Gene Kelly memorabilia at Sotheby's New York 15th June 2012
A remarkable collection of memorabilia that was once owned by the actor and singer Gene Kelly will be offered in Sotheby’s Fine Books and Manuscripts sale on 15th June 2012. The group of three lots all previously belonged to the star who is widely acknowledged as one of the most recognizable Hollywood figures of his day. All the pieces were given by the actor to his daughter Kerry Kelly Novick and go on view at Sotheby’s New York on Saturday 9 June.
Gene Kelly is perhaps best known for Singin’ In The Rain, the 1952 musical which he both directed and stared in as Don Lockwood. A Gold Enamel Money Clip was given to Kelly by Cyd Charisse with whom he partnered in the film’s ‘Broadway Melody’ ballet sequence (est. $7/10,000,). Three years before Singin’ In The Rain Gene Kelly worked with Frank Sinatra in On the Town – a movie in which they both played sailors which went on to win an Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring of a Motion Picture. After the completion of the film Sinatra gave Kelly a Gold Notepad inscribed “Thank you Gene, For your wonderful, common sense and help, I wouldn’t have made it, without you, Frankie” with a facsimile of Gene Kelly’s signature on the inside (est. $5/7,000).
