1962 Rare JFK Birthday Salute Newspaper Ad Proof – Marilyn Monroe “Happy Birthday Mr. President”

1962 rare original newspaper advertising proof promoting President John F. Kennedy's Birthday Salute at Madison Square Garden — the legendary event at which Marilyn Monroe performed “Happy Birthday, Mr. President.”

Held May 19, 1962, the spectacular Democratic fundraising gala featured an extraordinary roster of entertainers including Judy Garland, Jack Benny, Ella Fitzgerald, Jimmy Durante, Peggy Lee and many others — but it was Marilyn Monroe's unforgettable birthday serenade to Kennedy that transformed the evening into one of the most iconic moments of the Kennedy era.

This oversized piece, printed on newsprint, appears to be a pre-publication proof for a newspaper advertisement promoting the event and the sale of tickets. Unlike the finished advertisement, the proof retains fascinating internal production information across the upper margin, including what appear to be layout, scheduling, job and publication instructions. Among the notations are references to “8 COL.,” “May 1 – Tues 3pm,” job number “139473,” “Don Kemper A.A.” and “TIMES.” The latter may identify the newspaper in which the advertisement was scheduled to appear, although we have not been able to conclusively establish that “TIMES” specifically refers to The New York Times.

Additional handwritten editorial instructions appear at the bottom, indicating changes to the advertisement before publication, including references to “Send in this coupon now,” “or at Salute Headquarters,” and “by Mail.” Some of these changes appear to have been incorporated while others were not, giving the piece the character of a genuine working advertising proof rather than simply a finished promotional poster.

We have handled a few examples of this advertisement over the decades, but rarely in this unusually fine condition and with such interesting production annotations. A remarkable original artifact connecting John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Madison Square Garden and what became perhaps the most famous presidential birthday celebration in American history. Original, of course.