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Gene Kelly's Suit & Fawcett's Bling Sell At Auction

DALLAS (CBS SF/AP) - Farrah's bling has fetched far more than Gene's wool fling.

Separate auctions were held on December 12th in Dallas: One featured Texas native Farrah Fawcett's jewelry and other memorabilia, while another had as its centerpiece the gray wool suit worn by Gene Kelly in "Singin' in the Rain."

Heritage Auctions sold various items once belonging to Fawcett for more than $500,000. A 10.95-carat diamond ring earlier was sold for $245,000. A red bathing suit pulled in more than $4,000.

Also included in the sale was her 1977 People's Choice Award for her role in "Charlie's Angels" ($20,625). Other items put up for auction by Fawcett's nephew, Gregory Walls of Houston, included scripts and costumes.

"Though Farrah Fawcett will forever be associated with the 1970s and that famous, famous hairdo of hers, she remains a beloved, respected, instantly recognizable Hollywood star just as much today," Margaret Barrett, director of entertainment and music auctions at Heritage, said in a news release.

Kelly's suit was purchased by the theme restaurant Planet Hollywood International for more than $106,000. Kelly wore the suit for the soggy featured dance in the 1952 movie musical.

Heritage officials said Planet Hollywood intends to display the suit at one of its properties but hasn't decided which one.

"Planet Hollywood has the world's largest assemblage of memorabilia and we're thrilled and excited to add this iconic piece to our collection," said Robert Earl, chairman and founder of Planet Hollywood International.

According to ArtDaily.com, the suit recently surfaced in Northern California after retired Postal Service worker and memorabilia collector, Gerald Sola, brought the suit into Heritage Auctions' San Francisco offices. Sola purchased the suit off the rack at the famous MGM lot sale in 1970 and kept it lovingly for more than four decades, in his closet, in Northern California

"I took it off the rack and looked at it," Sola said in a release issued by Heritage. "I noticed right away that there were water stains in the jacket. I knew right away what it was from so I bought it."

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS San Francisco and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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