I started asking questions about Superman costumes in the marketplace, attributed to the Christopher Reeve films of the 70s and 80s, over two years ago. Since, I have published over 100 related articles, asking questions and sharing information and insights – all in an attempt to bring clarity to the marketplace and empower collectors and other interested parties with more information with which to make their own assessments and conclusions. [Read more…]
“Hands On” Superman Costume Comparative Analysis In Development: Warner Bros. Archive, Authenticated vs. “Super Hollywood”
I spent the day in Burbank yesterday, performing a “hands on” analysis and comparison of confirmed authentic costumes (two recently released from the Warner Bros. Archives) from multiple Superman films starring Christopher Reeve (Superman II, III, and IV) with the three “Super Hollywood” costumes examined in a recent article (see “Super Hollywood” Superman III Costume Case Study: High Resolution Photo Archive & Analysis). A substantive article is under development that will include the results of this analysis and high resolution comparison photos. [Read more…]
“Super Hollywood” Superman III Costume Case Study: High Resolution Photo Archive & Analysis
This marks the 100th article related to Superman costumes in the marketplace characterized as “original”. This article includes hands on analysis and a new archive of high resolution photos of a Superman costume sold by Armando Alvarez (“Super Hollywood”) and accompanying provenance and eBay and PayPal transaction records from the buyer. This new material is also compared directly with other “Super Hollywood” costumes which have been archived previously. [Read more…]
High Resolution Photo Reference Archive: Super Hollywood “Superman/Superboy Reference Costume”
This is a companion article to several previous features. This article includes an archive of high resolution photos of the costume previously designated the “Superman/Superboy Reference Costume”. In addition to photos of the costume itself, photos and analysis of the accompanying Super Hollywood (super38, Armando Alvarez, Ana Mungia) Letter of Authenticity also follows below. [Read more…]
High Resolution Photo Reference Archive: “Super Hollywood” Superman Costume Photo Comparison
In January 2008, a costume offered for sale on eBay was described as an “Authentic Original Costume” worn in Superman: The Movie by Christopher Reeve, which was supported by the “Super Hollywood” Letter of Authenticity that accompanied it. This auction was archived in Original Prop Blog articles at the time (see Questions About Superman Costumes in the Marketplace: Update & Update 2). [Read more…]
Superman, Superboy, and Disney’s Creative Costuming
Those readers who have followed the ongoing series of articles about Superman costume/costume components offered for sale, attributed to use by Christopher Reeve in the Superman films of the 70s and 80s, will have likely noted that many costumes circulating in the marketplace are marketed as having previously been used as reference pieces in the production of similar costumes for the Superboy (AKA Adventures of Superboy) television series, which ran in syndication from 1988-1992 (four seasons).
Of those costumes listed in the Superman Costume Matrix: Auction House/Dealer Website Public Offerings (ver 1.0, 04/04/08), I count nine (9) costumes which are noted (explicitly or implied by source) as reference costumes for the Superboy television series. This does not reflect the number of additional costumes circulating in the marketplace on eBay that have also been described as former reference costumes for the Superboy television series (see prior articles).
Many of the costumes that are characterized as original Berman’s & Nathan’s produced Superman costumes worn by Christopher Reeve, used as reference by Disney’s “Creative Costuming” as part of the provenance, have letters/LOAs/COAs from “Super Hollywood”, signed by either Ana Mungia or Armando Alvarez. Many are also characterized as “gifts” from the Salkinds (producers of the films and television series). [Read more…]
Superman Costume Matrix: Auction House/Dealer Website Public Offerings, Version 1.0
This work product is part of the ongoing series of articles about costumes in the marketplace attributed to use by Christopher Reeve in the Superman films of the 70s and 80s (see “Questions About Superman Costumes in the Marketplace: Authenticity, Sources, Quantity“).
What I have attempted to do is catalog the costumes offered for sale to the public by auction houses and by prop dealers on their commercial websites.
I have tried to capture as much of the key details of these offerings as possible to populate a matrix in an effort to share information with collectors about what has been offered for sale and the attributes of those costumes and costume parts. This also offers an opportunity to compare and contrast some of the characteristics of these costumes. Some also appear to have been sold and resold (based on matching wardrobe tags, for instance), as noted in the document.
Obviously, I am at the mercy of the quality and accuracy of the information used to market these pieces by auction houses, dealers, and their consignors, as applicable. In some cases, the information provided is vague and imprecise, so I would ask anyone using this document to please keep all of this in mind and to perform your own due diligence and verify all information to your own standards. I have not verified any of the information presented or claimed via the marketing and advertising of these pieces beyond what was noted in the applicable auction catalog and/or website. [Read more…]