Twin Peaks Celebrity Auction and Dinner Party on March 23, 1991

On June 18 this year, Julien’s Auction and Turner Classic Movies are holding an auction of The David Lynch Collection, which will feature personal artifacts and film-related items from his home that reflect his singular artistic vision. I imagine there might be some Twin Peaks-related items up for grabs. But this isn’t the first time an auction with items from Lynch’s works has been held. One of the first was held on March 23, 1991 that benefitted the art and drama programs at Santa Monica Alternative School House (SMASH). Russ Tamblyn (Dr. Lawrence Jacoby) and other Twin Peaks stars attended this event that was filled with countless props and other unique items from David Lynch and Mark Frost’s wonderful and strange show.

ADVERTISING THE TWIN PEAKS CELEBRITY AUCTION AND DINNER PARTY

I only found two advertisements for the Twin Peaks Celebrity Auction, Dinner and Dance party held on March 23, 1991.

The first was a mention in The Los Angeles Times on Mar. 17 which provided high-level details about the event. The second was found in L.A. Weekly on Mar. 28, 1991 which was probably appeared in the weekly issue before the event was held. No other news outlets reported on the event and I’ve been unable to locate any photos from the evening.

The event was held at National Medical Enterprises (NME) Corporate Headquarters, once located at 2700 Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, California. Today, the building is home to Lionsgate. NME, known today as Tenet (not the Christopher Nolan film of the same name), is a healthcare company founded in May 1969. At the time, they acquired four hospitals, some additional care facilities and real estate for the future development of hospitals.

By 1990, the company was the nation’s largest hospital care service providers with more than 45,000 employees and 146 hospitals. Five years later, NME doubled in size by acquiring American Medical International (AMI) for $3.3 billion. They changed the company’s name to Tenet Healthcare.

Interestingly, there were two Twin Peaks auctions held on March 23, 1991. I previously discussed the other auction of donated items from Bob Engles held at St. John’s Prep in Collegeville, Minnesota which included an autographed Twin Peaks High School wrestling jersey and a bullet hole-shirt worn by Special Agent Dale Cooper in episode 1.007.

For the Santa Monica auction, I picked up a brochure from that auction from long-time Twin Peaks collector Bruce Phillips. The brochure offers a glimpse into items offered that night, only a few short weeks after episode 2.022 was filmed and before the last six episodes the second season began airing on the ABC Television Network on March 28.

TWIN PEAKS CELEBRITY AUCTION AND DINNER PARTY BROCHURE | FRONT AND BACK COVER

The brochure’s cover features artwork of a motorcycle on a road with two mountain peaks in the distance. An owl watches the scene from a nearby tree. The back cover continues the artwork along with a description of the school house, NME and an explanation about why an auction was being held.

SMASH (Santa Monica Alternative School House) is a small public school with approximately 150 students in Kindergarten through Grade 8. The school’s curriculum emphasizes the visual and dramatic arts, develop-ment of computer skills as well as standard liberal arts. SMASH receives limited funds from the school district and therefore relies on proceeds from fundraising events to provide the best education possible for our children.

NME, National Medical Enterprises, a Fortune 500 company, has its corporate offices in Santa Monica. It is one of the nation’s largest health care service companies and owns, operates or manages 149 acute, psychiatric, physical rehabilitation and substance abuse hospitals in 29 states, the District of Columbia and abroad. SMASH i5 one of three local schools that NME has “adopted” as part of the countywide Adopt-A-School campaign. in which local businesses assist schools in providing quality education.

The success of our fundraising efforts depends upon the many individuals who give generously of their time and money. Your donation to the education of the children of SMASH is an investment in everyone’s future. Thank you.

TWIN PEAKS CELEBRITY AUCTION AND DINNER PARTY BROCHURE | TITLE PAGE

The title page contains auction details along with a drawing of doughnuts and a coffee cup.

TWIN PEAKS CELEBRITY AUCTION AND DINNER PARTY BROCHURE | PAGES 1-2

Page 1 contains a drawing of Special Agent Dale Cooper’s tape recorded which is affectionately named “Diane.” Below this drawing you will find the program which included details about the evening. They held a screening of the Twin Peaks pilot episode that night during appetizers and cocktails and would later show additional episodes (it’s unclear how they were screened or what episodes were shown).

• 5:30 – 7:00 – Appetizers and Cocktails in the Foyer View the Silent Auction in Foyer. Cloak-room available for garments and safekeeping of auction items. View Live Auction Items in Auction Junction. Scenic View room. Original Twin Peaks Pilot.
• 7:00 – Dinner starts in the Double R Diner. No-host Bar, free coffee and Tea, surprise guests
• 8:00 – Speaker Hostess Bonnie Tamblyn, SMASH parent and Co-President introductions by celebrity host, Russ Tamblyn. Door Prizes announced. Live Auction begins. For those sitting outside, please move in and take seats along the wall or wherever you can. All bidders will be acknowledged but be assertive. Spotters will be looking for you.
• 9:00 – Live auction closes while silent auction continues. Dance party begins , or view more Twin Peaks episodes.
• 9:30 – Begin Announcements of silent auction winners. Silent auction closes at 10:00
• 11:00 or so – The Last Dance .Thank you for attending, SMASH Families, please stay and help wrap up the party.

I would have loved to see the dinner theming and a menu from their “Double R Diner.” Since no one had a mobile phone in 1991, it’s highly unlikely photos will turn up.

Page 2 acknowledges NME as the gracious host for the evening. At the top of that list is the late Richard K. Eamer who co-founded National Medical Enterprises Inc. with lifelong friends John Bedrosian and Leonard Cohen. He was also instrumental in creating the concept of what would be the USC University Hospital, now USC Keck Medical Center.

TWIN PEAKS CELEBRITY AUCTION AND DINNER PARTY BROCHURE | PAGES 3-4

Page 3 acknowledges various individuals who helped create the event including the Steering Committee led by Bonnie Tamblyn (Russ’ wife). Vicky Walsh served as the Silent Auction Marshall while Bob Dickman was the Guest Auctioneer.

There is mention of “Pole People” which appears to have been a nod to the decor in the room. Kids must have designed something and there is a missing insert from this paper brochure about the poles. I doubt I’ll ever find a copy of it.

Student artists who most likely contributed to the program included Jake Dotson, Cameron Hogan and Amber Rose Tamblyn, daughter of Bonnie and Russ. She was eight years old at the time of this event.

The third page also contains  acknowledgments for “special donors” who must have contributed some bigger ticket items. Additional donors are recognized on page 4 with several notable individuals associated with Twin Peaks such as Lynch Frost Productions, Michael Horse, Grace Zabriskie, the Tamblyn family, Don Davis, Richard Beymer, Sheryl Lee, Charlotte Stewart, Carl [sic] Struycker [sic] and Eric DaRe.

TWIN PEAKS CELEBRITY AUCTION AND DINNER PARTY BROCHURE | PAGES 5-6

Page 5 offers thanks to the “SMASH Family” and “Friends of SMASH,” the latter being companies or individuals who provided in-kind donations to put on the event. At the top of the list is the late Wynn Miller of Wynn Miller Photography. I’m assuming he is the same one featured in this Instagram post and was well-known for skateboarding photography. He passed in January 2025 which means I’ll never get to ask if he had any negatives or photos from this event.

Fiesta Party Rentals provided the party rental equipment for the event as identified on page 6.  That page also contains a Table of Contents and a drawing of a cup of “Coop’s Joe.”

TWIN PEAKS CELEBRITY AUCTION AND DINNER PARTY BROCHURE | PAGES 7-8

Russ Tamblyn is discussed on page 7 as the program provides a short bio of the actor who played Dr. Lawrence Jacoby.

The opposite page contains a stunning list of Twin Peaks Stars and Lynch Frost Production team members. I’m assuming these individuals may have attended (or were scheduled to attend) the celebrity dinner.

Representing Lynch Frost Productions is producer Greg Feinberg; Ken Scherer who was Chief Operating Officer; Paula Shiamatsu [sic] was a publicist and on-set photographer during the second season; Gaye Pope was a long-time assistant to David Lynch and Unit Publicist for the 1992 film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me; Sara Markowitz was Costume Designer for the show’s first two seasons; and Tina Skouras who served as an assistant to Ken Scherer. Of course Mark and David are also listed.

For the actors, the list included nearly every main cast member and other beloved characters including: Kyle MacLachlan, Lara Flynn Boyle, Sheryl Lee, Michael Ontkean, Russ Tamblyn, Richard Beymer, Don Davis, Charlotte Stewart, Joan Chen, Catherine Coulson, Jack Nance, Harry Goaz, Kimmy Robertson, Wendy Robie, Gary Hershberger, Michael Horse, Piper Laurie, Sherilyn Fenn, Dana Ashbrook, Grace Zabriskie, Eric Da Re, Madchen [sic] Amick, Heather Graham, Chris Mulkey, Frank Silva, Carl [sic] Struycher [sic], Davis [sic] Duchovny, Warren Frost, Everett McGill, and Al Strobel.

Kelly Van Dyke from the list married Jack Nance in May 1991 and tragically passed on November 17, 1991. Virginia “Ginsy” Frost, Mark Frost’s mother and wife of Warren Frost, is also listed.

TWIN PEAKS CELEBRITY AUCTION AND DINNER PARTY BROCHURE | PAGES 9-10

Pages 9-10 contained pages for “Autographs of Famous People” along with a drawing of a woman repeated three times.

In the center of the brochure contained a collage of Twin Peaks stars that included a mix of publicity photos, headshots and images from the show. I believe it was organized to resemble a doughnut. Notice the mustache drawn on Richard Beymer dressed as Ben Horne. For some reason, these pages weren’t given page numbers, so I’m calling them pages 10A and 10B.

TWIN PEAKS CELEBRITY AUCTION AND DINNER PARTY BROCHURE | PAGES 11-12

Pages 11-12 offer the auction guidelines, bidding instructions and payment procedures. There is also a drawing of “BOB” which has him saying, “The best stuff comes wrapped in plastic. BUY OR DIE!!”

TWIN PEAKS CELEBRITY AUCTION AND DINNER PARTY BROCHURE | PAGES 13-18

There were 45 live auction lots that are detailed on pages 13-18. I will call out the Twin Peaks-related items as I mostly want to find out who has these items today. How I wish I had a time machine filled with endless stacks of cash!

• • Lot 1 -Wild At Heart Print: Collective Consciousness Collage created by the Mother of Laura Palmer, also starring in Wild at Heart. Beautiful Images of notorious film moments. Grace Zabriskie. Value: $250. Minimum Bid: $100
  • Lot 2 – Original Pilot Script of Twin Peaks: Signed by Cast: A must for the true Peaker-collector’s library. Lynch/Frost. Value: $200 Minimum Bid: $100
  • Lot 4 – Log Lady Lingerie: Cotton t-shirt signed by Catherine Coulson. Lynch/Frost. Value: $50 Minimum Bid: $25
  • Lot 5 -Laura Palmer Poster: Signed by Sheryl Lee. The famous blue-lipped beauty will bring Twin Peaks Pilot nostalgia to your home. Lynch/Frost Value: $50 Minimum Bid: $25
  • Lot 9 – Small silver and turquoise ring crafted by Michael Horse: Twin Peak’s [sic] Deputy Hawk, beautiful Native American traditional style, deep green stone in simple, yet elegant setting; a lasting treasure, signed. Value: $150 Minimum Bid: $85
  • Lot 12 – Diane Tapes: Signed by Kyle MacLachlan. Audio Tapes of cryptic notes to the mysterious Diane. Lynch/Frost,  Value: $25 Minimum Bid: $13
  • Lot 13 – Twin Peaks Sound Track [sic] CD: Signed by Award winning composer, Angelo Badalamenti. Reminise [sic] to the dreamy music of Twin Peaks. Lynch/Frost. Value: $45 Minimum Bid: $25

• Lot 15 – Major Briggs Water Color A delicate and pristine landscape. Don Davis. Value: $500. Minimum Bid: $100
• Lot 17 – Leland Palmer photo: By Richard Beymer. One of a kind print of Laura Palmer’s father. Signed by Beymer and Ray Wise. Richard Beymer. Value: $200. Minimum Bid: $100
• Lot 19 – Wild at Heart, angel photo print: Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) as angelic character in Wild at Heart. Signed and donated by Sheryl Lee. Value: $75. Minimum Bid: $35

For lots 20-23, I created this image college for reference. The description of Jacoby’s tie in lot 23 may help me identify it in a future article.

• Lot 20 – Official Twin Peaks wrestling uniform: Signed by Mike and Nadine (Gary Hershberger & Wendy Robie) Lynch/Frost. Value: $50. Minimum Bid: $25
• Lot 21 – Official Twin Peaks athletic T-shirt: Red, white, and gray:. Signed by Nadine and Mike Gary Hershberger & Wendy Robie. Lynch/Frost. Value: $50. Minimum Bid: $25
• Lot 22 – Bobby Briggs thermal undershirt: Signed with love and peace by Bobby himself, Dana Ashbrook. Lynch/Frost. Value: $50. Minimum Bid: $25
• Lot 23 – Dr. Jacoby necktie: The one with the phone booth & smoking gun, worn in the final episode of the 1st season. Signed by Dr. Jacoby, Russ Tamblyn. Value: $75 Minimum bid: $35
• Lot 24 – Eye patch: Black and emerald green silk. Signed by Nadine. Wendy Robie. Lynch/Frost. Value: $25. Minimum Bid: $15
• Lot 25 – Betty Briggs bakes big cookie basket with love: Charlotte Stewart. Value: $20. Minimum Bid: $10

• Lot 26 – Betty Briggs’ apron: Worn while hearing news of Laura’s disappearance. Signed by Charlotte Stewart. Lynch/Frost. Value: $25. Minimum Bid: $15

This lot from Charlotte Stewart is odd as it doesn’t appear like she is wearing an apron when Sarah Palmer calls her about Laura in the Twin Peaks pilot. I’m thinking the apron was seen at the Briggs’ family dinner table in episode 1.001.

• Lot 27 – Giant Shoe – size 18: Can be bread basket, planter, you name it made and worn by Carl [sic] Struycher [sic]. Value: $75. Minimum bid: $35
• Lot 28 – Hank Jennings Plays Games: Dominoe [sic] set, signed by Hank, Chris Mulkey. Lynch/Frost. Value: $25. Minimum Bid: $10

• Lot 29 – Delicate white linen lady’s maid apron: Worn by Josie Packard while in the clutches of Catherine Martel. Signed by Joan Chen. Lynch/Frost. Value: $50. Minimum Bid: $25
• Lot 30 – Snoqualmie Falls Magic Earrings: Antique beads and crystals in Twin Peaks colors: custom designed and donated by artist Lisa Sara (for pierced ears) Value: $80 Minimum Bid: $40

Pages 17-18 contain lots 31-45 which are all Twin Peaks related.

• Lot 31 – Leo’s Lear – Black and white print of Leo before he grabbed the bar of soap. Signed by Eric DaRe. Value: $50. Minimum Bid: $25
• Lot 32 – Apron from the Double R Diner: Classic 50’s aqua. Signed by Shelley, Madchen [sic] Amick. Lynch/Frost. Value: $50. Minimum Sid: $25

• Lot 33 – Leo’s Lounge Act: Burgundy robe constantly worn by Leo; autographed by Eric Da Re. Lynch/Frost. Value: $75. Minimum bid: $35

It would be incredible if this is the robe offered at auction. He wore it throughout the second season while at his home with Shelly and later with Windom Earle in the woods.

• Lot 34 – Dr. Jacoby Glasses: Mood Altering Sunglasses, non-prescription, red and blue glassess. Only three in existance [sic]. Russ Tamblyn and Lens Crafters. Value: $125. Minimum Bid: $65

When I first met Russ Tamblyn at the 1996 Twin Peaks Fan Festival, he asked if I wanted to try on his red and blue glasses. It wasn’t something he offered to anyone at the event so I nearly had an out-of-body experience. It’s interesting to know that they were manufactured by Lens Crafters. It’s unclear if the glasses he had in 1996 were one of the three mentioned in the auction lot.

• Lot 35 – Pete Martel’s Nightshirt: Worn while cooking breakfast. Signed: Jack Nance. Lynch/Frost. Value: $75. Minimum Bid: $35

I’m assuming lot 35 contained the nightshirt seen in episode 1.003. I can’t locate a time when Pete wore this nightshirt while making breakfast. He wore something similar with Catherine revealed herself as Mr. Tojamura. But Pete was getting cookies and milk at night during that scene.

• Lot 36 – Toe-Ja-Mara [sic] disguise: Worn by Catherine whilst deceiving Ben Horne. Signed by Piper Laurie. Lynch/Frost. Value: $100 Minimum Bid: $50
• Lot 37 – Mai Tais with Dr. Jacoby: Ross Tamblyn and wife will take another couple for a cocktail hour of tropical therapy and tasty Hollywood anectdotes [sic]. Value $99.99. Minimum Sid: $67.78

• Lot 38 – Twin Peak’s Sheriff Department official shirt : With department patches. Worn by Sheriff Harry S. Truman: autographed by Michael Ontkean. Lynch/Frost Value: $150. Minimum Bid: $75

I’m guessing this “official shirt” was the tan/beige shirt most often worn by Michael Ontkean as Sheriff Harry S. Truman.

• Lot 39 – Coop’s Tux shirt: Comes complete with bullet hole and blood; worn by Agent Cooper in last year’s cliff hanger ending; autographed by Kyle MacLachlan. Lynch/Frost. Value: $150. Minimum Bid: $75

Lot 39 appears to be a similar lot to the one offered in at the St. John’s Prep auction on the same night. My gut says they had more than one shirt with bullet holes as they probably did multiple takes for this scene.

• Lot 40 – Coffee For 2: Lucy and Andy porcelain coffee cups and saucers. Signed by Harry Goaz and Kimmy Robertson. Value: $50. Minimum Bid: $25
• Lot 41 – Big Ed Hurley’s Ensemble: A bottle of “Sparkling Wine” and signed Twin Peaks T-shirt saying “Clean Air, Clean Water, Clean Living.” Value: $50. Minimum Bid: $25
• Lot 42 – 2×4/4×8/Love Pete T-shirt: From the Packard Sawmill. Signed by Jack Nance. Value: $50. Minimum Bid: $25

• Lot 43 – Donna Does Laura: Official black sunglasses and case signed by Lara Flynn Boyle. Value: $50. Minimum Sid: $25

Could these black sunglasses be the same pair that Lara Flynn Boyle wore? At the Real Twin Peaks 2025 event, season two prop master Jeff Moore shared a story about how these glasses were broken as one arm wouldn’t close. Without actual photos of the auction lots, we may never know the answer.

• Lot 44 – Opening Shot: Framed color photo signed by most of the cast and David Lynch; rustic frame. Value: $250. Minimum Bid: $100
• Lot 45 – The Producers: Framed in cherry wood, rare picture of David Lynch and Mark Frost. Signed by both. Value: $150. Minimum Bid: $75

TWIN PEAKS CELEBRITY AUCTION AND DINNER PARTY BROCHURE | PAGES 19-21

On pages 19-21, there were 27 Silent Auction lots listed with only one being related to Twin Peaks:

• S-11 – Twin Peaks Pre-Release Cassette – Signed by David Lynch and others. Lynch/Frost. Value $25.00. Minimum Bid: $15.00

I find the Prodigy Software from Lot 6 a curious offering for the time – how browsing the World Wide Web has changed in 34 years.

I’ve found no reference as to how much money these 72 auction lots raised for SMASH. Moreover, I have no idea where these items are found today. Are they in private collections? Have they reappeared at other auctions? If you attended this event or have additional details or photos, please send a note to TheTwinPeaksBlog@gmail.com.