IT’S ALL UP FOR BID.
♪ >> THE MONUMENTAL MOVE COMPLETE, THE UNPACKING BEGINS.
RARELY IF EVER HAS A HALL LIKE THIS BEEN SO RICH IN TREASURES.
>> THIS IS BY GETTING SURE.
EARLY COULD INJURE -- EARLY KITTNGER FURNITURE IS VERY DESIRABLE.
>> THIS IS THE ARRIVAL OF THE QUEEN.
THIS IS MY CHOICE FOR THE SLEEPER OF THE SALES.
TO FIND SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN A HISTORIC FRAME IS EXCITING.
>> AMONG THE COLLECTION OF CHESTS, CHAIRS, TABLES, SOFAS, AND OBJECTS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH HISTORY.
IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN TO THE WALDORF-ASTORIA, THIS IS HER CHANCE.
SORT OF.
IF YOU HAVE VISITED, THIS IS A TRIP BACK IN TIME.
BETTER YET, A PIECE OF THE WALDORF CAN BE YOURS.
YOURS AS AN GOING, GOING, GONE.
THE MAN BEHIND THE AUCTION GAVEL IS FRANK, WHO GOT THE GIG WENT ON ANOTHER BEVERLY COMPANY, MANAGERS OF LARGE HOTELS, NEEDED HELP.
>> THEY SAID, WE HAVE THIS BIG PROJECT WE WANTED TO TACKLE.
WE WANT YOU TO UP CONTENTS AND RE-PHOTOGRAPHED -- WE PHOTOGRAPHED, WE APPRAISED EVERYTHING.
IT WAS A MONUMENTAL TASKS.
ANTHONY: THAT WAS IN 2017 WHEN THE NEW OWNERS CLOSE TO THE HISTORIC LANDMARK TO BEGIN A RENOVATION.
>> WHAT WAS NICE WAS THAT THE EMPLOYEES WERE SO OPEN IN TELLING US THEIR GREAT STORIES ABOUT THE HOTEL.
WE LOVE IT.
THIS IS LIKE OUR FAMILY.
ANTHONY: HE IS NO STRANGER TO LARGE-SCALE AUCTIONS.
OPRAH TAPPED HIM TO OPERATE A YARD SALE.
SAME FOR MARTHA STEWART.
HOW DOES THIS ONE RANKING?
>> AT THE TOP.
THE QUANTITY, QUALITY, THIS IS AN AMAZING COLLECTION.
ANTHON FURNISHINGS FROM LUXURIOUS SUITES ONCE OCCUPIED BY CELEBRITIES, ROYALTY, AND WORLD LEADERS.
CARPET FROM ELIZABETH TAYLOR’S SUITES, EXOTIC BENCHES BELONGING TO COLDWATER.
-- COLE PORTER.
15,000 ITEMS IN ALL.
HERE WE ARE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL SUITES.
THIS TABLE HAD PRESIDENTS SITTING AROUND IT, PROBABLY INVOLVED IN NEGOTIATIONS.
>> HIGH BELIEF 16 PRESIDENTS STAYED IN THAT SUITES.
ANTHONY: AN IDENTICAL TABLE IN THE NIXON WHITE HOUSE.
BUT WHERE TO DISPLAY EVERYTHING?
THE ANSWER CAME WHEN ANOTHER ASSOCIATE OFFERED A MALL RECENTLY BOUGHT AT FORECLOSURE, THE SILVER CITY GALLERIA.
THIS WORKED PERFECTLY.
LOTS OF LIGHT HERE.
PEOPLE CAN COME AND BROWSE THROUGH STUFF LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO THE MALL.
>> TOTALLY.
ANTHONY: GOOD FOR THE OXEN AND GOOD FOR TAUNTON, SAYS THE CITY’S MAIL -- MAYOR.
>> IT GIVES US A FEELING OF NOSTALGIA TO THINK THAT THE MEMORIES OF THE WALDORF-ASTORIA WILL BE PASSED ON TO OTHER PEOPLE THROUGH TAUNTON AND WE INVITE PEOPLE TO VISIT OUR
HISTORIC GREEN AND THERE IS A LOCAL FLAVOR DOWNTOWN FOR FOOD AND SHOPPING.
PEOPLE WILL BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED BEING ABLE TO DINE AND SHOP DOWNTOWN.
ANTHONY: THE OTHER KEY PLAYER IN THIS UNDERTAKING IS CLIFF, AND AUCTIONEER WITH A RESUME OF LARGE-SCALE LIQUIDATIONS INCLUDING DONALD TRUMP’S PLAZA HOTEL, SOLD IN THE EARLY 1990’S
AS PART OF A BANKRUPTCY.
THREE WEEKS OF LOADING, POLICE DETAILS, EVERY KNIGHTS, A CRISIS.
I THINK THERE WERE 675 ROOMS.
WE DID AN OPTION UP HERE.
ANTHON HOW DOES THIS OXEN COMPARED TO THE PLAZA HOTEL?
TRIPLE THE SIZE.
THIS IS MORE LIKE 1000 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES WHERE THE FURNITURE APPEARED IT ENDED UP BEING MOVE INTO UPSTATE NEW YORK AND WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE, WE BROUGHT IT UP HERE.
88 TRAILER LOADS OF THE FURNITURE CAME TO THE MALL.
IT WAS ABOUT 10 TO 14 GUYS FOR SIX WEEKS TO GET IT UNPACKED AND SET UP FOR THE OPTION.
IT WAS AN INTERESTING JOB MOVING A SO FAR THAT 60 PRESIDENTS -- 16 PRESIDENTS HAD ON ITS.
IT WAS IMPRESSIVE.
ANTHON IMPRESSIVE ENOUGH TO RETURN FOR THE AUCTION?
ABSOLUTELY.
HOPEFULLY WE WILL HELP MOVE SOME STUFF OUT THERE AND ANTHONY REVIEWS ARE UNDERWAY -- STUFF OUT.
ANTHONY: PREVIEWS ARE NOW UNDERWAY IN TAUNTON AND ONLINE.
THE GAVEL COMES DOWN ON OCTOBER 17 AND THE AUCTION WILL LAST UP TO TWO WEEKS.
CELEBRITIES AND DIGNITARIES DIDN’T JUST STAY AT THE WALDORF-ASTORIA, SOME LIVED THERE -- PRESIDENT HERBERT HOOVER, GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR, AND THE DUKE AND
DUCHESS OF WINDSOR TO NAME A FEW.
THEIR FURNISHINGS NOW ON THE AUCTION BLOCK.
NEXT, CAN’T MAKE IT TO TAUNTON