RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN: BVLGARI AT GL 18K WRISTWATCH

An Anfiteatro Bulgari 18k gold wrist watch of quartz movement, the cream colored circular dial with gold baton and Roman numerals, window for date, within a BVLGARI engraved bezel and 18k gold case, joined to a brown leather strap, with an 18k gold buckle, 34 mm case, case back signed Bulgari, no. AT35, with a Bulgari blue leather fitted case.

1 x 6.5 inches (overall)

PROVENANCE From the Collection of Richard Chamberlain

$3,000-4,000

RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN: MONOGRAMMED WALLETS

A pair of Bosca leather wallets with the monogram “R.C.”

3.5 x 4.5 x .25 inches (each, closed)

PROVENANCE From the Collection of Richard Chamberlain

$300-500

RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN: “THE SECRET OF PURPLE REEF” POSTERS AND PHOTOS

A group of five original posters, four lobby cards, an exhibitor’s campaign sheet, and 10 press photographs from The Secret of Purple Reef (Associated Producers, 1960).

Posters include one three sheet and four identical inserts.

Richard Chamberlain says:

“It was the first movie I ever made, filmed in Puerto Rico.”

Three sheet poster: 81 x 41 inches (unfolded); Insert poster: 14 x 36 inches (each, unfolded); 

Folded posters and ephemera: 14.5 x 11 x .5 inches (overall)

PROVENANCE From the Collection of Richard Chamberlain

$100-200

RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN: “PARADISE KID” PHOTO

A photograph of Richard Chamberlain as a Yale-graduate-turned-cowboy in the unsuccessful TV pilot Paradise Kid.

Chamberlain says:

“This photo was later used to get me the part of Dr. Kildare.”

The role of Dr. James Kildare, the hero of the series Dr. Kildare (Arena Productions, 1961-66), made Chamberlain a star and a pop cultural phenomenon.

10 x 8 inches

PROVENANCE From the Collection of Richard Chamberlain

$200-300

RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN: “DR. KILDARE” SET NAME PLAQUE

A wooden “James Kildare, M.D.” plaque used on the set of the series Dr. Kildare (Arena Productions, 1961-66).

Chamberlain’s turn as a Yale graduate-turned-cowboy in the unsuccessful pilot The Paradise Kid landed him a contract with MGM, who were on a lengthy search for the protagonist of a new modernized series about Dr. Kildare, the popular 1930s medical intern. Chamberlain was cast opposite Raymond Massey, and almost immediately became a household name and pop culture sensation. The series was watched by 8 million viewers in thirty-one countries, and Chamberlain broke studio records by receiving 12,000 fan letters a week.

6 x 24 x .75 inches

PROVENANCE From the Collection of Richard Chamberlain

RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN: SIGNED RECORD ALBUM WITH SINGLES (B2)

A 33 1/3 RPM record album by Richard Chamberlain titled Joy in the Morning (MGM Records, 1965) released to tie in with his film of the same name (MGM, 1965) signed by Chamberlain; together with two 45 RPM acetate records, likely part of the album’s production, and nine 45 RPM record singles featuring Chamberlain singing.

Acetate records include Try to Remember/Dear Heart (United Records Corporation, 1965) and I Can Dream Can’t I/A Fellow Needs a Girl (United Records Corporation, 1965); Singles include Georgia on My Mind/Stella by Starlight (MGM Records, 1963, two copies); Blue Guitar/They Long to be Close to You (MGM Records, 1963); You Always Hurt the One You Love/Rome Will Never Leave You (MGM Records, 1964, three copies); April Love/Joy in the Morning (MGM Records, 1965); and special disc jockey record singles of All I Have to Do is Dream/Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo (MGM Records, 1963); and True Love/I Will Love You (MGM Records, 1963). Also includes a 45 RPM single The Thorn Birds Theme (Warner Bros. Records, 1983) by Henry Mancini, not featuring vocals by Chamberlain.

12.25 x 12.25 x 1.25 inches (overall)

PROVENANCE From the Collection of Richard Chamberlain

$300-500

RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN: “DR. KILDARE” PHOTOS AND MEMORABILIA

A collection of photographs and memorabilia from the series Dr. Kildare (Arena Productions, 1961-66), which made Richard Chamberlain a star and an international pop culture phenomenon.

Items include: a photograph of Chamberlain having a meal with a group of MGM executives inscribed “R.C.-Our own version of ‘The Summit’ on 1-11-62!,” with an unidentified signature; the novelization Dr. Kildare by Robert C. Ackworth (Lancer Books, 1962); issues of 1960s fan magazines Kildare Scoop! by Monica Borie and Kildare & Casey by the editors of Photoplay; a MAD Magazine dated October 1962 featuring “Dr. Kiljoy,” a spoof of the series; an issue of TV Guide dated March 16-22 featuring Chamberlain on the cover; an issue of TV Times (the Los Angeles Times TV guide insert) dated Jan. 12-Jan. 18, 1964 featuring Chamberlain and Yvette Mimieux on the cover; seven original publicity photos from the series; four behind the scenes photographs of Chamberlain and co-star Lee Kurty backstamped “PLEASE CREDIT PHOTO BY/GENE TRINDL”; a photograph of Chamberlain taking a ballet class circa the run of the series; a signed hardcover of the memoir Telling Some Tales by Anna Massey (Hutchinson, 2006), daughter of Raymond Massey, Chamberlain’s co-star on the series; and 15+ press clippings related to the series.

13 x 9.75 x 2.5 inches (overall)

PROVENANCE From the Collection of Richard Chamberlain

$300-500

RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN: “SHOGUN” ORIGINAL “JOHN BLACKTHORNE/ANJIN-SAN” COSTUME (WITH DVD)

An original costume worn by Richard Chamberlain as “John Blackthorne/Anjin-san” in the classic miniseries Shogun (NBC, 1980). The costume includes a beige linen kimono with brown patterning, brown and white kataginu kamishimo, light gray obi, and gray-brown slippers.

Chamberlain wears this costume in several scenes throughout the film, including to his lover Lady Toda Buntaro-Mariko’s funeral. He also appears in the costume in Richard Amsel’s cover portrait for the September 6, 1981 issue of TV Guide advertising the miniseries, as well as in publicity photographs for the film.

In the documentary The Making of Shogun included on the film’s DVD release, its director, Jerry London, says “The costumes in Shogun were all handmade. The material was selected by the art department working with the wardrobe and they were all made to order.”

Richard Chamberlain was passionate about starring in a miniseries adaptation of James Clavell’s bestselling book. Although actors such as Robert Redford (for a theatrical feature), Sean Connery, and Albert Finney were originally approached, Chamberlain’s patience and passion paid off and he got the part of John Blackthorne, an English explorer who is shipwrecked in feudal Japan and finds himself at the center of civil war and social upheaval.

The program was a blockbuster, cementing Chamberlain’s reputation as The King of the Miniseries.

Includes a DVD of the miniseries.

PROVENANCE From the Collection of Richard Chamberlain

$1,000-2,000