USA / FILE: Clark Gable, Andy Warhol and Marilyn Monroe memorabilia to be auctioned at Christie's in New York

Record ID: 725863

  • Title: USA / FILE: Clark Gable, Andy Warhol and Marilyn Monroe memorabilia to be auctioned at Christie's in New York
  • Date: 21st June 2006
  • Summary: A PHOTOGRAPH OF ACTRESS MARLENE DIETRICH
  • Embargoed: 6th July 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Entertainment,Industry
  • Reuters ID: LVA9O96TFW3R916JMQGX6OFY6163
  • Story Text: With interest in show business memorabilia as robust as ever, Christie's is offering a wide range of film and entertainment items for star-struck buyers.
    The "Film and Entertainment Including A Collection of Andy Warhol Memorabilia" auction at Christie's, will feature personal effects and pieces related to well-known names like Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich and Andy Warhol.
    The featured Warhol items include memorabilia from nephew Jeffrey Warhol and reveals the tools of the artist's trade, from his iconic silver wig to paint splattered Ferragamo shoes and one of his paint brushes.
    Helen Bailey, Head of Entertainment Memorabilia at Christie's New York explained that the interest in Warhol's personal effects runs deep.
    "I think there's a lot of cross over between our clients who collect celebrity memorabilia, who will be very interested to acquire some of that material, just the very very personal things that he's worn or touched or used and he became such a celebrity himself, not just an artist - that there are certainly things that have an appeal," said Bailey.
    Among Monroe-related highlights at the auction are two annotated scripts by the star, including a copy of her "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" with extensive notes, estimated at 10-15,000 U.S. dollars. (USD) There is also a personal address and telephone book of the actress with hand-written entries, circa 1960-62, which is estimated at 10-15 thousand dollars (USD).
    "The diary shows a different facet to her life - it's the address book that she had and I think judging by the names in it, it's probably dating from 60 to 61, that kind of era, just shortly before her death. So has a lot of industry contacts in there, a lot of her very close and personal friends that she hung out with a lot at that time, and a lot of doctors that she was seeing at that time as well shortly before her death, which is the subject of much speculation," said Bailey.
    Clark Gable and objects from his personal estate, as well as items related to the classic "Gone With The Wind" form a prominent part of the entertainment collection.
    Included are personal tokens of jewellery, like an inscribed gold bracelet given by actress Carole Lombard to Gable reading, "I love you, CL," estimated at 2,000-3,000 dollars (USD). Although Gable was not divorced from his second wife until 1939, pictures of Gable wearing this bracelet in 1934 are said to confirm Lombard and Gable's secret love affair.
    Among the memorabilia related to Gable's film career is a presentation copy of the novel, "Gone With The Wind" inscribed to the actor from the film producer David O. Selznick.
    "We have a really nice bound presentation copy of the book, "Gone with the Wind" and its signed to Gable from David O. Selznick, the producer and the inscription says - "For Clark, who doesn't like" and we can only speculate what that might mean. There was a story that Clark Gable didn't want to take part in "Gone with the Wind", he didn't want to do another period costume drama after the previous one he'd done, so maybe that's what the inscription refers to, but nevertheless, it's interesting," said Bailey.
    Sharing space with Gable, Warhol and Monroe are also pieces related to actress Marlene Dietrich and actor Marlon Brando. The auction of the entire collection will take place on June 22 and Bailey points out that she expects a good response, given the burgeoning interest in show business memorabilia.
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