Bombshell

A Tip of the Coonskin Cap

Despite its extensive basis in history, Bombshell is a work of fiction, and liberties have been taken with the facts, though as few as possible, reflecting the needs of the narrative as well as conflicting source material.

This novel expands upon a short story by Barbara Collins, “Da Svidaniya, Khrushchev,” published in Marilyn: Shades of Blonde (1997), edited by Carole Nelson Douglas. The invitation to write this story — taking advantage of Barbara’s longtime interest in Marilyn Monroe — came from Ed Gorman and Marty Greenberg. Our thanks to Carole, Ed, and Marty.

Among the sources for the characterization of Nikita Khrushchev were: Khrushchev Remembers (1970), Nikita Khrushchev; The Space Race (1962), Donald W. Cox; Inside Russia Today (1958), John Gunther; Khrushchev: The Years in Power (1978), Roy A. Medvedev and Zhores A. Medvedev; and Life in Russia (1983), Michael Binyon. Contemporary accounts consulted regarding the Khrushchev visit included: Time magazine, September 28, 1959; Newsweek magazine, September 21, 1959, and September 28, 1959; and Life magazine, January 13, 1958, January 20, 1958, September 28, 1959, October 5, 1959, and October 19, 1959.

The authors have accumulated a large library of Marilyn Monroe material, and drew upon many books and periodicals for her characterization. The key books used were: The Unabridged Marilyn, Her Life from A to Z (1987), Randall Riese and Neal Hitchens; Marilyn Monroe, In Her Own Words (1983), Roger Taylor; Marilyn Monroe, The Biography (1993), Donald Spoto; Legend, The Life and Death of Marilyn Monroe (1984), Fred Lawrence Guiles; The Life and Curious Death of Marilyn Monroe (1974), Robert F. Slatzer; Goddess, The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe (1985), Anthony Summers; The Marilyn Encyclopedia (1999), Adam Victor; and Timebends (1987), Arthur Miller.

Background for Jack Harrigan was drawn from The United States Secret Service (1961), Walter S. Bowen and Harry Edward Neal; and The Death Dealers (1960), Phil Hirsch.

Sources for the characterization of Walt Disney and the depiction of Disneyland included numerous contemporary magazine accounts, various Internet web pages, and the following books: The Art of Walt Disney (1973), Christopher Finch; Disney’s World (1985), Leonard Mosley; and Walt Disney, Hollywood’s Dark Prince (1993), Marc Eliot. In addition, the DVD set Walt Disney Treasures: Disneyland USA (2001) — featuring documentaries hosted, produced, and written by Leonard Maltin — was particularly helpful, including interview material with Disney himself discussing the Khrushchev/Disneyland controversy. Walt Disney did have an apartment over the fire station in Disneyland, and was indeed planning a Khrushchev in Disneyland feature film; but certain liberties were taken here with the park and its geography, for storytelling purposes.

Other helpful sources included: His Way, The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra (1986), Kitty Kelley; Out With the Stars: Hollywood Nightlife in the Golden Era (1985), Jim Heimann; and Mental Hygiene: Classroom Films 1945–1970 (1999), Ken Smith.

The authors wish to thank their agent, Dominick Abel. This book has been a long time coming, and readers who have heard about the project have occasionally inquired about when it might arrive; we hope — as was the case when Marilyn Monroe finally walked onto a soundstage — it will have been worth the wait.