Marilyn Monroe dress subject of lawsuit

Wednesday, May 10, 2000 | 10:20 a.m.

A dress Marilyn Monroe wore for the film "River of No Return" is the subject of a lawsuit filed in Clark County District Court.

Magic & Movie Hall of Fame LP, which operated a memorabilia display at O'Sheas Casino that closed late last year, filed suit against Bill Mack, doing business as Erin Taylor Productions.

The suit says in January 1994, the company and Mack signed an agreement in which the Magic & Movie Hall of Fame was to receive artwork and sculptures of Harry Houdini, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Elvis Presley and the right to sell them. As compensation, the Hall of Fame offered a Monroe costume from the 1954 film.

The art was scheduled to be completed by April 1994 and, according to the suit, never was delivered. The Hall of Fame kept the costume.

Six years later, the Hall of Fame attempted to sell the costume in an auction conducted by Profiles in History, Beverly Hills, Calif. Before the Hall of Fame could collect the $36,125 successful bid price, Mack claimed ownership of the costume and threatened a suit against Profiles in History, which held onto the money.

The suit seeks a court declaration that the Hall of Fame is the owner of the costume and compensatory damages from Mack for breach of contract.

Mack and Erin Taylor Productions could not be reached for comment.