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Iconic Hollywood restaurant artifacts under hammer

By Zhang Rui: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, April 9, 2014

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Julien's Auctions, auction house to the stars, announced an award winning cast and an iconic Hollywood restaurant to be included in the Hollywood Legends event set for April 11 - 12, 2014.

The Hollywood Legends auction event will take place at Julien's Auctions Beverly Hills gallery located at 9665, Wilshire Boulevard.

Although Chasen's restaurant had it all down to the tiniest detail, it was the famous faces gathering there when it opened from 1936 until 1973m who really shot the venue into the iconic stratosphere. Classic Hollywood celebrities such as Cary Grant, Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Carson, Lana Turner, Groucho Marx, Jimmy Stewart, Alfred Hitchcock and even Howard Hughes all frequented the place. All of these stars, and many more, made Chasen's famous for being the place to be (seen) in Hollywood and it was quickly considered the No. 1 hangout for celebrities and Hollywood insiders.

Julien's Auctions will offer remarkable artifacts from the legendary venue, including Chasen's dining chairs, arm chairs, wall sconces, serving items, Chasen's Yamaha piano and even its doors and window shutters. A pair of two matching oak panel restroom doors with a brass plaque marked "Ladies" will also be on auction. The women's restroom at Chasen's was famous as the site of countless celebrity nose powdering sessions, as well as being the place where Donna Summer penned down the words for her hit song "She Works Hard for the Money," inspired by longtime Chasen's bathroom attendant Onetta Johnson.

The Hollywood Legends auction highlights, from Tinseltown's Golden Era to today's biggest and brightest names, are stunning. The vast array of memorabilia includes personal effects, costumes, artworks, jewelry, scripts, animation cels, photographs, furnishings and much more.

Highlights include Marilyn Monroe's Mexican tapestry from her Brentwood Home, "The Wizard of Oz" screen test dress, Bruce Lee's "Game of Death" shoes, Katharine Hepburn's "Self Portrait," a Playboy Magazine first issue signed by Hugh Hefner himself, a collection of Clark Gable's personal items, "Star Trek" original series episode outlines, Marilyn Monroe's Photoplay Award and Walt Disney's "Fantasia" book with multiple animation drawings.

The auction will also include an amazing 1994 South African Election Ballot signed by Nelson Mandela and President John F. Kennedy's Birthday Gala Tickets and Program.

Other highlights include a Frank Sinatra abstract signed painting, Clark Gable's "The Misfits" script, a Zorro signed rapier, several lots of Joseph Jasgur Marilyn Monroe negatives and copyrights as well as Jasgur's Graflex camera used to photograph Marilyn Monroe, the "Lord of the Rings" People's Choice Award, a signed Charlie Chaplin self-portrait, two Walt Disney concept drawings by Mary Blair from "Cinderella" and many more remarkable items complete with their very own Hollywood history.

Julien's Auctions will hold a public exhibition in Beverly Hills from April 7–11. The live and online auction will be held on April 11 - 12.

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