Brandon Alinger of the Prop Store of London has shared some interviews with me with permission to publish them on the Original Prop Blog for readers to enjoy. The first interview is with Academy Award winning Special Effects Artist Brian Johnson. [Read more…]
Profiles in History “Hollywood Auction 35 & 36″ Catalogs Available Online
The Profiles in History “Hollywood Auction 35 (Hollywood Wax Museum)” and “Hollywood Auction 36 (The Forry Ackerman Collection, etc.)” catalogs are now available (as a download in PDF) for their next auction, to be held at their offices in Calabassas Hills, CA on April 30th and May 1st, 2009. [Read more…]
John Dykstra Interview in SFX Magazine
Academy Award winning special effects pioneer John Dykstra was featured in the December 2008 issue of the UK’s SFX magazine. It is a great little interview and covers his many years in the industry, working on films such as Silent Running, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, Lifeforce, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Spider-Man, Hancock, and more. [Read more…]
Elstree Props, Fertility Idols, Light Gods, Danziger Collection COAs (Multiple Topic Update)
This article serves as an update to a number of prior articles related to Elstree Props, “The Danziger Collection” Certificates of Authenticity, “Light God” wall plaque props from Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the “Fertility Idols” marketed as authentic from the same film. [Read more…]
Raiders of the Lost Ark Fetility Idols In The Marketplace – Update
This is an update to an article published last week which raised questions of provenance about prop “fertility idols” attributed to Raiders of the Lost Ark that have been circulating in the marketplace, along with related issues. [Read more…]
“Star Wars: A New Hope” Batpy’s Stormtrooper Blasters
I have started a series of more comprehensive profiles of the original props in my own collection, and the first piece to be showcased is one of the Imperial E-11 Stormtrooper blasters produced by Bapty in England for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Since Star Wars has such a wide appeal, I thought I would make note of it in a redirect article for those who may be interested. [Read more…]
Original Prop Hobby – 2008 Year in Review
As was the case last year (see 2007 Year in Review), what follows is an editorial review of my personal views with regards to the hobby, looking back at the top trends and news stories of 2008. As always, there were a lot of interesting developments and events, and quite a bit to review and consider. [Read more…]
Another “Original” Luke Skywalker Lightsaber Offered For Sale
eBay seller biscolors has today listed for sale a prop “Luke Skywalker” lightsaber marketed as an “original prop” from Return of the Jedi and “one that was made for Mark Hamill as backup”, referencing Norman Harrison and Norank Engineering at Elstree Studios as the source. [Read more…]