BOSTON, MASS.- Remembering Woodstock on its 50th anniversary, RR Auction's August Pop Culture sale opens with a selection of associated items, including autographs from the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Who.

Also among Woodstock related memorabilia is The Howard Mills Jr. Wallkill Archive, the historic lease documents for Woodstock's original site. The archive of material concerning the lease for the originally proposed Woodstock site in Wallkill, New York, from the collection of Howard Mills, Jr., the owner of the property. The collection is highlighted by two original copies of the lease agreement between Mills Heights, Inc. and Woodstock Ventures, each signed by Mills, "Howard D. Mills, Jr.," and by Woodstock financier John P. Roberts, "John Roberts," ten pages, May 23, 1969.

The lease describes "200 acres of vacant land in the Town of Wallkill — to be used and occupied only for a music festival, art show and associated functions and concessions in connection therewith, such festival to be opened for public admission for a period of not more than one week, but with an option to hold a second festival." Also includes a document from the day before, May 22, 1969, signed by Woodstock Ventures partner Joel Rosenman and Howard Mills, Jr., confirming that Woodstock Ventures would exercise a previously agreed upon option to lease the property.

Additional items include a few other original letters and carbon copies of legal correspondence, mimeographed copies of lawsuit filings and court documents, and various relevant newspaper clippings, plus a binder full of similar ephemera.

Conceived by budding entrepreneurs John Roberts and Joel Rosenman, the Woodstock Festival—billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music"—was originally scheduled to take place in Wallkill, NY, on Mills's property. Although Wallkill officials were assured that no more than 50,000 people would attend, town residents immediately and vocally opposed the festival. On July 15, the Wallkill zoning board officially banned the concert from taking place on the basis that the planned portable toilets would not meet town code. With less than 30 days to go before the festival's start date, Roberts and Rosenman were left without a venue. They scrambled to search for a new location, and quickly found Max Yasgur's farm in the adjacent county. They paid Yasgur $75,000 to rent his land—far more than the $10,000 agreed upon with Mills—and announced the new venue in an advertisement published in the New York Times on July 25, 1969, headed: "To Insure Three Days of Peace & Music We've Left Wallkill And Are Now At White Lake, N.Y." An original copy of this New York Times ad is included in the archive. With a mere three weeks to go before the festival's opening, new posters and advertisements had to be created to reflect the change. Despite some hiccups—there wasn't time to finish construction of the fences and ticket booths, effectively making admission free—Woodstock went on to become the most famous rock concert of the 20th century, while Wallkill firmly resides in the territory of 'what could have been.'

"These lease documents represent the foundations of the legendary festival, as well as the trials and tribulations that came with it," said Bobby Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction. "It's a truly unique and culturally significant archive." (estimate: $6,000+)

The online offering also includes a remarkable assortment of contact print photographs of Fleetwood Mac taken by Sam Emerson, a unit photographer for motion pictures, television, and music videos. Emerson, with an impeccable eye for composition, has captured greats like Michael Jackson, John Lennon, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck, and Barbara Streisand through his accomplished lens. The prints are offered as lots 9075–9098 portray the legendary group on-stage at the height of their most energetic live performances, as well as intimate behind-the-scenes moments during their tours..

In addition, the auction is highlighted by an amazing collection of modern musicians' wardrobe pieces, with shoes, outfits, and jewelry, among the featured items:

Lady Gaga's Purple Armani Prive Shoes. The amazing custom-made purple Armani Prive high-heeled platform shoes, featuring zippers on the sides. Made in Italy, the shoes are unmarked but likely size 39, and completely covered in purple rhinestones—the heels, outsoles, uppers, and zipper pulls are bedazzled in glorious purple gems. These were made and worn for her famous Fame Monster Era. These were purchased from the Yossi Dina Collection in Beverly Hills (estimate: $6,000+). Also up, Lady Gaga's personally-worn Silver Armani Prive shoes (estimate: $6,000+), her high-heeled Saint Laurent pumps with vamp backs (estimate: $2,000+), and her black Neil J. Rodgers slingback pumps, worn in New York City on May 24, 2018; where she was photographed wearing these while leaving Electric Lady Studios, paired with a ballerina-inspired white tulle dress and black cat-eye sunglasses (estimate: $2,000+).

Also included are two screen-worn pieces from Lady GaGa's role as 'The Countess' in the 2015 FX television series American Horror Story; is a burgundy velvet robe with fur trim. This floor-length robe has a gathered shawl lapel, fur cuffs and panels down the back, and matching burgundy velvet belt (estimate: $8,000+), and an electric blue fur worn by Gaga. Interestingly, it was also worn on-screen by Halle Berry in the 1998 film Why Do Fools Fall in Love. Conceived by legendary English designer Zandra Rhodes, the vintage circa 1970s electric blue fox fur smock has a plush purple satin lining printed with a pattern featuring her signature (estimate: $8,000+).

Other wardrobe highlights include; Beyonce's personally-worn pair of tall Gianna Meliani high-heeled leather boots with platform soles from a photoshoot for Giant magazine (estimate: $3,000+), Gwen Stefani's stage-worn shorts from her show at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York on October 17, 2015, during which she premiered the single 'Used to Love You' from her 2016 album This Is What the Truth Feels Like (estimate: $3,000+), and Taylor Swift's personally-worn blue two-piece outfit, consisting of a blue floral-patterned crop top and matching high-waisted skirt, worn out on a date with Calvin Harris in New York City on May 26, 2015 (estimate: $3,000+).

Hollywood lots include a Marilyn Monroe collection of lobby cards from many of her most famous films, Audrey Hepburn's screen-worn Emporio Armani knitted waistcoat from the 1990s documentary television series Gardens of the World (estimate: $1,000+), a humorous Marlon Brando typed letter to Eddie Sherman of the Honolulu Advertiser, and James Dean crash site photograph collection (Estimate: $6,000+). Important artists like Banksy, who takes aim at Paris Hilton's debut album, in a reinterpreted 'spoof' CD (estimate: $5,000+), and an Andy Warhol signed gallery announcement card (estimate: $1,200+), and a lovely portrait of Princess Diana with original signing pen, wearing a black velvet dress and posing against an artistic backdrop, an image originally taken by Lord Snowdon in 1985 (estimate: $6,000+).

The Pop Culture Auction from RR Auction will begin Thursday, August 8 and conclude on Thursday, August 15.