The second of the three planned auctions of the famed Debbie Reynolds collection of Hollywood film costumes and props was held on Saturday December 3 by the Profiles in History auction house. While the auction didn't have the same frenzy as the first one last June, there was still plenty of competition for the iconic costumes of Hollywood's Golden Age. Debbie began collecting with the first movie studio auction, the MGM auction of wardrobe, props, cameras and other items in 1970. That auction really began the whole field of Hollywood movie memorabilia collecting, and Debbie was there from the start in an effort to collect, preserve, and display movie heritage. Now, more than forty years later, that is still a worthwhile project, with miles to go before we sleep.
As was the case with the first auction, the Marilyn Monroe worn items fetched the most money. The gown above was designed by Dorothy Jeakins for Marilyn Monroe in Let's Make Love, (1960). It is made of a pale green pleated silk decorated with rhinestones at the bust and at the Empire waist. It was hammered down for $240,000.
 |
| Photo by Christian Esquevin |
The beautiful costume above was designed by Charles LeMaire and worn by Susan Hayward in With a Song in My Heart (1952), a biopic about singer Jane Froman. It is made with silver-lined bugle beads, rhinestones, and ostrich plumes. It sold for $9000.
 |
| Photo by Christian Esquevin |
 |
| Photo by Christian Esquevin Shown above is Marilyn's green show-girl leotard designed by William Travilla for Bus Stop, (1956). It is decorated with black sequins and beaded fringe. It went down for $230,000. In addition, Marilyn's pale-green suit from Niagara sold for $210,000, and her embroidered gown and bolero jacket from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes designed by Travilla sold for $260,000. These were among the top five big ticket items of the sale.  Photo by Christian Esquevin The costume above was designed by Jean Louis for Rhonda Fleming playing Cleopatra in Serpent of the Nile, (1953). The gown is made of a silk and a metallic fabric to resemble reptilian skin, and decorated with purple beetle-like beads. It was sold for $13,000.  Above is a fabulous show-girl costume designed by Adrian and worn by Eve Arden in Ziegfeld Girl, (1941). The gown is made of a silver lame with silver sequin stars embroidered on to a nude chiffon. The silver lame has tarnished to appear a golden color. The gown was sold for $5,500.  Photo by Christian Esquevin The fabulous blue and black bugle-beaded gown above was designed by Charles LeMaire and worn by Betty Grable in My Blue Heaven during her song and dance number with Dan Dailey. The blue beads transition to black ending in a fringe hemline. It was a bargain at $6000.  Photo by Christian Esquevin This striking dress was also designed by Charles LeMaire for Katharine Hepburn in Desk Set, (1957). It is a wool dress of black, gray, and cream-colored stripes with red accents. It sold for $6500.  Photo by Christian Esquevin One would definitely say that the costume above was designed for a star. Indeed it was, Donald Brooks designed it for Julie Andrews in Star! (1968). The coat is black velvet adorned with plastic silver stars. A silver lame top and pants were worn underneath, also decorated with stars. I should add that the Studio system was no longer in place when this costume was made. By 1968, the stars on the costume were no longer being made of sequins fastidiously sewn onto the garment - the stars were now plastic. The famous line from The Graduate, "Plastic!" seems to have already grabbed hold in the wardrobe department. The three piece costume sold for $7000. Debbie Reynolds never realized her dream of a Hollywood memorabilia museum. There are now plans for a new movie museum organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Alas, Debbie's fabulous and historic costumes and props collection won't be part of it. And probably harder to bear, the costumes, including sets from a single movie, are being scattered. One Internet bidder seems to have won most of the choice costumes. It would be great if it was for a local collection or institution. More likely, these will go overseas along with the cream of Debbie's first auction held last June. At least Debbie Reynolds, in attendance with her daughter Carrie and son Todd, seemed happy. The Unsinkable Debbie Reynolds, she can be called. |
Posts
9 comments:
I love your posts of Debbie Reynolds' collections. Seeing these priceless costumes and props go to private sellers kills my historian/fashion/film history heart. I would love to see all the costumes go to a museum where people can enjoy them (my motto should be "It belongs in a museum" like Indiana Jones haha. I'm an art historian and museum education major). Thank you so much for posting your pictures they are excellent and it is incredible to see many of these costumes. You are so lucky to have gone to auctions.
Thanks for your comment MovieFreak, and I agree with you. IT was a great opportunity to see these costumes - but bittersweet. You also realize how fragile they are, and many show their battle scars.
What breathtaking costumes. I went into fantasy-land a bit as I read your post. I have known and loved/admired some of these costumes for much of my life (Marilyn's dance hall outfit from BUS STOP, Kate's dress from DESK SET). I know attending these auctions must be absolutely essential for you, Christian, and thank you for sharing your experiences here with those of us unable to be there.
I recorded ZIEGFELD GIRL on TCM recently and have been watching it lately. I've always been a fan of the great Eve Arden and have been appreciating her performance in that film...so it is especially interesting to me to see her gorgeous gown here, as it appears today. Wonderful post.
Thanks for your comment Lady Eve - you would have loved to see these costumes in person at the preview. Those I selected to show are just a sampling, but each is evocative of the star and the movie they came from. I may do another post with more photos.
Christian,
A wonderful write up with highlights of the auction. I knew while following it that you would come through with a nice post.
I've been heartbroken and angry ever since it ended though about Chaplin's film used camera behind some of his best work sold for only $27,000 while the Star Wars camera sold for over half a mil. SAD!
Was this her last auction because I know she has over 20,000 items or was it more? I'm looking forward to the other auction that has Bela's Dracula cape and other items.
Page
Thanks Page. It is a shame about the Chaplin camera, etc. Over-all the prices were quite lower than the last auction. That may have just made it easier for most of the choice costumes going to one bidder. I don't know who it was and my fear is it may be someone overseas where these beautiful relics may end up going. Yes, there is one more auction with many great items left. I don't know the schedule for that one but it should be a doozy.
Between this and the Elizabeth Taylor auction, my heart is breaking. For Debbie's treasures, I am so sad that all of these wonderful items will be scattered to the 4 winds. For ET - well, I really wanted those emeralds....
Sorry you didn't get Elizabeth's emeralds FlickChick, but then this auction set a world record for big bucks. Debbie's individual items in her wonderful collection are now meeting their own fates. Unlike the jewelry,they are fragile. Sadly they resonate with the echoes of the MGM auction of 1970,a sort of double indemnity of Hollywood's costume heritage.
I’m a wee bit jealous of those of you who find Hollywood history in your backyard (or within driving distance). I notice, apropos of your post on costume from black and white films in color, that is is often difficult to gauge the true colors for costumes in Technicolor films. The passage of time has resulted in brassy or dulled versions of the original colors as captured on film, and even though the same is true with the materials; it is a much fun to see these in their original form as seeing the black and white in color. Your first-hand experience at the Debbie Reynolds auction reminds me how much we owe to the actress for preserving film costume heritage. She is part of Hollywood’s Golden Age heritage, but like many of us, she is also a fan. I think it is such a shame that her dream of a costume museum was not realized.
Post a Comment