The online catalog for the Premiere Props “Hollywood Auction Extravaganza V”, scheduled for March 24-25, is now listed via online bidding partner iCollector as well as a traditional-style catalog in PDF format from their own website. The two-day auction includes over 1,000 lots from various film and television productions. [Read more…]
Filmmaker Kevin Smith’s new television series on AMC, Comic Book Men, recently featured in its second episode (“Life After Clerks”) an individual bringing a prop into the comic book store, claiming it was an original lightsaber used in Star Wars: A New Hope. The shop brought in a third party “expert” to authenticate and value the piece, though no information was provided as to who the authenticator was, or what his qualifications were in being cited as an expert. Having reviewed the segment, in my personal opinion and subjective reaction, the entire affair was quite laughable, from the positive authentication to the assessed value of $7,000 for an original Luke Skywalker lightsaber from The Empire Strikes Back. [Read more…]
The second of two Entertainment Memorabilia auctions to be held by Bonhams in the month of December has published its catalog online. This event will be held at their Knightsbridge location in England on December 15th for their “Entertainment Memorabilia” auction (Sale 19037). The first auction will be held in Los Angeles on December 14th. [Read more…]
Star Wars Celebration V, the “official Lucasfilm event celebrating all things Star Wars, produced by fans for fans” has been in full swing this week. While not personally in attendance, I thought I would publish a report on highlights of interest to original prop collectors, notably Lucasfilm announcing the release of the all six Star Wars films on Blu-Ray disc next year (per an interview with the New York Times), which will include never before seen footage, including a scene with Luke finishing the construction of his lightsaber in a cave on Tatooine from Return of the Jedi. The existence of such a scene has long been a matter of debate among Star Wars fans. [Read more…]
Profiles in History’s “Hollywood Auction 40” was held Thursday, Friday and today on-site at the Profiles in History offices in Calabasas Hills, with remote bidding available over the Internet via LiveAuctioneers, as well as direct via mail, fax, and telephone bidding. The first two days alone offered the type of material that is traditional for their regular auction events, including original television and movie props, costumes, and other memorabilia. Today’s Day 3 included the special sale of material limited to the Star Trek franchise. [Read more…]
This is the sixth in a video series highlighting props and costumes in the upcoming Profiles in History “Hollywood Auction 40”. This segment provides Joe Maddalena, CEO of Profiles in History, an opportunity to discuss the provenance of a prop lightsaber attributed to use by the character Darth Vader in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. This is one of many props being sold in the auction event, to be held June 10-12 in Calabasas Hills, CA.
As reported on earlier in the week, Profiles in History CEO Joe Maddalena was featured on this morning’s broadcast of The Today Show – “auctioning off iconic items from famous movies” – in promotion of next month’s sale event. Of particular interest to the show was the Marilyn Monroe pink dress worn in the “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” scene in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and the Wicked Witch hat from Wizard of Oz. [Read more…]
Yesterday I spent most of the day at the Profiles in History offices in Calabasas Hills, California to preview their “Hollywood Auction 40” event scheduled for June 10-12. In addition to extensive interviews with Joe Maddalena, President and CEO of the firm, I also took many photographs of the props, costumes, and other material being prepared for the auction. This feature includes 270 photos of material on display at the auction house in preparation for the sale event. [Read more…]