Marilyn Monroe, who's 26ft high bronze and stainless steel statue is drawing thousands of fans to the nearby resort of Palm Springs, has been turned down by Hollywood 50 years after her death.

Hollywood authorities felt the 48,000-pound fee for renting the 15-ton sculpture for one year would not attract enough tourists to be "cost effective". According to a report in Times of India.

Now 34 other US cities are vying to hire the towering tribute to the screen icon, based on her dress-billowing pose from the 1955 film 'The Seven Year Itch'.

"Hollywood's loss is the rest of America's gain. People are lining up to have their photos taken with the statue," the Daily Express quoted Palm Springs tourism chief Hillary Angel as saying.