John Wayne's "Oviatt's" flat caps

[Marc Chevalier]

As an enthusiastic historian of "Oviatt's", Los Angeles's greatest haberdashery of the Golden Era, I was excited to see that three of John Wayne's vintage "Oviatt's" imported flat caps (made for the store by "Ayres & Smith") are going to be sold at auction this October:


http://entertainment.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7045&lotNo=44615#Photo


Any Loungers going to bid on them?

 

[Sam Craig]

I WAS until you blew it by announcing it to everyone.
Now the price will go through the roof.
Seriously, I think their estimate is a little low.
Collectors will take the price up, just to have something of the Duke's.

Sam

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

Not much of a flat cap guy more of a 8 pannel newsboy for me. I am sure the price they will fetch is way above what I would
want to pay for them. The one on the far right has a lot of wear too it. Must have been a favorite one.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I WAS until you blew it by announcing it to everyone.
Now the price will go through the roof...

...he says, with tongue firmly in cheek

Yeah, the auctioneers seem to have set low estimates in order to entice potential bidders. Not uncommon at all.

 

[Sam Craig]

They certainly are not low on the movie-used hats, though I won't be surprised to see them go for these huge amounts.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

They certainly are not low on the movie-used hats, though I won't be surprised to see them go for these huge amounts.

'Low' is relative. They're low compared to the final price they'll probably fetch.


At Debbie Reynold's recent movie costume auction, her Marilyn Monroe dress was estimated to go for 2 million dollars. Instead, it fetched 4.6 million bucks (+ commission). The original estimate was, er, low.

 

[Brad Bowers]

I'd bid if they had the Cavanagh cap he wore in The Quiet Man. Sadly, they don't have it.

Brad

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I'd bid if they had the Cavanagh cap he wore in The Quiet Man. Sadly, they don't have it.

It's not this one, alas. http://entertainment.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7045&lotNo=44003


Perhaps Debbie Reynolds has the Cavanagh cap. She's selling off even more of her costume collection at the end of this year. You might wish to check it out.

 

[Brad Bowers]

It's not this one, alas. http://entertainment.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=7045&lotNo=44003


Perhaps Debbie Reynolds has the Cavanagh cap. She's selling off even more of her costume collection at the end of this year. You might wish to check it out.

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out.

Brad

 

[suitedcboy]

Those Heritage Auction folks sure do know how to throw a yard sale.
My yard sales never fetch that kind of money.

 

[Sam Craig]

While I will admit to having fantasized about owning a John Wayne hat in my collection ... my personal choice would have been the one he wore in The Cowboys or one from his early ... pre-Stagecoach ... films ... nevertheless, I can understand the emotional tug that brought the Monroe dress to $4 million.

Not that I agree that it's "worth" that, but consider what was up against the inside of that dress, compared to what was up against Duke's hats.

That is what the world was paying for in the Monroe dress ... not some fashion statement

Sam