Profiles in History
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Auction |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Joseph Maddalena |
| Defunct | January 2021 |
| Fate | Ceased operations after founder joined Heritage Auctions |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, United States |
Key people | Joseph Maddalena (President & CEO) |
| Products | Hollywood collectibles, historical documents, autographs, film props |
Profiles in History operated as an auction house located in Los Angeles, California. Established in 1985 by Joseph Maddalena—an auctioneer and dealer specializing in genuine collectibles—the company focused on Hollywood memorabilia, historical autographs, letters, documents, vintage signed items, and manuscripts. Maddalena served as president and CEO throughout the company's existence. The firm ceased operations in January 2021 when Maddalena transitioned to Heritage Auctions, a former competitor.
Auctions
Throughout the year, Profiles in History conducted auctions featuring both Hollywood memorabilia and historical artifacts.
Hollywood memorabilia
In October 2014, the company hosted its most extensive Hollywood memorabilia auction to date. This event showcased notable items such as Ian McKellen’s "Gandalf The White" staff from The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, the iconic whip used in the Indiana Jones films released in 1981, 1984, and 1989, and Leonardo DiCaprio’s "Jack Dawson" coat from Titanic.
July 2013 saw Profiles in History present a collection of memorabilia related to Lucille Ball during the second installment of their Drier Collection auctions.
On June 18, 2011, the auction house initiated a series featuring items from Debbie Reynolds’ extensive collection of Hollywood memorabilia. That same month, Marilyn Monroe’s famous white dress from The Seven Year Itch, known as the "Subway" dress, sold for $5.52 million—setting a Guinness World Record for the highest price paid for a dress at auction. Additionally, $4.4 million was raised for Audrey Hepburn’s "Ascot" dress worn in My Fair Lady. In December 2011, a Panavision PSR 35mm camera used by George Lucas during principal photography on the original 1977 Star Wars film fetched $625,000 at auction—a record price for a movie camera.
Auctions of Historical Significance
In December 2014, Profiles in History conducted a historical auction in Calabasas, California, where eight pieces of Albert Einstein memorabilia were sold, including a previously unpublished poem. The event also featured seven artifacts related to Abraham Lincoln, among them the desk he used during his final term (1840–42) in the Illinois State House of Representatives and an autograph letter dated August 17, 1860, addressed to Thurlow Weed. Additionally, the auction presented a set of 27 crime scene and autopsy photographs linked to Bonnie Elizabeth Parker and Clyde Barrow (Bonnie and Clyde), as well as an autograph letter penned by Thomas Jefferson during his vice presidency.
Following the success of the initial "The Property of A Distinguished American Private Collector" auction in December 2012, which achieved sales exceeding $6 million, Profiles in History organized a second installment in May 2013 that featured prominent letters and manuscripts. This subsequent auction attracted widespread national interest, notably for the sale of Marilyn Monroe's undated correspondence to Lee Strasberg. Other significant items included two extensive photo albums chronicling Benito Mussolini's 1937 visit to Adolf Hitler in Germany, a one-page autograph letter written in English by Karl Marx, and an 1805 autograph letter from Ludwig van Beethoven to opera singer Friedrich Sebastian Mayer.
Television
Hollywood Treasure debuted on the Syfy network on October 27, 2010, showcasing Profiles in History's president and CEO Joseph Maddalena alongside Brian Chanes, the company's head of acquisitions and consignment. This weekly reality series, produced by Maddalena, explored the world of entertainment collectors and pop culture memorabilia. The show aired for two seasons before concluding in 2012.
Auction highlights
- An autograph letter by Vincent van Gogh, expressing his sentiments to a sick friend, was sold during the inaugural "The Property of a Distinguished American Private Collector Auction" held in December 2012.
- A set of 21 costumes from the film The Sound of Music achieved a sale price of $1.56 million in July 2013.
- In June 2011, Judy Garland's blue cotton test dress from The Wizard of Oz fetched $1,092,000, while her ruby test slippers from the same film were sold for $612,000.
- The racing suit worn by Steve McQueen in Le Mans was auctioned for $960,000 in December 2011. Additionally, McQueen's Swiss Heuer wristwatch featured in the same movie sold for $799,500 in 2012.
- Julie Andrews’ "Do-Re-Mi" dress from The Sound of Music brought in $660,000 at auction in June 2011.
- The bow used by the character Legolas (portrayed by Orlando Bloom) in the Lord of The Rings trilogy was sold for $372,000 at Profiles in History’s Hollywood Auction in December 2012. Moreover, a red chiffon "jump dress" seen on screen was purchased for $330,000 at the same event.
- Harrison Ford’s "Han Solo" blaster from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back commanded $240,000 during a December 2013 auction.
- An original endoskeleton model created by Stan Winston for Terminator 2: Judgment Day was acquired for $488,750.
- The iconic cane used by Charlie Chaplin as the "Tramp" character in Modern Times sold for $420,000 in July 2013.
- The crystal ball utilized by the Wicked Witch to observe Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz fetched $126,000—more than twice its estimated pre-sale value of $40,000 to $60,000.
Profiles in History is also renowned for auctioning legendary film vehicles. In May 2011, they handled the sale of the operational Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car. Later that year, in December 2011, the rare DeLorean from Back to the Future Part III was sold. The Porsche 928 prop car from Risky Business was auctioned off in August 2012.
In July 2003, Profiles in History set a Guinness World Record by selling the most expensive Superman costume from the 1955 television series Adventures of Superman at an auction price of $129,800.