allysonkrieger
runonsentence.com
amkrieger@hotmail.com
650 703 7109
originally published on WildWeb, 6/2/99
'Place'
Holders
I Was a 'Melrose' Auction Addict
By ALLYSON KRIEGER
/ What self-respecting Jack Wagner fan wouldn’t positively swoon
over the chance to slip into a pair of size large PJs worn by the former
Dr. Peter Burns? What about draping around her shoulders an olive green
silk necktie from the dashing doctor’s personal collection? Browsing
the recent Amazon.com "Melrose Place" auction was like wandering
through your own little private fantasy -- replete with 244 items of celebrity-worn
clothing, set furniture and '90s-pop memorabilia.
The auction works like this. You call up the Amazon.com auctions page, register as an auctions participant, and begin bidding away. The registration process requires a credit card and some basic user information, but it’s essentially quick and painless. Amazon.com offers "Bid Click," which allows you to set a monitored maximum bid, and "Going Going Gone," which extends the auction in 10-minute increments until no new bids are made. I set my preferences and off I went.
Like a real auction -- or any savvy salesman’s pitch -- the time pressure of bidding online is intense. "0 Days, 04:30:23" read the clock last time I checked in to see how much Dr. Burns’ pajamas garnered. Omigod, what should I do? Can I afford them? Am I crazy? OK, OK, so there were still four hours to decide, but it’s a big decision! $460 for something I couldn’t even wear to work! Or tell anyone about?!?
The “Melrose” items were segmented into various time frames spanning three days. Seemingly most popular were clothing items with big-time cast members attached to them: "Amanda’s Heart Necklace," "Kyle’s Leather Armani Jacket." Generic jewelry and possessions of short-lived characters were less coveted. I surfed around obsessively, addicted to seeing the next item in line. Browser refreshing also became a compulsion in order to monitor the clock and check on the newest bids.
Although I never did manage to take the plunge, there are hundreds of people who did. Fans or fanatics, you say? After my own disappointment wore off, I checked in with some of these folks to find out why they ponied up hundreds, even thousands, to own their very own piece of the "Place."
Auction
Confessionals
Sandra,* a 30-year-old "Melrose Place" devotee from northeast
Texas, says she was willing to spend money for a "chance to own a
piece of TV history." She bid on six different items but lost out
on all of them, due to a bravely self-imposed spending limit that was
exceeded each time. Zoe,* a 25-year-old CPA from California, suffered
a similar fate and was outbid on the five items she wanted. A self-described
"big ‘Melrose’ fan," Zoe also wanted a remembrance
of her favorite show.
Among the luckier bidders was Seth,* a San Franciscan thirtysomething. Seth, who claims to never have missed an episode since the 1992 pilot, spent $2,900 on one of three green apartment complex doors and $1,225 on Jane’s embroidered jacket.
"The 'Place' reminded me of my old apartment in Los Angeles when I was in college," Seth says. "I must have a piece of 'MP.' " The green door, OK, but a "beautifully crafted copper colored embroidered jacket"? "It is for my wife," he explains, "whom I met in my old [Melrosian] apartment!" How perfectly "Place."
Joshua* also lays claim to a distinctive green door. "I enjoyed 'Melrose Place' and like auctions," he says, adding that he also was drawn to the idea of "collecting something unique."
Kitsch
Appeal
So why do it? The allure of a "Melrose Place" memorabilia auction
can be chalked up to a few reasons. As most TV collectors will tell you,
it’s never been so easy to own something from your favorite show.
The relatively new online auction format brings buying power home to any
fan with a PC. Add to this the fact the auction itself was catchy, fun
and funny, and viola: instant kitsch appeal.
Amazon.com did "Melrose" proud, complementing each item up for bids with both a photo and written description. In fact, the "Melrose" auction is best characterized by the very words that drove it. Like a dumbed-down J. Peterman catalog, the promoters strove to set a mood. (See below for some of my favorites.) The results were flat-out hilarious: Thinly veiled attempts by the auctioneers to appeal to both "Melrose" devotees and your everyday online shopper. (We’ll overlook the assumption that everyday online shoppers would be wading through nighttime soap memorabilia.)
And the funds from the auction went to charity, yet another good reason (or justification) to buy. Sharon Greenspan of Amazon.com says her company was "really pleased" with the turnout of "Melrose" fans. "When you see a celebrity, you want to get [his or her] autograph," she says. "This is even better."
The desire to buy "Melrose" memorabilia is aptly summed up by Dan,* a 40-ish Californian. "Most people would like to have a piece of a show that they lived with for so many years. When it goes off the air it's like a part of your life is gone. If you are able to get something to remember this part of your life, then it's like having old photographs of family or friends to look back on."
Why Dr. Burns PJs eventually went for only $510, I’ll never understand.
Auction
Excerpts:
McBride-to-Be. "Megan Lewis wanted so much to marry Ryan McBride.
Love sure was prevalent on ‘Melrose Place’! In one episode she
dreams of marrying Ryan McBride in this beautiful wedding gown. It's a
good thing she didn't go through with it in this gown ... Amanda would
have stolen him away too! The gown is a simple ivory colored gown on the
front but the exquisite button down detail and flower design on the back
makes this gown any bride's dream."
Gee, a "Melrose" reminiscence and a lovely wedding gown, all in one fell swoop! Though associating your wedding day with the fate of "Melrose" brides is a bit volatile ...
Final bid: $965
- - - - - - -
Bedside Manner. "Need to check for a heartbeat? Many a hearts were always beating on every episode of "Melrose Place"! Dr. Peter Burns was a fine doctor who cared about his patients. Whether he was in meeting or talking to patients or resolving personal issues, he was wearing his white hospital coat and his stethoscope. We are now offering the original coat AND the stethoscope that was worn by Peter Burns on the set for the duration of the show. His name tag is still on the coat! Is your heart beating yet? Bid now!
OK, so I’m a little obsessed.
Final Bid: $1,125
- - - - - - -
Smooth Operator. "Dr. Michael Mancini often dressed casually when he wasn't at the hospital or wining and dining his women! He especially looked smart and handsome in this forest green suede bomber jacket. Made of a luxuriously soft suede, this zip front jacket with two front pockets would be anyone's choice of wardrobe for a casual night out on the town ... or in the courtyard! This suede is so soft to the touch that women won't be able to keep their hands off you ... or the jacket!!! See the results on 'Melrose Place'!!"
Final Bid: $960
- - - - - - -
Spot Check. "Animal instincts often took over Amanda's judgment but, boy, did we all love it! Steamy, hot, passionate sex ... with so many men in her life, who could keep track of them all? Not only was her bedroom inviting, but so were her Queen-size leopard sheets. Grroowwll and ggrroovveell!! This unique memento from Amanda's bedroom is an absolute 'must have' for any fan! What more could you ask for? You can't take Amanda home but you can have her sheets! This set of leopard print sheet consists of two pillow cases, a black velvet bed skirt with gold trim, two black velvet and leopard print shams, a luxurious queen size duvet cover, and a small black velvet pillow decorated with an elegant gold chain."
Final Bid: $3,050
- - - - - - - -
*Names have been changed to protect the obsessed.
What would you pay for a "Melrose" memento? Have you ever bought Hollywood memorabilia? Tell us.
WildWeb | June 02, 1999