Great Collections: Dick Clark's music memorabilia
The music memorabilia collection of Dick Clark is almost as renowned as the man himself
Legendary host and music television pioneer Dick Clark passed away last week (April 18, 2012), leaving behind a huge hole in the entertainment business and an even bigger music memorabilia collection. The entertainer was best known for hosting American Bandstand, the longest-running variety show in the US. He had a massive influence on the music that reached our ears, his show giving first appearances to what have become the greatest acts in pop music.
Michael Jackson's sequined white glove
His all-encompassing love of music fuelled his immense collection, which is housed in a 28,000-square-foot warehouse. Clark was an avid Elvis and Beatles collector, who amassed what can only be described as one of the greatest collections of music memorabilia during his illustrious career. He was a man who knew how to collect items of worth. Much of the collection consisted of objects that reflectthe personalities and distinctive imagery of celebrities at crucial points in their careers. One such item is a sequined white glove worn by Michael Jackson, which sold for $6,500 at an auction of a portion of Clark's collection in 2006.
We have an authentic strand ofJackson's hair, which was taken from the set of the infamous Pepsi commercial in whichhe accidentally set his hair on fire, changing his career forever. Clark's collection also included several Elvis Presley stage costumes, including the white satin "comet" cape worn by the singer on his 1970 tour. The cape sold in 2006 for $28,800.Clark also owned the tassled, black and gold bustier that Madonna wore during her 1983 video, Open Your Heart. The video shocked the world and cemented Madonna's image as a sexual icon. The item sold at the same auction for $11,400. Here at Paul Fraser Collectibles, we have a superb range of Madonna memorabilia, including abasque worn by the pop legend. Perhaps the most important item in the collection, however, was one of Dick Clark's famous white microphones that hepresented American Bandstand withfor over 30 years. An early example sold for $27,500in 2006.
What next for the many remaining items of the collection? We expect to see them at auction before long...
