I recently obtained scans of historic photos taken at the Lucasfilm Archives at Skywalker Ranch circa 1996/1997, depicting original props, costumes, models, and other assets from the original Star Wars trilogy (A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi) as well as the Indiana Jones franchise (Raiders of the Lost Ark , Temple of Doom, and The Last Crusade). [Read more…]
This week Roger J. Christian, who won an Academy Award for his work as Set Decorator on Star Wars: A New Hope (1977), published a reader comment to one of my older articles concerning the prop lightsabers used in that first Original Trilogy film, and two featured at the NRA Museum acquired from Ellis Props. I feel Mr. Christian’s information as principal production member directly involved in the props was definitely important to highlight here and memorialize as part of the ongoing dialogue concerning memorabilia in the marketplace that is characterized by some as “authentic” and “original” to the production, when that might not be the case. [Read more…]
The cherry red 1964 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu used by John Travolta’s character in Quentin Tarantino’s film, Pulp Fiction, was reported stolen back in 1994 during the production of the Academy Award-winning movie. Featured in many scenes in the film, Vince Vega’s car was recently found, per a report by The Sun. [Read more…]
A short update regarding the lightsaber on display at the National Firearms Museum, originally sold by Ellis Props in their liquidation sale, characterized as an original prop from the Star Wars trilogy. [Read more…]
Mr. Jim Supica, newly appointed Director of the National Firearms Museum, was kind enough to read the article published this week (see Ellis Props “Star Wars Luke Skywalker Lightsaber”?) about the lightsaber on display at the museum, originally sold by Ellis Props in their liquidation sale, characterized as an original prop from the Star Wars trilogy. [Read more…]
I recently came across a blog post about an “original prop Luke lightsaber” from Star Wars on display at the National Firearms Museum at the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia. [Read more…]
One of the most inherently problematic props, in terms of issues with authenticity, are of the “off the shelf” or “found” variety.
What are “off the shelf” props?
Props, wardrobe pieces, set pieces, and any other artifacts used in a production that are:
1) Mass produced (past or present),
2) for non-production purposes (i.e. not specifically manufactured for use in the production), and
3) are or were available for purchase from those not associated with the production. [Read more…]