BROADWAY CARES-EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS INC – The Broadway Bears XV Auction
Auction Ends: Mar 17, 2012 02:00 PM EDT

Memorabilia

BETTE MIDLER'S CLAMS ON THE HALF SHELL REVUE

Item Number
102
Leading Bid
800 USD
Number of Bids
8  -  Bid History

Live Event Item

After the online close, this item went to a Live Event for further bidding.

Item Description

BETTE MIDLER’S CLAMS ON THE HALF SHELL REVUE
1975
BETTE MIDLER

 

Bette Midler’s Clams on the Half Shell Revue set a Guinness World Record in 1975 for selling the most tickets in the shortest time. To honor the Divine Miss M, this special bear’s body has been re-sculpted to feature, well, one of her best-known assets. The bear's clamshell bra has been hand-painted and covered in iridescent and purple sequins. Her fishnet body stocking is covered with more than 100 Swarovski crystals. Her bikini is draped in seaweed and Hawaiian flowers of custom-dyed fuchsia and orange sequins with purple sequin detailing. Her red human-hair wig is pulled back with a matching hair ornament, exposing an earring of seaweed-shaped orange sequins. This beautiful Bette bear lives in her own clamshell carrying case, which recreates the show's memorable opening. The clamshell, made from a repurposed drum case, has been hand-painted and features photos from the revue's Broadway and TV productions. The interior is draped in blue and green glittered aquatic plant life just like the show's set piece. Ms. Midler personally drew a comic version of her makeup on the bear’s face.

 

Original costume designed by Tony Walton (Broadway) and Bob Mackie (Television)
Broadway Bear designed by Kevin Phillips

 

Signed by Bette Midler

 

Item Special Note