2011 Auction of Debbie’s Collection 

In 2010, it was decided that the entire Hollywood Motion Picture Collection be auctioned to the public. Iconic costumes from The Wizard of Oz, some of Marilyn Monroe’s screen used wardrobe, including the world famous subway dress from The Seven Year Itch, Elizabeth Taylor’s jeweled head dress from Cleopatra, just to name a few, hit the auction block in June, 2011, presided over by the prestigious Profiles in History. 

The event caused a sensation, garnering worldwide media attention for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of history, as thousands of movie fans, collectors and exhibitors were able to tour and inspect the collection up close and personal at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, California. A red carpet event launched the collection’s viewing, open to the public, and was attended by Debbie Reynolds, her children Todd and Carrie, and granddaughter, Billie, among other notables including Ann Rutherford, Jane Powell, Mitzi Gaynor, and Patricia Heaton.

For a few days, the dream of a Hollywood museum came true, and throngs of visitors were thrilled at the chance to see such legendary pieces “in the flesh”. A special treat for Debbie fans – her two most memorable costumes from Singin’ in the Rain, alongside other pieces from the film, created an absolutely mesmerizing connection with fans. A sea of faces with expressions of awe and admiration were all about the Paley Center, oo-ing and aah-ing, striking up conversations with strangers about the beauty of the incredible pieces on display.

Debbie fans, too, were treated to a collection of the wardrobe from How the West Was Won, including the printed gown Debbie wore during her stage performance of “Home in the Meadow”, as well as Jimmy Stewart’s fringed leather suit and Gregory Peck’s elegant trappings from the film. Nearby was a wide assortment of gorgeous period gowns from Debbie’s Oscar nominated title role, “The Unsinkable Molly Brown”.

The auction commenced on June 18, 2001 and was attended by Debbie, who opened the proceedings with a poignant and memorable address to the seated crowd, as well as Carrie Fisher, daughter Billie, and Todd Fisher. For the next thirteen hours of gavel grounding, the in-house audience and online viewers rode a rollercoaster of emotions as each legendary piece hit the block. The results of the auction were headline grabbers after Marilyn Monroe’s subway dress hit the roof at a staggering $4.6 million; Judy Garland’s rare ruby slippers went for $500,000, and another unforgettable Marilyn ensemble – the red sequined number she wore alongside Jane Russell in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes – came in at $1.2 million.

We at Debbie Reynolds Online were saddened at the decision to let go of this incredible collection, but are absolutely thrilled with the final figures. We hope and pray that the auction’s success will allow Debbie and her loved ones to relax and enjoy the fruits of her years of hard work, wise decisions and heart for preserving history. Thanks to her efforts and dedication, the rest of the world was able to glimpse the stuff that dreams are made of, and for that, we are so grateful.

Visit the official Hollywood Motion Picture Collection website to learn more about the collection.