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 collectors.
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The Marilyn Monroe Collection Blog: New Evidence “The Seven Year Itch” Profiles in History Subway Dress Altered for “Bachelor Flat”?
This morning Scott Fortner published a substantive update to his article posted on Friday, with very compelling and extensive analysis of the dress(es) worn by Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch (1955). The questions originally raised by Scott has led to a number of significant revelations about the famous dress, one of which was sold last weekend by Profiles in History in their Debbie Reynolds auction event. [Read more…]
The Marilyn Monroe Collection Blog Asks: “Was It THE Dress?” (Profiles in History’s Debbie Reynolds Auction)
Over the past week, the public have been reacting to the top piece sold at auction in the Debbie Reynolds sale held by Profiles in History last weekend, with the famous “subway dress” attributed to use by Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch (1955) breaking all records and realizing $4.6 million dollars (amounting to as much as $5,658,000 with fees, depending on method of bidding and payment). Scott Fortner, who publishes articles on his Marilyn Monroe Collection blog and was in attendance at the event, this morning published an article posing some questions about the dress, based on his analysis of images from a variety of sources. [Read more…]
Impressions, Questions: Profiles in History’s Debbie Reynolds Sale Event Raises the Bar on Values Realized at Auction
Yesterday, Profiles in History held it’s sale event liquidating the Debbie Reynolds collection, and the hobby and media at large are reeling at the prices realized at auction. Held at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, the auction featured an incredible assortment of original wardrobe memorabilia from classic Hollywood. Highlights include the famous “subway” dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch, which sold for more than $5.6 million (with fees), “test” ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz fetched $627,3000, Dorthy’s “test dress” sold for $1,119,300, and a bowler hat worn by Charlie Chaplin realized $135,300. [Read more…]
Donnie Darko “Frank” Bunny Mask on eBay is NOT the Mask Seen in 2008 Original Prop Blog James Duval Interview
A reader directed my attention to an active eBay auction listing in which the the description can lead one to believe that the Donnie Darko “Frank” bunny mask for public sale is the same “one of a kind” mask that was seen in an interview conducted by the Original Prop Blog with actor James Duval at Comic Con International in July 2008. Based on my review of the photos included in the eBay auction listings, this is not the same mask. The auction description states: “The mask was gifted to me by actor James Duval, who played the role of ‘Frank’.” The following sentence states: “Please see the youtube video with James talking about the mask below.” [Read more…]
Pawn Stars Latest Episode Features Civil War Jacket – “TBS” Stamp – Inspector’s Mark or “The Burbank Studios”?
Friends and Original Prop Blog readers Jen and Bryce wrote to me today in regards to one of the latest episodes of Pawn Stars, which premiered last night. In the episode, “Late Night Chum”, a customer brings in what appears to be a Civil War jacket. Mark, the Administrator from the Clark County Museum, is called on to help authenticate it, and speculates that the stamped letters, “TBS”, might be an inspector’s mark. With an alternate assessment, and based on their experience with classic movie memorabilia, props, and wardrobe, and having found the same mark on studio-used garments, Jen and Bryce believe that it might actually be a mark indicating prior ownership by “The Burbank Studios”. [Read more…]
Auction House Buyer’s Premiums: On The Rise (Revisited Three Years Later – 2011 Update)
Back in 2008, the Original Prop Blog published an article about “Buyer’s Premiums” assessed by the major auction houses in the marketplace (see Auction House Buyer’s Premiums: On The Rise). With their upcoming Debbie Reyonlds sale in June, Profiles in History raised their rates by 5%, so I thought it would be an appropriate time to revisit the topic, as well as compare and contrast with findings from the article published May 30, 2008, with updates as of today, May 31, 2011 – three years later. [Read more…]
Prop Talk Podcast #011 – Brian Muir, Film Industry Sculptor (“Darth Vader Sculptor”) | Interview by The Original Prop Blog with Jason DeBord
Brian Muir, special guest. This is the eleventh ‘Prop Talk’ podcast by the Original Prop Blog. Mr. Brian Muir is a veteran in the film industry, working as a sculptor on an incredible number of movies, including Star Wars: A New Hope, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Alien, numerous James Bond films, Harry Potter films, and more. Notably, Mr. Muir is credited as the sculptor of the iconic helmet for Darth Vader early in his career.