BEVERLY HILLS, CA.- Julien’s Auctions, the world’s premiere entertainment and celebrity auction house, announces a star studded four day auction event including items from the world of Rock ‘n Roll, Hollywood, Sports, Royals and political memorabilia. Two days of the four day spectacular event will be devoted to Hollywood memorabilia and unforgettable moments.
Before she was Marilyn Monroe a young Norma Jeane Dougherty wrote to her foster mother, Grace Goddard, to describe a meeting with army photographers, specifically David Conover and her burgeoning modeling career. The eight-page letter gives insight on Norma Jeane’s marriage to “Jimmie” Dougherty, her work at the Radioplane Company, and her hopes of a better career. The letter which comes up for auction for the very first time at Julien’s Auctions is estimated to bring $30,000-$50,000. With encouragement from Conover, Monroe took steps to join the Blue Book Modeling Agency where she met photographer Joseph Jasgur who took numerous photographs of the 19-year-old. These photographs and copyrights become available for the very first time and the complete archive and early image copyrights will be sold exclusively at this auction event. The settings for the photographs range from high atop buildings in Los Angeles to Zuma Beach.
Cecil Beaton took what is purported to be, Monroe’s favorite image of herself where the stunning beauty is reclining with a rose. In 1956 after working on the film Bus Stop, director Joshua Logan gave Marilyn Monroe a Cartier triptych frame with this image and a letter from Beaton describing his friend Marilyn. This piece was housed in Monroe’s living room until the time of her death. The triptych was sold at the landmark 1999 Christie’s auction and returns to auction in the Icons and Idols Hollywood portion of the four day auction event. (est. $80,000-$100,000). Later in 1958 Monroe was captured by photographer Richard Avedon in images of five of Hollywood’s greatest stars of that time. One of those was in the image of Theda Bara where Monroe dressed as Bara in her role as Cleopatra. Hollywood history points to Monroe choosing the image of Bara to champion herself for the role of Cleopatra which eventually went to Elizabeth Taylor. The complete costume including head dress, jewelry, serpentine bra, flowing scarf skirt and belt worn by Monroe will be offered and is estimated at $200,000-$300,000.
Many of the Hollywood auction’s highlights too massive to list individually include the stunning Nolan Miller signature black and red gown worn by Elizabeth Taylor in Poker Alice where the legendary actress played the saucy, real life character, Alice Ivers Tubbs. (est. $2,000-$4,000). Just in time for the holidays, a collection of more than 20 costumes and props from the 2000 blockbuster film The Grinch will be sold. If the Grinch isn’t the character of choice, bidders will have the opportunity to bid on an actual piece of the Cowardly Lion from the 1939 beloved classic The Wizard of Oz film. It was in the film that the lion stood on both paws to help his friend Dorothy and one of those paws goes up on the auction block, estimated at $20,000-$25,000. Other highlights include a Walther-PPK .38 caliber pistol from the James Bond film starring Sean Connery, Never Say Never Again (est. $8,000-$10,000), a collection of costumes, props and furniture from the NBC hit television series Law & Order, costumes from the cult film The Big Lebowski, and personal items and memorabilia from stars of the golden era of Hollywood and beyond including the mysterious Greta Garbo, Rudolph Valentino, William Randolph Hearst & Marion Davies, Julie Andrews, John Wayne, Bing Crosby, Marlon Brando, Bruce Lee and Steve McQueen to name a few.
For those interested in Hollywood history of another kind, Julien’s Auctions is proud to offer a collection from The Bob Baker Marionette Theater in Los Angeles which has been a Hollywood theatrical institution for over 50 years. For the first time, marionettes designed for motion pictures, television and Disney are offered during this historic sale. The magical limited edition Pinocchio marionette by Bob Baker designed for Disney studios (est. $2,000-$3,000) Elvis Presley’s GI Blues serenaded puppet, soldier and father puppet(est. $2,000-$5,000), and the Taquita marionette designed for Judy Garland’s use in A Star Is Born(est. $3,000-$5,000) are some of the pieces in the collection to be offered.
In addition to the two days dedicated to some of the world’s most sought after Hollywood memorabilia, Julien’s Auctions will be offering extraordinary rock ‘n roll memorabilia, and political and sports memorabilia. History will be made in early December in a style only Julien’s Auctions can offer.
