David Lynch Auction Nets $4.25M; Ronnie Rocket Scripts Highest Bid

The unique and often surreal world of filmmaker David Lynch extended into the auction house recently, as a collection of his personal effects and film memorabilia fetched a staggering $4.25 million in Los Angeles. Hundreds of bidders, both in-person and online, vied for a piece of the director’s legacy during the sale organized by Julien’s Auctions in partnership with Turner Classic Movies (TCM) at the Peninsula Beverly Hills.

Nearly 450 items were up for grabs, offering fans and collectors a glimpse into Lynch’s distinctive artistic vision and personal life. The diverse array ranged from iconic props used in his films and television shows to everyday objects and creative tools, reflecting the multifaceted interests of the director known for works like The Elephant Man, Mulholland Drive, and Twin Peaks. As Catherine Williamson, managing director at Julien’s Auctions, commented, every object served as a “window into Lynch’s surreal and uncompromising creative world.”

Ronnie Rocket Scripts Command Top Price

The highlight of the auction and the item that drew the highest bid was a collection of 11 scripts for Lynch’s long-planned but ultimately unrealized film project, Ronnie Rocket: The Absurd Mystery of The Strange Forces of Existence. These screenplays sold for an impressive $195,000.

First conceived after the success of his 1977 debut Eraserhead, Ronnie Rocket became one of Lynch’s enduring “what ifs.” Despite years of effort, he was unable to secure financing for the project. Described by Lynch as concerning a “three-foot tall guy with red hair and physical problems, and about 60-cycle alternating current electricity,” along with a detective exploring a mysterious alternate dimension, elements of its strange narrative reportedly appeared in later Lynch works. Drafts of the scripts had circulated online over the years, contributing to the project’s cult status, although Lynch was said to prefer keeping his work private until completion. The identity of the buyer remains undisclosed.

Iconic Film & TV Artifacts

Beyond the mythical Ronnie Rocket, numerous artifacts from Lynch’s celebrated filmography drew significant attention and high bids:

Scripts from the production of the Academy Award-nominated film Mulholland Drive sold for $104,000. One set reportedly included a stern note emphasizing confidentiality to protect the screenplay’s integrity.
Copies of the pilot episode scripts for the groundbreaking series Twin Peaks, notably showing the original title “Northwest Passage” crossed out, fetched $91,000.
Scripts from the Twin Peaks prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me sold for $78,000.
Items styled after the ominous Black Lodge from Twin Peaks, including a red curtain and black and white zigzag rug, collectively sold for $32,500.
Prop menus from the memorable Winkie’s diner in Mulholland Drive went for $7,800.
An original diptych featuring portraits of actresses Naomi Watts and Laura Harring in their respective Mulholland Drive roles sold for $16,250.
Lynch’s personal 35mm print of his debut feature film, Eraserhead, achieved a price of $52,000.

Personal Effects and Peculiar Treasures

The auction also included a range of personal items, some mundane, others distinctly Lynchian:

The director’s custom-built red leather director’s chair, emblazoned with his name, which had previously been part of a tour visiting key Los Angeles locations related to his work, sold for $91,000.
Lynch’s beloved La Marzocco GS/3 home espresso machine, presumably responsible for many “damn fine cups of coffee,” fetched a substantial $45,500.
A custom-built guitar with five fretted necks sold for $39,000.
A Twin Peaks-themed mug, a nod to Lynch’s well-known affinity for coffee, went for $11,700.
Other items included personal video cameras, music equipment, and even two taxidermy deer heads.

The auction’s total, including auction house fees, came to approximately $4.25 million. The proceeds from the sale will go to David Lynch’s estate. The successful event underscores the enduring impact and deep admiration fans and collectors hold for the visionary filmmaker, who passed away in January at the age of 78.