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

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Profiles in History, Star Wares Featured on CBS News Sunday Morning

I missed the broadcast, but if I can find the video on the Internet, I’ll post an update with the link.

In any event, Bill Geist of CBS visited both Profiles in History and StarWares in covering movie props and costumes, given that tonight is the Academy Awards.

While I can only speak to the print version of the story, it is somewhat typical of mainstream media coverage of the hobby – focused on price and value with no mention of the importance of authentication.

The print version of the story appears in it’s entirety at CBSNews.com (LINK): [Read more…]

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WFAA Television News Report Update: Heritage Auction To Sue L.A. Prop and Wardrobe

A second report was broadcast by WFAA TV’s Channel 8, based on David Schechter’s investigation into items consigned by L.A. Prop and Wardrobe Company and sold by Heritage Auction Galleries (see Heritage Auction Galleries & L.A. Prop & Wardrobe Company, WFAA Television News Report…, More on Heritage Auction Galleries, L.A. Prop & Wardrobe).

In this update, Mr. Schechter reports that Heritage Auction Galleries will “sue L.A. Prop for knowingly providing bogus items for sale and damaging the auction house’s reputation”.

Here is a link to the full video report at WFAA.com: [Read more…]

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Original Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz, The Oprah Winfrey Show, YouTube, and Copyright

As reported in late January (see “Original Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz on The Oprah Winfrey Show“, “Original Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz on The Oprah Winfrey Show – The Video“), the 1/23/08 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show focused on “Classic Americana”. Part of the episode featured Dr. Brent Glass, Director of The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz were sent to the show from Washington, D.C., under the supervision of two armed guards and via first class air travel in a disguised box. There was some controversy across the Internet as a result of Oprah’s handling of the artifacts.

I posted a video clip from this segment on YouTube, and noticed that the clip has since been removed, with the following explanation: [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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Original Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz on The Oprah Winfrey Show – The Video

As reported yesterday (see “Original Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz on The Oprah Winfrey Show“), the 1/23/08 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show focused on “Classic Americana”. Part of the episode featured Dr. Brent Glass, Director of The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz were sent to the show from Washington, D.C., under the supervision of two armed guards and via first class air travel in a disguised box.

This segment has created some controversy (see misajane’s blog, The Orinda Group, Greetings from Taos…, and Oprah’s Discussion Forum) as a result of Oprah’s determination to personally handle the artifacts, which was counter to the museum director’s express wishes.

Below is the admittedly low tech video of the segment I uploaded to YouTube: [Read more…]

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Original Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz on The Oprah Winfrey Show

Today’s episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show focused on “Classic Americana”. Part of the episode featured Dr. Brent Glass, Director of The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz were sent to the show from Washington, D.C., under the supervision of two armed guards and via first class air travel in a disguised box. [Read more…]

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Star Trek Christie’s Lawsuit – A Four Day News Story?

As covered in several previous articles (see “Star Trek Collector Sues Christie’s, CBS & Paramount Studios for $7 Million Dollars“, “Star Trek Christie’s Lawsuit Story, Fundamentals of Authenticity, & The Mainstream Media“, “Star Trek Christie’s Lawsuit – The Official Data’s Poker Visor Description Amendment“), a collector is suing CBS and Paramount Studios and Christies for $7 million dollars, claiming that the pieces won at the 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection auction event were “fake” or inauthentic. [Read more…]