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For Immediate release!
A Historic Discovery from Marilyn Monroe’s Archives–a Greeting Card from Monroe’s Father – the Only Known Communication Written by the Star’s Long-Lost Parent to his Famous Daughter from their First and Only Known Meeting – to Headline Stunning Collection Representing the Hollywood Legend’s Private Life and Singular Career
Over 175 Items from Marilyn Monroe Headlines Year-End Blockbuster “Icons & Idols: Hollywood” Featuring E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Film Used Mechanical Model, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Nimbus 2000 Hero Broom, The Ten Commandments Moses “Holy Staff,” Star Wars Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace and Episode II - Attack of the Clones Dueling Lightsabers and More
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17TH AND SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18TH
Beverly Hills, California – (November 23rd, 2022) – Julien’s Auctions and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) unveiled today a dazzling collection of over 175 items from Marilyn Monroe’s incandescent life and career to be presented at the world record-breaking auction house to the stars and Hollywood’s most revered purveyor of classic movies’ year end auction event, “JULIEN’S AUCTIONS AND TCM PRESENT: ICONS & IDOLS HOLLYWOOD,” taking place live Saturday, December 17th and Sunday, December 18th in Beverly Hills and online at julienslive.com.
An astonishing highlight is a historic discovery from the Hollywood legend’s personal archives: a get-well greeting card from Marilyn Monroe’s father, Stanley C. Gifford (estimate: $2,000 - $3,000). This undated card (photo right) without an envelope is addressed to Monroe in Gifford’s hand where he has misspelled her name as “Marylyn.” The card reads, “This cheery little get-well note comes specially to say that lots of thoughts and wishes, too, are with you every day,” with the words “a little prayer too,” and signed in Gifford’s hand, “Stanley Gifford, Red Rock Dairy Farm, Hemet, Calif.” The greeting card was discovered by Marilyn Monroe historian and collector Scott Fortner as part of researching and documenting Marilyn Monroe’s personal archives. It has been widely reported that Monroe unsuccessfully attempted to contact her father by telephone many times over the years and visited the town of Hemet, California in an attempt to locate him which is confirmed by numerous locals reporting “Marilyn Monroe Spottings” in Hemet. It is believed that Gifford did not want to upset his wife and children by allowing Monroe to be part of his life.
In the book, My Sister Marilyn, A Memoir of Marilyn Monroe by Berniece Baker Miracle (Marilyn’s half-sister) and Mona Rae Miracle (Berniece’s daughter), Monroe confided to the author that Gifford had visited her when she was in the hospital on an undisclosed date. Miracle recalls Monroe telling her that, “The first time I saw my father, I was lying flat on my back in the hospital. I looked at him and I studied his face and features, and I saw that mother had told me the truth, that he was my father.” Based upon all available information and the fact that this is a get-well card, coupled with the fact Monroe stated to her half-sister Berniece that she first met her father for the first time when she was hospitalized, Gifford himself clearly hand delivered this card to Monroe when he visited her during one of her many hospitalizations in Los Angeles. This card is the only known material artifact that establishes any connection or communication between Gifford and his famous daughter. Gifford was finally definitively proven to be Monroe’s father through DNA testing in 2022. (photo left of Marilyn Monroe by Andre de Dienes)
Wardrobe pieces worn by the screen goddess in her most famous photographs, star making moments and personal appearances, as well as correspondence, makeup, and other items from her life and career will make its way to the auction podium including (with estimates):
“For nearly two decades, Julien’s has proudly represented the legacy and lore of Hollywood’s most glamorous and iconic star, Marilyn Monroe,” said Martin Nolan, Executive Director of Julien’s Auctions. “In this auction, we’ve curated with TCM what is sure to be one of the most talked about and history making Marilyn collections in the industry with over 175 extraordinary items discovered from her personal archives such as the only known written communication from Marilyn’s father to clothing worn in her most iconic looks on and off the screen, that shaped not only her public persona but pop culture and style writ large.”
“Despite the numerous books, movies, and stories there are about the life of Marilyn Monroe, she has always been a largely enigmatic and alluring star,” said Pola Changnon, general manager of TCM. “This auction brings us closer to the real person she was, and Julien’s has done an incredible job curating this glimpse into her all-too-brief life.”
These pieces join the previously announced Marilyn highlights including a Marilyn Monroe black wool cocktail dress (estimate: $40,000 - $60,000), her white textured cotton sleeveless sundress with decorative trim around the neck and arms (estimate: $40,000 - $60,000) worn by Marilyn in the series of photographs taken of her and Arthur Miller in New York City in 1956 and Marilyn Monroe-owned pearl gray silk halter dress (estimate: $60,000 - $80,000) designed by Jax.
“Julien’s Auctions and TCM Present: Icons & Idols Hollywood,” features a marquee lineup of over 1,500 Hollywood props, artifacts and memorabilia including: E.T. the Extra- Terrestrial Hero “#1” Mechatronic filming model “actor” that brought the eponymous character to life in Steven Spielberg’s 1982 classic (estimate: $2,000,000 - $3,000,000); Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Nimbus 2000 hero broom (estimate: $80,000 - $100,000); The Ten Commandments Moses “Holy Staff,” (estimate: $40,000 - $60,000); Star Wars dueling lightsabers from Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace and Episode II - Attack of the Clones (range each $40,000 - $80,000), as well as items from Alien, Risky Business, Skyfall, Iron Man 2, Captain America: The First Avenger, Titanic and more.
EXHIBITION & LIVE AUCTION LOCATION E.T THE EXHIBIT 1982-2022 Art Museo Interattivo del Cinema (MIC) Viale Fulvio Testi 121, Milano Italy Saturday, November 6th - Sunday, January 29th, 2023 Julien's Auctions Beverly Hills 257 N. Canon Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Public Exhibition: Monday, December 12th, 2022 – Friday, December 16th, 2022 Daily: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time Free to the Public
LIVE & ONLINE AUCTION JULIEN’S AUCTIONS AND TCM PRESENT: ICONS & IDOLS: HOLLYWOOD Saturday, December 17th, 2022 Session I : 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time
JULIEN’S AUCTIONS AND TCM PRESENT: ICONS & IDOLS: HOLLYWOOD Sunday, December 18th, 2022 Session II: 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time
Phone: (310) 836-1818 | Fax: (310) 742-0155 Email: info@juliensauctions.com
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For Inquiries, Please Email info@juliensauctions.com or Call 310-836-1818.
LIVE AUCTIONS
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ONLINE ONLY AUCTIONS
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There are four ways to bid in Live Auctions:
info@juliensauctions.com For hi res images at 300 dpi (and above), please email requests to: info@juliensauctions.com.
Collaborating with the famous and the exclusive, Julien’s Auctions produces high profile auctions in the film, music, art and sports markets. Julien’s Auctions has received international recognition for its unique and innovative auction events, which attract thousands of collectors, investors, fans and enthusiasts from around the world. Julien’s Auctions specializes in sales of iconic artifacts and notable collections including Marilyn Monroe, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Lady Gaga, Banksy, Cher, Michael Jackson, U2, Barbra Streisand, Les Paul, Neil Young, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Jimi Hendrix, Hugh Hefner, Pelé and many more. In 2016, Julien’s realized $5 million in the historic auction of the Brazilian soccer icon, three-time World Cup Champion and FIFA Player of the Century’s collection of memorabilia, personal property and awards, which featured the sale of Pelé’s 3 World Cup Gold medals, sold for a combined total of US $970,992 (£674,300), including his 1970 World Cup winner’s medal sold for $427,100 (£346,000), which set world records for the most expensive Pelé item and the most expensive soccer medal ever sold at auction. In 2020, Julien’s shattered multiple records of sports jerseys sold at auction in the sale of a trio of historic #23 basketball jerseys worn by Michael Jordan (his historic 1984 “Signing Day” official Chicago Bulls rookie #23 which sold for $320,000, a new world record sale for a jersey worn by the 14 Time All-Star and five-time MVP legend), Barack Obama (the forty-fourth U.S. President’s 1979 #23 Punahou School jersey which sold for $192,000, a new world record selling price for a high school jersey) and Lebron James (the NBA legend’s 2003-2004 official Cleveland Cavaliers rookie year NBA jersey rookie season which sold for $128,000) which combined totaled $640,000 as well as Colin Kaepernick’s official San Francisco 49ers rookie jersey which sold for $128,000, a new world record for most expensive NFL jersey sold at auction. Other notable Sports memorabilia sold by Julien’s Auctions include Babe Ruth’s 1938 Brooklyn Dodgers coaching uniform which sold for $187,500 and NASCAR legend Richard Petty’s 1974 Dodge Charger Daytona race-winning car which sold for $500,000. In 2016, Julien’s Auctions received its second placement in the Guinness Book of World Records for the sale of the world’s most expensive dress ever sold at auction, The Marilyn Monroe “Happy Birthday Mr. President” dress which sold for $4.8 million. Julien’s Auctions achieved placement in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2009 for the sale of Michael Jackson’s white glove, which sold for $480,000 making it the most expensive glove ever sold at auction. In 2020, Julien’s Auctions received its third Guinness Book of World Record placement for the sale of Kurt Cobain’s “MTV Unplugged” 1959 Martin D-18E acoustic-electric guitar, which sold for $6 million making it the world’s most expensive guitar ever sold at auction. In 2022, Julien’s Auctions sold the world’s second most expensive guitar ever sold at auction with Kurt Cobain’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video 1969 Fender Mustang electric guitar, which sold for $4.5 million. Based in Los Angeles, Julien’s Auctions has a global presence bringing their auctions and exhibitions to targeted destinations worldwide including London, New York, Las Vegas, Japan and China. Live auctions are presented for bidders on-site and online via live streaming video and mobile technology. For more information on Julien’s Auctions, go to www.juliensauctions.com.
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