Showbiz goes under gavel

Christie's couture? Why, Dorothy's ruby slippers and Superman's cape!

By MIA SULPOR

HOLLYWOOD -- There's no place like Christie's East.

Bidders at this month's Century of Hollywood sale in New York will bid on the famous red ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz" as well as Bert Lahr's Cowardly Lion costume.

The "Oz" items, which are each estimated to sell for high-six figures, are among the hundreds of entertainment icons that will be for sale at Wednesday's auction and on display at the auction house on 67th Street on Saturday through Tuesday. Most items come from anonymous private collectors, although a few are from public collectors, and sales are expected to reach $1 million to $2 million.

"The slippers will be (what) people will watch the most because they are so special and beloved," said Margaret Barrett, department head of Popular Arts at Christie's East.

If bidders can't walk away in Dorothy's shoes, they can drive away in the 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom 111 featured in James Bond's "Goldfinger," or even fly away in the complete Superman costume worn by Christopher Reeve.

One of the more personal items for sale is a cigarette lighter given by Lucille Ball to her husband Desi Arnaz with the inscription, "Desi, Darling, My love for you will last much longer than this lighter -- I getcha! Lucy."

A special section of the sale will feature Hollywood photographs by Bruno Bernard including his "Marilyn in White" from "The Seven Year Itch."

Barrett feels one of the nicest things about the auction is that it allows the public to see such famous memorabilia. "It gives people a chance to see props and costumes from their favorite films that they may not see otherwise," Barrett said.

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