The Bill Collins Mr Movies Collection at Auction

A Life in Movies

After completing a Masters Degree in Education and an early career as a high school teacher, Bill Collins became a household name in Australia as a movie reviewer, film historian and TV host, gracing our screens for over 50 years.

His film review program first appeared on the ABC, then Channels 9, 7, 10 and Foxtel, where he presented the Golden Years of Hollywood for 23 years. He received the Order of Australia medal in 1987, entered the Logie Awards Hall of Fame in 2009 and was celebrated with an ASTRA lifetime achievement award in 2013.

He was an avid collector of vintage Hollywood memorabilia and books, which were also central to his research.

In it’s biography of Collins, the National Portrait Gallery states: “Besides meeting many of his ‘Golden Age’ idols, he amassed an enormous personal library of books, magazines, biographies and memorabilia, a resource for his innumerable film reviews, essays and lectures in film studies at the University of Sydney. He said in 2009 ‘In those days there were no esoteric magazines on film. Most people didn’t take film seriously. I did. I investigated film. I read a lot. I filled in and amplified my knowledge with books.”

Pictured: Bound Vintage ‘Photoplay’ Magazines (1948-1952) part of a collection of 44 on offer together

Bill and His Collection… in the Words of his Family

Here, Graeme and Johanna talk about Bill, his passion for cinema, and his love of music and books.

Could you please describe the collection in your own words?

The Bill Collins Mr. Movies Collection is a treasure trove of Hollywood memorabilia, including comic books, movie magazines, music collections, sheet music, lobby cards, and film posters. Bill’s collection is an extensive deep dive into all things Hollywood. There are many rare gems, as so much of it was acquired on his numerous trips overseas. Although not catalogued, many of Bills items are one off’s – there are rarely duplicates in the collection.

Bill had a deep passion for classical music and film scores. If Bill was not viewing a film, he would always be listening to music, be it on cassette, record or his extensive CD collection – from Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire to his favourites, Judi Garland and Jeanette Macdonald. Bill’s love for music extended to composers: Miklos Rozsa, Jerry Goldsmith, Alfred Newman, Andre Previn and the classics, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Mozart and J.S. Bach.

Do you have any memories of Bill specific to this collection?

For Bill, his collection helped tell the stories of the films and the industry he loved. They were purchased for education, and from a place of reflection.

Amongst this auction, you’ll even find vintage beach towels. Bill loved these. They depict Robin Morris’s Bon Voyage, 20th Century Fox and the art work of Al Hirschfeld. His caricature of Latvian and American dancer, choreographer and actor, Mikhail Baryshnikov, was a favourite. They are just so 1980’s!

How and where did Bill display his items at home?

With such an extensive collection of eclectic items Bill and Joan’s home was a visual delight, a tribute to all things Hollywood. These items were stored with love. Bill even had a small three bedroom house built on his property to house his extensive collection.

What are your auction highlights?

The series of hardcover crime fiction books includes authors such as Michael Connelly (pictured), Patricia Cornwell, Lee Child and John Sandford. These include first editions and signed copies that Bill and Joan treasured. They enjoyed meeting various authors and collecting signed copies.

Where did Bill acquire all his movie posters?

Bill crafted the Prisoner of Zenda handmade poster and he had the Frankenstein movie posters (pictured above) professionally printed. He made time to create his own posters that he would then use as props for his show, The Golden Years of Hollywood. Many of the film posters in the collection appeared as backdrops during his 55 years on every Australian television network. Bill’s Movie Posters, Lobby Cards and Magazines came from his travels throughout Australia and the world!

Any other memories to share about the collection?

When Bill was a very young age his Aunt Lili would take him to the cinema in Hurstville where she worked, and this began a lifelong interest in film and music. Bills love of books was fostered by his mother, Rita, a school teacher and librarian. These two educated women ignited the fire of curiosity in young William as he was known then.

From this beginning Bill started to collect anything and everything film related – including his beloved lobby cards, film posters and eventually, a massive personal library of over 35,000 books! This auction contains Bill’s collection of bound Photoplay movie magazines, film annuals, press sheets and music collected in Los Angeles, London and around the world. There has never been a collection like it!

The Bill Collins Collection at Auction

The Bill Collins Collection features film posters, vintage press packs, boxed movie sets, music & soundtrack CDs, as well as film books, crime fiction, comics and magazines, including Photoplay (1948-1952) and the 1970’s title, Continental Film Review.

Also on offer is a fantastic collection of comic books, including pictured, Gold Key Comic ‘The Addams Family’ Issue #1 (1974)

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Bill Collins, The Mr Movies Collection
Sunday 6 April | 2pm
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