Wednesday, February 23, 2011

ICONIC SEVEN YEAR ITCH "SUBWAY DRESS" GOES TO AUCTION


The famous Seven Year Itch dress is estimated to be sold between 1-2 million dollars when it goes up for auction this summer.

The dress is from the collection of Debbie Reynolds, who has collected an amazing lot of Hollywood costumes, including Judy Garland's ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz.

Reynolds always dreamed her collection would be housed in a  museum, but with no financial backing she made the decision to auction it off.

Profiles in History, an auctioneer of Hollywood memorabilia, says it's the most significant collection of Hollywood costumes and props since the liquidation of the MGM and Fox studios in the 1970s. It will be sold in a series of auctions starting in June and continuing in December.

Reynolds collection contains more than 3,500 costumes, 20,000 photographs, and thousands of movie posters, costume sketches and props.



Part One of the auction will include the Seven Year Itch subway dress and the following items:

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.

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