Story by JOHN DALY, Photos by MICHELLE DAY
UPDATE: Sara Blakely, who founded the shape control clothing brand Spanx, paid $405,700 for the black satin pants and leather jacket worn by Olivia Newton-John in final scene of “Grease.”
Olivia Newton-John was the guest of honor at a recent VIP party devoted to the “Grease” star at Julien’s Auctions of Beverly Hills. The renowned auction house will be presenting property from the Collection of Olivia Newton-John for bid on Nov. 2.
Newton-John’s collection includes more than 500 of her costumes from film and TV. Among the gorgeous itesm are ensembles and gowns worn on the red carpet at various award shows as well as accessories owned by Newton-John.
The four-time Grammy award-winning singer and Hollywood actress who is perhaps best known for her work in the film “Grease.”
Items from the movie including her iconic Grease leather jacket and pants from the blockbuster film, are being offered for auction.
Proceeds from the Grease jacket and pants will benefit the ONJCancerCentre.org and a portion of all items will go to the centre as well.
At the opening reception, more than 400 fans and friends were on hand.
Attendees included Darren Julien (CEO/President) and Martin Nolan, (Executive Director) of Julien’s Auctions, John Farrar (producer/songwriter), Randal Kleiser (director of “Grease”), Leeza Gibbons, Richard Marx, Daisy Fuentes, Nyle DiMarco (“America’s Next Top Model” and “Dancing With The Stars” winner), Nigel Lythgoe and RuPaul.
The auction take places this Saturday, Nov. 2 (session I: 10am PT and session II: 1pm PT) at Julien’s Auctions 257 N. Canon Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90210 and live on juliensauctions.com
Newton-John was born in Cambridge, England born and was raised in Melbourne, Australia and began her music career at the age of 14, with the all-girl group, Sol Four.
She toured nightclubs in Britain and across Europe with Pat Carroll as the duo “Pat and Olivia.” Newton-John was also a regular on “The Cliff Richard Show.” Newton-John recorded her first single, “Till You Say You’ll Be Mine,” in 1966 and recorded her first solo album in country music, If Not For You, in 1971.
“Let Me Be There,” was her first hit single, in 1973 it made the American Top 10 on the Pop, Country and Adult Contemporary charts and she earned her first of four Grammys for “Best Country Female” and an Academy of Country Music award for “Most Promising Female Vocalist.”
Newton-John had another hit with the release of If You Love Me, Let Me Know, with the title track reaching No. 5 on the Pop, No. 2 on the Country and No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary charts.
Newton-John released her signature anthem, “I Honestly Love You” in 1974. She won two Grammys for “Record of the Year” and “Best Pop Vocal Performance-Female.”
Newton-John became one of the first artists to successfully cross over and topped both the Pop and Country Albums charts again with her next album, Have You Never Been Mellow, and dominated in the mid-’70s with numerous No. 1 singles and hits including “I Honestly Love You,” “Have You Never Been Mellow,” “Please Mr. Please,” “Something Better to Do,” “Let it Shine/He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” “Come on Over,” and “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
It was the movie “Grease,” that put her on the map in her star turn opposite John Travolta as Sandy Olson to his Danny Zuko.
The “Grease” soundtrack spent 12 weeks at No. 1, producing three Top 5 singles for Newton-John with the platinum and No. 1 hit single “You’re the One That I Want” with Travolta, the gold “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” and the gold duet “Summer Nights” with Travolta.
Newton-John earned a Golden Globe nomination as “Best Actress in a Musical” and performed the Oscar-nominated “Hopelessly Devoted to You” at the 1979 Academy Awards. Pitchfork
For more information go to JuliensAuctions.com.