Digital Screen Capture Software: “Aviary Screen Capture”

As a follow-up to an article published a year ago (see Digital Screen Capture Software: “SnagIt”, “ScreenHunter”), software company Aviary has released their own screencapture software which is very competitive with SnagIt and ScreenHunter, only it is either web-based or built-into the browser and is also free to use, which is in contrast to the previously reviewed alternatives which must be installed and stand alone at a cost. Read more

BBC Video Report on 20th Century Props: “Movie Prop Paradise to Close”

As reported earlier this month (see 20th Century Props Closes Its Doors After 40 Years; Auction Slated for Late July), 20th Century Props announced that it is closing and auctioning off its assets.  This has garnered a substantial amount of news coverage (see Original Prop Blog on Twitter for continuing links/coverage), including a television broadcast last week on NBC’s “Today Show” and now a short video report by the BBC.  Read more

New Michael Jackson Related Legal Threat Against Julien’s Auctions… from David Gest

In the wake of the death of Michael Jackson last Thursday, and the coincidental (long-scheduled) “Summer Sale” of original entertainment memorabilia which took place in Las Vegas over the following two days, the sale of 21 lots of Jackson-related memorabilia with provenance identified as from “The Collection of David Gest” has prompted significant mainstream media coverage as well as a threat of lawsuit by Mr. Gest. Read more

Original Prop Blog on Twitter – ‘The Week in Tweets’ (Through 06/26/09)

This will be the first in a weekly feature archiving the “tweets” from the official Original Prop Blog Twitter account.  This archives all posts through 06/26/09. Read more

Michael Jackson “King of Pop” Dead at 50

Per reports from the Los Angeles Times, TMZ.com, and the USA Today, Michael Jackson was pronounced dead today following a cardiac arrest and coma.  The “King of Pop” has been in the news in recent months as a result of his sold out come back concert tour and a dispute with Julian’s Auctions over the sale of personal memorabilia from Neverland Ranch. Read more

Vintage Expert Raises Questions About “John Wayne” Western Costume Company Wardrobe At Auction

Vintage and Classic Hollywood original prop and wardrobe expert Rick Spector of Stairway to the Stars has contacted me this week with concerns about the authenticity of a wardrobe piece attributed to John Wayne listed in the “Cody Old West Show and Auction” scheduled for this weekend. Read more

NBC’s Today Show Broadcast on 20th Century Props: “Movie Sets for Sale”

As reported a few weeks ago (see 20th Century Props Closes Its Doors After 40 Years; Auction Slated for Late July), 20th Century Props announced that it is closing and auctioning off its assets.  This has garnered a substantial amount of news coverage (see Original Prop Blog on Twitter for continuing links/coverage), including a television broadcast this morning on NBC’s “Today Show”.  Read more

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Famous ‘Ennis House’ Seen in “Blade Runner” For Sale at $15 Million Dollars

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis House, seen in many films,  is available for sale in Los Angeles, California for $15 million.  It is most well known to fans of genre films as Deckard’s apartment in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner. Read more

International Make-Up Artist Trade Show (IMATS), June 20-21 in Pasadena

The annual International Make-Up Artist Trade Show (IMATS) is being held this weekend at the Pasadena Convention Center in Los Angeles – June 20-21, 2009. Read more

Debbie Reynolds’ “Hollywood Museum” Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

The Wall Street Journal reports today that the Hollywood Motion Picture and Television Museum, founded by Debbie Reynolds to exhibit her collection of original Hollywood memorabilia, has sought Chapter 11 protection. Read more

“The Cinema of George Lucas” Movie Artifact Exhibit at NASA’s Space Center Houston

Space Center Houston in Texas is hosting “The Cinema of George Lucas” through September 20, 2009.  The exhibition includes original props and other artifacts from the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises and other films that Lucas has been involved with producing/writing/directing. Read more

Prop Store Restoration of Original Nostromo Prop Model from Ridely Scott’s “Alien” (Video Part 1)

The 7 foot model of the Nostromo ship featured in Ridley Scott’s sci-fi classic, Alien, has been the focus of a restoration project by The Prop Store of London.  Suffering decades of damage from poor conditions of improper outdoor storage, the piece has required extensive cosmetic restoration as part of its ongoing preservation. Read more

Original Television and Movie Prop, Wardrobe, and Entertainment Memorabilia Auctions: Upcoming Event Calendar

Below is the latest updated list of upcoming original movie and television prop, wardrobe, and memorabilia auction events. Please contact me if you are aware of any coming events of interest to original prop collectors. Read more

The Bride and Bill’s Hero Original Movie Prop Guns from “Kill Bill Vol. 1 & Vol. 2″

This is the next in a series of more comprehensive profiles of the original props in my own collection, and the next pieces to be showcased are the pair of movie gun pistols used by Uma Thurman as “The Bride” and David Carradine as “Bill” in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol. 1 & Vol. 2.  Read more

Follow The Original Prop Blog on Twitter

I am now publishing short reports on Twitter.  In addition to notices of new Original Prop Blog articles are brief reports and links to information of interest to readers that does not warrant a full report here on this site.  If you want all of the news and updates, you can follow me on Twitter at:  twitter.com/jason_debord

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Charity Auction: Auction Cause Offers “Screen-Used” Prop 1967 Pontiac Firebird from “The Matrix Reloaded”

The latest charity auction from Auction Cause starting today is for the original “Screen-Used ’67 Pontiac Firebird from The Matrix Reloaded“.  Proceeds from this auction will benefit DonorsChoose.org. Read more

Star Wares eBay Auction: Spider-Man 70′s TV Costume “Worn On Screen” or “Made For Publicity Purposes”?

Questions have recently been raised among collectors about attributions made on a Spider-Man costume described as “worn on screen in the 70′s TV Series SPIDER MAN“, which is slated to end at auction on eBay tomorrow morning.  Prop dealer Star Wares today added information to the marketing description which, following research, would seem to indicate that the suit was not made for and used in the series, but a promotional suit used for publicity and advertising. Read more

20th Century Props Closes Its Doors After 40 Years; Auction Slated for Late July

The Contra Costa Times reports this afternoon that 20th Century Props has decided to close its business.  With an inventory of over 91,000 pieces, items are expected to be auctioned off in late July. Read more

“D23 Expo” at Anaheim Convention Center in September 2009 to Feature “Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives”

It was recently announced that Disney will be holding it’s own fan convention and expo, which will also feature an exhibition of the “Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives”, including original movie and television props, costumes, and other artifacts.  Tickets are now on sale for the “D23 Expo” event, to be held at the Anaheim Convention Center September 10th – 13th, 2009. Read more

Julien’s Auctions Launches “Julien’s Live” Online Bidding Service

In support of their Summer Sale in Las Vegas June 26-27, Julien’s Auctions has today announced their “Julien’s Live” online bidding service.  Julien’s Auctions has historically used the excellent Auction Network in support of their live auction events, so this marks a change of bringing online bidding in-house, as we have seen with other auction houses such as Heritage Auction Galleries and Christie’s. Read more

Startifacts vs. Star Wares on eBay

Based on recent events on eBay, it would appear that long-time original movie prop dealers Startifacts and Star Wares have had some business conflicts that have spilled over into the public space.  Following a rash of eBay negative feedback remarks left for Star Wares, many remarks have been expunged by eBay and the startifacts account now shows a suspended “NARU” status (Not A Registered User). Read more

Authentic Superman Costume Fabric “DNA”: Extreme High Resolution Photography

With my recent trip to Burbank, to compare “Super Hollywood” Superman costumes with confirmed authentic examples from the Warner Bros. archives, I had a very limited window of time with which to take photographs of the costumes and produce comparisons.  While I did take over 700 digital photos, I did not get every shot I would have liked to have obtained. Read more

Film & Television Icon David Carradine: Gone But Not Forgotten at Age 72

David Carradine was found dead in a Bangkok hotel room today.  Carridine comes from a family of actors (including father John, half brothers Keith and Robert).  Carradine appeared in over 100 feature films and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award four times. Read more

“Heavy Lifter” Prop from James Cameron’s Upcoming “Avatar” Movie Makes Appearance at E3

Steve ‘Frosty’ Weintraub of Collider.com has published photos of the “heavy lifter” powersuit prop from James Cameron’s upcoming film “Avatar”.  This is on display at the E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) show floor in support of a game based on this movie from Ubisoft.

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Original Prop Blog – May 2009 Web Site Traffic Statistics

The latest web site traffic statistics for Original Prop Blog, as of May 31, 2009…

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