Recordings of four songs by a 12-year-old girl who later became Judy Garland did not sell at auction on Sunday when bidders failed to reach the required minimum bid.
The two acetate records have not been heard in public and are believed to be the first made by Garland, who was born Frances Gumm. She shot to fame after starring in “The Wizard of Oz” at age 16 in 1939, and was 47 when she died in 1969 of a prescription drug overdose.
Bidding at Bonhams & Butterfields in Hollywood reached $22,500, which was short of the required minimum. The recordings, including “The Good Ship Lollipop,” had been expected to fetch $30,000 to $40,000.
Bonhams & Butterfields spokesman Levi Morgan said the owner may decide to go to auction again or keep the 1935 records. The woman found the records in 1960 as her family cleared out a Beverly Hills house where Garland once lived.
It was the second time the records failed to spark enough interest for the seller, who remains anonymous. They were offered to several recording companies which passed, said Scott Brogan, who runs the Web site (http://www.TheJudyRoom.com) and was contacted by the woman when she wanted to market the records.
Sold during the auction of movie memorabilia for $7,638 was a 1962 handwritten note from Marilyn Monroe to Marlon Brando asking help in getting acting coach Lee Strasberg to see her in Los Angeles.
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