DEBBIE REYNOLDS PLANS COSTUME AUCTION FOR MUSEUM 

Associated Press 

November 7, 2003

Actress Debbie Reynolds will auction off 300 costumes and props from the sets of famous movies to raise money for a permanent museum to house the rest of her Hollywood collection.

Reynolds, who starred in the 1952 musical "Singin' in the Rain," said Friday she hopes to raise at least $2 million at the Dec. 6 auction to establish the Hollywood Motion Picture Museum.

Reynolds, 71, said she bought most of her collection in 1970 at an MGM Studio auction and has been passionate about preserving Hollywood memorabilia ever since.

"I got caught up in it. I went and took all my money out of the bank and spent over $400,000 on costumes," she told The Associated Press. "I wanted to save some of the things that I had admired, the bits of history that I knew would go off and be forever lost."

The auction will include two needlepoint armchairs from "Gone With the Wind" and costumes and props used by Marilyn Monroe in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and James Cagney in "Yankee Doodle Dandy" and "Strawberry Blonde", as well as many articles from the estate of Mary Pickford, including artwork, clothing and film costumes.  Other items include costumes worn by Judy Garland, Ginger Rogers, Miriam Hopkins, Gene Kelly, Rita Hayworth, Tyrone Power, William Powell, Barbara Stanwyck, Greer Garson, Betty Grable, Elizabeth Taylor, Luise Rainer, Gene Tierney, Charlton Heston, Susan Hayward, Claudette Colbert, Jane Russell, Shirley Temple and Katharine Hepburn.

A live auction will be conducted at Le Meridien Hotel in Beverly Hills. Bidders also may bid online at eBay or at www.Autographs.com.

Reynolds will give an auction preview December 5 at Le Meridien Hotel.

Preview/Reception: Friday, December 5, 6:00 - 9:00pm
Auction (Session I): Saturday, December 6, 1:00pm - 6:00pm
Auction (Session II): Sunday, December 7, 1:00pm - 6:00pm

La Meridien at Beverly Hills

465 S. La Cienega Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA, 90048

julienentertainment.com