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

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Jack Warford, Star Wars Starship Model Photographer for Merchandising/Promotion in 1977 & Rare Filming and Prototype Images

This article is by its nature self-promotion for Julien’s Auctions (where I serve as COO), but I believe it is consistent with my past articles sharing news and insights about Star Wars with followers, so I’m making an exception in this case, as I am in a unique position to share new information about Star Wars.  I wanted to put a spotlight not so much on our lots in an upcoming auction, but on Jack Warford and his story behind some of the iconic photography of original model starships from the original Star Wars in 1977.  All of this background was completely unknown to me prior to working on bringing some prints and original photos to auction this year. [Read more…]

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San Diego Comic-Con 2019: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!

This is part of my ongoing coverage of San Diego Comic-Con 2019. 2019 is the first year that Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! exhibited pieces from the collection in the main exhibit hall.  On display was the lightsaber prop purchased from Profiles in History and attributed to use by Luke Skywalker in The Empire Strikes Back, the Han Solo blaster from Return of the Jedi purchased from Julien’s Auctions, and a Hoverboard from Back To The Future Part II and a bullwhip from Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade.  In that I cataloged the Han Solo blaster for Julien’s, I noticed that it appears to have since been damaged (and as you’ll note in the photos, the handle of the blaster is held in place by some gum-like material in this display. [Read more…]

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San Diego Comic-Con 2019: Prop Store

This is part of my ongoing coverage of San Diego Comic-Con 2019. Prop Store has been exhibiting at Comic-Con since 2008, and they truly improve the experience every year.  For 2019, their big promotional push is for their annual live auction in the Fall, as well as their upcoming Marvel Netflix auctions. [Read more…]

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San Diego Comic-Con 2019: Regal Robot (by Tom Spina)

This is part of my ongoing coverage of San Diego Comic-Con 2019. Tom Spina was one of the first collectors I came into contact with back in 2002, and one of the first guys I met in person in 2005.  As Tom and his businesses – Regal Robot (“art decor and furniture”) and Tom Spina Designs (“unique creations for marketing, trade shows, theme parks, film/video, collectors, museums… anyone!”)- are based on the east coast, I was thrilled to learn that he was not only attending San Diego Comic Con this year, but also exhibiting as Regal Robot.  He brought along a lot of cool merch (as an official licensee for his Star Wars products).  Of course, Tom is know all around the world for the peerless work of he and his colleagues in not only their creative work but restoration and display work for original props, costumes, and other film and television production assets. [Read more…]

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San Diego Comic-Con 2019: Star Wars Imperial Stormtrooper Costume Exhibit

This is part of my ongoing coverage of San Diego Comic-Con 2019. There was a large area of the main Exhibit Hall carved out for all things Star Wars, and as has been tradition, they had costumes from all of the films on display, featuring different types of imperial stormtrooper armor. [Read more…]

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YouTube Edition – The 12th Annual Original Prop Blog “Year in Review” for 2018 – Original TV & Movie Props, Costumes and Pop Culture Memorabilia

This is part of my new, ongoing series of YouTube videos.  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, 2013 Year in Review, 2014 Year in Review, 2015 Year in Review, 2016 Year in Review, 2017 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 used in film and television productions. A look back at interesting trends, developments, and news stories from 2018. As is always the case, this is a completely subjective exercise, and merely touches on the developments and events that relate to the hobby and art market.  2018 marks the first year that this will be published exclusively in video form on YouTube. [Read more…]

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YouTube Update – “Darth Vader Lightsaber Prop from ‘Return of the Jedi'” from 2010 Auction

This is part of my new, ongoing series of YouTube videos, with this one serving as a direct update to an article published here on the Original Prop Blog back in May of 2010.  At that time, there were questions about a prop lightsaber up for auction attributed to the character of Darth Vader in the film, Return of the Jedi.  Some of these questions were raised in my article published on May 31, 2010 (Profiles in History ‘Hollywood Auction 40′ Video Preview: Darth Vader Lightsaber Prop from ‘Return of the Jedi’).  Don Bies, former curator of the Lucasfilm Archives, has provided some information relevant to those outstanding questions, which is shared in this latest YouTube video. [Read more…]

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YouTube Post Auction Opinion & Analysis – Profiles in History’s “Hollywood Auction 96”

This is part of my new, ongoing series of YouTube videos regarding the latest auctions that feature original props, costumes and other production material from film and television. This is a post auction opinion and analysis follow-up looking at the four day “Hollywood Auction 96” sale event by Profiles in History, and to a lesser extend the “Essentially Marilyn” auction that took place immediately preceding the Hollywood auction. [Read more…]