This is part of my new, ongoing series of YouTube videos, with this one taking a close-up look at the upcoming Profiles in History “Hollywood Auction 96” taking place on December 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th. As a follow-up to the previously posted overall preview of the auction, this latest video editorial specifically takes a closer look at Lot 1479 described as the “[o]riginal production used “Luke Skywalker” lightsaber from Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope from the collection of Oscar-winning set decorator Roger Christian”. [Read more…]
YouTube First Look: Mario Kirner’s “Friday the 13th Props Museum” Book
This is a quick YouTube video first look at Mario Kirner’s new book about his Friday the 13th movie prop and costume collection, Friday the 13th Props Museum. [Read more…]
YouTube Post Auction Opinion & Analysis – Prop Store “TV Treasures Live Auction – Curated by The Comisar Collection”
This is part of my new, ongoing series of YouTube videos regarding the latest auctions that feature original props, costumes and other production material from film and television. This is a post auction opinion and analysis follow-up to last month’s first look at Prop Store’s event on December 1st, “TV Treasures Live Auction: Curated by The Comisar Collection, Inc.”. [Read more…]
New Original Prop Blog YouTube Channel – Introduction & Overview
This is the first in a new series of videos that I will be publishing on YouTube, to supplement the ongoing content on the Original Prop Blog. I have in the past published the occasional video on YouTube, but I saw the platform more as a place to host videos rather than as a “channel” per se, so mixed among content intended for the Original Prop Blog were other videos that had nothing to do with the Original Prop Blog. So this is a brand new channel going forward, and my hope and intentions are to use the video format more regularly in order to produce some different content than what has been the norm. Further explanations are provided in this first introductory video. [Read more…]
San Diego Comic-Con 2018: Editorial & General Photography
So I’ve been attending San Diego Comic Con since 1987 (when I was 14 years old), so I have a lot of history with the world’s most famous annual pop culture gathering. Some years are better than others, though for several years running it has, from a subjective standpoint, felt like it was overall in decline (weighing the positives and negatives). However, I believe that things have shifted direction in 2018, so here are my thoughts on Comic-Con International this time around. [Read more…]
Andrew Ainsworth Still Taking Credit For The Work Of Others, Compares Himself To Michelangelo…
The Daily Express have published a puff piece about Andrew Ainsworth (“the designer of the original stormtrooper”) today in an article by Gabriella Geisinger (see “How the Stormtrooper became Star Wars icon ‘More popular than Michelangelo’s David'”). Ainsworth even compares himself to Michelangelo. In the article, Ainsworth gives passing mention to Ralph McQuarrie for his original “sketch” of the Stormtrooper, and as in past interviews of course no mention at all of Liz Moore (who was responsible for the original Stormtrooper helmet sculpt) or Brian Muir (who was the first to sculpt armor parts). And no mention of John Barry, (the production designer) or John Mollo (the wardrobe designer) who were also part of the team that created the Stormtrooper. To be fair, Ainsworth deserves credit for what he did contribute to the original Star Wars film… but he always seems eager to take much more credit than is due. [Read more…]
Editorial: Profiles in History’s Four Day “Icons & Legends of Hollywood” (Planet Hollywood) Auction Review
The massive Profiles in History “Icons & Legends of Hollywood” four day auction concluded on Friday, and it certainly illustrates some different results when compared to past sales held by the entertainment memorabilia auction house. With over 2,000 lots, it was a tremendous amount of material for the market to absorb all at once, and I suspect that this was reflected in the results. Though the official results have not yet been published on the official Profiles website as of the time of this writing, in going through the results published by internet bidding partner iCollector (and under the assumption that these results also reflect floor and phone bids), it would appear that approximately 45% of the lots were passed over with no bids. I counted approximately 922 unsold lots, and adding up the total it appears that in the final sale that there were 2,050 lots (with 39 lots pulled prior to auction?)… But the other compounding factor is how many lots were sold for far less than one might expect based on past sales. Items that would ordinarily pull in $5,000+ were going for under $2,000 and sometimes even under $1,000. With so much to choose from, it may have become a buyer’s market and it seemed as though some collectors were looking for deals – and finding them. [Read more…]
Exclusive Details & Photos: Original Han Solo Blaster Movie Prop from Return of the Jedi to be Sold by Julien’s Auctions in June
Today, Julien’s Auctions has announced that an original Han Solo blaster movie prop used in Return of the Jedi will be in their upcoming Hollywood Legends auction at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on June 23rd. The prop is one of the most exciting pieces to come to market from the original Star Wars trilogy in years, and it is a highlight of “The James L. Schoppe Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Production Archive”, with the entire collection coming directly from the Academy Award nominated Art Director who worked on the film. The Original Prop Blog is pleased to present exclusive photos of the prop as well as some additional background about the collection from my having worked with Julien’s Auctions and Mr. Schoppe in preparing the collection for public exhibition and auction. [Read more…]