Larry King’s legacy extends beyond the suspenders, Frank Sinatra letters up for auction

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Upon a celebrity’s passing, there may be instances where some of their belongings – those not claimed by their heirs or taken away – are put up for auction. It goes without saying that items touched by renowned individuals hold a certain allure or sentimental value, although they do not possess actual magical properties.

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The time has arrived for Larry King, renowned interviewer across various media platforms (TV, radio, print, internet), to have his collection auctioned off. Four years after his passing at the age of 87, “The Larry King Collection” will be up for grabs by bidders at Julien’s Auctions, known as “The Auction House to the Stars,” on Tuesday. This news resonated with me personally; not only was I a fan, but in 2016, during the writing of a feature about him, I had the opportunity to visit King’s trophy room in his Beverly Hills home. Adorned with awards, statuettes, and photographs with celebrities, he affectionately referred to it as “my ego room,” a place where he would retreat when feeling down.

In simpler terms, it’s not accurate to claim a deep bond, but I found myself possessive about individuals I write about. The interviewee had an unconventional, almost innocent style of speaking which I found intriguing and could sometimes lead to unique responses that might evade more seasoned interviewers. He also seemed to inadvertently disclose personal aspects during our conversations.

The king was deeply pondering his inevitable demise; he frequently sought the opinions of older visitors regarding what occurs after death. Unable to accept an afterlife, he occasionally expressed a desire to be cryogenically preserved until the point when whatever caused his death could be reversed. (He was also taken aback by his own longevity: “I can’t believe I’m 82. In my youth, no one lived past 80. You retired at 65, you died at 67.”) Now, however, things have reached a point where his accolades and commendations, his shirts, suspenders, shoes, and sweaters are being auctioned off to the highest bidders.

As a passionate enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share some intriguing news about upcoming auctions and unique items that have fetched high prices in recent sales.

Julien’s Auctions has an exciting lineup ahead! On Monday, they’re hosting a Whitney Houston-themed auction, followed by an event celebrating skateboarding legend Tony Hawk’s record-breaking “900” at the 1999 X Games in September. His iconic skateboard deck is predicted to sell for between $500,000 and $700,000.

In a recent auction of “The David Lynch Collection,” items like his espresso machine, director’s chair, and handcrafted incense holder from 1974 generated impressive bids, with the espresso machine selling for $45,500, the director’s chair fetching $95,000, and the incense holder reaching $52,000.

In a “Music Icons” auction, an empty beer bottle once owned by Elvis Presley sold for $780, accompanied by a letter of authenticity from George “Dr. Nick” Nichopoulos’ daughter. The letter detailed how Elvis drank half the beer and set down the bottle backstage at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel in the early ’70s.

Remarkably, a lock of his hair was sold for $11,700 to aid DNA extraction. Fascinating, isn’t it? These stories remind us that personal items can hold profound sentimental and historical value!

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The King auction might not generate similar high prices, but a person’s worth isn’t determined by what others pay for their accessories. As fans of King would anticipate, there are various items related to his close associate Frank Sinatra (letters, collectible plates, cardboard standees), and the Dodgers, who held special significance for him in both Brooklyn and Los Angeles. However, there are also other intriguing bidding options, such as an invitation to Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne’s 2002 vow renewal party; a popular caricature of King by Al Hirschfeld; and a 1930s Underwood Standard Typewriter No. 5, which is likely the same one that graced a coffee table in his trophy room, a gift from ex-wife Shawn Southwick (No. 7). King expressed to me that he misses the typewriter and the rotary phone, and even today, he continues to search for phone booths.

In this paraphrased version, I’ve aimed to maintain the original meaning while making the text more conversational and easy to read.

As a passionate movie buff, I’ve come across an extraordinary collection that would make any enthusiast green with envy. Among the treasures are cufflinks, credit cards, a Menorah, intricately designed by Salvador Dali himself, keys to multiple cities, matryoshka dolls portraying characters from the O.J. Simpson trial – I moved west to cover it and never looked back – and an array of sports memorabilia: jerseys, bobbleheads, autographed bats and baseballs, even one from Pete Rose with a heartfelt inscription, “I’m sorry I bet on baseball.

I own a piece of memorabilia related to Larry King. Following that article, he personally wrote me a thank-you note expressing gratitude for visiting and spending time with him, and invited me for lunch soon. Regrettably, I didn’t accept his invitation. However, the thank-you card remains in my possession and is not available for purchase.

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2025-08-11 13:31