VOA标准英语2014--Fans Buy Hollywood History at Celebrity Auction 粉丝们在名人拍卖中购买好莱坞历史纪念品

 

Fans Buy Hollywood History at Celebrity¹ Auction² 粉丝们在名人拍卖中购买好莱坞历史纪念品

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA — Hollywood history is on sale at a celebrity auction April 11-12 that draws buyers from around the world. The items span a century of movie making and include some 20th century political memorabilia.

It has the suspense³ of a sports competition.

Bidders⁴ in the auction room and around the world are vying⁵ for a piece of Hollywood history, like imitation diamond earrings⁶ worn by Marilyn Monroe.  

Other items from the iconic star include clothes and a hair curler. There is even an invitation to John F. Kennedy's birthday party at New York's Madison Square Garden, where the actress famously sang for the president.

Martin Nolan of Julien's Auctions⁷ said fans buy memorabilia to feel a connection with the stars.

“People are very sentimental⁸. If they can't get to meet the celebrity, the next best thing and the next easiest thing would be maybe to actually own something from the celebrity, be it from their life or from their career or just something from their home,” said Nolan.

Some historic items from political celebrities⁹ include an election ballot¹⁰ from 1994 South Africa, when Nelson Mandela was elected president.

A 19th century document is signed by Frederick Douglass, the former slave and abolition¹¹ hero, and another bears the signature of Depression-era president Franklin D. Roosevelt.

But most items are from Hollywood, including some from actor David Hasselhoff, who is raising funds for charity. He is auctioning¹² items from his 1980s TV series Knight¹³ Rider, the long-running show Baywatch, and an oversized effigy¹⁴ created for the cartoon series SpongeBob SquarePants.

“Stuff that I don't really use any more. It just sits around my house," said Hasselhoff. "This is my most amazing thing. This from SpongeBob. This is a 12-foot, 750 pound [3.6 meter, 340 kilogram] replica¹⁵ of me.”

The auction includes handcuffs worn by magician Harry¹⁶ Houdini, and props¹⁷ and training gear of Kung Fu star Bruce Lee.

Restaurant and bar owner Daniel Nelson is buying items for his home and business. "You only get this opportunity so many times. To get something that has been lost and resurfaces again is exciting,” he said.

 

Nolan said the auction brings many kinds of buyers, from movie lovers to museums. And for some it's an investment because, with luck, celebrity memorabilia can go up in value.

1 celebrity   

n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望

参考例句：

• Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。
• He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。

2 auction   

n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖

参考例句：

• They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
• They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。

3 suspense   

n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑

参考例句：

• The suspense was unbearable.这样提心吊胆的状况实在叫人受不了。
• The director used ingenious devices to keep the audience in suspense.导演用巧妙手法引起观众的悬念。

4 bidders   

n.出价者，投标人( bidder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Bidders should proceed only if they intend on using a PayPal account to complete payment. Bidders的唯一形式，应继续只当他们在使用贝宝帐户，以完成付款打算。 来自互联网
• The other bidders for the contract complained that it had not been a fair contest. 其他竞标人抱怨说该合同的竞标不公平。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 vying   

adj.竞争的；比赛的

参考例句：

• California is vying with other states to capture a piece of the growing communications market.为了在日渐扩大的通讯市场分得一杯羹，加利福尼亚正在和其他州展开竞争。
• Four rescue plans are vying to save the zoo.4个拯救动物园的方案正争得不可开交。

6 earrings   

n.耳环( earring的名词复数 )；耳坠子

参考例句：

• a pair of earrings 一对耳环
• These earrings snap on with special fastener. 这付耳环是用特制的按扣扣上去的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 auctions   

n.拍卖，拍卖方式( auction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They picked up most of the furniture at auctions in country towns. 他们大部分的家具都是在乡村镇上的拍卖处买的。 来自辞典例句
• Our dealers didn't want these cars, so we had to dump them at auctions. 我们的承销商都不要这些车子，因此我们只好贱价拍卖。 来自辞典例句

8 sentimental   

adj.多愁善感的，感伤的

参考例句：

• She's a sentimental woman who believes marriage comes by destiny.她是多愁善感的人，她相信姻缘命中注定。
• We were deeply touched by the sentimental movie.我们深深被那感伤的电影所感动。

9 celebrities   

n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉

参考例句：

• He only invited A-list celebrities to his parties. 他只邀请头等名流参加他的聚会。
• a TV chat show full of B-list celebrities 由众多二流人物参加的电视访谈节目

10 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

11 abolition   

n.废除，取消

参考例句：

• They declared for the abolition of slavery.他们声明赞成废除奴隶制度。
• The abolition of the monarchy was part of their price.废除君主制是他们的其中一部分条件。

12 auctioning   

v.拍卖( auction的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The Army is auctioning off a lot of old equipment. 军队正在把大量旧装备拍卖掉。 来自辞典例句
• So she's auctioning off a chance to go to an awards dinner? 那么她在拍卖与她共赴晚宴的机会了？ 来自电影对白

13 knight   

n.骑士，武士；爵士

参考例句：

• He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
• A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。

14 effigy   

n.肖像

参考例句：

• There the effigy stands,and stares from age to age across the changing ocean.雕像依然耸立在那儿，千秋万载地凝视着那变幻无常的大海。
• The deposed dictator was burned in effigy by the crowd.群众焚烧退位独裁者的模拟像。

15 replica   

n.复制品

参考例句：

• The original conservatory has been rebuilt in replica.温室已按原样重建。
• The young artist made a replica of the famous painting.这位年轻的画家临摹了这幅著名的作品。

16 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

17 props   

小道具； 支柱( prop的名词复数 )； 支持者； 道具； （橄榄球中的）支柱前锋

参考例句：

• Rescuers used props to stop the roof of the tunnel collapsing. 救援人员用支柱防止隧道顶塌陷。
• The government props up the prices of farm products to support farmers' incomes. 政府保持农产品价格不变以保障农民们的收入。