Reynolds selling Hollywood history

Debbie Reynolds, one of Las Vegas' most valued treasures, is regrettably selling off her own -- Dorothy's slippers from "The Wizard of Oz," Harpo Marx's wig and Marilyn Monroe's subway dress.

For 40 years, Reynolds, 79, has acquired the 20th century's most iconic artifacts of Hollywood.

After a decade of trying to create a memorabilia museum, she's auctioning off history.

"She's heartbroken by this thing, big time," says son Todd Fisher. "There's been a lot of tears over the last month to decide what to sell."

Among hundreds of items on the auction block: four Monroe dresses -- from "The Seven Year Itch" (the subway dress), "River of No Return," "There's No Business Like Show Business" and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes."

And here's a trove: Orson Welles' fur coat from "Citizen Kane"; Liz Taylor's "Cleopatra" headdress; Barbra Streisand's most elaborate "Hello, Dolly" dress; Al Jolson's "Mammy" outfit; Rudolph Valentino's suit of lights; Charlton Heston's "Ben-Hur" racing outfit; a munchkin costume; and clothes worn in classic films by Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and Buster Keaton. (See more at Profilesinhistory.com.)

These are the rarest gems, along the lines of Charlie Chaplin's bowler hat.

"As far as I know, there just aren't any of those" in existence elsewhere, Fisher says.

Reynolds picked up some of the pieces for a song. She bought the subway dress for $1,000.

"We have offers of $3 million right now," Fisher says. "That dress is going to break every record on the planet."

Reynolds spent millions preserving and archiving, using techniques learned from the Victoria and Albert Museum in England. Reynolds, Fisher and Christie's auction managers will set low reserve bids to interest more buyers.

She put 150 costumes on display at her Vegas hotel in the 1990s. Its museum earned $2 million a year until it closed in 1997. A museum was built in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., but never opened, a victim of the economy, Fisher says. Auctions will pay off the property's $5 million debt.

Reynolds approached Vegas hoteliers to create a museum here. Weirdly, no one was interested. MGM offered to display costumes around one property, Hard Rock style.

"Debbie was like, 'Yeah right, over my dead body,' " Fisher says.

So the first auction lands June 18 at the Paley Center in Los Angeles, with two or three more planned, totaling 3,000 pieces.

Reynolds is not auctioning off her favorites: the four main suits from the Rat Pack's "Ocean's Eleven" film and performances.

Fisher is putting up his favorite: Gary Cooper's military uniform from "Sergeant York."

Sister Carrie Fisher will say goodbye to her favorite: Dorothy's slippers.

"Carrie has borrowed those many times from the museum," Fisher says. "I have to remind her to put them back in the vault."

Reynolds is doing fine financially, while touring and turning down offers to do Broadway and TV.

"Somebody tried to get her to do 'Dancing With the Stars.' She was like, 'Why? What do I have to prove?' " he says. "She's one of the last of the Mohicans. There are very few people of her magnitude left in Hollywood."

Reynolds lives in a condo in Las Vegas Country Club towers, going to shows with Phyllis McGuire and attending parties at McGuire's house. Soon, she will let go of her bundles of joy.

"Now she's hoping fans and other collectors will step in and take over for her," Fisher says.

CLUB PLANS

Dirty South spins tonight at Lavo. Lil Jon spins Wednesday at Surrender. The Rev. Run is at Lavo on Wednesday. Dev does Haze on Thursday.

Doug Elfman's column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Contact him at delfman@reviewjournal.com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman.