On This Day in Music History: Jim Morrison Smiled

A rare photograph surfaced of rock star Jim Morrison smiling. How rare is that you may ask? Well it is very rare, because there are more photographs of Big Foot than of Morrison smiling. The photo taken by Gloria Stavers, documents that on this day in 1967, Jim Morrison did indeed smile. What made Jim smile on that unusual day in 1967 you may ask? Well those that were there say that Doors guitarist Robby Krieger, told a joke about Uranus. Jim loved Uranus jokes.

The “Doors” singer was usually seen brooding, scowling and more often than not falling down drunk. Other photos have claimed to be of a smiling Jim Morrison, but they have been debunked as forgeries and fakes. It is rumored that Jim Morrison smiled a total of 5 times during the years 1967 until his death in 1971. Three of those smiles were captured on film, but only one was in color. 

In 1967, Gloria Stavers was the editor in chief (and head photographer) of the influential teen magazine, “16 magazine”. When the Doors were going to be featured in the magazine, Gloria set up a photo shoot at her studio in New York. She photographed the band, then Jim stayed behind and she shot a solo reel of Jim. It was also rumored that Gloria and Jim were romantically involved. 

Gloria apparently got around and it is said she bedded down all the big stars: Jim, Morrison, Mickey Mantle, Herman from “Herman’s Hermits”, Frank Sinatra, Tito Jackson, John Lennon’s cousin Claude, and the bass player from “The 1910 Fruitgum Company”. The Doors recorded the song “Gloria” in her honor. Gloria was not a woman to cross either. She once threatened to expose to her audience that Blue was not in fact, Paul McCartney’s favorite color.

The rare color photo of a smiling Morrison is estimated to go for $1.7 Million at auction. Rick from the TV show “Pawn Stars” offered $12.50, it was the best he could do considering his overhead and Chumlee’s food bills. 

It was quite odd that Jim Morrison and The Doors would appear in 16 magazine, but when the issue hit the stands, The Doors were sandwiched in between an article on how to win Davy Jones puppy, advertisements for Acne cream and intimate questions answered by The Cowsills.