Auction of Fox Documents Raises $250,000.00 for the Motion Picture Television Fund Insurance Premium Fund

Auction of Fox Documents Raises $250,000.00 for the Motion Picture Television Fund Insurance Premium Fund

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) today announced that the benefit auction, From the Twentieth Century Fox Archives: Documents from the Golden Age of Hollywood, raised in excess of $250,000.00 for the organization's Financial Assistance Program.

Documents sold at auction were donated by Twentieth Century Fox and included more than 200 rare items including signed contracts and internal memos. All of the items were sold and the sale brought in 25% more than the high pre-sale estimate.

A Jackie Gleason signed contract for "The Hustler," had the highest amount of bids with more than 36 people competing off the internet, by phone, and live. The item had a pre-sale estimate of $200-$300 and ultimately sold for $2400.

Other top selling items include:
* A contract signed by John Steinbeck assigning the motion picture
rights to "Grapes of Wrath" (1940) which sold for $24,000.00, the
highest sale price in the auction.
* A typed letter signed by Marilyn Monroe regarding the terms for her
appearance on the Lux Radio Theatre program -- Marilyn's radio
debut, February 19, 1947 which sold for $7,000
* A typed letter signed by Marilyn Monroe appointing Inez Melson as
her business manager, Nov. 11, 1953, sold for $6,500.

"The mission of MPTF's founders, 'taking care of our own' continued with this auction when the legends of Hollywood were able to support those working to make it in today's industry," said Ken Scherer, CEO of the Motion Picture Television Fund. "We are grateful to 20th Century Fox for their generous donation and to Swann for their hard work."

Items in the auction represent dealings with over 50 Hollywood legends including: Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn and Elvis Presley, and involve some of the greatest films of all time including: "Seven Year Itch," "Miracle on 34th Street," "The King and I," "All About Eve," and "Love Me Tender."

"Swann Galleries was privileged to be able to host and conduct an auction of Documents from the Golden Age of Hollywood from the Twentieth Century Fox Archives. Combining the glitter of Hollywood and the kind of fabulous autographs that Swann is accustomed to selling, the auction proved to be a success beyond everyone's expectations," said Nicholas D. Lowry, President and Principal Auctioneer at Swann Galleries. "It was the perfect opportunity for fans to own rare (and never again available) documents signed by their favorite stars, as well as a wonderful gesture on the part of the Studio, which donated all of the proceeds from the sale to the MPTF."

One key component of the Fund's Financial Assistance Program is the health insurance premium support program that supports the payment of health insurance premiums for those who temporarily fall out of coverage. The program was created in 2003 and since its inception, the program has helped many, but now, years later, the program's resources have been almost completely depleted. Proceeds from this auction will go to replenish the resources of this vital program.

MPTF has served people in the entertainment industry for more than 85 years with a safety net of services including charitable assistance, health care, retirement care at all levels, social services, Elder Connection and child care. For more information on how we can help you, and you can help others, visit our website at www.mptvfund.org.

Swann Galleries:

Swann Auction Galleries was founded in 1941 as an auction house specializing in Rare and Antiquarian Books, and today is the largest specialist auctioneers of Works on Paper in the world. Swann conducts an average of 40 sales a year, encompassing Books, Autographs, Maps, Photographs & Photographic Literature, Prints & Drawings, and Vintage Posters. There are annual special-subject sales devoted to African-Americana, Magic and Space Exploration. Visit www.swanngalleries.com for more information.

Fox Filmed Entertainment:

One of the world's largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, Fox Filmed Entertainment produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world. These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of FFE: Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox Atomic, and Twentieth Century Fox Animation.

Source: Motion Picture & Television Fund

CONTACT: Kelly Grunther of Motion Picture & Television Fund,
+1-917-841-2657, grunther1@aol.com; or Gregg Brilliant of Fox Filmed
Entertainment, +1-310-369-5634, gregg.brilliant@fox.com; or Rebecca Weiss of
Swann Galleries, +1-212-254-4710, ext. 23, rweiss@swanngalleries.com

Web site: http://www.swanngalleries.com/

Web site: http://www.mptvfund.org/

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