Fans of old Hollywood movies will be excited to hear about the huge and unprecedented auction of costumes and props from Academy Award winning films, including Gone With the Wind, “Ben Hur, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, and Casablanca.
Many of the costumes from The Debbie Reynolds Collection are immediately recognizable, such as Marilyn Monroe’s famous “subway dress” from the movie “The Seven-Year Itch,” estimated to sell for between $1,000,000 to $2,000,000.
Screen legend Debbie Reynolds has been collecting and preserving Hollywood costumes and props for over 50 years.
Many of the costumes from The Debbie Reynolds Collection are immediately recognizable, such as Marilyn Monroe’s famous “subway dress” from the movie “The Seven-Year Itch,” estimated to sell for between $1,000,000 to $2,000,000.
Screen legend Debbie Reynolds has been collecting and preserving Hollywood costumes and props for over 50 years.
“I heard the news that MGM was going to sell their inventory of costumes and props,” Reynolds said in a press release on how she started collecting. “I went everyday for weeks and focused on purchasing the costumes and props of Academy Award winning films. It soon turned into an obsession. Until now!”
Reynolds wished that the collection could stay together in a museum dedicated to Hollywood memorabilia but hasn’t been able to pull it off.
“I’ve concluded that my dream of having a museum cannot be fulfilled, so I have decided to share my fabulous collection with other collectors.”
The world’s largest auctioneer of original Hollywood memorabilia, Profiles in History, will auction off part one of the vast collection on June 18, spreading the epic sale out over 10 days, with the second part in December. Part one is to have approximately 700 of Debbie’s very best and most historic costumes and props.
The entire collection contains over 3,500 costumes, 20,000 original photographs, several thousand original movie posters, original costume sketches, and hundreds of key props from film history, according to the auction house.
Judy Garland’s “Dorothy dress,” the original blue-and-white gingham test dress with puffed sleeves, and the test version of the famous ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz” are among the items, as well as Charlie Chaplin’s signature bowler top hat.
“I’ve concluded that my dream of having a museum cannot be fulfilled, so I have decided to share my fabulous collection with other collectors.”
The world’s largest auctioneer of original Hollywood memorabilia, Profiles in History, will auction off part one of the vast collection on June 18, spreading the epic sale out over 10 days, with the second part in December. Part one is to have approximately 700 of Debbie’s very best and most historic costumes and props.
The entire collection contains over 3,500 costumes, 20,000 original photographs, several thousand original movie posters, original costume sketches, and hundreds of key props from film history, according to the auction house.
Judy Garland’s “Dorothy dress,” the original blue-and-white gingham test dress with puffed sleeves, and the test version of the famous ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz” are among the items, as well as Charlie Chaplin’s signature bowler top hat.
“These are the greatest costumes and artifacts that survived all of film history. They are here,” said Joseph Maddalena, CEO of Profiles in History, in a Sky News report.
The collection is on display until June 17 at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, Calif.
The collection is on display until June 17 at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Descriptions From Profiles in History Website
The following are highlights of the costumes presented in the first part of the sale:
1. Gone With the Wind (MGM, 1939): the famous green-velvet “drapery dress” hat with bird adornment, worn by Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’ Hara.
2. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (20th Century Fox, 1953): the costume Marilyn Monroe wore as Lorelei Lee, the signature red-sequin dress designed by Travilla, from the opening musical number “Just Two Little Girls from Little Rock.”
3. The Sound of Music (20th Century Fox, 1965): Julie Andrews’s brown jumper and blouse with original guitar from “Do-Re-Mi.”
4. Charlie Chaplin: the tramp character’s signature bowler top hat.
5. The Wizard of Oz (MGM, 1939): Judy Garland’s “Dorothy dress,” the original blue-and-white gingham test dress with puff-sleeved white blouse designed by Adrian, from the first two weeks of filming, plus the matching, fabled ruby slippers in the Arabian test pattern.
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6. Ben-Hur (MGM, 1959): Charlton Heston’s signature tunic, robe, and accessories for the grand procession into Rome.
4. Charlie Chaplin: the tramp character’s signature bowler top hat.
5. The Wizard of Oz (MGM, 1939): Judy Garland’s “Dorothy dress,” the original blue-and-white gingham test dress with puff-sleeved white blouse designed by Adrian, from the first two weeks of filming, plus the matching, fabled ruby slippers in the Arabian test pattern.
Next...List 6-15
6. Ben-Hur (MGM, 1959): Charlton Heston’s signature tunic, robe, and accessories for the grand procession into Rome.
7. Mary of Scotland (RKO, 1934): Katharine Hepburn’s key red-velvet and gold-trimmed gown designed by Walter Plunkett.
8. My Fair Lady (Warner Bros., 1964): Audrey Hepburn’s “Eliza Doolittle” signature ivory-ribbon, embroidery-lace Ascot dress and hat designed by Cecil Beaton, Hepburn’s single most-recognizable and remarkable outfit from any of her films.
9. Singin’ in the Rain (MGM, 1952): Gene Kelly’s herringbone, wool three-piece suit by Walter Plunkett from “I’m Singin’ in the Rain,” the iconic musical number.
10. There’s No Business Like Show Business (20th Century-Fox, 1954): Marilyn Monroe’s black-white-and-pink tropical-print “heat wave dress” and hat by Travilla.
11. Blood and Sand (Paramount, 1922): Rudolph Valentino’s “suit of lights” matador costume, designed by Travis Banton and the most iconic wardrobe from any of his films.
12. Cleopatra (Paramount, 1934): Claudette Colbert’s signature royal boudoir gown of gold lamé and emerald trim, designed by Travis Banton.
8. My Fair Lady (Warner Bros., 1964): Audrey Hepburn’s “Eliza Doolittle” signature ivory-ribbon, embroidery-lace Ascot dress and hat designed by Cecil Beaton, Hepburn’s single most-recognizable and remarkable outfit from any of her films.
9. Singin’ in the Rain (MGM, 1952): Gene Kelly’s herringbone, wool three-piece suit by Walter Plunkett from “I’m Singin’ in the Rain,” the iconic musical number.
10. There’s No Business Like Show Business (20th Century-Fox, 1954): Marilyn Monroe’s black-white-and-pink tropical-print “heat wave dress” and hat by Travilla.
11. Blood and Sand (Paramount, 1922): Rudolph Valentino’s “suit of lights” matador costume, designed by Travis Banton and the most iconic wardrobe from any of his films.
12. Cleopatra (Paramount, 1934): Claudette Colbert’s signature royal boudoir gown of gold lamé and emerald trim, designed by Travis Banton.
13. River of No Return (20th Century-Fox, 1954): Marilyn Monroe’s saloon-girl costume of beaded yellow charmeuse with red scroll trim designed by Travilla, complete with all the accessories.
14. To Catch a Thief (Paramount, 1955): Grace Kelly’s and Cary Grant’s key costumes by Edith Head, from the romantic scenic drive in a convertible overlooking Cannes.
15. Taming of the Shrew (United Artists, 1929): Elaborate court costumes worn by Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Mary Pickford. Hers is a peach silk-velvet Empire gown with silver lace and bullion decoration by Irene Sharaff. His is a black-and-gold tunic with gold-lamé shirt and decorated cuffs, together with matching hat and yellow-lined boots.
Source: Profiles in History
14. To Catch a Thief (Paramount, 1955): Grace Kelly’s and Cary Grant’s key costumes by Edith Head, from the romantic scenic drive in a convertible overlooking Cannes.
15. Taming of the Shrew (United Artists, 1929): Elaborate court costumes worn by Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Mary Pickford. Hers is a peach silk-velvet Empire gown with silver lace and bullion decoration by Irene Sharaff. His is a black-and-gold tunic with gold-lamé shirt and decorated cuffs, together with matching hat and yellow-lined boots.
Source: Profiles in History
