WIZARD OF OZ Iconic Cowardly Lion Costume Goes for $3M at Hollywood Memorabilia Auction

The New York Post reports that the iconic Cowardly Lion costume, worn by actor Bert Lahr in the 1939 classic THE WIZARD OF OZ, fetched $3 million at a Hollywood memorabilia auction held at Bonhams in New York City yesterday. According to the report, the authenticated costume features a face sculpted in the likeness of the late actor.

A spokesman for the owner of the costume, James Comisar, shared that a second costume was also used in the film and recently sold at auction for almost $1 million.

In addition, the piano used for the film 'Casablanca' also went for over $3 million. Other items in Comisar's collection include memorabilia from the TV shows "I Love Lucy" and "Lost." He shared that he will use the money from yesterday's auction to exhibit his entire collect.

The Wizard of Oz was produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and is the most well-known and commercially successful adaptation based on the 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. The film starred Judy Garland; Terry the dog, billed as Toto; Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Frank Morgan, Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton, with Charley Grapewin and Clara Blandick, and the Singer Midgets as the Munchkins, with Pat Walshe as leader of the flying monkeys.

Notable for its use of Technicolor, fantasy storytelling, musical score and unusual characters, over the years it has become one of the best-known films and part of American popular culture. It also featured in cinema what may be for the time the most elaborate use of character make-ups and special effects. It was not a box office success on its initial release, earning only $3,017,000 on a $2,777,000 budget, despite receiving largely positive reviews.

The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture but lost to Gone with the Wind. It did win in two other categories including Best Original Song for "Over the Rainbow." The song was ranked first in two lists: the AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs and the Recording Industry Association of America's "365 Songs of the Century".

Source: Wikipedia

Photo: http://thewizardofoz.warnerbros.com/

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