter 215: Girl's New Name
February arrived, bringing with it mild temperatures in Los Angeles, ranging from 18°C to 12°C. It was the perfect weather for windbreaker jackets, and Hardy found it much more comfortable than the summer heat.
Today, he was at the airport to welcome the crew of "Across the World" back to Los Angeles, but more importantly, to pick up Ava Gardner.
As the crew disembarked, the director and actors greeted Hardy with respect. He exchanged a few encouraging words with them before leading Ava to the car.
In the car, Ava hugged Hardy excitedly. "I'm so happy to be back! Now I can finally get some rest."
Hardy smiled. "It's up to you how you spend your time."
They chatted as they drove. Ava mentioned watching "The Ghost and the Human" in New York. "That movie was fantastic. Even though it wasn't full of big scenes, it left a lasting impression."
"And the theme song is incredible. You've created another classic, Hardy. The song's popularity has definitely contributed to the film's success."
"By the way, how did the show do? What's the box office like?"
"The film has officially ended its run. MGM hasn't released the final figures yet, but they told me the total box office is $11.2 million."
"Wow, that's a lot!" Ava exclaimed.
"I was wondering if 'Across the World' could compete with 'The Ghost and the Human,' but now it seems challenging," Ava said.
"Don't worry. With the right promotion, 'Across the World' can still be a big hit," Hardy said confidently.
"What's your plan for promotion?"
"I've got a special role lined up for you that will definitely boost the film's visibility," Hardy said.
Ava raised an eyebrow. "Seriously, just came back, and you're already putting me to work? You're such a capitalist."
"Just hear me out," Hardy continued. He introduced Ava to the 'Super Draft' program, which involved a nationwide audition leading up to finals.
Ava listened, intrigued. "It sounds like a fantastic opportunity."
"I want you to be a judge alongside Heidi Ramah, Johnny Fontaine, and Gary Grant. I think this lineup will be impressive enough," Hardy said.
The judge panel was indeed stellar. Ava Gardner was a renowned female singer whose record "Scarbro Market" had become a classic. Heidi Ramah, a top actress, had gained popularity from her role in "The Ghost and the Human." Johnny Fontaine, a celebrated American singer, and Gary Grant, an Oscar-winning actor, rounded out the panel.
"Alright, I'm in," Ava agreed.
With the judges decided, the rest was up to ABC TV. A production team was formed and preparations began.
Meanwhile, Bill orchestrated a covert operation to acquire a bottle cap factory in the suburbs of Atlanta. He spent over $10,000 to secure it and produced a batch of counterfeit Coca-Cola bottle caps. After production, the factory was sold off, and the workers were sworn to secrecy.
These fake bottle caps were distributed across major U.S. cities and stored in warehouses. A few weeks later, Bill reported to Hardy, "Everything's set. We can start in three days."
Hardy had already informed Andy of the plan to undermine Coca-Cola. Andy arranged to short Coca-Cola stocks using secret accounts.
During this period, Coca-Cola's sales surged due to their prize redemption activity, with 70 to 80 million bottles sold in just over a month. However, many people were accumulating bottle caps, but very few were winning prizes.
Distributors began exchanging caps for prizes, which initially seemed normal. But soon, the volume of exchanges grew suspicious. Coca-Cola's head office was alerted when the redemption amounts reached millions.
The CEO of Coca-Cola was overwhelmed and issued an immediate halt to the redemption process. Distributors were instructed to stop processing claims, but reaching the small grocery stores and supermarkets was a challenge.
The media quickly picked up the story. Newspapers reported on the scandal, highlighting the massive losses and Coca-Cola's declining reputation. The company's stock price plummeted by 26% in response to the crisis.
Pepsi-Cola capitalized on the opportunity, with Chairman Walter Mack announcing new, secure redemption methods for their bottle caps.
Coca-Cola's failure to address the situation properly led to further declines in credibility and stock prices. The company's internal strife continued as the new president was forced to deal with the fallout from the scandal.
As Hardy moved on to focus on the "Super Idol" talent show, February 14 arrived—Valentine's Day.
The Global Times announced the launch of the talent show hosted by ABC TV, inviting participants from around the world to Los Angeles. The show promised a chance for aspiring stars to secure record deals and make a name for themselves.
In a modest Los Angeles apartment, a girl carefully reviewed the newspaper ad for the show. She considered her chances and, despite her doubts about her singing, decided this could be her opportunity. She remembered her previous struggles and the fruit photo offer she'd turned down.
Determined, she dressed up and made her way to the registration location. The line was already long when she arrived, but she felt hopeful.
As she filled out her registration form, she hesitated before writing her name. Finally, she made a decision and signed with her new name:
Marilyn Monroe.
Bab 216: Chapter 216: 37-22-35
Marilyn Monroe filled in her new name on the registration form. Monroe was her mother's surname, and Marilyn was inspired by a former star she admired. She thought it was a beautiful name and decided to use it.
She continued filling out the form:
- Age: 22 years old
- Height: 166 cm
- Weight: 53 kg
- Measurements: 37-22-35
- Skills: Singing, acting
When asked about her biggest advantage, she pondered for a moment and finally wrote, "Good figure, loves singing and acting, and is willing to work hard."
She completed the form with her address and contact number. Since she didn't have a phone at home, she provided the number of her landlord.
Marilyn pulled out a half-length photo from her bag. The newspaper had mentioned that a personal photo was required for registration. She attached the photo to the form with a paper clip.
Handing the form to the staff, Monroe asked, "When will the audition start?"
The staff member, glancing at the beautiful girl, replied, "I'm not sure yet, but it will probably be within a week. There will be several rounds, so you'll need to wait for a notification on when to participate."
"Thank you," Monroe said with a sweet smile and left.
As the staff member watched her walk away, they couldn't help but think how striking she looked.
Every era has countless young dreamers eager for fame, and many saw the "Super Idol" audition show as a golden opportunity. A chance to enter the finals meant a contract with a record company, a dream many were willing to chase to Hollywood.
People packed their bags and spent their last money on tickets to Los Angeles, hoping for a chance. Some even begged their parents to take them to Hollywood.
Hollywood was already full of aspiring stars, all vying for the same chance. Monroe was fortunate she had not yet signed a contract with another agency, unlike many others who had.
Back at her modest apartment, Monroe was determined to prepare for the audition. She dug out her singing book, selecting two sweet songs that suited her voice.
In the following days, Monroe practiced these songs diligently, refining her performance.
One evening, carrying a bag of food that contained the cheapest jam and baguettes, Monroe returned home. As she walked into the corridor, her landlord, a middle-aged bald man, opened his door and said, "Jenny, someone from the 'Super Idol' program came by looking for a girl named Marilyn Monroe. They said to tell her to come to the audition tomorrow."
Excited, Monroe replied, "That's me! Thank you, Mr. Conover."
"Did you change your name?" the landlord asked.
"Just a stage name," Monroe explained with a smile. "I thought it would be better for the competition."
"By the way, Jenny, your rent..."
Before the landlord could finish, Monroe approached him, gave him a hug, and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for the good news, Mr. Conover. I'm going to prepare for the audition tomorrow. Please wish me luck!"
"Of course, I wish you success," the landlord said.
Monroe smiled and hurried upstairs with the food. The landlord, touched by her gratitude, raised his eyebrows and called after her, "I'll give you another week at most. No more."
Back in her apartment, Monroe sighed with relief. She was running out of money, with just enough left to buy the bread she had. She had also owed the landlord two months' rent and didn't want to rely on kissing up to him, though he had been understanding.
She reminded herself of the upcoming audition and felt a renewed excitement. She hoped to impress the judges and change her current life.
Her dinner consisted of two slices of bread with jam and a cup of hot water. After eating, she organized her clothes, ironing a dress she had bought last year at a cocktail party hosted by 20th Century Fox.
The weather in Los Angeles was perfect for the audition.
At the "Super Idol" audition site, hundreds of people had gathered, though only a fraction of the total hopefuls were present. The host from ABC TV interviewed contestants, and the camera recorded their responses, which would later be featured on the show.
The program had officially started, with ABC TV sending out four film crews to cover the event. The audience would be able to watch the auditions daily.
In one corner, a boy with thick black hair strummed a guitar and hummed a tune.
The host approached him. "You're quite young. How old are you?"
The boy smiled brightly at the camera. "I'm 13 years old. I'm ready to compete."
"What's your name and where are you from?" the host asked.
"My name is Elvis Presley, and I'm from Tennessee," the boy said proudly.
"Do you enjoy singing?"
"Of course, I've loved it since I was young."
"Have you participated in any competitions before?"
"I won second place in the talent show at the Alabama State Fair," Elvis answered confidently.
"Are you confident about 'Super Idol'?"
"Definitely. I'm very confident."
Elvis leaned closer to the camera and said loudly, "My name is Elvis Presley. If you like me, please call and support me. I'll give you my best singing!"
He then sat down and strummed his guitar, singing passionately.
The 'Super Idol' competition was divided into auditions, preliminaries, promotions, and finals. During the promotion stage, the audience could vote for their favorite contestants. Elvis's confident appeal was meant to secure support from viewers.
Other film crews interviewed various contestants.
A male host approached a sweet-looking girl with a bit of baby fat and asked, "Can we interview you?"
The girl, excited and happy, agreed. "Sure, what do you want to ask?"
"What's your name and where are you from?"
"My name is Patty Page, and I'm from Muskogee, Oklahoma," she answered with a lively wave to the camera.
"How old are you?"
"21 years old."
"Have you performed before?"
"I used to sing on Muskogee City Radio and participated in jazz concerts and national tours," Patty said.
"Why did you decide to join 'Super Idol'?"
Patty stuck out her tongue playfully. "Can I be honest?"
"Of course," the host encouraged.
"I want to be famous, sign with a major agency, record music, and be a real singer," Patty said simply.
"Are you confident you'll make it to the finals?"
"I've been singing in a choir since I was five. My biggest hobby is singing, and I'm committed to making my dream come true," Patty answered firmly.
"Good luck!" the host wished her.
Patty Page later became one of the most renowned female singers of the 1950s and 1960s, with 40 songs on the charts and the highest sales of the decade.
Another host spotted a woman in her thirties among the crowd. She was a bit overweight and dressed plainly in a floral dress.
The host approached her. "Excuse me, can I interview you?"
The woman, nervous, agreed. "Yes, I can."
"How old are you?"
"I'm 28."
"Are you married?"
"I was married, had a child, and am now divorced."
"What's your name?"
"Petsy Klein."
"What are you good at?"
"I enjoy country music. I often sing along with the radio. My neighbors say I sing well," Petsy said.
"Why did you want to join 'Super Idol'?"
Petsy hesitated before saying, "My dream is to perform on a real stage. I don't have any other ambitions. I just want to sing. Even if it's just one song, I want to do it in this life without regrets."
The host was moved by her sincerity. "I wish you success."
"Thank you," Petsy replied.
Petsy Klein later became a celebrated country music queen.
At that moment, a staff member emerged and called out, "Participants, the audition has officially started. Please check your names and prepare to perform. Here are the rules: We have three groups of judges, each consisting of three members. Two or more judges must approve you to move to the semi-finals."
"Let's begin. The first contestant is Miss Shania Dunn."
A tall and beautiful girl with brown hair stood up in the crowd. She nodded at the staff and walked into the audition room.
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