Fasten your seatbelts… collecting can oftentimes be like driving down a bumpy road, but stay on it long enough and you’ll eventually find what you’re looking for!
Over the years... my passion for collecting has extended far beyond Barbra. Collecting for me is highly addictive and eBay is my drug (damn you, eBay!).
However, instead of staging an intervention, my friends and family support my “addiction”. So I thought I'd take this opportunity to share some of my favourite pieces from my personal collection.
In no particular order, below are my TOP SEVEN FAVOURITE TREASURES personally selected by yours truly expressly for your viewing pleasure.
GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (1953) - 45 RPM Two Disc Record Set. What’s not to love? Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe teamed up in this iconic film. After listening to the album, I’ve come to appreciate how well their voices work together. Although not the seminol song from this soundtrack, "When Love Goes Wrong” has quickly become my favourite track. Definitely worth a listen.
Song Listing:
1. A Little Girl From Little Rock - Jane Russell & Marilyn Monroe
2. Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend - Marilyn Monroe
3. Ain’t There Anyone Here For Love? - Jane Russell
4. When Love Goes Wrong (Nothing Goes Right) - Jane Russell & Marilyn Monroe
5. Bye Bye Baby - Marilyn Monroe
6. Bye Bye Baby - Jane Russell
GENTLEMEN PREFER REDHEADS (Circa 1950s) - This fantastic photo of Bette Davis is from the original 35mm transparency. If you look closely, there’s a lot going on in this picture, which is why it’s one of my favourites of my collection.
GTE TELEPHONE & INTERCOM (circa 1970’s) - By day I'm an office worker so this perfectly prestine piece of early 1970’s office technology takes top prize in my collection!
DAME JOAN COLLINS’ NECKLACE - Designed specially for Joan by her [former] daughter-in-law, Angela Tassoni. On December 14, 2015, Julien’s Auction in Los Angeles sold a collection of Joan’s personal property, including this necklace. I’ve only worn it once, but I felt like English royalty when I did!
CROSLEY RADIOS (circa 1950s) - Fashioned after automobile dashboards of the day, these radios not only looked contemporary on the kitchen counter but they also rocked the top of the refrigerator!
PONDEROSA PARTY TIME - Back in 1991, I purchased the collectible cup at Whipple Tree Junction Antique Mall for a whopping $3. Regrettably, I later sold it for a whopping $10. Recently, while visiting my mom’s antique store, Yesterdays Child Antiques, I was thrilled to find it again! I won’t let this awesome addition to my collection get away again! To compliment the tin cup, I stumbled across the Bonanza LP (top) at Filmgo, featuring the original cast singing such hits as “Happy Birthday”, “Ponderosa” and “Bonanza” - classic television!
BARKERVILLE WILDLIFE - On September 3, 2016, I went to the Wildlife Thriftstore on Granville Street and stumbled upon this truly awesome find! A copy of the Best of Barkerville original cast recording (released in 1975), autographed by 7 of the 9 original cast members. The best autograph is that of the late great Sid Williams, who I had the privilege of working with in 1985 at the Sid Williams Theatre in Courtenay, BC on the production of Auntie Mame.
Originally published August 27, 2016
