Profiles in History recently released an updated press release with some previews on what will be featured in their special Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Auction this June 2011. Below is part of the release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PROFILES IN HISTORY ANNOUNCES THE SALE OF THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF HOLLYWOOD COSTUMES AND PROPS IN THE WORLD.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE DECADES, THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OWNED BY SCREEN LEGEND DEBBIE REYNOLDS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC IN A SERIES OF AUCTIONS BEGINNING IN JUNE 2011.
New York, NY – February 17, 2011 –
Profiles in History, the nation’s leading dealer in guaranteed-authentic original historical autographs, letters, documents, vintage signed photographs, manuscripts and unequivocally the world’s largest auctioneer of original Hollywood memorabilia, will auction part one of The Debbie Reynolds Collection. For over 50 years screen legend Debbie Reynolds has been collecting and preserving Hollywood costumes and props from Academy Award winning films including Gone With the Wind, Ben Hur, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music and Casablanca. This colossal collection includes garments designed by Travilla, Travis Banton and Edith Head some of the industry’s most renowned costume designers and were worn by film icons Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Charlton Heston, Greta Garbo, Elizabeth Taylor, Bette Davis, Gene Kelly, Richard Burton and more.
The Debbie Reynolds Collection is deemed to be the most significant collection of Hollywood costumes and props since the liquidation of the MGM and FOX studios in the 1970’s. Profiles in Historyplans to sell this massive collection through a series of auctions starting with part one in June 2011 and part two in Dec 2011. This entire collection contains over 3,500 costumes, 20,000 original photographs, severla thousand original movie posters, original costume sketches and hundreds of key props from film history.
“I heard the news that MGM was going to sell their inventory of costumes and props,” Reynolds said in a statement. “I went every day for weeks and focused on purchasing the costumes and props of Academy Award-winning films. It soon turned into an obsession. Until now! 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.”
Part one of this auction will have approximately 700 of Debbies very best and most historic costumes and props including the most famous costume in screen history with an estimated value of 1 to 2 million dollars, Marilyn Monroe’s ‘subway’ dress, from The Seven Year Itch.
A preview of other items from part one include:
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): Marilyn Monroe’s costume worn as Lorelei Lee: signature red sequin dress from “Just Two Little Girls from Little Rock” opening musical number, designed by Travilla.
3. The Sound of Music (20th Century-Fox, 1965): Julie Andrews brown jumper and blouse with original guitar, from “Do-Re-Mi”.
4. Charlie Chaplin’s “Tramp character” signature bowler-top hat.
5. The Wizard of Oz (MGM, 1939): Judy Garland’s “Dorothy” original blue and white gingham test dress with puff-sleeved white blouse from the first two weeks of filming, designed by Adrian, plus the matching fabled ruby slippers in the “Arabian test” pattern.
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.
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” 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 & Sand (Paramount, 1922): Rudolph Valentino’s ‘suit of lights’ matador costume, designed by Travis Banton.
12. Cleopatra (Paramount, 1934): Claudette Colbert’s signature royal boudoir gown of gold lame and marquis-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 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): Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. and Mary Pickford’s elaborate court costumes. Hers is a peach silk velvet Empire gown with silver lace and bullion decoration by Irene Sharaff, and his is a black and gold tunic with gold lame shirt and decorated cuffs, together with matching hat and yellow-lined boots.
