Movie Prop Collecting with Jason DeBord's Original Prop Blog Film & TV Prop, Costume, Hollywood Memorablia Pop Culture Resource

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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…]

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Authentic Superman Costume In The Marketplace – The Prop Store of London

Yesterday The Prop Store of London listed as “Sold” on their site an original Superman III body suit with a COA from Warner Bros.

I thought it appropriate to make note of this piece here, along with photos, as an archive reference of what an authentic suit looks like.

Of particular note is that the very few I’ve seen with impeccable provenance (such as the costume sold by ScreenUsed) have a very distinct features which differ from those that have no studio paperwork, such as the distinctly shaped collars, the “S” symbol sewn “into” the costume, rather than “onto” the costume, etc.

It is also interesting that the suits with questionable provenance never include high resolution, full coverage (front, back, close-up) photos for comparison.

The Prop Store of London Description: [Read more…]

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Ten Outstanding Questions About “Super Hollywood” Superman Costumes in the Marketplace

Now that Mr. Alvarez (“Super Hollywood”, super38 on eBay) has registered for the Original Prop Blog and posted a series of statements (see “Costume Junkie” Response, “Super Hollywood” Response), I would like to provide him an opportunity to address the series of questions and concerns raised in the prior articles about Superman costumes in the marketplace (see “Questions About Superman Costumes in the Marketplace: Authenticity, Sources, Quantity“, “Update“, “Update 2“, “Update 3“). [Read more…]

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Questions About Superman Costumes in the Marketplace: “Super Hollywood” Response

As noted in my article yesterday (…”Costume Junkie” Response), I have been contacted by both Mr. Armando Alvarez (”Super Hollywood”, “super38“) as well as Mr. Edward Pugia (”Costume Junkie”, “costumejunkie“) in regards to my articles about Superman costumes in the marketplace (see “Questions About Superman Costumes in the Marketplace: Authenticity, Sources, Quantity“, “Update“, “Update 2“, “Update 3“).

I spoke with Mr. Alvarez on the phone at length on 1/27 and 1/28, and invited him to share on this blog as much information as he is able to, in the form of a Reader Comment, and I would quote such statements in an update article to provide him an opportunity to address outstanding questions about the Superman, Superboy, Supergirl, and Greatest American Hero costumes with “Super Hollywood” provenance/Certificates of Authenticity/Letters of Authenticity. [Read more…]

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Questions About Superman Costumes in the Marketplace: “Costume Junkie” Response

I have been contacted by both Mr. Armando Alvarez (“Super Hollywood”, “super38“) as well as Mr. Edward Pugia (“Costume Junkie”, “costumejunkie“) in regards to my articles about Superman costumes in the marketplace (see “Questions About Superman Costumes in the Marketplace: Authenticity, Sources, Quantity“, “Update“, “Update 2“, “Update 3“).

I spoke with Mr. Alvarez on the phone at length on 1/27 and 1/28, and invited him to share on this blog as much information as he is able to, in the form of a Reader Comment, and I would quote such statements in an update article to provide him an opportunity to address outstanding questions about the Superman, Superboy, Supergirl, and Greatest American Hero costumes with “Super Hollywood” provenance/Certificates of Authenticity/Letters of Authenticity. [Read more…]

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Questions About Superman Costumes in the Marketplace: Update 3

One of the Superman costume eBay listings remarked on previously, that went unsold, has been relisted with some changes to the marketing description. This auction and Superman costumes in general have been topics of discussion in prior articles (see “Questions About Superman Costumes in the Marketplace: Authenticity, Sources, Quantity“, “Update“, “Update 2“). [Read more…]

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Questions About Superman Costumes in the Marketplace: Update

Since publishing my lengthy and comprehensive article last night (see “Questions About Superman Costumes in the Marketplace: Authenticity, Sources, Quantity“), which raises questions about the number of “original” and “authentic” Superman costumes in the marketplace, another such auction has been listed on eBay since completing the article: [Read more…]

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Questions About Superman Costumes in the Marketplace: Authenticity, Sources, Quantity

Costumes from the classic Christopher Reeve Superman films have long been one of the most “inherently problematic” wardrobe pieces for original prop collectors to acquire. One, the studio that owns the property and produced and distributed the films was Warner Bros. Warner Bros. is known to be very careful of keeping control of its assets and diligent in pursuing key pieces that have entered the collector’s market improperly. Two, there are many accounts from a number of collectors who have purchased Superman costumes marketed as “Original” that they claim are replica costumes.

There is an ongoing topic at the Movie Prop Forum touching on some of these issues titled: “Superman Wardrobe and Super38 Armando“. [Read more…]