As per tradition, (see 2007 Year in Review, 2008 Year in Review, 2009 Year in Review, 2010 Year in Review, 2011 Year in Review, 2012 Year in Review), what follows is an editorial featuring my personal observations and opinions with regards to the business of buying, collecting, selling, and preserving original pop culture artifacts – looking back at the top trends, developments, and news stories of 2013. As is always the case, this is a completely subjective exercise, and merely touches on the developments and events that relate to the hobby. [Read more…]
Opportunity to Acquire One of the Great Motion Picture Artifacts of Our Time & Help Archive Television History (Wizard of Oz’s Cowardly Lion & The TV History Museum)
The Hollywood Reporter is breaking news this week (currently the print edition only), about the prospects of an individual or other entity acquiring one of the two surviving Cowardly Lion costumes from The Wizard of Oz, proceeds of which would go toward the funding of James Comisar’s “Museum of Television” project in Phoenix, Arizona. [Read more…]
The Original Prop Blog 2012 Year in Review: News, Developments, and Trends in Collecting Original TV & Movie Props, Costumes and Pop Culture Memorabilia
As per tradition, (see 2007 Year in Review, 2008 Year in Review, 2009 Year in Review, 2010 Year in Review, 2011 Year in Review), what follows is an editorial featuring my personal observations and opinions with regards to the business of buying, collecting, selling, preserving original pop culture artifacts – looking back at the top trends, developments, and news stories of 2012. As is always the case, this is a completely subjective exercise, and merely touches on the developments and events that relate to the hobby. [Read more…]
Hollywood Reporter Update with News on AMPAS Hollywood History Museum
The Hollywood Reporter today published a news story with updates on the Hollywood History Museum under development by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, reporting that they have reached their initial $100 million dollar fundraising goal and that it is scheduled to open in 2016 at the May Company building at Wilshire Blvd. and Fairfax Ave. [Read more…]
London Film Museum, Covent Garden – ‘Tour of Magnum On Set’ Exhibit
While in London this month, I had an opportunity to visit the newer, second location for the London Film Museum, in Covent Garden. I was fortunate enough to receive a personal tour from Jonathan Sands, Chief Executive and founder of the museums. The current exhibit hosted at the new branch is entitled, Magnum On Set. [Read more…]
Inside Gold & Silver Pawn (The “Pawn Stars” Shop)
Note: This article was originally published on the Rock Subculture Journal. I met up with some friends of mine who live in Las Vegas, who, like me, collect original artifacts from film, television, and music. I became acquainted with them years ago through the Original Prop Blog, and they have been huge supporters of my efforts. The History Channel series, Pawn Stars, has been a topic of discussion on the Original Prop Blog for years (see original article), so who could pass up the opportunity to check out the store where it all happens? So we visited Gold and Silver Pawn.
Two Pairs of ‘Wizard of Oz’ Ruby Slippers In The News… AMPAS “Academy Museum of Motion Pictures”, Smithsonian’s “National Museum of American History”
Two big stories have been making news in the mainstream media in recent days, with regards to two different pairs of original ruby slippers from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ – one purchased for the ‘in the works’ Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences “Academy Museum of Motion Pictures”; the other going off display at the Smithsonian for conservation and an eventual “American Stories” exhibit at their “National Museum of American History”.
Tour of ‘Rancho Obi-Wan’, Steve Sansweet’s Star Wars Memorabilia Collection and Museum, Part 2 of 2
This is a continuation of my article about a visit to Mr. Steve Sansweet’s ‘Rancho Obi-Wan’ museum in Sonoma County. This second part includes additional photos from my visit yesterday – click here for Part 1. [Read more…]