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BRADLEY'S AND ENCORE STUDIOS
In America at the turn of the 20th century, West Coast orange groves were being replaced by film and sound studios while on the East Coast, live entertainment was quickly becoming consumed by television and film.
Before Hollywood, Manhattan gave birth to the motion picture and television industries. Local businesses adapted to serve the burgeoning new entertainment world and Bradley's Studio was one such business. Bradley's (located at 318-322 West 43rd Street in New York City) was an antique and furniture store that originally supplied Broadway theatre productions with props and set dressing and then suddenly found huge success doing the same for film and television productions.
As the industry grew, so did Bradley's. Bradley's Studio eventually became Encore Studios and moved to 311 West 47th Street. Encore Studios became a "rental only" prop company, giving the industry easy access to a marvelous collection of antiques and unique accessories for their productions.
In 1989, marking its 100th year of operation, Encore Studios (the longest continually-operating prop rental house in America) closed their doors.
The following four lots were purchased directly and privately from Encore Studios in 1989. They have never been publicly seen before until now. These cultural icons represent not just film history but our popular American cultural history as well.
Brian Christopher Cummings
Consultant/Film Props
MARILYN MONROE FAN FROM "THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH"
20TH CENTURY FOX, 1955
Details
MARILYN MONROE FAN FROM "THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH"
20th Century Fox, 1955
A 1950s-era metal fan painted bluish-grey that Marilyn Monroe holds in her first scene of her most famous film. Interestingly, her character, 'The Girl,' actually makes reference to this prop as the fan's cord gets caught in the door and Richard Sherman, as portrayed by Tom Ewell, has to help her. The underside has a handwritten notation in black ink reading MM and an inventory label from Encore Studios; an overly-long black electrical cord is still attached and was likely customized since it had to be long enough for MM to walk up the staircase. The metal case (which protects the blades) was damaged and later replaced; a small 'keyhole-shaped' hole was later made in the base of the fan in order to hang it on a wall at Encore Studios; all other parts of fan are original.
Height: 14 inches
Please note the original paint is slightly chipped, rusted and scratched, giving the piece a vintage look.
20th Century Fox, 1955
A 1950s-era metal fan painted bluish-grey that Marilyn Monroe holds in her first scene of her most famous film. Interestingly, her character, 'The Girl,' actually makes reference to this prop as the fan's cord gets caught in the door and Richard Sherman, as portrayed by Tom Ewell, has to help her. The underside has a handwritten notation in black ink reading MM and an inventory label from Encore Studios; an overly-long black electrical cord is still attached and was likely customized since it had to be long enough for MM to walk up the staircase. The metal case (which protects the blades) was damaged and later replaced; a small 'keyhole-shaped' hole was later made in the base of the fan in order to hang it on a wall at Encore Studios; all other parts of fan are original.
Height: 14 inches
Please note the original paint is slightly chipped, rusted and scratched, giving the piece a vintage look.
Further details
"Every young woman with big dreams about the big city has or wants one of those iconic fans. For Marilyn's character, who was hot in so many ways, it was just another device for staying cool, along with famously keeping her panties in the icebox."
-Kerry Diamond
'Harper's Bazaar' beauty director and author of 'Kevyn Aucoin: A Beautiful Life,' (Atria, 2003)
-Kerry Diamond
'Harper's Bazaar' beauty director and author of 'Kevyn Aucoin: A Beautiful Life,' (Atria, 2003)
Sale room notice
Please note this fan was used in publicity stills for "The Seven Year Itch" but was not actually used on-screen as indicated in the catalogue description.