If you're in Beverly Hills on 6/16/11 or 6/17/11...

Go see Debbie Reynolds' collection of costumes, props and movie memorabilia at The Paley Center. It's simply wonderful, and you'll never be able to see it all in one place ever again. The first of three (or four?) auctions will be held on Saturday 6/18/11. How sad she couldn't find anyone to finance a permanent museum.

http://www.paleycenter.org/2011-spring-debbie-reynolds

I didn't have any favorite costumes (they were all fantastic), but I was blown away by how tiny all the women apparently were, especially Claudette Colbert in the 1934 "Cleopatra," Carole Lombard in "No Man of Her Own," and Elizabeth Taylor in "Raintree County." Best shoes were John Barrymore's in "Marie Antoinette" or perhaps Sonia Henie's ice skates (for her incredibly narrow feet). The most unusual costumes were the feathered tutu worn by Maria Tallchief as Pavlova in "Million Dollar Mermaid" and the 'suit of lights' worn by Valentino in "Blood and Sand." Now, that was one tiny man.

The best thing was seeing the incredible attention by the designers and craftsmen to details that couldn't possibly be captured by the camera but which would keep the work authentic to the period. (I wonder if they still do that as well. ) But I had to download the catalog (link above) to find out who designed everything. Not all items in the catalog were included in this viewing, but I'm hoping to catch the rest before the next auctions.