Happy Birthday JFK dress sells for 4.18 million dollars

The historic dress Marilyn wore when she sang Happy Birthday to John F Kennedy on May 19, 1962 was put on the auction block last night at Juliens.

It sold for a staggering price of 4.18 million dollars.  However, the big news is not the price but by who bought it.  Ripleys was announced as the winner immediately.  They went on to tell the press that they purchased numerous items in the auction related to the dress and they will be opening an exhibit at their museum in LA.  Ripleys has locations all of the world and the exhibit could travel to all of them.

This is the best possible outcome for Marilyn fans.  Instead of having the dress hidden away by a private collector for another 17 years - it will be shown to the public!

The Marilyn auction continues today and runs through Nov 19.

Marilyn Monroe Auction Catalogues Available to View Online

Finally the day is here.  Juliens Auctions has released the online catalogue for their November Marilyn Monroe auction.  The set includes 4 volumes in a boxset and retails for $300!!  Viewing and saving the PDF is a less expensive option for fans.

You can access the catalogues on the Juliens website at the link below:

http://www.juliensauctions.com/auctions/2016/marilyn-monroe/icatalog-list.htmlhttp://www.juliensauctions.com/auctions/2016/marilyn-monroe/icatalog-list.html

The new sale of the century - Julien's Auctions Nov 2016

It was called the sale of the century.  Nothing has come close to the Christies auction of Marilyn's personal belongings back in October 1999.  Nothing that is until now....

Juliens Auctions is holding a Marilyn only auction starting November 17, 2016.  This has turned out to be the largest offering of Marilyn owned items since Christies.  I doubt we will ever see an auction like this again.  The auction catalogue itself will be a collectable in its own right.

The highlight of the auction is sure to be the Happy Birthday Mr. President dress Marilyn wore while singing to JFK.  This dress originally sold at Christies and has not been publicly seen since.  The dress will be on exhibit in New Jersey, Ireland and LA.

If anyone is thinking about bidding in the upcoming Julien's auction (and if you ever wanted to own something of Marilyn's then you should be bidding!!) I highly recommend that you do it over the phone and NOT online. I bid on a previous Juliens auction using the phone method. They call you a couple of lots before the one you want comes up. The important part of this is that if you bid online you are charged an additional 3% buyers premium!!! You will save money doing it over the phone.  Be aware you have to pay a 25% buyer premium no matter which method you choose but if online it becomes 28%.

Good luck everyone!

Juliens Marilyn Monroe Auction

Upcoming Bonhams Auction includes some Marilyn screen worn costumes

Here are some interesting items from the upcoming auction....

Auction: TCM Presents ... Treasures from the Dream Factory
Date/Time: 23 Nov 2015
Location: New York

For further details please refer to the auction on the Bonhams website by clicking here, or click on the lot:

Lot 2 A Natalie Wood bound screenplay of Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! USD 700 - USD 900
Lot 206 A Marilyn Monroe signed contract for The Asphalt Jungle USD 20,000 - USD 30,000
Lot 207 A Marilyn Monroe suit from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes USD 350,000 - USD 500,000
Lot 208 A Marilyn Monroe red saloon gown from River of No Return USD 300,000 - USD 500,000
Lot 209 Gentlemen Prefer Blondes USD 1,000 - USD 1,500
Lot 213 An original title for River of No Return USD 1,200 - USD 1,400
Lot 214 A Bert Stern photograph of Marilyn Monroe USD 1,000 - USD 1,500
Lot 215 A Marilyn Monroe signed U.S. Dept. of Defense identification card USD 10,000 - USD 15,000
Lot 218 A revised final screenplay of Let's Make Love USD 500 - USD 700
Lot 219 A large collection of rare contact sheets of Marilyn Monroe in Let's Make Love USD 50,000 - USD 80,000

Marilyn Highlights from the Juliens Auction

Press Release from Juliens

Beverly Hills, California – (December 6, 2014) – After weeks of anticipation and throngs of media attention, the Lost Archives of Marilyn Monroe and a vast collection of Hollywood memorabilia were auctioned over the weekend at the Icons & Idols: Hollywood auction event held at Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills. The extremely rare and important collection of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia was originally given to her mentor and coach Lee Strasberg who later gifted it to a friend, and featured love letters, photographs, personal items, personal records and documents and other memorabilia which were in the possession of Marilyn Monroe herself.

Highlights of the Lost Archives of Marilyn Monroe included a love letter written to Marilyn by Joe DiMaggio after learning of his impending divorce which sold for $78,125, the Marilyn Monroe silk overcoat which she often wore and was photographed in sold for $175,000, the Marilyn Monroe letter written to Arthur Miller sold for $43,750, the Marilyn Monroe black cocktail dress and opera coat sold for $93,750, a Marilyn Monroe owned pendant sold for $34,375, the Earl Moran signed nude painting of Marilyn Monroe sold for $37,500, the legendary film icon’s black beaded necklace sold for $37,500, the Marilyn Monroe owned compact sold for $46,875, Marilyn Monroe’s brassiere sold for $20,000, the icon’s lip brush sold for $10,000, and her rhinestone star hair combs sold for $22,500.

Marilyn Monroe Juliens Auction Dec 6

A pretty special auction is happening at Juliens on December 6, 2014.  While there are usually several Marilyn items included in Juliens entertainment auction.  It has been quite awhile since there have had a auction ONLY featuring Marilyn items.

This one is full of documents and letters from people like Joe DiMaggio, Arthur Miller and Jane Russell  to Marilyn.  Here is a link to check it out and you can look through the catalogue online.

http://www.juliensauctions.com/auctions/2014/marilyn-monroe/index.html

Marilyn's dress from River of No Return up for Auction

Coming up on Nov 24, 2014 by Bonhams

A Marilyn Monroe saloon gown from River of No Return

Twentieth Century-Fox, 1954. 19th century style saloon gown with a red cotton bodice adorned with large black sequins in a swirling pattern with black sequin trim along the neckline and each of the three shoulder straps, a black satin bustled skirt with matching red cotton trim with black sequins on either side of a high slit, and a yellow silk rose at the hip, bearing a label inscribed in black ink, "1-25-1-4413 A713-06 / M. Monroe"; and a matching pair of red cotton panties with red lace and green ribbon trim, bearing a label inscribed in black ink, "1-25-1-4413 A713-06 / M. Monroe" and a Fox cleaning tag. Monroe wears this dress near the beginning of the film, while singing "One Silver Dollar" on stage in the saloon tent. 

Estimate $400,000 - $600,000

#MarilynMonroe items up for Auction at Bonhams

Some really interesting items are coming up for auction at Bonhams on November 25, 2013.  Here are my favourites....

An original title made for River of No Return  ESTIMATE $700-$900

20th Century Fox, 1954. Carved wood, framed. Created by Pacific Title for the film's opening credits but not screen-used.River of No Return, a Western set in the Pacific Northwest in the 19th century, was directed by Otto Preminger and starred Marilyn Monroe and Robert Mitchum.
Overall: 45 x 19 1/2 in.; Wood only: approximately 39 x 14 in.

An eight-page handwritten letter from Marilyn Monroe to Grace Goddard  ESTIMATE $50,000-$70,000

Autograph Letter Signed ("Norma") in pencil, 8pp, 4to, [Van Nuys, CA, September 14, 1942], to Grace Goddard, regarding her wedding and married life, with original autograph transmittal envelope signed ("Mrs. James E. Dougherty").  16-year old newlywed Norma Jeane Dougherty writes to her foster mother Grace Goddard mentioning the man she believed was her biological father and describing her wedding and married life in vivid detail. Though Monroe's birth certificate lists a Martin Mortensen as her father, she always believed that her true biological father was a man named Charles Stanley Gifford, a co-worker of her mother Gladys at Consolidated Films during the 1920s. Monroe is known to have reached out to Giffords once she was an established celebrity, but he rebuffed her attempts. This letter reveals that by as young as 16—at the moment she begins her adult life as a married woman—she was interested in establishing a relationship with the man she thought of as her father.

The first line of this letter to Grace reads: "I want to thank you so much for writing Mom and explaining things about Stanley G. I'm sure she understands now." 
Norma, who had married Jimmy Dougherty just three months prior, describes life as a married woman: "He really keeps me busy cleaning the house and fixing meals, everybody told me that it is quite a responsibility being a house wife, and boy, I'm finding it out. But it really is a lot of fun. / Jimmy is so swell to me, in fact I know that if I had waited 5 or 10 years I couldn't have found anyone who would have treated me better. I just think the world of him and we get along so nicely. He is just so sweet about every little thing."
Norma Jeane goes on to describe her new home, even drawing a floor plan diagram of the rooms and furniture. The next 5 pages list in exacting detail each guest invited to the wedding and the gift sent: "Mr. and Mrs John Ingram (He is the school teacher that was such a good friend of Jimmy's). He is also Doris Drenen's brother-in-law. And Doris Drenen is Jim's ex—remember? I remember only too well."
She describes a gift from the Gaddis family: "The most beautiful cocktail set I have ever seen in my life. It is out of solid copper. The set consists of a huge round copper tray with a mat or cork on one side and asbestos on the other for hot drinks. Then there are eight copper glasses then there are eight little copper tray things for the glasses. Also there is a little copper bucket for grated ice. It is really beautiful." Other guests listed include Aunt Ana [Lower], Grace Godard's aunt, who fostered Norma Jeane from age twelve to age fourteen; and the Bolenders, who raised Norma Jeane from infancy until she was seven.
Norma Jeane adds a poignant post script, again mentioning the man she thought of as her biological father: "How can I get in touch with Stanley Gifford? Through Consoladated [sic] films? Or something like that. Which dept?" 
8 x 10 in.

A signed photograph of Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio  ESTIMATE $3,000-$5,000

Silver gelatin print of Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio stepping out of an elevator, Monroe dressed in a long black coat and black pumps, looking up and smiling at the crowd and DiMaggio in a dark three-piece suit, looking down, c.1954, signed by each ("Marilyn Monroe / Joe DiMaggio") in black ink at lower margin.
Provenance: Profiles in History, Hollywood Auction 42, June 10, 2010, lot 170; Estate of Jerome Shochet
Photographs signed by both Monroe and DiMaggio are exceedingly rare as their marriage lasted only nine months.
4 1/8 x 5 3/4 in.

#MarilynMonroe Milton Greene Photos at Auction

There is an auction coming up on July 27 through Profiles in History of Milton Greene photography.  It will feature many rare photos of Marilyn Monroe.  

If you are interested in purchasing one of the limited edition catalogue's you will need to call in your order to 310-859-7701.  They are $50 and that includes shipping anywhere.  

The catalogue looks beautiful.  You can flip through an online version here.  They are currently being printed and are expected to ship this week.  Can't wait for mine to come.

There were many questions raised when this auction was announced.  The photographs are being sold with copyrights - meaning they can be reproduced for profit.  The Marilyn community was shocked to think that Milton's Estate was selling off its catalogue of Marilyn images.

Thankfully, this is not the case.  Here is a message that was posted by Milton's son, Joshua Greene.

"I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE UPCOMING AUCTION WITH PROFILES. IN 2000 WHEN I SEPARATED FROM A ABUSIVE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP I HAD WITH VERY UNSAVORY PARTNERS. I WAS FACED WITH SPLITTING UP MY FATHERS BODY OF WORK AND GRANTING THEM THE COPYRIGHTS, A DECISION I REGRETTED EVERYDAY. I OFFERED MY GREEDY X PARTNERS 1.2 MIL & IT WAS NOT ENOUGH!!! SO IT SAT IN A VAULT IN NYC TILL 2005 WHEN THEY SOLD IT TO THE CURRENT OWNER FOR 500K. GO FIQURE.

THE BOTTOM LINE THE MM WORK IS MEDIOCRE AT BEST. THE BULK OF IT IS FROM THE SET OF BUS STOP & PRINCE, THAT IS WHY THE QUANTITIES ARE SO HIGH. THERE IS VERY LITTLE OF THE OTHER MM SITTINGS AND THEY ARE OUT, OUT, OUT, TAKES.

THE REAL ISSUE IS THAT IT IS HIS LIBRARY OF ALL THE OTHER PERSONALITIES AND FASHION HE DID OVER HIS LIFE TIME. SINCE I ALREADY OWN THE BEST OF HIS WORK WHICH IS 40 % OF THE COLLECTION INCLUDING THE BEST OF MM MY INTERESTS ARE IN THE OTHER WORKS FOR PERSONAL REASONS.

AS SAD AS THIS IS MAYBE IT WILL COME BACK HOME WHERE IT BELONGS.

THOUGHT YOU ALL SHOULD NO THE FACTS."

-Joshua Greene

  

Julien's Auction Results Hollywood Legends March 31 Sale

Here are some of the items that sold yesterday at Julien's Auctions.  You can watch these auctions live on the internet through the Julien's website.  Here are some of the highest prices realized for the Marilyn lots.

MARILYN MONROE RIVER OF NO RETURN PANTALOONS   SOLD $44,800

MARILYN MONROE BLACK LINEN BLOUSE  SOLD $22,500

MARILYN MONROE ORIGINAL NIAGARA COLOR SLIDES  SOLD $17,187

MARILYN MONROE ORIGINAL RIVER OF NO RETURN COLOR SLIDES  SOLD $15,625

MARILYN MONROE HANDWRITTEN LETTER TO ALLAN "WHITEY" SNYDER  SOLD  $12,160

MARILYN MONROE SIGNED AND INSCRIBED PHOTOGRAPH  SOLD $21,250

MARILYN MONROE GIFTED MONEY CLIP  SOLD $21,250

Whitey's Money Clip Up For Auction

The History of the Money Clip
In preparation for Marilyn's funeral, Allan "Whitey" Snyder did her makeup for the last time.  A flask of gin fortifying him enough to carry out a promise he had made in jest many years earlier, and of which Marilyn had reminded him with an inscription on a gold money clip she gave him, saying, "Whitey Dear, While I'm still warm, Marilyn."

This amazing piece of Marilyn history is going to be auctioned off through Juliens Auctions on March 31, 2012.  It is shocking that Snyder's family does not want to hold onto this.  The estimate is $6,000-8,000 but I can't imagine it going for so little. 

Decription from Juliens

A Tiffany money clip, stamped 14K, gifted to Allan "Whitey" Snyder by Marilyn Monroe. The clip is engraved "Whitey Dear:/ While I'm still warm/ Marilyn." Snyder, already a successful Hollywood makeup artist, first worked with Monroe during her 1946 screen test with 20th Century Fox, which resulted in her first studio contract. Snyder went on to become Monroe's on-screen and personal makeup artist. Monroe and Snyder developed a close friendship during their 16-year association, so close in fact that Monroe made the macabre request that Snyder do her makeup for her own funeral should anything ever happen to her. Snyder's glib response: "Sure, bring the body back while it is still warm and I'll do it." Not long after that Monroe gave Snyder this money clip. In 1962 Snyder sadly kept his promise of preparing Monroe's final makeup. Accompanied by a Tiffany cloth holder; a letter from Westwood Memorial Park thanking Snyder for his cosmetic work and for being a pallbearer at Monroe's funeral, with original transmittal envelope; a black and white photograph of Snyder and the other pallbearers carrying Monroe's coffin; and an article from The Enquirer that shows the pair together and discusses the promise Snyder made to Marilyn and her gift.

2 1/4 by 1 inch

PROVENANCE From the Estate of Allan "Whitey" Snyder

https://www.julienslive.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/68/lot/25775/

More Marilyn Costumes Sold at Debbie Reynolds Auction Part Two

The second part of Debbie Reynolds collection was sold today at auction by Profiles in History.  As you may recall the first auction included the white seven year itch dress which sold for 4 million dollars.  In fact, all of Marilyn's dresses went for over $500,000.  It is surprising to me that the dresses sold today only reached half of that.  Perhaps it is because this second auction was not publicized as much as the first one.  Maybe the white dress was such a big draw that it brought attention to the other costumes being sold at the same time.

Description:

This is the signature costume for Marilyn’s character “Cherie”, the naïve yet determined saloon singer heading for Hollywood in Joshua Logan’s romantic Western from the play by William Inge, Bus Stop. It is also one of the most iconic and indelible looks from her entire career, being a top choice for publicity images of Marilyn even to this very day. In it, she performs (intentionally naively) “That Old Black Magic”, winning the heart of the handsome and rather eager cowboy played by Don Murray. This was to be the last of the great collaborations between Marilyn and her favorite costume designer, William Travilla. TCF handwritten label “Marilyn Monroe A-769-03”. Exhibits sequin loss along neckline and minimal sequin loss on bodice, and straps have been replaced.

SOLD FOR $230,000

Description:

Elegant, two-piece evening gown designed by Travilla of an aubergine steel gray couched in meandering-pattern braid and accented by two aubergine satin trains flowing from the waist. Handwritten studio tag inside dress reads “1-27-3-7914 M. MONROE A-698-53,” and jacket has handwritten label “1-41-2-0570 Marilyn Monroe A-698-16.” Worn quite memorably by Miss Monroe for several scenes, from her clever efforts to remove Elliot Reid’s clothes in order to search them, to being stuck halfway through a porthole, requiring rescue by her youngest suitor Mr. Henry Spofford III (age 9, going on 21). Material on waist is detached two inches, else Fine as screen-worn.

SOLD FOR $260,000

Description:

Pale green silk pleated strapless dress adorned with rhinestones (a few of which are missing). TCF label handwritten “F-13 M. Monroe”. Designed to be unbearably sexy without also being un-releasable due to censorship, a condition several earlier costumes designed for Marilyn suffered from. Worn for the title number, in which Marilyn offers herself upon a mid-century-modern stage of cross-rotating apartment flats, first to Frankie Vaughan, then Yves Montand (in his fantasy sublimation). This timeless creation by Dorothy Jeakins remains one of the most attractive costumes ever created for this legendary actress.

SOLD FOR $240,000

Description:

Light aqua two-piece raw silk suit with Monroe Lloyd of California label. A rather conservative look for Marilyn, which was deliberately chosen by her character as Joseph Cotten’s unfaithful wife, off to an illicit rendezvous with her lover under Niagara Falls in Henry Hathaway’s Niagara. The indelible image of Marilyn’s hips swinging as she walks away in this form-fitted outfit is considered one of the great “sex in cinema” sequences released during the height of the censorship Production Code. This 2-piece suit was modified under Dorothy Jeakins’ direction from an off-the-rack couture ensemble. Shoulders exhibit light soiling, and skirt has 2 in. tear at split, otherwise Fine as screen-worn.

SOLD FOR $210,000

River of No Return Dress Sells for Over Half a Million Dollars

Marilyn's green dress from the film, River of No Return, sold at auction this weekend for $516,600.

She famously wore this while singing "I'm Gonna File My Claim".

It was featured in the Legends auction by Juliens Auction House in China and was sold to a private buyer.

Marilyn dresses score record prices at Debbie Reynolds auction!!

As soon as the first Marilyn gown hit the auction block all bets were off as to what kind of prices would be realized.  The Gentlemen Prefer Blondes dress reached $1.2 million.

Next up was the saloon gown from River of No Return.  It sold for $510,000.

Next up was the Heatwave gown from There's No Business Like Show Business.  It sold for $500,000.

Finally the highlight of the night....the Seven Year Itch dress sold for a staggering $4.6 million.

It is interesting to compare this to the price realized on the JFK Happy Birthday dress that sold at Christies in 1999 for a little over a million.  Imagine what that dress would bring in today's market.

For more information on what it was like at the auction visit this article.

Check out Scott's wonderful video of this historic event...

Profiles in History : Debbie Reynolds Auction

On June 18, a pretty extraordinary auction will be taking place in Beverly Hills by Profiles in History. Actress Debbie Reynolds is parting with her collection of Hollywood memorabilia.  She gathered these pieces in the hopes of someday opening a museum. Unfortunately, due to finances this dream did not come true and she decided to sell. The Marilyn dresses are all instantly recognizable to fans; River of No Return, Little Rock, Heat Wave and the most iconic of all Seven Year Itch.  The white dress is expected to sell for over $1,000,000. 

I am curious to know if Profiles in History will include this auction in their TV series, Hollywood Treasures.  I have enjoyed watching it.  It follows around the Profiles in History team as they track down items and prepare for auctions.  The end of each episode features the actual auction and what the pieces sold for.  When I heard the news that Reynolds decided to go with Profiles for her sale I was hopeful it might be featured at some point.

CONFIRMED: It has been reported that she will appear in a June 15 episode showing off her collection!

More info from CBS News:

You can soon own a piece of Hollywood history, thanks to actress Debbie Reynolds. 

For decades, Reynolds collected some of the big screen's most iconic props and costumes. But now, she's putting them on the auction block.

CBS News National Correspondent Ben Tracy spent some time with Reynolds, known for her roles in "Singin' in the Rain" and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown," to find out why.

The 79-year-old star is saying good-bye to the dresses she wore in her movies, selling them off along with hundreds of other Hollywood treasures she's purchased, mostly at studio auctions over the past four decades.

Reynolds told Tracy she began collecting the costumes for emotional reasons.

She said, "I couldn't believe that they were getting rid of all these iconic pieces that I considered to be historical and should be saved."

Reynolds has a pair of "Wizard of Oz" ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland. She also owns Julie Andrews' dress and guitar from "The Sound of Music."

Some of the centerpieces of the collection include the famous Oscar-winning fashions worn by Audrey Hepburn in "My Fair Lady" and the pleated, white "subway dress" worn by Marilyn Monroe in "The Seven Year Itch."

Though Reynolds wouldn't disclose how much she paid for the Monroe dress, she said it's expected to bring in more thsn $1 million at auction.

Reynolds said, "I paid a lot, but not that!"

As Reynolds and Tracy walked through the collection, Tracy remarked how small the actresses' waists were.

Laughing, Reynolds said, "Yeah, we've all changed since that time."

Reynolds' collected the costumes with the dream of one day building a museum. But development deals kept falling through, putting her deeper in debt. The auction is designed to pay off those debts.

Reynolds said she's "devastated" and "very saddened" that her idea never came to fruition.

"(I'm) very disappointed that I never could get the right people interested," she said. "At least, I never found them."

Tracy asked the star, "You talk about, this wasn't cheap. That you spent a lot of money, you had to use your credit card. Did you ever get to a point where you said, 'Whoa, I'm buying too much stuff?"'

"Oh, yes," Reynolds said. "It was always too much. But then, life should be that. Either full of life, or no life."

The star said she wanted to have the auction while she could be a part of it and make sure the costumes go to "special homes."

"If you wait 'til you pass away, what good does that do?" she said. "So, I'm being selfish, in a way, by passing them along while I'm still alive."

New York attempts to bring home Monroe's legendary White Dress

A New York City-based entertainment technology firm inQuicity is raising funds to win back the iconic, “fluttering” white dress worn by Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe in the film 'The Seven Year Itch'.

The dress, which is currently owned by the movie star Debbie Reynolds, will be auctioned off on June 18 in Los Angeles.

“Your donation will protect the legend and legacy of an American icon,” the company said on the official site of its nationwide “SAVE-THE-DRESS” campaign to rescue the “White Dress made famous by Marilyn Monroe.”

According to an auction house, the dress is said to be worth between $1 million and $2 million.

A scene from the film shot atop a New York City subway vent, in which Monroe’s white dress is fluttered upward by gushing air from a passing train made the actress a superstar. The image of the actress in the particular scene is considered an all time fashion moment worldwide.

“The timeless image of Marilyn Monroe in her legendary white dress has been indelibly etched in the minds of so many around the world. Her legacy and this priceless dress belong to the people, and shouldn't be hidden away from public view. Ensure that this incredible piece of Hollywood history remains accessible to all – where it belongs – in New York City,” the company said.

inQuicity plans to place the Oscar winning William Travilla's White Dress on permanent display in a New York City museum.

For more information http://savethedress.org/

The question has been raised as to what exactly they are going to do with the money if they are unsuccessful in acquiring the dress at the upcoming auction.  Donors will not get their money back and let's be honest it is highly unlikely this internet website is going to raise enough money to win the dress at auction.  After all, the estimate for the dress is $1,000,000 - 2,000,000 dollars.  The auction takes place on June 18 through Profiles in History.

Marilyn's Dress Sells for $348,000

A black cocktail dress worn by the "Some Like It Hot" star sold for a record-breaking amount at Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills

Not just any LBD! A little black dress worn by Marilyn Monroe sold at auction on May 8 for $348,000 at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills. The custom-made black crepe dress with a plunging v-neck was expected to go for $20,000 to $30,000, but far exceeded that. Monroe wore the dress to a cocktail party at the Beverly Hills Hotel in 1958 and also appears in it on the cover of the book Marilyn Monroe: From Beginning to End by Michael Ventura.

The cocktail dress was part of the Hollywood Legends auction at Julien's Auctions, which took place on May 7 and May 8. Other iconic items on the block included Monroe's MGM-branded swimsuit (winning bid: $84,000), Audrey Hepburn's straw hat from 1957's Funny Face(winning bid: $15,360) and the throne used by Elizabeth Taylor in 1963's Cleopatra (winning bid: $7,040).

More recent film memorabilia included an outfit worn by Angelina Jolie in 1999's Girl, Interrupted (winning bid: $1,792) and Alicia Silverstone's Batgirl costume from 1997'sBatman & Robin (winning bid: $12,800).

-The Hollywood Reporter

Bonhams auction features early Norma Jeane letter

NORMA JEANE DESCRIBES HER WEDDING IN INTIMATE DETAIL.
Autograph Letter Signed ("Norma") in pencil, 8 pp, 4to, [Van Nuys, CA, September 14, 1942], to Grace Goddard, regarding her wedding and married life, with original autograph transmittal envelope signed ("Mrs. James E. Dougherty"), light soiling at creases to letter, envelope toned, corners bumped, right margin rough.

Charles Williamson often described this lot as "the greatest Marilyn Monroe letter in the world"—and he may well have been right. 16-year old newlywed Norma Jeane Dougherty writes her foster mother Grace Goddard mentioning the man she believed was her biological father and describing her wedding and married life in vivid detail.
Though Monroe's birth certificate lists a Martin Mortensen as her father, she always believed that her true biological father was a man named Charles Stanley Gifford, a co-worker of her mother Gladys at Consolidated Films during the 1920s. Monroe is known to have reached out to Giffords once she was an established celebrity, but he rebuffed her attempts. This letter reveals that by as young as 16—at the moment she begins her adult life as a married woman—she was interested in establishing a relationship with the man she thought of as her father. 
The first line of this letter to Grace reads: "I want to thank you so much for writing Mom and explaining things about Stanley G. I'm sure she understands now." Norma goes on to describe life as a married woman: "He really keeps me busy cleaning the house and fixing meals, everybody told me that it is quite a responsibility being a house wife, and boy, I'm finding it out. But it really is a lot of fun. / Jimmy is so swell to me, in fact I know that if I had waited 5 or 10 years I couldn't have found anyone who would have treated me better. I just think the world of him and we get along so nicely. He is just so sweet about every little thing."
Norma Jeane goes on to describe her new home, even drawing a floor plan diagram of the rooms and furniture. The next 5 pages list in exacting detail each guest invited to the wedding and the gift sent: "Mr. and Mrs John Ingram (He is the school teacher that was such a good friend of Jimmy's). He is also Doris Drenen's brother-in-law. And Doris Drenen is Jim's ex—remember? I remember only too well."
She describes a gift from the Gaddis family: "The most beautiful cocktail set I have ever seen in my life. It is out of solid copper. The set consists of a huge round copper tray with a mat or cork on one side and asbestos on the other for hot drinks. Then there are eight copper glasses then there are eight little copper tray things for the glasses. Also there is a little copper bucket for grated ice. It is really beautiful."
Norma Jeane adds a poignant post script, again mentioning the man she thought of as her biological father: "How can I get in touch with Stanley Gifford? Through Consoladated [sic] films? Or something like that. Which dept?"

Estimate $25,000 - 35,000

UPDATE:  This letter went for $52,460 well above the estimate

Visit the auction here

The Year of the Rabbit: The Playboy Auction

UPDATE:  These photos sold for $20,000 at the Christies Auction.

I came across an unbelievable collection of Earl Moran photos featuring Marilyn in an upcoming Christies auction slated for December 8.  The Earl Moran LOT 69 SALE 2367 features 55 gelatin silver prints which are estimated at $20,000 -30,000.  Would sure love to have them but WOW that is some series money.  Some of these photos are featured in low quality in my new Moran gallery.

Thanks to everyone who has responded to the Moran collectors call.  I particularly like seeing Moran art with the real life Marilyn photo.  Hoping to showcase some of this.  If you have any examples send them to MARILYNFAN AT GMAIL.

In particular, I am looking for high quality scans of the following photos, if you can help, let me know.

Julien's Auctions - Anna Nicole Smith & Marilyn Monroe

Each year in June, an auction is held that contains amazing Marilyn Monroe items.  I purchased my Marilyn Monroe hat from Julien's.  The current auction is taking place in Las Vegas at Planet Hollywood on June 26 and 27.  I'm disappointed that I'll be missing the public exhibit of the items by just a few days, as I'll be in Vegas for my wedding.

You can browse the entire catalogue online at http://www.juliensauctions.com/auctions/2010/hollywood-legends/icatalog.html

Lots of Marilyn items including those from the estate of Dr. Ralph Greenson.  Items include;  Funeral program and chest ex-ray (which I already posted about HERE).

There is a whole section on Anna Nicole Smith's items.  I was amazed to see all of the Marilyn items she had.  There are even pieces of furniture she had custom made with portraits of Marilyn.  It is apparent that she was a true fan.