{"id":38800,"date":"2015-05-15T16:11:52","date_gmt":"2015-05-15T23:11:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.originalprop.com\/blog\/?p=38800"},"modified":"2015-05-21T22:33:25","modified_gmt":"2015-05-22T05:33:25","slug":"jason-debord-of-original-prop-blog-featured-as-memorabilia-expert-authenticator-on-latest-pawn-stars-episode-ricks-roulette-for-flash-gordon-prop-rocketship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.originalprop.com\/blog\/2015\/05\/15\/jason-debord-of-original-prop-blog-featured-as-memorabilia-expert-authenticator-on-latest-pawn-stars-episode-ricks-roulette-for-flash-gordon-prop-rocketship\/","title":{"rendered":"Jason DeBord of Original Prop Blog Featured as Memorabilia Expert Authenticator on Latest “Pawn Stars” Episode (“Rick’s Roulette”) for Flash Gordon Prop Rocketship"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Jason-DeBord-on-Pawn-Stars-Rock-Subculture-Original-Prop-Blog-Hollywood-Memorabilia-Expert-Flash-Gordon-Rocketship-FI\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I am featured in the History Channel’s popular cable reality series, Pawn Stars<\/em>, in the latest episode debuting this week, “Rick’s Roulette” (Season 2015, Episode 27)<\/a>.\u00a0 I served as the Hollywood memorabilia expert and authenticator for one of the segments of this episode, taking a look at a prop model attributed to the Flash Gordon<\/em> serials of the 1930s.\u00a0 This was filmed in December 2014 at Julien’s Auctions, when I was in town helping Colin Cantwell bring his\u00a0Star Wars <\/em>original artwork from 1974\/1975 and other movie and television memorabilia to auction<\/a>.\u00a0 I wanted to share some thoughts about the Flash Gordon<\/em> prop rocketship model and appearing on the show in general. <\/p>\n

Regarding the show itself, on the production side, I was impressed to see how “real” the reality show actually was…<\/p>\n

Back in 2012, I did visit the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas where the show is filmed (see feature<\/a>), and I was surprised at how small the story itself actually was inside (the magic of television and wide angle lenses!).\u00a0 In day to day operations, it was not quite as exciting as the show, as the principal players – Rick Harrison, his son Corey, “The Old Man”, and Chumlee – were not working in the store at the time of my tourist-oriented visit.<\/p>\n

This new episode airing this week, “Rick’s Roulette”, was a rare one in that Rick left Las Vegas to come to Beverly Hills in order to auction off material he has purchased on the show over the years via an auction event with Julien’s Auctions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For this episode of\u00a0Pawn Stars<\/em>, I was asked to discuss a rocketship model that was claimed to be from the 1930s-era Flash Gordon <\/em>serials.<\/p>\n

I was already aware of this model and had previously done some research into it, as attempts were made to sell it publicly on eBay in the past, which resulted in public debate and discussion that caught my attention.<\/p>\n

Talking with Rick Harrison, I was impressed with him and his knowledge about movie props and this art market.\u00a0 He’s truly a savvy guy in this arena.<\/p>\n

I thought it would be worthwhile to memorialize my research notes below, in the event that the model should again come up for public sale and\/or continue to be an ongoing topic of public interest, debate, and discussion.<\/p>\n

“Just Imagine”\/”Flash Gordon” Rocket Ship Analysis & Notes
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Premise: <\/strong><\/p>\n

An item\u2019s claims of attribution to a film or television production is inconclusive unless proven to be 1) authentic or 2) inauthentic; if neither can be proven, it remains inconclusive.\u00a0 I have not personally seen verifiable proof that it was made for and\/or used in either Just Imagine<\/em> (1930, Fox Film Corporation) or the Flash Gordon<\/em> serials (1936, 13 installments, Universal Pictures).\u00a0 Conversely, one would need to determine what this is and what it was made for in order to arrive at the conclusion that it is absolutely inauthentic.\u00a0 The origins of the piece remain a mystery to me personally.<\/p>\n

Fox Film Corporation and Universal Pictures:<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is documented that props from earlier Universal productions were recycled for use in Flash Gordon<\/em>. Rocket ships from Just Imagine<\/em> were used in Flash Gordon<\/em>, however, these appear to have been limited to the 1:1 ships, not scale models \u2013 in my research I did not find any scale models seen on screen in Just Imagine<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Prior Public Sale Attempt History:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Item in question was offered for sale on eBay, most recently in November 2013 (one year ago) with a $250,000 “Buy It Now” price [see: http:\/\/www.ebay.com\/itm\/310668324539].<\/p>\n

Notes Comparing Subject Model with\u00a0Just Imagine <\/em>and Flash Gordon<\/em>:<\/strong><\/p>\n