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Hey Mopo-aficionados,
freeman here.
In my 5 years of selling movie
posters, the biz has been at its most rewarding meeting new people of all
backgrounds, but with that single bug first and foremost, the love
of vintage movie posters and ephemera. Ephemera? Well
little did I know just how diverse and reaching that little sub-heading
could encompass (e.g. Hey Marty! Great vintage slides this
week).
But it was only recently did I know
just how big and tall ephemera could be as and in this cases how strange it
can sometime be in acquiring. Interested? Keep reading
.......
A close friend of mine has a
penchant for horror and sci-fi and has for years enjoyed
collecting one of everything especially pre-1945. But when it came to the
1933 version of KING KONG with its astounding technical
achievements by his hero, Willis O'Brien, well now we would be
approaching religion. He has held in his hand the fully
articulated Ape, helped restore the stegasauraus to its
ready for close-up glory. and in his own lair Kong press book,
stills. lobbies, vintage model kits, never mind authentic
props used by the natives and even a scream by Fay Wray sealed
inside a mason jar.
So there it was, a one of a kind 10 foot die-cut
standee, made from almost a double six sheet printing where paper was to be
mounted on a board 10 foot by 4 foot and then cut along Kong's outline. ectly
mounted on archival material, supported from behind with metal rods emanating
from a center metal spine for consummate stability.
So was it really any wonder that
only into its first day my friend depresses BIN, and then immediately
called me to drop the bomb. Well understandably I was quite in
shock for earlier in the day we spent 15 minutes discussing the
scant merits of an additional $100 on a consignment item of
his. Now in stark contrast consider the number of zeros on the
BIN....... well, suffice to say if I ever attempted
to enter a bid with that queue of zeros, such an
action would automatically cause my computer to crash and my mouse to
conk me on the head.
"Whose the seller?" My friend
replied "Matt Shapiro" At that moment the sound of horses braying in
the distance pierced the late night silence. "You know", I replied,
"Isn't he dead?"
Jump to 5 days later, we still don't
know if he is alive or dead. But the attorney is very alive and well.
Lawyer we never meet. But we are meeting a lovely girlfriend with a
predisposition to look with eyes glazed almost tearful whenever asked
about the legendary Shapiro with words to accompany like "its
so sad". Whatever.....
Instead of delivering this 10 foot tall
glorious ephemera, to my friends house, it seems it is to be
"presented" first. where then it can be inspected (this is the
part my assistance is requested, well, me and my trusty portable
hand held black light to sniff out if any in-painting or replaced paper
and the like which I am glad to report only the most minimum contrary to
rumour). Location selected by seller's "grieving" life partner is a
non-equity actors theatre in the valley a rocks throw from the Academy of
Television Arts and Sciences. Upon agreement that standee is as
described, bank is call and wire transfer is initiated and no less than 6
pages of documents are signed and co-signed presented by both parties.
Well walking in to the theatre, KAPOW there it is
all 10 feet of animal fury balanced atop the Empire State Building cradling
Fay Ray in one arm and in the other with raised fist a crumple
bi-plane bathed in a flood of lighting both heavenly and forensic.
Whipping out my big 3 inches of black light I begin to pour over every square
inch of stone litho paper. But then the grieving lovely asks,
"Do you mind if I video tape this?" ???????????? "Well
okay, but how did you come by this theatre?" "Oh I am an
actress" My head is bursting.............. BINGO
........ tears on a dime!!!!!!!
Anyway the rest is they say is history.......in
fact this piece is in Profiles In History solely to sate a curiosity if
its appeal is heightened by Peter Jackson's pending blockbuster. I have a
hunch there won't be a sad face on my friend if it doesn't meet its
modest reserve. But its a spectacular piece and if by chance someone
places an informed and successful bid, he or she will be in such a
delirious state of mind for they will be shipping home a truly
grand, glorious and near mint piece of Classic One-Of-A-Kind Hollywood
that literally earns the moniker as THE EIGHTH WONDER OF YOUR LIVING
ROOM.
Auction is Friday April 1, beginning at 1:00 PM Pacific
Coast Time
fwf
freeman fisher
8601 west knoll #7 west hollywood, CA 90069
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- [MOPO] KING KONG IS NOT SO BAD ONCE YOU GET TO KNOW HIM Flixspix
