Witness a Once-in-a-Lifetime Showcase: The Uniting of Two Legends

Exclusive Auction Exhibition Opening in Hong Kong’s Fringe Club
January 27-February 1

Three Day Auction Event on March 28 – 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California

Rebel. Entrepreneur. American Icon. Goddess. Legend. Hollywood Icon. Hefner. Marilyn. These iconic names, recognized by just one word, are about to make history together for the very first time. A remarkable event is set to take place as the unparalleled collection, featuring PROPERTY FROM PLAYBOY ARCHIVES AND THE HUGH M. HEFNER FOUNDATION, AND PROPERTY FROM THE LIFE AND CAREER OF MARILYN MONROE, goes under the hammer. Mark your calendars for Thursday, March 28th, Friday, March 29th, and Saturday, March 30th as this sensational auction unfolds live and online at Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles.

Prepare to be captivated by a mesmerizing assortment of over 1,000 artifacts, offering a glimpse into the early life of the esteemed magazine founder and the heyday of the Playboy era. These treasures, straight from Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Headquarters and Mansion, and personal belongings encompassing film wardrobe, photographs, documents, and ephemera from Marilyn Monroe’s luminous life, offer a compelling journey through the lives and times of these two icons, particularly during the 1950s and early 1960s when they held sway over American pop culture and each other’s careers.

Born in 1926, Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner soared to worldwide fame together when Marilyn graced Hefner’s inaugural 1953 issue of Playboy. This historic moment catapulted the success of Hefner’s groundbreaking men’s lifestyle magazine, shaping it into a global icon. Marilyn’s appearance in Playboy swiftly transformed her into an enduring household name and an iconic sex symbol, blazing a trail like no other in Hollywood. Her legacy endures as a timeless feminist icon, revered long after her untimely passing in 1962. Meanwhile, Hefner’s Playboy magazine epitomized the modern American male lifestyle and philosophy, blending celebrity features and models with acclaimed and esteemed journalism and literary works by the likes of Alex Haley, Hunter S. Thompson, and Margaret Atwood.

Though these two remarkable figures never crossed paths in reality, their legacies are inherently intertwined. Both emerged as influential symbols of the sexual revolution, leaving an indelible mark on society and the cultural landscape that resonates even today. In a poignant twist, Hugh Hefner acquired the burial plot next to Marilyn Monroe at Westwood Village Memorial Park in Los Angeles, where he was laid to rest in 2017.

Hugh Hefner’s extraordinary collection boasts artwork by LeRoy Neiman, Andy Warhol, Alberto Vargas, and more, all cherished by Playboy Enterprises, along with architectural renderings from the 1950s portraying the Playboy Chicago headquarters, and furniture from the dining room and master bedroom at the Los Angeles Playboy Mansion. Brace yourself for an unparalleled journey through the lives and legacies of these immortal icons.

Highlights include (with estimates):

• Andy Warhol original “Playboy Bunny” silkscreen
• LeRoy Neiman 1959 original oil on canvas painting titled, “Romanoffs” ($60,000-$80,000) 
• Alberto Vargas original watercolor drawing of a Vargas Girl pinup, from the March 1967 issue of PlayboyMagazine ($30,000-$40,000)
• LeRoy Neiman 1956 watercolor, ink and collage drawing of the New York City skyline ($8,000-$10,000)
• LeRoy Neiman original pen, ink, watercolor, and collage drawing of a Femlin grieving before a photograph of the late Martin Luther King, Jr., with annotations from the original Playboy Magazine layout ($4,000-$6,000)
• LeRoy Neiman 1957 original ink and gouache on paper drawing of a Femlin with blonde hair holding a Playboy Club key ($6,000-$8,000)
• An ensemble consisting of Hugh Hefner’s classic smoking jacket, silk pajamas, slippers and tobacco pipe ($2,000-$3,000) and more to be announced.
  

Highlights of Marilyn Monroe’s collection include (with estimates):

• A Mae West-inspired black and cellophane effect evening gown designed by legendary costume designer William Travilla, worn by Marilyn Monroe during the filming of her classic 1955 film The Seven Year Itch. It comes with a black and white feather boa (not film’s original), similar to the one worn by Marilyn with the gown. Marilyn wore this in a dream sequence scene, which was later cut from the film, where Richard Sherman (played by Tom Ewell) envisions his neighbor, the Girl (played by Marilyn) impersonating Mae West in this costume ($100,000-$200,0000)
• A costume worn by Marilyn Monroe as Lillian Russell for a pictorial feature in the December 22, 1958 issue of Life magazine, photographed by Richard Avedon. This lavender satin, boned leotard with neckline is trimmed with bouquets of fabric flowers and pink, lavender and cream draped chiffon sashes with pink satin bows and trimmed in lavender, pink and cream chiffon. Monroe also dressed as Theda Bara, Clara Bow, Jean Harlow, and Marlene Dietrich for this series of photographs ($20,000-$30,000) 
• A color print of a photograph of Marilyn Monroe dressed and posing as silent film star Clara Bow that was taken in 1958 by Richard Avedon ($100-$200)
• A pink Pucci long-sleeved dress of silk jersey accompanied by a rope and crystal tassel belt, size 10 owned and worn by Marilyn Monroe ($40,000 – $60,000)
• Marilyn Monroe’s 1962 John F. Kennedy birthday gala original program and ticket stub. The star-studded birthday celebration for President Kennedy was held 10 days before his actual birthday, and remains one of the most discussed events in his and Monroe’s career as she serenaded the president with a sultry rendition of “Happy Birthday, Mister President” while wearing a sheer, skin-tight Jean Louis gown that she’d been sewn into just before the event ($4,000-$6,000)
• Marilyn Monroe’s custom shade of Elizabeth Arden lipstick in a goldtone case with typewritten label reading “Orange Pink like Miss I./ sample 05022/ May 2, 1960” ($7,000-$8,000) 
• Marilyn’s personal annotated The Misfits script sides with her handwritten notes for her iconic role as Roslyn such as Stretch like a cat / see painted / follow him like kitten and Nothing is coming / but at least I can / make the (an) effort and My thought are any place ($5,000-$7,000)
• An original Jean-Louis painted cream/beige silk jersey cocktail dress worn by Marilyn Monroe for The Misfits cast press conference in the summer of 1960 ($40,000-$60,000) 
• Marilyn Monroe’s floret styled brooch of simulated diamonds ($8,000-$12,000) 
• Marilyn Monroe’s handwritten Actor’s Studios notes ($4,000-$6,000)
• A Marilyn Monroe signed Metropolitan Opera playbill from the 1958-1959 season accompanied by a black and white image of Marilyn signing a playbill that is believed to have been signed on February 10, 1959, when Marilyn and her husband Arthur Miller attended a performance of Macbeth ($5,000-$7,000) 
• Red and white polka dot umbrella, with wood hook handle used by Marilyn Monroe in a 1949 photo shoot on Jones Beach with photographer Andre de Dienes ($20,000-$30,000)
• A silver-tone St. Christopher pendant in the style of a wax seal given to Ralph Roberts by Marilyn Monroe ($6,000-$8,000)

Other highlights include: numerous photos of Marilyn Monroe kicking a soccer ball, fishing, on the sets of River of No Return and Gentleman Prefer Blondes, at her 1954 Korean tour, with husband Joe DiMaggio on their honeymoon and others; her checkbook, perfume receipt and more.

Hollywood’s leading auction house also announced that highlights from this auction will be heading to Hong Kong for the first time. The public will be invited to view these artifacts in an exhibition at the Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central in Hong Kong January 27 through February 1^st before heading back to Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles, California March 28 through March 30.

Thursday, March 28^th

“Property From Playboy Archives and The Hugh M. Hefner Foundation and Property From The Life and Career of Marilyn Monroe” 
Day Sale at 10:00 am Pacific Time

Friday, March 29^th

“Property From Playboy Archives and The Hugh M. Hefner Foundation and Property From The Life and Career of Marilyn Monroe” 
Day Sale at 10:00 am Pacific Time

Saturday, March 30^th

“Property From Playboy Archives and The Hugh M. Hefner Foundation and Property From The Life and Career of Marilyn Monroe” 
Day Sale at 10:00 am Pacific Time

About Julien’s Auctions

For the moments that matter.
You know that moment when the lights dim, right before your favorite band starts playing? Or that feeling right before the credits roll on a movie that changed your whole world in an instant? The air is charged with anticipation and words are never going to do it justice because you just really had to be there. 
At Julien’s, we exist to bring those moments back into your life through iconic artifacts and one-of-a-kind collections. Whether collaborating directly with artists, partnering with legendary estates, or working closely with discerning collectors, our auctions make culture pop with the promise of discovery and reconnection. From Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and Ringo Starr to Lady Gaga, Banksy, and Kurt Cobain—from LA to the world, we are where originals find their kind.