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

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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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eBay Auction: Greatest American Hero Costume – Update

As reported in late December (see “eBay Auction: Greatest American Hero Costume“), there was an eBay listing for an “original” William Katt Greatest American Hero costume (eBay Item #220184242364) which raised concerns as to authenticity, and was determined to have been a replica by an expert on these wardrobe pieces.

As explained previously, because an original suit was purportedly copied many years ago, replica suits were introduced into the marketplace as “original”, making authentication of these suits highly problematic. [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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More on Heritage Auction Galleries, L.A. Prop & Wardrobe

I have many thoughts and reactions to the WFAA Television investigative report that aired last night, as covered in the article posted this morning, (see WFAA Television News Report on Heritage Auction Galleries, L.A. Prop and Wardrobe: “Systematic Misrepresentation of Provenance”). [Read more…]

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WFAA Television News Report on Heritage Auction Galleries, L.A. Prop and Wardrobe: “Systematic Misrepresentation of Provenance”

Dallas/Fort Worth’s WFAA TV Channel 8 aired a report last night about Heritage Auction Galleries and L.A. Prop and Wardrobe, based in part on Rick Spector’s research and investigation early last year (see OPB article, “Heritage Auction Galleries & L.A. Prop & Wardrobe Company“), and Rick Spector is interviewed and featured in the news investigation.

I was also contacted last week by WFAA reporter David Schechter, and supplied him with e-mails from my correspondence with Heritage Auction Galleries as part of their investigation, and as evidence that myself and other collectors questioned the provenance of certain offerings and the consignor, L.A. Prop & Wardrobe. [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…]