Film Scripts and Archive of Hollywood & Entertainment Photographs go to Auction in LA
LOS ANGELES—June 14th, 2017—Profiles in History is proud to announce, the Movie Star News archive of over 1,000,000 Hollywood and entertainment photographs, will be going up for auction during their three day Hollywood Auction 89 in Los Angeles.
Movie Star News was a New York City institution for over 70 years. The photographs are primarily gelatin silver 8 x 10 in. single and double wright glossy and matte photographs, as well as RC prints, color photos, color gloss stills and color mini lobby cards. It began as a used book store owned by siblings Irving and Paula Klaw. It contains photos of almost any entertainer you could think of. Also up for auction is Irving Klaw's Movie Star News Pin-Up Archive with over 10,000 negatives, offered with copyright, representing the best in vintage cheesecake, kink and erotic photography. The "notorious" Bettie Page is pictured above. The Movie Star News archive is estimated to sell for $180,000 - $350,000. The Pin-Up archive and estimated to sell for $80,000 - $150,000.
Next up is William Peter Blatty's signed and annotated original manuscript adaptation of The Exorcist. William Peter Blatty was the author of The Exorcist novel and Warner Bros. hired him to write the screenplay and produce the film. Blatty ultimately won the Oscar for Best Screenplay. It is pictured right and estimated to sell for $40,000 - $60,000.
Then Edgar Wallace's personal film typescript for King Kong with Wallace's handwritten revisions. This is the January 1932 carbon-copy typescript of the full scenario, comprising 303 "shots," with his autograph alterations and annotations on many pages. The script was written one month before his death and is presented with it's original title of "Kong." Wallace died before he could see his vision on screen. It is pictured left and estimated to sell for $100,000 - $150,000.
And the personal collection of pioneering film director Tod Browning. Offered here are many rare set photos, behind the scene photos and production photos, along with character portraits. Some of these photos are resurfacing for the first time in 100 years. Highlights include the unprecedented wealth of material on two of Browning's films that were tragically destroyed in the 1967 MGM vault fire, The Big City, as well as one of the most coveted lost films in history, London After Midnight,which starred Lon Chaney (pictured below). There are also an exceptional amount of photos from Browning's passion project, Freaks.
The historical importance of these photos cannot be overstated. The 157 lots range from being estimated to sell for $200 to being estimated to sell for $2,500.
Finally, an extraordinary The Wizard of Oz presentation book signed by all the major cast members including Toto's paw prints and a lengthy inscription by Judy Garland. It is a hardcover edition with color plates and is 208 pages. The front original end leaf is penned with all the characters' names and signed to the right byt the respective cast member. Along with the Ruby Slippers this represents the pinnacle of Oz memorabilia. It is pictured below and estimated to sell for $20,000 - $30,000.
ABOUT PROFILES IN HISTORY
Founded in 1985 by Joseph Maddalena, Profiles in History is the world's largest auctioneer & dealer of original Hollywood Memorabilia, historical autographs, letters, documents, vintage signed photographs and manuscripts. Born into a family of antiques dealers in Rhode Island, Joseph "Joe" Maddalena learned early on how to turn his passion of collecting historical autographs into a career. Upon graduation from Pepperdine, Joe pursued his passion to become a full-time dealer of historical documents, and opened his first office in 1985. Profiles in History has held some of the most prestigious and successful auctions of Hollywood memorabilia and own virtually every Guinness Book record for prices of original screen-used memorabilia. Highlights from their previous auctions include the "Cowardly Lion" costume from The Wizard of Oz ($805,000); Steve McQueen's "Michael Delaney" racing suit from Le Mans ($960,000); From the history-making Debbie Reynolds Auction in June 2011, Profiles in History sold the Marilyn Monroe "Subway" Dress from The Seven Year Itch for $5.52M and the Audrey Hepburn Ascot Dress from My Fair Lady for $4.44M. In February 2012, Profiles in History arranged the sale of a pair of Judy Garland screen-used Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. In addition, Joe Maddalena was the star of Hollywood Treasure, which aired on Syfy. Hollywood Treasure took viewers into the fascinating world of showbiz and pop culture memorabilia.
For more information visit www.profilesinhistory.com
