I have made my point, and Rudy has made his, and I I have no need to pursue this further. I think the truth of this matter is plainly "out there" for all to see (and everyone can make up their own minds based on what has been said).
For some reason, I am reminded of an recent incident with my son Luke. I told him he could take any cookies from the cookie jar in our kitchen without permission. I was surprised the other day to come into the kitchen and to see Luke with his hand deep in the cookie jar. Before I could say anything, he launched into a long rambling explanation of how he realized it could *LOOK* like he was taking cookies, but that actually he was merely counting the cookies, to make certain none of the *OTHER* kids had taken any! Kids will be kids, but one hopes that when they grow up they learn to distinguish right from wrong, and more importantly, to take responsibility for their actions when they are caught "with their hands in the cookie jar", but some people apparently never do, and I feel that is their loss. "What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" seems to apply here. Bruce On Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 10:55 AM, Rudy Franchi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > My relationship to Heritage is stated clearly in the sig attached to every > email I send out. If I recommend Heritage when contacted by phone, I always > mention my relationship to Heritage both as a consultant and as their > representative on Antiques Roadshow,. But that's a big "if." The majority of > the queries I get through my website are for values of non movie posters > (travel, war, advertising, etc.). I refer a handful of these to Heritage, > but the bulk are referred to such outlets as Swann Galleries in New York, > Phill Weiss Auctions (also N.Y.), Christie's London (vintage poster dept.) > and individual dealers. As for movie posters, all sci-fi and horror get > recommended to Heritage because they consistently get the best prices for > this material. But if an individual poster or a collection of movie posters > is a better fit for a different vendor, that's who I recommend. I've > referred potential sellers to Christie's London (cinema poster dept.), John > Kisch, Sam Sarowitz, Joe Burtis, Bonhams in L.A., Tony Nourmand, and in the > not too distant past I've recommended several people who contacted me with > large collections to Bruce, though I never received a reply from him --- but > perhaps the owners of the collections did. I hardly ever follow up with > individuals who contact me after I have made a suggestion as to how they can > dispose of their posters. Over half the people who use my site, have no > desire to sell. They just want to know something about what they own and > what's it's worth. I also inform everyone who contacts me and wants to sell > that in some cases I will receive a percentage of the hammer price at > certain auction houses. This finder's fee is called an introductory > commission and it has no effect on the amount of the money the seller > receives. I take great pride in my site and spend a lot of time each day > answering emails. In the spirit of disclosure, aside from the occasional > commission, because of the site I've also secured several major appraisals > from institutions and individual collectors plus I've been hired as an > expert witness in several legal cases involving movie and travel posters. > Like the Hawaiian missionaries, I came to do good and ended up doing very > well. Regards, rudy franchi > > On Sep 28, 2008, at 10:38 AM, Bruce Hershenson wrote: > > I would have to think that surely both LAMP and Heritage had no clue as to >> the misrepresentation presented on this site, and that now that it is >> revealed they will surely take steps to change the situation (either by >> removing their links, having the website altered so that it clearly reveals >> it is simply the website of the "Consignment Directors" of Heritage, and it >> is NOT impartial in any way, or both). >> >> Bruce >> >> On Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 9:18 AM, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >>> Excellent piece of investigative reporting, Bruce! Although it is also >>> clear why you would want to bring this to light. Part consumer protection, >>> part self-interest. NEVERTHELESS, will LAMP now take action to either >>> clarify the "vested interests" of these experts (The Franchi Family) or will >>> they remove the reference completely from the LAMP website? >>> >>> >>> Saul >>> >>> >>> >>> On Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 8:12 AM, Bruce Hershenson wrote: >>> >>> >>> What if a person finds an old movie poster, and wants to get a fair >>> unbiased opinion as to its value and how to best sell it? Well, one might go >>> to Google and type in "movie poster value" or some similar phrase, and one >>> of the links you get is to a site that is called www. poster >>> appraisal.comThere is also a prominent link to that site at the top of >>> Learnaboutmovieposters.com's page called "Sources and Resources for Movie >>> Poster Collectors". >>> >>> Going to that site, near the very top of the page is a disclaimer that >>> reads, "Nothing is bought or sold on this site". and "but if you do wish to >>> sell, I will be happy to suggest the best way to market the item you own" >>> and even better, "I do not charge for this service or for the actual >>> evaluation" >>> >>> Great! A completely free and unbiased appraisal of your old movie poster. >>> The page says that "The site is owned and run by rudy franchi" and a list of >>> his credentials are given, including that the owner and his wife (Barbara) >>> "have organized poster auctions for Skinner of Boston, Heritage Galleries of >>> Dallas and Christie's, New York and continue to appear on Antiques Roadshow" >>> (note the past tense on the poster organizing, and the present tense on the >>> Antiques Roadshow). >>> >>> Later on the page is the promise that "And to repeat, I do not make >>> offers for the material you inquire about nor do I get involved in its >>> eventual disposition". It seems that one could not ask for a more expert >>> opinion, and you have an absolute promise of impartiality from people who >>> promise to not "get involved". >>> >>> But perhaps all is not exactly as is stated above? When one goes to the >>> "Meet our Experts" page on Heritage's movie poster section of their website >>> at http://movieposters.ha.com/common/consignment_directors.php, Grey >>> Smith is listed as "Director", followed by Bruce Carteron as "Auction >>> Coordinator" and then there are two "Consignment Directors" (both of whom >>> can be contacted through e-mails or 800 phone numbers that are housed at >>> Heritage's headquarters) and these "Consignment Directors" are Barbara >>> Franchi and Rudy Franchi. That clearly directly contradicts the statement on >>> the posterappraisal.comsite. >>> >>> Or are perhaps these different people who happen to have the same name as >>> the owners of the posterappraisal.comsite? If so, they should clear up this >>> confusion, so no one could think they are being deceptive, or hiding a major >>> conflict of interest. >>> >>> Hmmmm.... >>> >>> Bruce Hershenson >>> Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at >>> www.filmfan.com___________________________________________________________________ >>> How to >>> UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF >>> MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. >>> Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at >>> www.filmfan.com___________________________________________________________________How >>> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing ListSend a message addressed to: >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF >>> MOPO-LThe author of this message is solely responsible for its content. >>> >>> >> Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at >> www.filmfan.com___________________________________________________________________How >> to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing ListSend a message addressed to: >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF >> MOPO-LThe author of this message is solely responsible for its content. >> >> >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] > 1228 S. Holt > Los Angeles, CA 90035 > 310 360 0830 > Poster Information Site: http://www.posterappraisal.com > Co-Author of MILLER"S MOVIE COLLECTIBLES available at Amazon > Official suppliers of movie poster images: IMDb <http://www.imdb.com> > Entertainment Memorabilia Appraiser: Antiques Roadshow < > http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/roadshow> > Vintage Poster Consultant: Heritage Galleries < > http://www.heritagegalleries.com> > Movie Poster News: http://posternewsbulletin.blogspot.com > Crime fiction reviews: <http://www.reviewingtheevidence.com> > Kevin Bacon Number: 2 > > "The Stone Age didn't end because they ran out of stones." Anon. > > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
