Las Vegas Weekly

June 14, 2010 · 2:50 PM

Michael Jackson, Anna Nicole Smith items are up for bid in auction

By Robin Leach

The premiere of Michael Jackson's This Is It at the Palms on Oct. 27, 2009.

Photo: Fred Morledge/PhotoFM.com

It’s unprecedented and perhaps the last time that mass memorabilia of Michael Jackson and Anna Nicole Smith will ever be seen. Fans remember that as the first anniversary of his death approaches, the pop icon was about to leave for a run of This Is It concerts at 02 Arena in London, but he died last June 25 shortly before the planned departure and as dress rehearsals were wrapping in L.A.

Now the annual Julien’s Auctions featuring high-profile celebrity collections and estates with more than 20,000 square feet of iconic items opens to the public today for free viewing through June 24 at Planet Hollywood.

More than 200 items from the King of Pop’s life and career are part of the auction, including furniture commissioned by Michael for his London home for This Is It, concert costumes, handwritten lyrics and an MTV Video Music Award for “Scream.” There’s even the jacket that Michael wore when he married Debbie Rowe that’s estimated to sell for $6,000 to $8,000.

Photo: MTV/Getty Images

Madonna pays tribute to Michael Jackson during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

Property from Anna Nicole’s estates includes fine and decorative art, costumes, her 1992 Mercedes 300 SL and gifts from her late husband Howard J. Marshal. There also are more than 100 items from Cher, Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Mia Farrow (including gifts and jewelry from Frank Sinatra), Audrey Hepburn’s dress from Funny Face, Christopher Reeves’ Superman IV costume and much more. Also included: guitars played by Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash and costumes worn by Elvis, Madonna and Britney Spears.

Today, photographer Larry Birkhead, Anna Nicole’s ex-boyfriend who fathered their daughter, will be at Planet Hollywood with Darren Julien, president of Julien’s Auctions; Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien’s; and Rod Roddenberry, the son of Star Trek mastermind Gene Roddenberry. Rod has contributed more than 200 items from his father’s estate, along with a collection from William Shatner and items from last year’sStar Trek remake.

The public can view the collection on the Planet Hollywood mezzanine before the live worldwide auction begins for three days Friday. Buyers across the globe will be bidding after pre-registration. For more information and to register, go to JuliensAuctions.com.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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