TV & Movies

Cowardly Lion costume from ‘Wizard of Oz’ auctioned for $3 million

Associated Press
This Nov. 21, 2014 photo shows Bert Lahr's Cowardly Lion costume and a three-sheet poster from "The Wizard of Oz," part of the "There's No Place Like Hollywood" movie memorabilia auction at Bonhams auction house in New York. Lahr’s costume was auctioned with other Hollywood items Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, in New York.
This Nov. 21, 2014 photo shows Bert Lahr's Cowardly Lion costume and a three-sheet poster from "The Wizard of Oz," part of the "There's No Place Like Hollywood" movie memorabilia auction at Bonhams auction house in New York. Lahr’s costume was auctioned with other Hollywood items Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, in New York. Richard Drew Associated Press
NEW YORK

The Cowardly Lion costume from the classic film “The Wizard of Oz” and the piano from the movie “Casablanca” each sold for over $3 million at a New York City auction.

They were among Hollywood memorabilia offered at Bonhams on Monday.

The big cat outfit, which went for just over $3 million, had been authenticated as the one Bert Lahr wore in the 1939 film. Its face is a sculpted likeness of the late actor.

A spokesman for costume owner James Comisar says a secondary costume used in the film sold at auction in recent years for close to $1 million.

Comisar has a trove of TV memorabilia from shows including “I Love Lucy” and “Lost.” He has said he plans to use money from the Cowardly Lion costume sale to exhibit his collection.

The upright “Casablanca” piano fetched $3.4 million.

This story was originally published November 25, 2014 at 10:40 AM with the headline "Cowardly Lion costume from ‘Wizard of Oz’ auctioned for $3 million."

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