Nov 5, 2025 10:00 EST
Stage & Screen featuring The Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
69
Ten kitsch costume designs from the early 1970s by Alvin Colt
[COSTUME DESIGNS]
ALVIN COLT. A group of ten whimsical original costume designs for a 1972 Buick Automobiles Presentation event. Pencil and gouache on onionskin paper, pencil annotations, the drawings mounted with black tape borders on larger sheets of stiff card, fabric samples taped or stapled in the margins, most of the drawings are numbered either on the recto or verso; the mounts measure 21 1/4 x 18 1/4 inches. The drawings are lightly toned, with creasing caused by the gouache, the mounts lightly toned and soiled, with a few dampstains, worn along edges, and with a few creased corners.
Tony Award-winning costume designer Alvin Colt drew these kitchy designs in the early 1970s for a Buick Presentation event, where new models of cars would be theatrically unveiled. In this case, the cars were accompanied by a bevy of beauties wearing outlandish costumes. Colt's costumes for Buick range from maritime-themed, including a sailor, a mermaid, and plenty of bathing suits, to traditional Alpine dirndls for introducing the Buick LaSabre and Centurion. There are also two futuristic, disco-inspired looks - in one, a woman wearing a dark blue floor-length dress, covered in electric lights, would reveal a silver sequinned two-piece with a bare midriff and wide flares while introducing the Buick Regal and Century.
An archive of Alvin Colt's costume designs is held in the Billy Rose Theatre Division at the New York Public Library, and Colt donated his archive of over 3,000 designs to the Museum of the City of New York.
Sold for $768
Estimated at $200 - $300
Includes Buyer's Premium
[COSTUME DESIGNS]
ALVIN COLT. A group of ten whimsical original costume designs for a 1972 Buick Automobiles Presentation event. Pencil and gouache on onionskin paper, pencil annotations, the drawings mounted with black tape borders on larger sheets of stiff card, fabric samples taped or stapled in the margins, most of the drawings are numbered either on the recto or verso; the mounts measure 21 1/4 x 18 1/4 inches. The drawings are lightly toned, with creasing caused by the gouache, the mounts lightly toned and soiled, with a few dampstains, worn along edges, and with a few creased corners.
Tony Award-winning costume designer Alvin Colt drew these kitchy designs in the early 1970s for a Buick Presentation event, where new models of cars would be theatrically unveiled. In this case, the cars were accompanied by a bevy of beauties wearing outlandish costumes. Colt's costumes for Buick range from maritime-themed, including a sailor, a mermaid, and plenty of bathing suits, to traditional Alpine dirndls for introducing the Buick LaSabre and Centurion. There are also two futuristic, disco-inspired looks - in one, a woman wearing a dark blue floor-length dress, covered in electric lights, would reveal a silver sequinned two-piece with a bare midriff and wide flares while introducing the Buick Regal and Century.
An archive of Alvin Colt's costume designs is held in the Billy Rose Theatre Division at the New York Public Library, and Colt donated his archive of over 3,000 designs to the Museum of the City of New York.
Auction: Stage & Screen featuring The Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Nov 5, 2025
-
Popular Stage & Screen Auction on November 5, 2025 Attracted Global Audience
-
Memorabilia, Autographs, Artwork & Photographs Celebrating Theater, Hollywood, Music and Dance
-
Archive of Samuel Beckett Material from the Estate of His American Director Alan Schneider Topped $75,000
-
Sale Featured a Special Section Devoted to the Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle's popular Stage & Screen auction on November 5, 2025 attracted fans and collectors around the world vying for an exciting range of offerings celebrating the performing arts of Theater, Hollywood, Music and Dance.
The Estate of Alan Schneider
Featured in the sale was fascinating collection of early Waiting for Godot material from the Estate of Alan Schneider that topped $75,000 amid trans-Atlantic competition. “The primary American director of Samuel Beckett plays” and a close friend of the playwright, Alan Schneider died in 1984, and his widow died at 101 this past summer. This remarkable archive offered an extraordinary glimpse into the creative partnership between Schneider and Beckett, spanning decades of groundbreaking theatrical work. Highlights included Schneider’s annotated working copy of Waiting for Godot used in the landmark American production, an inscribed typescript of Eh Joe, and first editions and presentation copies of Endgame and Happy Days, many personally inscribed to Schneider by Beckett. Other treasures included manuscripts, letters, awards, recordings and posters that document a pivotal collaboration in modern theater history. Read more
The Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
Doyle was honored to offer a sequel to the successful 2011 auction of property from the estate of the legendary actor. Featured in the sale were artwork, furniture, photographs and memorabilia. Read More.
We Invite You to Auction!
Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for complimentary auction estimates. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
REQUEST AN ESTIMATE
