Auction offers items from Jackson, ‘Star Trek’ and other favorites

If you're the sort of person who needs to own a piece of pop culture, this week's Julien's Auction at Planet Hollywood provides the opportunity to take home items owned, touched, read or worn by celebrities.

Anna Nicole Smith, Michael Jackson, Gene Roddenberry and Audrey Hepburn are among the stars represented. Today through Sunday, fans can bid on thousands of items, including "Star Trek" costumes and other memorabilia; a bejeweled Michael Jackson glove; a lock of Elvis Presley's hair and a Jimi Hendrix Fender guitar.

But those fans who want to boldly go where few have gone before, have plenty of not-so-flashy items to choose from, things that might get past the serious collectors and stay in a price range for the average Joe. Things such as Aretha Franklin writings, three pages of handwritten notes that offer some insight into the thoughts of the singer. Her "Spiritual Discipline" details eight handwritten points, presumably affirmations she wrote to herself. One says, "Think real good before answering questions and doing things." Good advice from the Queen of Soul and possibly a steal at $300 to $500.

If Jackson's nine-foot-long, $250,000 couch is out of your price range, maybe the $600 to $800 Neverland Ranch security guard uniform is an option.

Handwritten notes, glasses, hair, guitars, shoes, clothes and furniture are among the Jackson pieces up for sale. The one year anniversary of the pop icon's death is Friday.

Auction officials still are receiving strong interest from bidders who want to buy something owned by Jackson, especially the furniture, says Martin Nolan, Julien's executive director.

The royal red furniture was custom-made for Jackson, who intended to use it during his tour that never started, Nolan says.

This is the auction house's fifth year to have auctions at Planet Hollywood and among its largest, Nolan says. Seven auctions will take place during four days.

The son of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry asked Julien's to sell items from his parents' personal possessions, including furniture and an old IBM computer that Roddenberry used when writing "Star Trek" scripts, Nolan says.

The "Star Trek" memorabilia is separate from that auction and should be of interest to real Trekkies, Nolan says.

Actor William Shatner, who played Captain Kirk in the original "Star Trek" series, is hosting a private gala at Planet Hollywood for auction participants tonight.

The items up for auction will be on display at the Mezzanine level in the hotel from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today. The public can view the items for free. The public also can participate in the auction, either in person or online at juliensauctions.com.

Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564.