In 1970, much like today, Hollywood was experiencing a seismic shift. The business of moviemaking had splintered from the monopoly of the studio system to independent filmmakers and distributors. The content of films mirrored the grim tone of current events, such as the Vietnam War, the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, and pervasive socio-political unrest.

In the midst of this cultural upheaval, MGM Studios, a standard-bearer of Old Hollywood, faced new ownership and financial headwinds. Regarding its extensive collection of props and costumes as too expensive to store, the studio sold approximately 350,000 items (the volume of seven sound stages) to auctioneer David Weisz for a bargain sum of $1.5 million. Weisz then resold these treasures and retained the profits from a multi-day auction spanning May 3–20, 1970.

Shake It Away takes place on May 17, 1970: the sale of the “Star Wardrobe.” In attendance that day were members of the general public, movie buffs, filmmakers, collectors, antique dealers, and the very movie stars who had worn the costumes being sold. Among those stars was Debbie Reynolds, who purchased $180,000 of memorabilia with the hopes of opening a museum to preserve and share these artifacts with future generations.

Also in attendance that day is our protagonist, Ann Miller, who is witnessing the disappearance of a world where her dreams had come true. As the auctioneer scatters pieces of Hollywood’s history, Ann must find a way to celebrate the past, while moving forward with her life. I hope that you find her story to be a source of light and hope, as I have. 

Kayla Boye