Los Angeles ( CNN ) -- Marilyn Monroe 's white `` subway '' dress sold for more than $ 5.6 million in a Beverly Hills , California auction Saturday night in which bidders paid another $ 2.7 million for three other Monroe movie outfits . It was the first in a series of auctions to sell the massive Hollywood history collection that singer , dancer and actress Debbie Reynolds accumulated over the past 50 years . Collector Keya Morgan said Saturday 's bids were `` totally crazy , especially in this recession . '' Bidding for the iconic ivory pleated dress Monroe wore in `` The Seven Year Itch '' was `` totally magical , '' Morgan said . Reynolds was in tears when , after 20 minutes of drama , the gavel sounded an end to bidding with the price at $ 4.6 million . With the auction company getting a $ 1 million commission , the buyer will pay $ 5.6 million . It had been expected to sell for $ 2 million , the auction house , Profiles in History , said . The buyer , who was relaying his bids over a telephone , was not immediately identified . The red-sequined showgirl gown and a feathered hat Monroe wore in `` Gentlemen Prefer Blondes '' sold for $ 1.47 million . The expected price was $ 300,000 . Monroe 's costumes from `` There 's No Business Like Show Business '' and `` River of No Return '' brought another $ 1.2 million Saturday . The previous record price for a Monroe dress was $ 1.26 million paid in 1999 for the sheer white dress the actress wore in May 1962 when she sang `` Happy Birthday '' to President John F. Kennedy . Morgan , who is writing a book about Monroe 's death , said the actress would have been shocked to know her dresses would sell for so much . She only had $ 2,000 in her bank account at the time of her death , he said . Reynolds accumulated 3,500 movie costumes and thousands of props over the past 50 years with the hope of housing them in a museum . Taking care of the treasures became a financial burden on the 79-year-old entertainer , leading to her decision to sell , she said . Other high-priced items included a blue cotton dress and a pair of ruby slippers made for Judy Garland in `` The Wizard of Oz . '' Although both items were only test costumes never worn in camera , they brought a combined price of nearly $ 1.75 million . A matador outfit worn by Rudolph Valentino for the 1922 film `` Blood and Sand '' sold for $ 258,000 . The auction house predicted before the sale it would go for about $ 80,000 . One of Charlie Chaplin 's signature bowler hats , worn in several films , sold for $ 135,300 . The World War I military uniform worn by Gary Cooper in the 1941 movie `` Sergeant York '' was purchased for $ 67,650 . A bidder paid $ 73,800 for the velvet brown racing silks and riding pants worn by a young Elizabeth Taylor in `` National Velvet . ''
3,500 Debbie Reynolds movie outfits sell at a California auction Saturday . Marilyn Monroe is selling her collection of Four film costumes . Bids are `` totally crazy , especially in this recession , '' a collector says .