A pair of rare, pre-production concept paintings from the 1939 MGM classic “The Wizard of Oz,” used to craft two of the movie's most beloved scenes, sold for a combined $45,625 in Heritage Auction's $1.2+ million Entertainment & Music Memorabilia Signature Auction on Aug. 23 in Beverly Hills, Calif. The 600-lot auction also featured a Lansky Bros. leather coat worn and owned by Elvis Presley, which sold for $35,000, more than eight times its estimate.
"The Wizard of Oz has a large and devoted collecting base, but these two paintings could stand alone as wonderful works of fine art," said Margaret Barrett, director of entertainment & music memorabilia at Heritage. "This auction was everything we want for our clients: uncommon memorabilia and passionate bidders."
Among the unusual items crossing the block was a Harley Davidson motorcycle, previously owned by Mick Mars and Nikki Sixx of the glam metal band Mötley Crüe, which sold for $32,500. The 1976 FLH was customized for Sixx by the lead mechanic of the infamous Hell's Angels. A Gibson Double Neck Guitar owned and played by Jimmy Page and Mötley Crüe's Mick Mars and John Coabi surpassed its estimate to end at $27,500.
A large selection of memorabilia from famous musicians included Presley's 1956 twice-signed contract with the William Morris Agency, a contract that would quickly transition Elvis to The King of Rock and Roll. It saw interest from eight bidders before ending at $30,000. An oil painting by Frank Sinatra sold for $27,500, against an $8,000 estimate, and an abstract painting by the crooner sold for $18,750. Both were gifted by the singer to his maid of 30 years, Elvina Joubert.
A large collection of albums signed by The Beatles was led by a rare, early UK pressing of the Mono LP “Please Please Me” (Parlophone PMC 1202, 1963), which sold for $21,250, while a signed LP copy of “With the Beatles,” obtained by a British newspaper reporter on Oct. 31, 1964, finished at $20,000. Rare period Beatles memorabilia included a complete set of Bobb'n Head Dolls promotional store displays, which sold for $11,250, and a tour book from May-June 1963, featuring signatures by The Beatlesm, as well as Roy Orbison, which hammered for $13,125.
Television and movie props offered in the auction ranged from Arnold Schwarzenegger's signed motorcycle jacket from “Terminator 2: Judgement Day,” which sold for $16,250, to a prototype prop newspaper from “The Godfather,” which sold for $16,250.
Additional highlights included, but were not limited to a café chair used during the filming of “Casablanca,” which sold for $4,687 and a rare, alternate ending script from “Gone With The Wind,” which sold for $4,687.
To learn more, visit www.HA.com.