Date: Fri 20-Mar-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDYC

Quick Words:

Butterfield

Full Text:

World Record At Butterfield & Butterfield's Entertainment Auction - EWM

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. -- Vintage Hollywood movie posters, played and signed

instruments, props and costumes from classic titles and celebrities were

offered on February 17 when Butterfield & Butterfield brought more than 800

lots to the auction blocks for more than $500,000.

A world record of $21,850 was paid during the sale's evening session, which

featured vintage Hollywood movie posters, the highest price ever realized for

a one-sheet poster for the Humphrey Bogart classic Casablanca (Warner Bros.,

1943) in mint condition, stemming from the Royal Theatre Collection.

Other Humphrey Bogart posters intriguing bidders were those advertising To

Have and To Have Not (Warner Bros., 1945), which sold for $2,875, twice its

estimate; The Treasure of Sierra Madre (Warner Bros., 1948), which sold for

$2,875 (est $1,2/1,500) and African Queen (United Artists, 1950), which sailed

at $2,300.

A one-sheet poster for the Marx Brothers film Horse Feathers , (Paramount,

1932) brought $9,775, while an Argentine one-sheet for The Bride of

Frankenstein (Universal, 1935) and an Italian one-sheet for La Dolce Vita

(Cineriz, 1960), each sold for $7,475. A six-sheet for the James Dean classic

Rebel Without a Cause (Warner Bros., 1955) sold for $6,900, and a one-sheet

for Cecil B. DeMille's Cleopatra (Paramount, 1934) sold for $6,325. This

compilation stemmed from the collection of Edgar Williams Vuilleumier.

The Oscar statue awarded to writer Arthur Caesar for his screenplay for

Manhattan Melodrama (MGM, 1934) brought a within-estimate $21,850, while a

golden statuette idol, a prop from the film Raiders of the Lost Ark

(Paramount, 1982), sold for $5,462.50.

Additional movie props sold included the rhinestone bracelet Marilyn Monroe's

character bought from Yves Montand's character in 20th Century Fox's 1960 hit

Let's Make Love , which sold for $10,350. A black and white George Hurrell

photo of Marlene Dietrich, circa 1940, brought $4,600, and a provocatively

posed Milton H. Greene artist's proof, in black and white, of Marilyn Monroe,

sold within estimate for $2,875.

Handwritten lyrics from Mick Jagger for the Stones' 1966 Aftermath album sold

for $5,750, and signed guitars and album covers included a George Harrison

Fender guitar bringing $5,750, a Muddy Waters guitar selling for $2,300, a

Janis Joplin signed album cover for Cheap Thrills bringing $1,150 and a Bob

Dylan signed album for Empire Burlesque selling for $1,092.50.