A star-studded line up of entertainment memorabilia was offered and sold at auction on Dec.9th in Los Angeles including property related to Hollywood icons and music industry greats such as Marilyn Monroe, Tyrone Power, Walt Disney, The Beatles and Charles Schulz. New collectors, seasoned bidders and movie fans alike filled the Bonhams & Butterfields salesroom in Los Angeles to vie for items from silver screen icons and rock n’ roll legends.

The top lot of the Sunday sale was the 1946 Marilyn Monroe/Norma Jeane Dougherty signed contract with 20th Century Fox — relating to her work, her name change and her ultimate termination. Dated “August 24, 1946,” this was the second contract the studio offered to the 21-year-old starlet, then: Norma Jeane Dougherty. Standard in its terms, it is signed in black fountain pen ink on page 16 as “Norma Jeane Dougherty.” The following page is signed in the same ink “Grace McKee / Foster Legal guardian.” McKee [later Goddard after marriage] was Monroe’s mother’s best friend and had played a pivotal role in the future star’s rearing. Estimated to bring $6,000 to $8,000, the contract sold for $48,000.

Several other Monroe lots were offered, including a 1950s black cocktail dress once owned by the icon, which sold for $13,200. Many of the December lots pertaining to the starlet had never before been seen by the general public. According to Margaret Barrett, Department Head, Entertainment Memorabilia at Bonhams & Butterfields, “The Entertainment Memorabilia Department was excited to offer several pieces related to the icon. This was a fantastic opportunity for any Marilyn collector or fan to acquire a piece related to her history.”

The highly competitive sale garnered international collector interest with dynamic bidding both on the telephones and in the standing-room-only Sunset Blvd. salesroom. “It was an energetic sale reflecting the strength and continuing interest in Hollywood and music memorabilia. We saw strong participation from the both the East and West Coasts,” said Barrett.

A selection of property from the Estate of Tyrone Power (1914-1958) was also featured. A total of 15 lots were consigned by Tyrone William Power IV, son of the “Golden Era” A-list actor, each accompanied by a signed ‘letter of provenance’ indicating that they were once owned by his legendary father. The marquee lot from the Estate was an oil on canvas portrait of Power, painted by his friend and fellow actor Claire Trevor the year of his death. Initially estimated between $400-$600, competitive bidding pushed its price to $39,000. An additional interesting portrait lot from the Estate was a drawing of Power completed by his sister, Anne Power Hardenbergh, in the 1940s. His sibling’s work sold $10,800.

Other sale highlights included: a rare 1966 Beatles ‘Butcher Cover’ set of 4-color separations from the stereo version of the album Yesterday…and Today (sold for $14,400) and a massive collection of vintage and contemporary film lobby cards, 1930s-1980s (sold for: $14,400).

Also on offer at Bonhams & Butterfields was a diverse selection of Animation Art, including illustration and comic art. Featured lots sold to strong bidding, such as a Joe Grant study drawing of the sorcerer from Fantasia (brought $11,400); a Charles Schulz drawing of Snoopy as the Red Baron (sold for $10,800); a grouping of more than 230 Walt Disney rough sequential drawings from the 1942 classic Bambi (sold for: $27,000) while an additional lot of approximately 69 Walt Disney rough sequential drawings from the film sold for $11,400. According to Bonhams & Butterfields Specialist Dana Hawkes, “The demand for the incredibly rare sequential drawings of Disney characters as beloved as Bambi far surpassed our expectations. Bonhams & Butterfields is pleased with the overall results of the sale.”

Posted: 12|19|07 at 11:04 am. Filed under: Press Release.