Colin Cantwell is a dreamer. However, he’s is one of those rare individuals who is not content to merely dream, but to imagine how to make dreams a reality, and takes action to make things happen. And if the tool or method that he requires does not exist, he will invent it. He is about thinking up possibilities that others would find… impossible. He is also quite modest, regardless of his incredible accomplishments across a broad spectrum of disciplines. He seems to be entirely self-motivated and has an internal engine driving him to achieve the results that bring his dreams to life. My other observation, through my conversations with him at his home in Colorado some months ago, is that he is not only brilliant, but he is unrestrained by the divisions and categorizations that frame the lives of most of the rest of us. Like the great Leonardo da Vinci, Colin Cantwell is gifted with a great diversity of talents, as a scientist, inventor, artist, special and computer effects wizard, architect, engineer, and I’m sure a number of other abilities. In my opinion, he is one of our great national treasures that “we” didn’t know about. He played a significant role in Star Wars: A New Hope, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Omnimax/IMAX, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, and WarGames, working with some of our greatest film auteurs like George Lucas, Stanley Kubrick, and Steven Spielberg. He worked with NASA and CBS on the Apollo XI moon landing mission. He even won over “the greatest architect of all-time”, Frank Lloyd Wright. And at 82 years of age, he continues to work on his life achievements; with his concept of Cosmic Biodesics, only now is the rest of the world catching up to his ideas. [Read more…]
Profiles in History’s “Easy Rider” Movie Prop Captain America Motorcycle at Auction: Sold for $1.35 Million… or Not Sold?
There was a tremendous amount of pre-auction mainstream media coverage about the motorcycle put on the auction block by Profiles in History last month, a lot of it generated from an AP story picked up by many news outlets that was titled “‘Easy Rider’ chopper at auction might be phony” (as of this time, that keyword search is resulting in 22,500 hits on Google). The day of the auction, and for a few days following, the most used headline was a variation on proclamations that it sold for $1.35 million. But, as a matter of public record, did it really sell? And if not, why has no media outlet (to my knowledge) reported on the sale falling through? [Read more…]
Bonhams ‘Turner Classic Movies (TCM) Presents… There’s No Place Like Hollywood’ Auction to be Held in New York on November 25th
Later this month, Bonhams will be holding their follow-up to last years, “What Dreams Are Made Of: A Century of Movie Magic at Auction as Curated by Turner Classic Movies”. On November 24th, again in conjunction with Turner Classic Movies, they will host the “TCM Presents… There’s No Place Like Hollywood” live auction New York (and simulcast in Los Angeles) on November 25th. TCM will “make a contribution to support The Film Foundation, an organization dedicated to protecting and preserving motion picture history”. [Read more…]
Calendar of Live Auction Events: TV and Movie Prop & Costume, Hollywood Entertainment, Music, & Pop Culture Memorabilia
Below is the latest updated calendar for upcoming original movie and television prop, wardrobe, and memorabilia auction events. Please contact me if you are aware of any coming events of interest to collectors. Please also note that I update changes/additions to the calendar until the next update, in order to maintain as up to date as possible. [Read more…]
Review of First Prop Store Live Auction and Profiles in History’s Hollywood Auction 65, 67, 68, The Expendables
The past week has been a significant one for the original television and movie prop, wardrobe, and asset art market, with two of the biggest dealers in the business having their own live auction events. This marked the first big live auction for Prop Store, which held it’s “Auction of Film & Television Artefacts” on the 16th, and Profiles in History had a multi-day event for their “Hollywood Auction 65” and their Expendables Auction (“Hollywood Auction 67 & 68” – yes, the naming/numbering is confusing… see prior article). With over 2,600 lots offered for sale collectively, it provides an opportunity for some analysis of each sale on its own merits as well as comparing and contrasting the different companies and their approach with the marketplace. [Read more…]
Premiere Props ‘Fangoria Horror Movie Prop Live Auction’ Catalog Online, Television & Movie Prop and Costume Sale Event October 25th
The catalog is now online for the Premiere Props “Fangoria Annual Horror Movie Prop Live Auction”, scheduled for October 25th. The sale promises “over 500 lots” are now listed with online bidding partners iCollector, LiveAuctioneers, and Invaluable.
ScreenUsed’s Movie Prop, Costume, and Memorabilia Online Auction to be Held on November 8th, Catalog Available Online
ScreenUsed will be concluding their next live online auction on November 8th. The auction catalog is now available online via a PDF download via their official website and collectors can bid on iCollector. Featuring an assortment of original props, costumes, and other production material and memorabilia from film and television, this auction includes 475 lots. Highlights include an Imperial Stormtrooper blaster from Star Wars: A New Hope, and a variety of costumes from Breaking Bad, Hunger Games, and the Star Trek franchise. Per their tradition and unique to their events, ScreenUsed have lower starting prices than many competing auctions and no reserves. [Read more…]
Calendar of Live Auction Events: TV and Movie Prop & Costume, Hollywood Entertainment, Music, & Pop Culture Memorabilia
Below is the latest updated calendar for upcoming original movie and television prop, wardrobe, and memorabilia auction events. Please contact me if you are aware of any coming events of interest to collectors. Please also note that I update changes/additions to the calendar until the next update, in order to maintain as up to date as possible. [Read more…]