Rehoboth's Stuart Kingston to host auction of Hollywood memorabilia

It took Mauria Stein eight weeks to catalog and research 30 years worth of items for an upcoming Stuart Kingston auction, but the buzz about it already has traveled worldwide.

"I've been doing auctions for 14 years and can get one done in two weeks, but this took so much time," said Stein, who helps run Stuart Kingston alongside her father, Jay, and mother, Dian. "Saturday is going to be exciting to see how this sells."

The items are part of a collection that former Hollywood photographer Doug Dunlap collected during his career. Some snapshots he took as a freelance photographer and friend to many of the movie stars. Others are matted studio shots – many signed – that he acquired through his many powerful acquaintances.

Dunlap lived on Rudy Valle's Hollywood Hills estate from 1970-1985 and served as his personal photographer during that time. Dunlap considered Valle a friend, even chose him as his best man for his second wedding. Many of the photographs came from him, Dunlap said.

"I attended all the award shows and functions," he said. "I was the first to take a photo of Cher when she was pregnant."

He recalls John Wayne as polite, and remembers all the hoopla and bodyguards who followed Frank Sinatra.

"When he came to town you would've thought God came to town," he said.

His collection includes signed photos of the entire cast of "Gone With the Wind" and most of the cast of the "Wizard of Oz."

"If they signed it as their character, it's worth more," Stein said.

Photographs of Vivian Leigh, who played Scarlett O'Hara, and Olivia de Havilland, who played Melanie Wilkes, are both signed by the character's name.

A signed photograph of Hattie McDaniel – the first African-American to win an academy award – who played Mammy in "Gone With the Wind" and Butterfly McQueen who played Prissy, are expected to be popular items, Stein said.

Another piece of African-American memorabilia is an autograph of Stepin Fetchit, the first African-American to earn $1 million and have his name listed in a film credit.

Stein said she expects one of the biggest selling items will be a letter from Ronald Reagan to Rudy Valle. Photos of Reagan with Rat Pack star Dean Martin during a presidential campaign should be popular as well, she said.

The entire list of items is available at www.stuartkingston.com. The items also have been listed on an online auction site, and Stein said she expects a large number of bidders online and by phone when the email blast goes out. Already, she said, bidders have signed up from Australia, New Zealand, Germany and England.

Anyone interested in previewing the items in person can do so from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at the Stuart Kingston auction house, 330 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach.

The live auction will be held at the auction house on Saturday with doors opening at 9 a.m. and auction beginning at 10 a.m.