Banking on the notion that select summer blockbusters manage to stand the test of time, Julien’s Auctions and Turner Classic Movies are gearing up for four auctions that will showcase 1,500 finds from flicks like “Jaws” and “Viva Las Vegas.”
Billed as “A Month of Hollywood Legends,” the lineup kicks off on June 23 with “The Collection of Ann-Margret.” During the following three days, the sales for “Jaws,” “Classic and Contemporary Hollywood Treasures” and the “Ann Miller Collection” will each be held in that order.
Ann-Margret’s haul includes looks from her roles in “Viva Las Vegas,” “Tommy” and “Carnal Knowledge.” More than 50 of the shimmery styles that fashion designer Bob Mackie dreamt up for her will go under the gavel, including a black lace gown that she wore to the 1977 Academy Awards that was loaned to pop star Sabrina Carpenter. Although Ann-Margret has never met Carpenter, she gets a kick out of the fact that the pop star is wearing her clothes.
Bidders will also find capes, drapes, peignoirs, jumpsuits, fur coats and red, white and blue ensemble that Ann-Margret wore for a performance at the White House, when President Gerald Ford was honoring the Shah of Iran. As for the decision to sell so many keepsakes, Ann-Margret said in an interview Monday, “It’s bittersweet — believe me. I love my work and it’s not work. And I remembered everything that I did wearing those things.”
A patriotic bodysuit worn by the performer for a White House event in 1975.
Born Ann-Margret Olsson in Sweden, the 85-year-old actress grew up in the U.S., and attended Northwestern University, before switching tracks to try to jumpstart a singing career in Las Vegas. Discovered by comedian George Burns, the songstress recalled going to see him at General Service Studios and bringing her pianist, Scott Smith, whom she “was also dating” at that time. “I did a few songs for him. I think one of them was ‘Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey,’ singing a line from the Ella Fitzgerald song ‘Billy.’”
Burns “really liked me a lot and said, ‘Hey, do you want to come to Vegas with me to be in my show?’” the performer recalled, imitating his raspy voice. After auditioning in “quite tight” black pants with a powder blue lambswool sweater and later turning up in a suit for the Vegas performance, Burns told her, “’Annie, people don’t want to just hear your voice. They want to see where it’s coming from.’”
Her Bob Mackie connection was first made, when he was working as an associate costume designer on one of her early films. She went on to do 57 including “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Kitten With a Whip” and “Viva Las Vegas” opposite Elvis Presley. Director George Sidney was a favorite. While many people still associate her with Presley, she said, “That’s because there are so many Elvis fans — zillions of them are out there. They are very interested in our relationship. And I’m a big fan of his.”
Turning more serious, she said, “He was a very dear friend to me. We had a great time together.”
Describing Presley as “a great talent,” Ann-Margret said that away from others he was “very funny. He loved to tease me, but I teased him right back. He was a good sport about it and he kept on teasing.” Something as simple as orange soda-tinged tongues could make them laugh, she said. “He did pranks, imitations — and a lot of what he found funny, I found funny too.”
Racking up five Golden Globe awards and six Emmy wins and headlining “The Ann-Margret Show,” she understood the power of allure and dressed to play up her physique. One of the highlights from the sale will be the off-the-shoulder black lace dress that the actress wore for the 33rd Golden Globes. The presale estimate is $1,000 to $2,000. Another highlight is the black satin and nude silk gown that Ann-Margret wore as a presenter at the 49th annual Academy Awards, and that was later worn by Carpenter in May for Anna Wintour’s pre-Met Gala dinner in May. That style is expected to fetch between $2,000 and $3,000.
Although her bombshell looks were undeniably part of her family, she demurred when asked to what degree that might have been. “Well, that is not for me to say. You would have to ask some gentlemen what they liked about whatever outfit I was wearing,’” she said. Ann-Margret became a bombshell in her era. She also had a RCA record deal and topped the charts with songs like “I Just Don’t Understand.”
A Bob Mackie gown that was worn by Ann-Margret.
Photo Courtesy
Ann-Margret is also parting with a nude silk jersey and sequined gown with a peach-colored, pleated overlay. Bidding will start at $2,000 for that one. A bugle-beaded dress that she wore for live performances has a presale estimate of $1,000 to $2,000. Mackie and Nolan Miller remain two of her favorite designers.
In a 1971 interview, she told WWD, “I want to make people feel emotions — sadness, passion, happiness. I know my capabilities. I’m a singer, dancer, actress…very emotional, very sensitive and very easily hurt.”
Her appreciation for fashion was detailed in a 1987 interview with WWD. Reluctant to name favorite designers and boutiques for fear of insulting others, the actress spoke of her fondness for cashmere. While earning $98 a week singing in hotel lounges as a 16-year-old, she bought her first outfit — a red pencil skirt with long-sleeved crewneck sweater.”
The auction will also include scripts from some of Ann-Margret’s notable roles like her debut in “Pocketful of Miracles” with Bette Davis. The lifelong motorcyclist will also be selling her custom pink 1997 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883. At the age of 6, she first rode a motorcycle with her uncle Calle in the Swedish village of Valsjobyn. “I was a goner. I really loved it. It was exciting and huge and I flipped out,” she recalled.
The actress’ 1887 custom Harley Davidson motorycle.
Often traveling for autograph shows and awards events including Chita Rivera Awards on May 18 in New York City, and another honor in April for her longtime support of American service members through overseas performances for the United Service Organizations. Asked about current cultural shifts, the actress said she is most interested in the range of jobs that women now work in. Artificial intelligence’s chipping away at entertainment industry jobs is something that she “does not think is nice or appropriate.”
Looking back at her career, she said, “I’ve enjoyed every moment of it. All that has happened is unbelievable to me. All of this is just overwhelming to me. I am greatly appreciative.”
The only child of an electrician father and homemaker mother, the performer said her parents did so much for her and she treasured having been able to give them their first home in Los Angeles. They provided, but “did not push” dancing — ballet, modern and tap — lessons and singing ones, she said. More than anything, Ann-Margret wants people to know that she loves what she’s doing and with whatever she’s doing, she “puts everything into it. I never just phone in something.”
Asked about current musicians, the mother of three stepchildren said, “I like to see people enjoying themselves when they’re performing. I’m happy for them, because they’re doing what they love.”
As for the secret of Ann-Margret’s success, she said, “It’s always in the eye of the beholder. I’m just overwhelmed by the love that I have received through the years. It makes me very happy. And I am just so happy that I was able to give my parents a new home and give my mother a new car, after all the things that they did for me. My mother and daddy meant the world to me.”