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Over 350 Rare Items of Art, Kitsch, and Music History from Allee Willis–the Legendary Songwriter Behind “September,” “Boogie Wonderland,” and “I’ll Be There For You,” Grammy Award-Winner for Beverly Hills Cop, Renowned Visual Artist, Music Video Art Director & Mid-Century Kitsch Icon–Offered for the First Time in an Exclusive Auction

Handwritten “Boogie Wonderland” Lyrics, Custom-Made Guitars from Heart’s “There’s The Girl” and The Breakfast Club’s “Right on Track” Music Videos, Debbie Harry’s 1986 Music Video “French Kissin’ in the USA” Giant Mechanical Sculpture, Design Pieces by George Mulhauser and Vladimir Kagan, Paintings by Allee Willis’ Alter-Ego, “Bubbles the Artist,” 1980s/MTV Era “New Wave” Furniture, Set Décor, and Art, “Celebrity Junk Drawer” Mosaic Portrait of Allee Willis by Jason Mecier, 1960s to 1980s Kitsch Art, Toys, Pop Culture Memorabilia, & Advertisements, Pee-wee Herman Archive and Beyond from Allee Willis’ Spectacular “Willis Wonderland” Home in North Hollywood

All Proceeds from the Auction to Benefit The Allee Willis Foundation

ONLINE AUCTION
Tuesday, August 18th in Los Angeles

Allee Willis Video Here: https://youtu.be/pYJYapC_BKM

Julien’s Auctions announced today “ATOMIC KITSCH: THE ALLEE WILLIS COLLECTION,” the industry leading entertainment auction house’s exclusive auction event celebrating the extraordinary life and career of the renowned visual artist, art director, sculptor, art collector and GRAMMY-Award winning, Tony- and Emmy-nominated songwriter who brought the world some of the biggest hit songs of all time including Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September” and “Boogie Wonderland,” and the Friends theme song “I’ll Be There For You,” taking place Tuesday, August 18th, 2026 10am PT online at juliensauctions.com. (photo top left: Allee Willis sitting in her Willis Wonderland home and recording studio with some of the items heading to auction credit: Maryanne Bilham)

A Detroit-born-and-bred artist, Allee Willis’ love for Black music and culture developed early as a teenager when she would hang out on the Motown Records’ lawn to listen to the music coming through the walls. She started her career in New York as a copywriter for Columbia Records and Epic (photo right: Allee Willis at Columbia Records in 1973 photo credit The Allee Willis Foundation) and in 1974, her solo album Childstar debuted and attracted the attention of Bonnie Raitt–the first artist to record one of Willis’ songs. She became a songwriter at A&M Records working with the likes of Patti LaBelle and Herbie Hancock and wrote the lyrics with Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire for her first breakthrough hit, “September.” The Grammy winner for Beverly Hills Cop and Grammy nominated (The Color Purple: A New Musical), Tony- and Emmy-nominated lyricist was also a 1980s art world star renowned for her multimedia sculptures and paintings by her alter ego, Bubbles the Artist.

A prolific art director for music videos for artists such as Debbie Harry, The Cars and the band The Breakfast Club, Willis also developed early social media concepts alongside Mark Cuban in the pre-America Online era. (photos left: Kissing Machine from Debbie Harry “French Kissin’ in the USA” video, Earth, Wind & Fire Verdine White stage played Apollo Violin bass, Allee Willis on the set of Julie Brown’s Just Say Julie show photo credit: The Allee Willis Foundation)

The compositions by the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Women’s Songwriters’ Hall of Fame inductee have sold over 60 million records and include “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” by the Pet Shop Boys and Dusty Springfield, “Neutron Dance” by The Pointer Sisters, as well as collaborations with Bob Dylan, James Brown, Debby Boone, Sister Sledge, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Jennifer Holliday, Cyndi Lauper, Taylor Dayne and more. In 2015, Willis appeared as a kitsch expert on episodes of the reality television show Storage Wars, and in 2024, her biographical documentary by Alexis Manya Spraic, The World According to Allee Willis, was released, showcasing her extensive collection of kitsch collectibles, décor, mid-century furniture and her artistic creations many of which will be featured in this auction.

For the first time, Allee Willis’ renowned collection has come to market with over 350 pieces from her celebrated “Willis Wonderland” home in North Hollywood, the pink architectural Streamline Moderne masterpiece, designed by William Kesling, that was as famous for its celebration of all things kitsch as it was for hosting Willis’ most fabulous and legendary parties (photo left: pink shaggy faux fur sofa).

Historic items representing her multifaceted career as a legendary songwriter, artist, art director, performer, and party host include (with estimates):

her 1978 handwritten lyrics for “Boogie Wonderland” ($800-$1,200); a giant mechanical “kissing machine” sculpture featured in Debbie Harry’s 1986 music video “French Kissin’ in the USA” ($1,000-$2,000); prop guitars customized by Allee Willis that she created for iconic music videos which she set designed in her signature style of explosive color, intricate patterns and unique objects featuring Heart’s signed 1987 embellished “There’s The Girl” guitar (photo right)

and The Breakfast Club’s signed 1987 embellished bass guitar from “Right on Track” (photo left) (each lot $500-$700); “New Wave” furniture, set décor, and art from projects including MTV’s Just Say Julie (photo left: Mother Goose Rock ‘n’ Rhyme and Just Say Julie television set); 

Willis’ cheetah-pattern suit worn when winning the Grammy for co-writing The Pointer Sisters’ “Neutron Dance” and Patti LaBelle’s “Stir It Up” in 1986 (photo left); awards such as her Gold records including for her achievements with Earth, Wind & Fire, Pointer Sisters, Beverly Hills Cop, Pet Shop Boys, and Richard Simmons, her BMI TV Music Award for writing the theme to Friends “I’ll Be There for You,” and Willis’ 2018 Songwriters Hall of Fame Award.

In addition to her own career accomplishments and accolades, Willis saved archival treasures from the careers and lives of many of her famous friends and collaborators, including Cassandra Peterson (Elvira, Mistress of the Dark), Cher, Bette Midler, Richard Simmons, Mark Mothersbaugh, Cyndi Lauper, Lily Tomlin, Jane Wagner, and Angelyne. The sale also includes Allee Willis’ personal collection of significant memorabilia and pieces related to Paul Reubens, best known for his iconic character Pee-wee Herman, including a rare diamond-eyed Pee-wee doll embellished, signed and inscribed by Paul Reubens for his closest friends ($1,000-$2,000); extensive correspondence and gifts from Paul Reubens; Pee-wee Herman’s tiki mugs ($300-$500) (pictured right with Pee-wee Herman and Allee Willis photo credit: Mark Sennet); a rare Pee-wee’s Big Adventure picture-disc record with cover designed by Willis; paintings of Pee-wee by Willis, aka Bubbles the Artist; a toilet seat Reubens inscribed to Willis; and more.

The sale features many of the treasures that decorated Allee Willis’ home highlighting her singular “snob in reverse” aesthetic such as high-end furniture, kitsch, and rare one-of-a-kind novelty items from iconic chairs by George Mulhauser ($800-$1,200) (as seen in the photo left of Allee Willis sitting in her home photo credit: The Allee Willis Foundation)

and Vladimir Kagan ($400-$600) to an array of rare Afro combs and African-American church fans used by James Brown and other celebrities ($200-$300) to a light-up bar sign picturing Billy Dee Williams advertising Colt 45 Malt Liquor ($300-$500) as well as, Willis’s vast collection of 1960s to 1980s kitsch, including art, toys, pop culture memorabilia, and advertisements.

Willis’ own artistry, which both decorated and occupied the space, will be showcased in the auction featuring furniture designed by Allee Willis using mid-century car parts such as door handles, window cranks, hood ornaments and branding and found materials including mid-1980s dressers with car emblem handles (each $1,500-$2,500),

paintings by her alter ego, Bubbles the Artist, as well as the famous “Celebrity Junk Drawer” mosaic portrait of Allee Willis by Jason Mecier ($2,000-$4,000) (photo below right) made from assorted objects from Willis’ junk drawers.

“Mother Goose Rock ‘n’ Rhyme” and “Just Say Julie” face coffee table and chair and 1988 “The Last Supper” 3D artwork

“From the 1970s through the 2010s, Allee Willis was at the center of pop culture,” said Catherine Williamson, Managing Director of Entertainment, Julien’s Auctions. “She was a multi-talented creative force and purveyor of culture and taste who, in addition to co-writing some of the world’s biggest songs of all time, was a groundbreaking visual artist who influenced technology and helped make collecting kitsch and mid-century pieces some of the most significant style trends and movements today. Julien’s is thrilled to present this unique opportunity to own a piece of Allee Willis’ ‘Wonderland’ and celebrate her joyful legacy of creating and collecting American pop culture.”Proceeds from the auction will benefit The Allee Willis Foundation, which carries forward the legacy of the Grammy-winning and Tony-nominated songwriter, artist, and multimedia pioneer behind “September,” “Boogie Wonderland,” The Color Purple on Broadway, and the Friends TV show theme. The objects offered here reflect Allee Willis’ life and work: art she made, furniture she designed, and treasures she chose to keep close, all touched by the same fearless creativity she brought to everything she did. The Foundation exists to carry that spirit forward, funding the places, programs, and people that let creativity flourish the way hers did.That work takes shape most visibly through Musical Wonders, the Foundation’s flagship program, putting real music-making in the hands of students, supporting over 300 schools across 35 U.S. states and reaching more than 116,000 students. The Foundation is also endowing The Allee Willis Creativity Commons at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a multidisciplinary makerspace and archive opening in 2028.Her story is told in The World According to Allee Willis, streaming now on Hulu. Separately, every item purchased that appears in the pop-up book of Allee’s home, Willis Wonderland: The Legendary House of Atomic Kitsch, will include a copy of the book itself.To learn more about The Allee Willis Foundation, or to support its work, visit AlleeWillis.org.

ONLINE AUCTIONJULIEN’S AUCTIONS PRESENT: “ATOMIC KITSCH: THE ALLEE WILLIS COLLECTION”
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 10:00 a.m. Pacific TimePlacing Bids

Bid with Julien’s Auctions online.Bid over the telephone through an auction house representative.Bid in advance by absentee bid. Absentee bid forms are available by calling 310-836-1818.Julien’s Auctions accepts cryptocurrency payments, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, DAI, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and USD Coin.

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At Julien’s, we exist to bring those moments back into your life through iconic artifacts and one-of-a-kind collections. Whether collaborating directly with artists, partnering with legendary estates, or working closely with discerning collectors, our auctions make culture pop with the promise of discovery and reconnection. From Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and Ringo Starr to Lady Gaga, Banksy, and Kurt Cobain—from LA to the world, we are where originals find their kind.

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