The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that it is “likely” that the collection of memorabilia planned to be showcased in Debbie Reynolds’ Hollywood Motion Picture and Television Museum will be sold at auction. As reported in past Original Prop Blog articles, the project had filed a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization in a Los Angeles bankruptcy court back in March (see Debbie Reynolds’ “Hollywood Motion Picture and Television Museum” Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Reorganization Update). The museum originally sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection back in June of 2009 (see Debbie Reynolds’ “Hollywood Museum” Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy).
Below is an excerpt from yesterday’s Knoxville News Sentinel story by Josh Flory:
This time, no one swooped in to save the damsel in distress.
The family of actress Debbie Reynolds said Thursday that the valuable Hollywood memorabilia collection she has amassed will be sold at auction, likely ending the prospect that some of the most famous relics of the silver screen will be on public display in Pigeon Forge.
Todd Fisher, president of the Hollywood Motion Picture and Television Museum and the actress’ son, said his mother’s heart is broken about the project, which he described as the latest in a long line of disappointments. He said the chart-topping singer and Hollywood star of such movies as ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ and ‘The Unsinkable Molly Brown’ was brought to tears following the auction decision.
‘Most people collect for themselves … but she collected for the public,’ he said. ‘She collected for all of us. She collected for the American people to preserve the history of their industry.’
The full story – With no buyer, Debbie Reynolds’ Hollywood memorabilia to go to auction – can be found at KnoxNews.com:
The Original Prop Blog had reported on the construction of the museum back in 2008 (see The Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Motion Picture Museum), which was scheduled to debut in Fall 2008 as part of the Belle Island Village.
Jason DeBord