By RaeAnne Marsh
(August 2009)
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Film memorabilia often occupies a favored niche, shelf or wall space in private homes, valued for personal enjoyment or as a conversation piece. What its value is in the general marketplace is a question for experts - such as the versatile appraisers with PBS's popular "Antiques Roadshow."
At the tour's recent stop in Phoenix, Ariz., film memorabilia was among the items of varied size, shape and pedigree that eager owners brought, risking disappointment, to be evaluated.
Seventy-plus appraisers ringed the evaluation arena, in a milieu that took the practiced crew three days to erect. The evaluation process began with a generalist directing the owner to an appropriate appraiser among the myriad of categories; scripts were sent to "Books and Manuscripts," posters to "Prints and Posters," signed photographs to "Collectibles."
Slowly inching his way in line, William shuffled forward with a framed "Star Wars" poster that was nearly as big as he was - and ultimately found himself one of the lucky few tapped for taping. "It's George Lucas' favorite poster," the appraiser told him as the camera rolled. "He has the original in his house." Of the roughly 1,000 of this size and style that were produced, most were destroyed, as these were the posters placed on boards outside the theaters. Restored, its value would be approximately $7,000; in its present faded condition, "only" about $2,000.
Although he regrets the fading, William says he continues to enjoy displaying the poster in his home where he can easily see it - as he has been doing since he acquired it as a 16-year-old working at his local movie theater.
The two signed photos that Georgia brought in were designated "dead people's stuff" by the appraiser when he learned they had been given to her by a mutual friend of the "Paul" to whom they were signed. "How do you know [the star] really signed it?" he asked Georgia. "That's what I came to you to find out," she responded.
"These people are like rock stars to me, so talking to some is a bit intimidating," she said later, "but Gary [the appraiser] was so animated, I felt comfortable with him straightaway."
Asked to wait while they researched the photos and signatures, Georgia, too, ultimately found herself in front of a camera listening to the appraiser explain her Lone Ranger & Tonto photo has all the elements of a good autograph - reading "To Paul: The very best of luck. ‘The Lone Ranger' Clayton Moore 1950" and "To Paul: Always be my ‘Kemo Sabay' ‘Tonto' Jay Silverheels" - and was therefore worth $700-$800.
"Gary talked about what Jay Silverheels did after the run of the TV show, which included parts in movies like ‘The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing' and ‘True Grit.' I mentioned to him that Scout's [Tonto's horse was named ‘Scout'; the Lone Ranger's was ‘Silver'] head was moving and it was out of focus, and he said that's not unusual because the photographers back then had to get quick shots and didn't have the time to stage them very well.
"I barely registered what he said because the show moves at such a fast pace and all are told to speak rather fast. Gary didn't pause; just took a breath and told me my Superman photo was very rare because it was signed ‘To Paul, George Superman Reeves.' Gary said George Reeves usually did not insert the word ‘Superman' between his first and last name, and, because of that, the photo was worth $4,000! My face flushed and I didn't hear too much after that! I was flabbergasted!"
J.D. also brought a photo. He'd bought it at an estate sale of the late James Gregory, which he had attended because, as a retired police officer, he had been intrigued by the actor who had played TV's Barney Miller.
The photo was dated 1946, and a label on its back identified the subjects, who include Katharine Hepburn, Clark Gable, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Judy Garland, Angela Lansbury, Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly and Lassie. Why were all these headliners in one photo? Roadshow's research discovered MGM had had the group photo taken of all the studio's contract artists that year, and the photo had appeared in Life Magazine. Four hundred to five hundred original prints were made, which included one to each artist, and the one J.D. now owns is worth between $1,200 and $1,500.
"Antiques Roadshow"'s Summer 2009 Tour visited six cities across the United States, bringing expert appraisers from the world's leading auction houses - which included Bonhams & Butterfields, Christie's, Doyle New York, Skinner and Sotheby's - to offer attendees a free verbal appraisal and some history of their item while scouting for the potential 300 to be featured in the TV show's 2010 season. Each of the 150,993 people who requested a ticket to bring items for appraisal has a story; this was three of them. -MP
Photo top: One of many appraisal booths; by Richard Marsh. For more information and to see streaming video, visit www.pbs.org/antiques.