public

April 17, 2015 By Jason DeBord

Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2015: Prop Store Exhibitor Booth

Prop Store’s exhibitor booth (#1140) for Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim in 2015 is both familiar and different. While the size and scale is comparable to what I’ve seen at San Diego Comic Con over the past five years, obviously with Celebration it is going to be 100% Star Wars-related content. With this show, they brought out some of the important pieces from the Prop Store Collection (i.e. owned by the principals of the company and not for sale), including a Darth Vader helmet, Han Solo jacket, and a Princess Leia gown. [Read more…]

December 2, 2013 By Jason DeBord

Gallerist Feature Tackles Auction House (Hidden) Reserves and Transparency – Heritage Auctions Leading in This Regard with Publicly Disclosed Reserves

Daniel Grant, writing for Gallerist, published an interesting article a few days ago about auction houses, reserves, and transparency (see “How Low Can You Go?: Should Auction Reserve Prices Be More Transparent?”). In his feature, he talks about how in nearly all cases, auction houses do not openly disclose the reserve (the lowest amount for which an item will sell at auction), and provides a variety of differing perspectives on how this practice impacts their respective markets and its participants. Of the auction houses specifically discussed in the article, only one – Heritage Auction – makes it known to the public what the reserve price is for every item that they offer for sale. [Read more…]

March 30, 2013 By Jason DeBord

James Bond Original Movie Prop & Costume Exhibition in Shanghai China’s Minsheng Art Museum from March 28th to May 31st

An impressive exhibition of original movie props, costumes, vehicles, and other James Bond artifacts is being held at the Minsheng Art Museum in Shanghai, China from March 28th through May 31st. CCTV News has produced a video showing some of the highlights, which can be viewed at their official site or via the embedded player below. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of 007, the exhibit boasts about 550 items spanning all of the films starring Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. [Read more…]

March 20, 2013 By Jason DeBord

NOTICE: Original Prop Blog Does Not/Will Not Supply Props to Dealers “jnsmcmahan”, “jsnent”, John Tarter, Billie Null, Mark Sullivan, L.A. Prop & Wardrobe, Hollywood Prop Supply, Studio West Prop, Ellis Props, et al

I am in receipt of a phone call today from a gentleman from Missouri, calling me claiming that he was told by an eBay dealer that the “vintage Listerine bottle from The Waltons” that he purchased was sold by the Original Prop Blog to the eBay dealer. A simple search brought up such a listing on eBay – VINTAGE LISTERINE BOTTLE FROM TV’S THE WALTONS+ – sold five days ago by eBay dealer jnsmcmahan. Long time readers of the Original Prop Blog will know that I personally do not find “jnsmcmahan” to be a credible dealer of authentic Hollywood memorabilia. None the less, this notice is being published to make it perfectly clear that I have not sold anything to and will never in the future conduct any business with those behind eBay accounts “jnsmcmahan”, “jsnent”, nor anyone directly or loosely associated with such dealers or material or type/kind of material, including John Tarter, Billie Null, Mark Sullivan, L.A. Prop & Wardrobe, Hollywood Prop Supply, Studio West Prop, Ellis Props, and others. In fact, the Original Prop Blog does not supply props or costumes to anyone. [Read more…]

January 30, 2013 By Jason DeBord

New York Times Article Highlights Issues of Auction Oversight & Transparency; Discusses Use of Chandelier and Sham Bids in Art Market

This week The New York Times published an interesting article (“As Art Values Rise, So Do Concerns About Market’s Oversight”) about customs in the high end art market auction world that are not favorable to consumers. Though the article is specific to the art market and New York (and their own laws, rules, and regulations), some of the issues are very much the same ones we face in the original film and television artifacts market, and is “must” reading for anyone involved in buying and selling original TV and movie props, costumes and other production material sold in the marketplace. [Read more…]

October 13, 2011 By Jason DeBord

“Lord of the Rings In Concert” Touring Attraction Features Original Movie Props & Costumes Display

The ‘Lord of the Rings in Concert’ tour launched last night in Glendale, Arizona with eight more dates in other cities through the rest of October. Lord of the Rings movie prop and costume collector Troika will be traveling with the symphony and putting some of his remarkable collection on display for concert attendees. Troika will be on hand at each concert to meet with fans and other original prop collectors. [Read more…]

June 1, 2011 By Jason DeBord

“AVATAR: The Exhibition” at the Science Fiction Museum in Seattle June 4th-September 3rd

The Experience Music Project has organized an exhibition called “AVATR: The Exhibition”, which will be held at the Science Fiction Museum in Seattle from June 4th through September 3rd. Per the official site, this was created with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products and James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment, and “will feature authentic props and costumes, interactive displays, concept models, and sketches from the blockbuster film”. [Read more…]

May 27, 2011 By Jason DeBord

‘Save The Dress’ Campaign Update: Policy Changed to Allow Refunds if Bid to Win Marilyn Monroe ‘Seven Year Itch’ Dress at Auction Fails

On May 18th, the Original Prop Blog reported on a campaign to collect funds from the public to bid on and attempt to win at auction the famous “subway dress” worn by Marilyn Monroe, offered for sale next month by Profiles in History as part of their Debbie Reynolds auction (see ‘Save The Dress’ Campaign to Crowdsource Funds from Public for Marilyn Monroe ‘Seven Year Itch’ Dress Auction; “Refund of Contributions… Impractical”). [Read more…]