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ICONS: PLAYBOY, HUGH HEFNER & MARILYN MONROE: HISTORIC RESULTS
JULIEN’S AUCTIONS “ICONS: PLAYBOY, HUGH HEFNER X MARILYN MONROE” NETS OVER FOUR MILLION TOTAL
April 4, 2024
MARILYN MONROE’S PINK PUCCI DRESS SOLD FOR $325,000 SETS NEW WORLD RECORD FOR PUCCI DRESS SOLD AT AUCTION
BURIAL CRYPT NEAR MARILYN MONROE’S AND HUGH HEFNER’S FINAL RESTING PLACES - Sold for $195,000
MARILYN MONROE’S “THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH” BLACK CELLOPHANE GOWN - Sold for $127,000
MARILYN MONROE GRAVE MARKER - Sold for Nearly $90,000, Astounding 44 X Its Estimate
JEAN LOUIS COCKTAIL DRESS WORN BY MARILYN MONROE FOR THE MISFITS PRESS CONFERENCE - Sold for $65,000
MARILYN MONROE’S CUSTOM SHADE ELIZABETH ARDEN LIPSTICK
Sold for Astounding $65,000, 9 X Its Estimate Making it the Second Highest Selling Lipstick Sold at Auction History
LETTER TO MARILYN MONROE FROM JEAN SMITH, ROSE AND JOSEPH KENNEDY’S DAUGHTER - Sold for $28,575
Annotated Scripts of Monroe’s Final Films The Misfits and Something's Got To Give, There's No Business Like Show Business Costume, Joe DiMaggio and Monroe Passport Photos, Checkbook, Furniture Receipt Realized Top Prices
Plus, All of Hugh Hefner’s Items Including Burgundy Smoking Jacket Ensemble and Tobacco Pipe and Chicago Playboy Mansion Circular Bed Sold
Collection of the Three American Icons Brought Together for the First Time in Auction History Draws Bidders from Each Continent
Los Angeles, California – (March 30th, 2024) Julien's Auctions concluded today “ICONS: PLAYBOY, HUGH HEFNER X MARILYN MONROE” Thursday, March 28th, Friday, March 29th and Saturday, March 30th with a grand finale presentation of iconic items from Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner live in front of an audience of bidders at NYA Studios East in Hollywood, attracting over eight thousand bids online, and on the phone, from countries across each continent such as the United States, Canada, Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Mexico, Monaco, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Germany, and Hong Kong.
Though the two Hollywood icons remarkably never met, Hugh Hefner's and Marilyn Monroe’s legacies became inextricably linked when Monroe appeared in Hefner’s inaugural 1953 issue of Playboy. In that moment, they gained worldwide fame becoming two important figures of twentieth-century America and Playboy establishing itself as an iconic global brand.
An original copy of the first issue of Playboy magazine (HMH Publishing, 1953) featuring Marilyn Monroe on the cover. Monroe also appears on the interior of the premiere issue of Hugh Hefner's famous magazine in an article on pages 17 and 18 titled "What Makes Marilyn" and a color pin-up of Monroe taken by Tom Kelley during the 1949 Red Velvet session is published on page 19. Monroe is called "Sweetheart of the Month," which evolved into Playmate of the Month. The magazine hit newsstands in December 1953 and sold for 50 cents a copy.
The three American icons were brought together for the first time in auction history with over 600 historical items including wardrobe, costumes, production documents, furniture, jewelry, artwork, personal effects and beyond sold across the three-day auction event that netted $4 million total and a new world record.
This weekend, many important pieces from Marilyn Monroe’s life and career lit up the auction podium with the screen siren turning heads once again with her pink Pucci long-sleeved dress of silk jersey which sold for $325,000, the top selling lot of the event that set a new world record of most expensive Pucci dress sold at auction.
A pink Pucci long-sleeved dress of silk jersey accompanied by a rope and crystal tassel belt, size 10, that was owned and worn by Marilyn Monroe. The label reads, “Emilio Pucci/ Florence Italy” and “Made in Italy Exclusively For Saks Fifth Avenue.”
This afternoon, the one-space mausoleum crypt at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary in Los Angeles, California near the final side by side resting places of Hugh Hefner and Marilyn Monroe sold for $195,000, as well as a grave marker from Marilyn Monroe's crypt (as constant touching from fan pilgrimages has led to minor wear causing it to be replaced as needed) sold for an astonishing $88,900 forty-four times its estimate of $2,000.
A one-space mausoleum crypt in close proximity to the final resting places of both screen icon Marilyn Monroe and Playboy founder Hugh Hefner. The space is located in the Corridor of Memories, Wall B, Space C-3 at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary in Los Angeles, California. It is situated one row above and four spaces to the left of Monroe's.
A grave marker from Marilyn Monroe's crypt at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary in Los Angeles. The front of the bronze plaque is brown with gold-tone trim and the gold-tone letters read "MARILYN MONROE / 1926 - 1962." The back has been hand-etched with the words "415 Westwood," stamped with the words "MAKE TWO PATTERNS FOR MARGE," and features two holes for the bolts that attached it to the front of the crypt.
The crypt and other auction items were sold to Anthony Jabin a tech investor from Beverly Hills, California who commented,” I’ve always dreamt of being next to Marilyn Monroe for the rest of my life. And I bought Hugh Hefner's round bed and Marilyn Monroe's bathing suit at Julien's this weekend.”
Monroe’s The Seven Year Itch costume– a Mae West-inspired black and cellophane effect evening gown designed by legendary costume designer William Travilla worn by Monroe in the classic 1955 film’s dream sequence scene, which was later cut from the film–sold for $127,000.
A Mae West-inspired black "cellophane effect" evening gown, worn by Marilyn Monroe during the filming of The Seven Year Itch (Twentieth Century Fox, 1955) starring Monroe and Tom Ewell.
An original Jean Louis painted cream/beige silk jersey cocktail dress worn by Marilyn Monroe for The Misfits cast press conference in the summer of 1960 sold for $65,000, well over its estimate of $40,000.
An original Jean Louis painted-silk jersey cocktail dress worn by Marilyn Monroe for The Misfits (United Artists, 1961) cast press conference in the summer of 1960.
Marilyn Monroe’s custom shade of Elizabeth Arden lipstick in a goldtone case with typewritten label reading "Orange Pink like Miss I./ sample 05022/ May 2, 1960" sold for an incredible $65,000, nine times its estimate of $7,000, making it the second highest selling lipstick in auction history.
A gold-tone metal lipstick tube that belonged to Marilyn Monroe. The bullet-shaped outter case is engraved with the Elizabeth Arden logo on the top and the words "Elizabeth Arden New York on the bottom. The inner tube features a typewritten label that reads "Orange Pink like Miss I./ sample 05022/ May 2, 1960" and contains the slightly used lipstick.
A three-piece bathing suit ensemble custom-made for Marilyn Monroe to wear in the 1954 musical There's No Business Like Show Business that Sir Elton John donated to a charity auction in 1990 sold for $29,250, nearly five times its estimate of $6,000.
A three-piece ensemble custom-made for Marilyn Monroe to wear in the musical There's No Business Like Show Business (Twentieth Century Fox, 1954) consisting of a bathing suit made of black silk with “applied” black polka dots, spaghetti straps ending in two large bows.
A lavender satin, boned leotard costume worn by Marilyn Monroe as Lillian Russell for a pictorial feature in the December 22, 1958 issue of Life magazine, photographed by Richard Avedon also stole the spotlight for $29,250. Monroe also dressed as Theda Bara, Clara Bow, Jean Harlow, and Marlene Dietrich for this series of photographs.
A costume worn by Marilyn Monroe as Lillian Russell for a pictorial feature in the December 22, 1958 issue of Life magazine, that was photographed by Richard Avedon. The lavender satin, boned leotard has a décolletage neckline trimmed with bouquets of fabric flowers and pink, lavender, and cream draped chiffon sashes across the front, embellished with pink satin bows and trimmed in lavender, pink, and cream chiffon.
An artist proof print featuring an image of Marilyn Monroe from Tom Kelley's famous 1948 Red Velvet photo session initialed by Hugh Hefner "HMH," with "A/P" sold for an astonishing $15,875, nearly twenty-seven times its estimate of $600.
A artist proof print featuring an image of Marilyn Monroe from Tom Kelley's famous 1948 Red Velvet photo session initialed lower right in by Hefner "HMH," with "A/P" in lower left, matted and framed.
A letter from Jean Smith, one of the children to Rose and Joseph Kennedy and sister to John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy Shriver and four other siblings that reads: "Dear Marilyn - Mother asked me to write and thank you for your sweet note to Daddy - He really enjoyed it and you were very cute to send it. / Understand that you and Bobby are the new item! We all think you should come with him when he comes back east! Again thanks for the note. / Love, Jean Smith" sold for $28,575, seven times its estimate of $4,000.
single sheet of stationery listing an address in Palm Beach, Florida, with autograph notation in blue ink on recto and version reading in full, "Dear Marilyn - Mother asked me to write and thank you for your sweet note to Daddy - He really enjoyed it and you were very cute to send it. / Understand that you and Bobby are the new item! We all think you should come with him when he comes back east! Again thanks for the note. / Love, Jean Smith." Jean Smith is one of nine children to Rose and Joseph Kennedy and sister to John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy Shriver and four other siblings.
Items from Monroe’s last films made its way to the auction podium including her personal annotated script sides to The Misfits ($22,750, four and half times its estimate of $5,000) and her annotated script to her final uncompleted film Something's Got To Give ($57,150, over estimate of $20,000) and her handwritten notes to the script ($25,400 over its estimate of $10,000).
A bound collection of more than 30 mimeographed half pages containing Monroe's dialogue for the film The Misfits (United Artists, 1961). Many of the pages feature annotations in pencil in Monroe's handwriting. The green paper cover is affixed with a label that reads "Marilyn Monroe Miller."
A script for Marilyn Monroe's final, uncompleted movie Something's Got To Give that features annotations throughout in Monroe's handwriting. The 149-page mimeographed typescript which also contains blue revision pages, is inside a blue paper cover printed with the words "Final...Confidential...Something's Got To Give, March 29, 1962."
A Millers Falls EZERASE pad of typewriter paper on which Marilyn Monroe has handwritten notes in pencil regarding the script for the comedy Something's Got To Give, which remained uncompleted at the time of her death in 1962. The cover is detached but present, and the three hole-punched pad contains four pages of notes in Monroe's hand in pencil outlining her issues with the script for the film.
Other Marilyn highlights sold today included: a shadowbox frame containing Marilyn Monroe’s black lace and satin under-wire bra with lace cups ($11,700, nearly six times its estimate of $2,000); a Metropolitan Opera playbill from the 1958-1959 season signed by Monroe ($16,250, over its estimate of $5,000); Monroe’s floret styled brooch of simulated diamonds ($13,000, over its estimate of $8,000); a personal check handwritten by Monroe to the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company in the amount of $62.83, dated April 27, 1953 ($11,700, eleven and a half times its estimate of $1,000); her checkbook and cover with seventeen blank checks from the Irving Trust Company with "Marilyn Monroe" printed on each check ($10,400, over its estimate of $3,000); Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe 1954 passport photo ($16,250); a receipt from Pilgrim's Furniture addressed to Marilyn Monroe dated August 4, 1962, the same day Monroe passed away ($12,500); and more.
A shadowbox frame containing a black lace and satin under-wire bra with lace cups. This piece was among the items originally selected for sale in Christie's 1999 Collection of Marilyn Monroe auction, but it was not in the final selection for sale. It was subsequently sold through Julien's 2005 follow up sale of Property from the Estate of Marilyn Monroe.
A Metropolitan Opera playbill from the 1958-1959 season that's been signed in ink by Marilyn Monroe. The 44-page playbill is signed on the cover in blue ink and is accompanied by a black and white image of Monroe signing a playbill. This is believed to have been signed on February 10, 1959, when Monroe and her husband Arthur Miller attended a performance of Macbeth.
A floret-styled brooch of simulated diamonds owned by Marilyn Monroe. The brooch features five petals that extend and are interspaced by white metal and circular-cut arms.
Accompanied by the original Christie’s lot card.
A personal check handwritten in ink by Marilyn Monroe to the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company in the amount of $62.83, dated April 27, 1953. Monroe’s signature appears at bottom right.
A black leather, snap front wallet that was owned by Marilyn Monroe. The front is blind stamped logo for the First National City Bank of New York. Together with a checkbook containing seventeen blank checks from the Irving Trust Company with "Marilyn Monroe" printed on each check. Seven checks have been used, leaving payment stubs, only one with notation listing the date, "Jan 9 1960" in the amount of $100.
A black and white passport photograph of Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio taken in 1954 just prior to their departure for their honeymoon trip to Tokyo and goodwill tour to Korea where Monroe would perform for the American troops stationed there.
A typewritten bill on Pilgrim's Furniture letterhead addressed to Marilyn Monroe at 12305 5th Helena Dr. L.A. 49 and dated August 4, 1962, the same day Monroe died. The bill is for "1 #C Chest Roman White" for $228.80 and marked "COD." Words handwritten in blue ink read "Rec'd check #281 in amount $228.80 / Payment in Full / Earl Shero."
Hugh Hefner’s famous wardrobe and furniture from the Playboy Mansion all sold through the weekend concluding in today’s sale such as his burgundy smoking jacket, slippers, pajamas, and tobacco pipe ensemble ($13,000, six and half times its estimate of $2,000) and a circular mansion bed custom-made for Hefner as a back-up to his primary bed at the original Playboy Mansion in Chicago ($13,000, well over its estimate of $2,000).
A burgundy smoking jacket, slippers, pajamas, and tobacco pipe ensemble, personally owned by Hugh Hefner.
A vintage circular wooden bedframe with cabinets, previously owned by Hugh Hefner.
The bed was custom-made for Hefner as a back-up to the primary bed which he used at the original Playboy Mansion in Chicago.
Playboy Enterprises’ large collection of fine contemporary artwork that once hung in Playboy headquarters such as Richard Hunt’s “Stalk” sculpture ($127,000) and Milton Resnick’s “Crater” among many others as well as the largest collection of Albert Vargas’ Vargas Girls pinups were offered to the public for the first time at auction this weekend. Leroy Neiman’s vibrant works from Playboy magazine’s “Man at Leisure” series drew bidders with his “Stage Bar” painting ($114,300), "Surfing," ($104,000), "Le Cafe Chambord" ($88,900), as well as his iconic Femlin illustrations all sold.
Richard Howard Hunt (American, 1935-2023) original bronze sculpture titled "Stalk," signed on the base.
This sculpture appeared on page 62 of the January issue of Playboy magazine, pictured and described in an artticle by Sidney Tillim titled "The Fine Art of Acquiring Fine Art: On the principles, pleasures and prices of artful connoisseurship modern living."
Alberto Vargas (Peruvian/American, 1896-1982) original signed watercolor and pencil drawing on illustration board.
This Vargas Girl appeared in the August 1964 issue of Playboy magazine on p. 102, with the caption "You know, Captain, before you invited me on this cruise I really had no idea what the first mate was supposed to do."
LeRoy Neiman (American, 1921-2012) original enamel and oil on board painting titled "Stage Bar," signed lower right and dated 1959.
This painting appeared on page 89 of the August 1962 issue of Playboy magazine, illustrating the series "Man at His Leisure: A Neiman portrait of the players and pleasures of Vegas," with the caption, "A well-constructed stripper gets scant attention from a mixed assembly of obvious winners and losers crowded three deep around the bar of an all-night lounge."
LeRoy Neiman (American, 1921-2012) original oil on panel painting "Surfing," signed lower right, appeared in the February 1967 issue of Playboy magazine on page 112, illustrating the article "Man At His Leisure," with the caption "LeRoy Neiman depicts the dizzy marine maneuverings and beachside heroics of Southern California's stoked-up surfers."
LeRoy Neiman (American, 1921-2012) original oil on canvas painting titled "Le Cafe Chambord," signed, inscribed and dated 1958 lower left.
This painting appeared on page 53 of the January 1959 issue of Playboy magazine, illustrating the series "Man at His Leisure: Le Cafe Chambord in New York," overlaying a portion of the restaurant menu.
LeRoy Neiman (American, 1921-2012) original pen, ink, watercolor, and collage drawing of Femlin grieving before a photograph of the late Martin Luther King, Jr., signed lower right.
The auction was held for the first time at NYA Studios East, Hollywood’s movie and sound studio that was transformed into a Playboy inspired exhibition that was open to the public prior to the auction. The collection previously traveled to the Fringe Club in Hong Kong for Julien’s inaugural exhibition in the city where the historic collection was displayed in a museum like exhibition.
“Throughout our twenty years in the business, Julien’s has proudly represented the legacies of Hollywood’s biggest stars yet there is no one bigger and more enduring than Marilyn Monroe,” said David Goodman, CEO of Julien’s Auctions. “Her most glamorous and incandescent items were the top sellers at our three-day auction that sold a stunning and fascinating collection of artifacts from three American icons of the 20th century, Hugh Hefner, Marilyn Monroe and Playboy.”
Julien’s is the auction industry leader in the sales of Marilyn Monroe’s most iconic items and ephemera. In 2016, they earned their second Guinness Book of World Record for world’s most expensive dress ever sold at auction in their $4.8 million sale of Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday Mr. President” Jean Louis designed gown. Other items from the screen siren sold by Julien’s include Monroe’s costume from There’s No Business Like Show Business sold for $280,000, her iconic red floor length gown worn in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes sold for $250,000, and her 1956 Ford Thunderbird sold for $490,000.
