I've probably loved Debbie Reynolds my whole life. Watching "Singin' in the Rain" or "Tammy and the Bachelor" (the only "Tammy" movie worth watching, trust me) or any of her other movies or television appearances, it seems unnatural not to.
For as long as I can remember, Debbie Reynolds was looking for a home for the staggering collection of costumes, props and memorabilia she'd amassed. Plan after plan for the Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Motion Picture Museum fell through and now she's auctioning off the collection.
The Paley Center for the Media in Beverly Hills is currently showcasing pieces from the collection and I went there Saturday, opening day, to check it out.
Even though the exhibit represents just a sampling of everything that she's saved, it's staggering. Camera equipment, furniture, props, accessories, posters, lobby cards and some of the most-recognizable costumes from movie history.
Among the costumes at the Paley Center were pieces from "Singin' in the Rain," "How the West Was Won," "Desiree" and "Gigi." The most-famous of the bunch has to be Marilyn Monroe's subway dress from "The Seven Year Itch."
Because Saturday was the first day of the exhibit, not everything was out yet and not everything had a tag. Workers from auction house Profiles in History were running back and forth putting on everything, grabbing pieces from a storage room that was bursting with stuff. Two men carried a garment box from that room and when a visitor asked if that was the dress, he was told that it was the dress.
Debbie Reynolds' son Todd Fisher got to do the honor and put the subway dress in its display case. The visitors started applauding and then people gathered around to take pictures with this iconic dress with a $1 million reserve.
There were a few times I thought I was going to cry. First, it is a little overwhelming to be standing next to the green dress Debbie Reynolds wore while singing to Gene Kelly or the first version of Dorothy's blue pinafore and ruby slippers. Mostly, I was sad for Debbie Reynolds and the thought of her having to let go of this life-long mission of saving little bits of Hollywood history in the hopes of one day finding a home for all of it.
I hope that whoever places the winning bids on these pieces understands everything she went through to gather this collection together and will cherish whatever they acquire as much as she has.
You can get more information about the exhibit and auction here.
My pictures from the day:
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