Mar. 24
They are the supernovas, icons whose fame transcends time—Michael, Marilyn, Elvis and Elizabeth Taylor—and world-renowned GWS Auctions will present an exceptional array of their memorabilia along with some 200 other A-list celebrity collectibles in the upcoming Legends of Hollywood & Music Auction. The items range from the King of Pop to music royalty’s Lady Gaga, from the old Rat Pack members Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin to the uber-cool current representatives, Brad Pitt and George Clooney. Epitomizing the event’s one-of-a-kind objects is the electric train from Neverland Ranch purchased by Jackson for his children Prince Michael, Paris and Blanket, replete with tracks and ready to set up.
The “Legends of Hollywood & Music Auction: Collectibles from the Megastars of Entertainment” will take place on Saturday, March 24 at 10 a.m. online at gwsauctions.com. and the press preview takes place on Wednesday, March 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT at the Andrew Weiss Gallery, 14620 Keswick Street, Van Nuys, CA.
“Even in today’s internet-obsessed world where celebrities’ lives are on constant public view, there continues to be mystique about having an object used or possessed by a person in the spotlight,” GWS Auctions’ owner Brigitte Kruse says. “For this event, we have sought-after memorabilia linked to enduring legends—many that have never been offered at auction—and an enticing cache of items from well-known current stars and pop-culture personalities.” That roster includes Amy Adams, Halle Berry, Mariah Carey, Bradley Cooper, Matt Damon, Johnny Depp, Paris Hilton, Jennifer Lopez, Adam Levine, Madonna, Matthew McConaughey, Demi Moore, Al Pacino, Katy Perry, Prince, Joan Rivers, Kristin Stewart, Will Smith, Octavia Spencer, Emma Stone, Denzel Washington and Oprah Winfrey, among others.
Not only will the auction spotlight such signature MJ items as a crystal-encrusted glove from the HIStory tour and fedoras, including one worn on tour to perform “Smooth Criminal,” but the Neverland ride-on train reserved for Jackson’s three children with cars appropriately painted in blue and pink and a golf cart he used to shuttle around the estate. The items, taken from one of the world’s largest Michael Jackson collections, also includes handwritten and signed “Billie Jean” lyrics, a Spider-Man costume worn by Prince Michael, life-size “Beat It” and “Thriller” MJ wax figures, and a pair of sunglasses worn on tour by Michael, then gifted to Corey Feldman.
A Kathrine Baumann rhinestone clutch bag Jackson had designed for his friend Elizabeth Taylor is among the auction’s unique treasures. It’s an attractive companion piece for the black crepe suit the actress wore in “Malice in Wonderland” and several Taylor-owned designer dresses.
The Monroe assortment features a brush, comb and mirror set that still has her blond locks in its bristles, a brick from her now torn-down childhood home, a pair of her sunglasses, a clapboard from “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” and a phone message from Joe DiMaggio found tucked inside one of her books.
Among the Presley collectibles are a solid 14k gold and diamond ring Elvis designed and gifted to Gospel singer J.D. Sumner of the Stamps, 14K gold, chrome and plastic sunglasses from the “Last Hawaiian Vacation,” and a painting from his Beverly Hills home.
Additionally, Kruse has gathered alluring items from other timeless icons whose value and appeal have not dimmed despite their passing. Among the collectibles are a pair of Persol sunglasses owned by Steve McQueen, a Frank Sinatra pill bottle, a Sammy Davis Jr. gold pendant and diamond jewelry, Liberace’s impressive jewelry collection, including his favorite necklace with near flawless five-karat diamonds; Anna Nicole Smith’s blond mink stole, camisole, t-shirts and bracelets worn for Face magazine photo shoots; a purple overcoat from Prince’s film “Purple Rain”; Brandon Lee’s shirt, leather pants and jacket from his last film, “the Crow”; Robin Williams’ Hook costume from “Peter Pan”; and Patrick Swayze’s velvet evening coat from “To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything.”
New Hollywood has its turn with a trove of movie and television memorabilia. Highlighting the costume collection: Lady Gaga’s blue fox smock, burgundy floor-length robe and red halter and skirt from “American Horror Story: Hotel”; Amy Adams’ Bob Mackie designed wrap dress, Bradley Cooper’s tan overcoat and Christian Bale’s cream beach jacket from “American Hustle”; Halle Berry’s silk velvet gown from “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge”; “Matthew McConaughey’s black silk kimono from “Magic Mike”; Mariah Carey’s cotton peasant shirt and calf-length skirt and Oprah Winfrey’s mint-colored dressing gown from “The Butler”; Kristin Stewart’s Japanese floral kimono from “The Runaways”; Johnny Depp’s brown geometric shirt from “Blow”; Matt Damon’s long sleeve shirt from “Behind the Candelabra”; Brad Pitt’s cashmere sweater “Benjamin Button”; Jennifer Lopez’s cropped black top from “Selena”; Al Pacino’s three-piece gray suit from ”You Don’t Know Jack”; and shirts worn by Will Smith and Jamie Foxx in “Ali.”
Topping the music industry offerings are the custom-made Louisville slugger baseball bat made for Madonna during the making of “A League of Their Own,” a burgundy letterman sweater sported by Adam Levine on “The Voice,” a fur collar worn by Katy Perry for her Killer Queen fragrance commercial, an Ace Frehley Kiss costume, a Slash leather jumpsuit and a Snoop Dogg velour track suit with a Playboy bunny detail.
Sure to interest automotive collectors are a Ford pick-up from “Hannah Montana: The Movie” with a visor autographed by Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus, Dean Martin’s candy apple red 1966 Thunderbird, a Lindsay Lohan driven “Herbie: Fully Loaded” VW Beetle, a 1969 GTO from “The Punisher,” and an exact replica of the Batmobile from the 1960s TV series, among other vehicles.
To register go to www.gwsauctions.com
