Marilyn Monroe in 1944 VS Sofia Loren (left) and Jayne Mansfield (right)

Before Marilyn Monroe was the World's most famous movie star, she worked at a military factory in Van Nuys, CA. Yes, at the height of WW II, young Norma Jean helped the war effects at Radioplane Munitions Factory by assembling parts for airplanes. The pictures were taken by David Conover in 1944, while he was on assignment for Yank magazine. The photos of soon-to-be Marilyn assembling drone parts which were taken by David Conover who was on assignment for Yank magazine. helped to launch her career into stardom. At the time, Conover worked for the U.S. Army Air Force's First Motion Picture Unit. His commanding officer was none other than Ronald Reagan. That's some crazy Back to the Future synchronicity.

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The iconic meeting took place in 1957. Sophia Loren's career had just skyrocketed in Europe and this was a Beverly Hills party organized by Paramount Studies, to welcome her to Tinsletown. Loren had been the most photographed actress at the 1955 Cannes Film Festival - but felt that her spotlight was stolen in Hollywood by blonde bombshell, Jayne Mansfield, who greeted her at her table. In later years, Loren said about the meeting: "I’m so frightened that everything in her dress is going to blow—BOOM!—and spill all over the table"

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