This 'Wizard of Oz' Costume Is Up For Auction

Lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my! It looks like The Wizard of Oz’s Cowardly Lion Costume is up for auction , and I’d bet good money (if I had any) that many people are planning to go after it. The famous costume, worn by Bert Lahr in the 1939 film alongside Judy Garland, is going to be sold in a Bonham’s auction in New York, according to a spokesman for the costume’s current owner James Comisar.

The outfit, which is just one amongst a long list of others that Comisar owns from various films and TV shows, will be up for auction for TCM Presents: There’s No Place Like Hollywood with a number of other Hollywood items. The bids will begin on Monday, but since a secondary costume from The Wizard of Oz was sold not long ago for $1 million, according to the Associated Press, it looks like the price for this one is going to be pretty steep.

Although the secondary costume wasn’t specified (perhaps a flying monkey?), $1 million is a heck of a lot of money for it, and with the Cowardly Lion being a main character, I hope the people at this auction are billionaires. But if they aren’t able to snag their favorite Wizard of Oz character, then maybe they’ll just have to settle for Sam’s piano from Casablanca or Clark Gable’s riding jacket from Gone With the Wind, which will also be auctioned off. Not too shabby.

As for Comisar? I’m sure he’s probably a bit sad letting this famous costume go (at least I would be), but apparently he has big plans for the money he receives. With memorabilia from shows like I Love Lucy and Lost, according to New York Daily News, Comisar wants to put his earnings towards a new exhibit. So I guess everyone wins here!

Image: MGM