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The "Afterlife of Hollywood Stars Personal Keepsakes Cross the Auction Block By Rena Dictor LeBlanc W hen Marilyn Monroe was sixteen she wrote an eight-page letter describing the details of her wedding to Jim Dougherty and her married life in vivid detail. The teenager was writing to her foster mother Grace Goddard. Marilyn had no way of knowing that the letter she signed with her real name Norma Jeane Dougherty would sell for $52,460 on April 20, 2011 at Bonhams Auction House in Hollywood. The auction's estimated price range for the letter was from $25,000 to $35,000. But, the worldwide bidding soared. The letter also revealed she was interested in estab- lishing a relationship with the man she thought of as her biological father. It was described as "the greatest Marilyn Monroe letter in the world" by collectors Charles Williamson and Tucker Fleming, the sellers. Beyond films Hollywood stars have made, props from these films, and their personal belongings have also pro- vided them with an "afterlife" among fans and collectors all over the world. It's an offshoot of their suc- cess the celebrities may not have expected. According to Catherine Williamson, Ph.D., Director of Fine Books, Manuscripts and En- tertainment Memorabilia at Bonham's Holly- wood office, "First and foremost their legacy lives on through their films, and secondarily through their memorabilia. One helps the other." The auction house offers live and internet bidding worldwide for its Hollywood auctions. "The market for both old and new Hollywood col- lectibles continues to grow. In every sale there is at least one item that sparks a major bidding war." One of these star wars took place when a photograph of Vivien Leigh as Scarlet O'Hara (from Gone With The Wind) went on sale. The photograph had been inscribed by 16 DISCOVER HOLLYWOOD / FALL 2011 the star for George Cukor, the first director of the movie. The estimated price ranged from $1,500 to $2,000. The final sale price was $10,980. The most desirable Hollywood items are those associ- ated with the most popular films, according to the director of entertainment memorabilia. These items include Os- cars, scripts, costumes and props. Second to that would be personally owned property like clothing, books, things that are identified with the celebrity but not used in a film. Charlie Chaplin's trademark bowler hat and cane from his iconic Tramp costume sold for $139,250. Sometimes items sell for a lot more than the auc- tion estimate. An oil on canvas portrait of Tyrone Power was painted by his friend and fellow actor Claire Trevor in 1958, the year of his death. Initially estimated to sell for from $400 to $600, competitive bidding pushed its final price to $39,000. In connection with the June 2011 sale Dr. Williamson pointed out, "We saw strong participa- tion online and in the sale room for iconic pieces from the classic films of yesterday and today." One of the bull- whips used in a stunt se- quence from Raiders of the Lost Ark had an estimated sale range from $50,000 to $70,000. It sold for $61,000. Also for sale at that auction was a document in which Lauren Bacall gave amusing responses to questions by Parade Magazine. When Award cup presented to Tony Curtis by Jack Lemmon on completion of Warner Bros The Great Race in 1965. Engraved inscription "It was a great race and I demand another one - Love Jack" Image courtesy of Juliens Auctions