Own a piece of showbiz history

LOS ANGELES, June 18 (UPI) -- Entertainment memorabilia collectors will get a crack at owning artifacts from Hollywood -- including Harpo Marx's Gold 23 harp, Errol Flynn's tunic from the 1938 classic "The Adventures of Robin Hood" and a shirt Elvis Presley wore in "Jailhouse Rock" -- in a 10-day online auction that began Tuesday.

Sothebys.com and Entertainment Rarities said the auction will trace the history of movies and TV "through the ages" -- offering more than 800 costumes, props, personal items, movie posters, original scripts and other memorabilia.

Harpo Marx's harp is expected to fetch between $30,000 and $35,000. It's advertised as the very instrument Harpo played in Marx Brothers movie classics such as "Money Business," "Duck Soup" and "A Day at the Races."

Ronald Reagan aficionados will probably be interested in the white military-style tunics that Reagan and Eddie Albert wore in "Brother Rat," the 1938 comedy about three buddies at Virginia Military Institute. Auctioneers expect bids in the neighborhood of $4,000 to $6,000 for those items -- about as much as they expect to hear for the suit John Wayne wore as a House Un-American Activities Committee investigator in the 1951 political drama "Big Jim McLain."

Sotheby's is also auctioning a bunch of stuff formerly owned by big names of rock 'n' roll, including Elvis Presley's guitar from the 1966 comedy "Spinout," expected to fetch $20,000 to $30,000, and both his shirt and pants from "Jailhouse Rock."

They're also selling a Bo Diddley trademark guitar, Prince's original Cloud Guitar and a concert-used, signed, "Carlos Santana, Peace."

Proceeds from the sale of many of the rock 'n' roll items -- including Santana's guitar, a leather jacket that Bono wore on stage during the "Elevation" tour, and a pair of sunglasses in a case signed by Jones' lifelong friend Ray Charles -- will benefit the Quincy Jones Listen Up Foundation. Jones established the foundation in 1991 to work on behalf of young people by promoting "the values and dignity of work, creativity, the importance of education and the pursuit of excellence."

In a statement issued by Sotheby's, Jones said: "I am floored by the kindness of all my friends. These people have literally given the shirts off their backs to support Listen Up and its mission."

The Sotheby's auction will also offer a guitar autographed by Bruce Springsteen and one of Sting's bass guitars, also autographed. Other features of the rock 'n' roll auction include pen and ink drawings by Roy Orbison, a program from the Grand Ole Opry signed by Hank Williams, and Kurt Cobain's 7th grade yearbook.

George Lucas has donated a limited edition X-Wing Fighter miniature replica from his "Star Wars" movie series -- signed by Lucas himself. Michael Jordan chipped in a signed basketball.

Other Hollywood items headed for the online auction include: Cher's 1994 Black Harley Davidson Fatboy Motorcycle, Tom Hanks' military uniform from "Forrest Gump," a full-size punching bag and Will Smith's "hero" boxing trunks from "Ali," and Halle Berry's waitress uniform from "Monster's Ball."

There's also a yellow two-piece outfit that Janet Leigh wore in "Bye Bye Birdie," Elizabeth Taylor's costume from "Poker Alice" and the western-style dress that Lucille Ball wore in the 1942 action-comedy "Valley of the Sun."

The sale also offers original movie scripts -- many of them signed -- from movies such as "Alien," "When Harry Met Sally," "City Slickers," "Dances with Wolves" and "Silence of the Lambs."

TV memorabilia includes Tim Allen's blue coveralls from "Home Improvement," Lucy Lawless' harem costume from "Xena, Warrior Princess" and a pair of 19th century dueling pistols from an episode of the original "Star Trek" series entitled "The Squire of the Gothos."