Fascination

Angelo D'Agostino

FASCINATION is a seasonal exploration that taps into the imagination of podcast creator Angelo D’Agostino – a storyteller whose early life was colored by traditional fables, pop-culture and inherited folklore. The stories that dazzled his early world, set him upon journeys of discovery and fostered a lifelong obsession with the curious and unusual. If you’re new to FASCINATION, start with season one; a ten episode take on the life of screen legend, Marilyn Monroe.

  1. 02/07/2021

    Cursum Perficio (feat. Bernardo Vega) - Season One Finale

    It was 1962 and Marilyn Monroe was en route to Mexico City. Landing to a flurry of activity, it was announced that day, she'd been awarded a Golden Globe and would be presented with the honor at the awards show that season... The trip, initially meant to be a quick, necessary getaway to purchase furniture and décor for her new home - evolved into a prolonged celebration. Her first night in CDMX, a cocktail reception was held in her honor at the Continental Hilton Hotel, in the following days she visited Luis Buñuel on the set of “El Angel Exterminador” (The Exterminating Angel), lunched with legendary film star Silvia Pinal, attended a party given by Emilio “El Indio” Fernández and spent time visiting local orphanages. It was on this trip that she met a young, handsome, wiry screenwriter named Jose Bolaños. A bit of a playboy, Bolaños was married Italian actress Venetia Vianello, but his whirlwind affair with Monroe would forever be a part of his own legacy…Having died in 1994, Bolaños was relatively quiet about his relationship with the star, especially after her death. Hardly any interviews exist today - but I've managed to piece together a full narrative of his story with Marilyn, gratefully assisted by actor Bernardo Vega. Visit @bervega on Instagram to see more of his work. This Season One Finale brings a quiet end to our look at Marilyn Monroe. Massive thanks to everyone who gave their time and talents to help me bring this story to life. @fascinationpod

    24 min
  2. 12/13/2020

    The Things We Keep - Part I

    Listener's Note: If you may be triggered by topics surrounding mental health, suicide or acts of self harm, please feel free to skip this episode. If you or someone you know is suffering from mental health challenges or need information on resources, please visit afsp.org or text TALK to 741741 for help outside the U.S. please visit save.org for more information. The John Huston film 'The Misfits' remains Marilyn Monroe's final, completed appearance in a motion picture. Making the movie was like a trip to a salt mine for the entire cast…and for Marilyn the emotional impact was devastating. It left her depleted, defeated, depressed. The whole endeavor was art imitating life for everyone involved… 'The Misfits' was Arthur Miller's warped "valentine" to Monroe…and their failing marriage. It would be a non-comedic role for Marilyn, one that allowed her to flex her chops and stage a bit of a Hollywood perception intervention. The personal and professional pressure Monroe was under was intensified by the location, the harsh, dry Nevada desert where they filmed. Cast alongside the dark-hearted heartthrob Montgomery Clift and the "King" of the silver screen Clark Gable, "The Misfits" was marquee gold. A tepid response at the box office, the loss of Gable (who suffered a fatal heart attack just two weeks after filming ended) and the collapse of her third marriage - Monroe soon found herself involuntarily committed to the Payne-Whitney Psychiatric Clinic in New York. During that time Marilyn wrote a six page letter to her L.A. based psychiatrist Dr. Ralph Greenson. Letters similar to this one would be included in a forgotten archive Dr. Greenson's widow gifted to the UCLA Special Collections Dept. at the Charles E. Young Research Library. This collection, including research, session notes and sealed folders of notes re: Monroe - was given under one condition, the Monroe papers were to be left sealed until 2039. @fascinationpod

    26 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

FASCINATION is a seasonal exploration that taps into the imagination of podcast creator Angelo D’Agostino – a storyteller whose early life was colored by traditional fables, pop-culture and inherited folklore. The stories that dazzled his early world, set him upon journeys of discovery and fostered a lifelong obsession with the curious and unusual. If you’re new to FASCINATION, start with season one; a ten episode take on the life of screen legend, Marilyn Monroe.