Remember the final scene of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" when the Ark of the Covenant is crated, then wheeled down an aisle in Hangar 51 (mostly a matte painting by ILM's Michael Pangrazio) presumably never to see the light of day again?
Collectors from different generations all have that one item they desperately want to track down — their Ark of the Covenant.
Luckily, in a few days, the quests of many movie enthusiasts will cease as several items will go under the hammer for the first time during Propstore's Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction. The four-day auction begins Thursday and will feature more than 1,900 artifacts from film and television.
But which first-time items are most intriguing? Let's take a closer look below.
"Batman" screen-matched Batwing 6-foot motorized filming model
From the use of model miniatures to physical monster masks, practical effects in classic Hollywood filmmaking helped make films — especially from the 1980s — resonate so well with viewers and helped these films transcend decades to still hold up today.
One standout from 1989 is the Batwing from Tim Burton's "Batman," starring Michael Keaton. Under the direction of Burton, production designer Anton Furst, and concept artist Julian Caldow, this legendary design was brought to fruition after Caldow's concept drawings paved the way for what we see in the film.
The intimidating piece is more than 6 feet wide. It is the epitome of practical effects, which include the lighting, missile deployment and retraction, functional motorized components used for specific shots in the film (such as the Gatling Gun and balloon clippers), and a miniature version of Batman in the cockpit who can pivot his head to both sides.
As a collector, this checks the boxes for me: It's screen-matched, intricately designed and possesses an emotional connection for me when I watch the film.
With all of that said, you must be wondering how much this impressive piece is, right? Propstore affixed a $250,000-$500,000 estimate to the model, with an opening bid of $125,000. While this seems like a hefty price tag, the sheer importance of this piece warrants it. Artifacts from the '89 film are scarce, and when they do surface, they are often in pretty rough shape (items such as cowls and Batsuits), given their material.
What makes this gargantuan model significant is that it's only one of three surviving scaled models made for the film; the one in the auction was made for all of the detailed close-up shots; a 2-foot model was used for the crash shots (whereabouts unknown); and a 5-inch model was used for the shot when the Batwing flies in front of the moon.
Being the last of its kind not only speaks to its importance as a piece from the film, but also on a wider scale to the history of practical-effect props from American cinema.
I've seen this piece in person, and the aura that radiates from it is unmatched. To me, it is the top item in the auction and belongs in the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
"Ghostbusters" production-made "drinking" Onionhead (Slimer) puppet
When you hear the word "Ghostbusters," what comes to mind? Is it the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man? Vigo the Carpathian? How about Ray Parker Jr.'s musical theme?
For me, it's Slimer, a symbolic character who has transcended decades in the "Ghostbusters" films and has most recently appeared in "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire."
While CGI was heavily used in the latest installment in the film franchise, practical effects made ghost puppets and paranormal occurrences seem all too real during the original 1984 film. To achieve this, actual creatures needed to be fabricated to make the effects seem as lifelike as possible. One of those is being put up for the first time in history: a Slimer puppet.
Notoriously a resident haunt of the Sedgewick Hotel, Slimer was introduced to us as the first ghost the Ghostbusters caught and who made "actual physical contact" with Peter Venkman (Bill Murray).
While the puppet is a production-made casting and absent of any puppeteering mechanisms, it is believed to be the only original 1984 Slimer casting in existence.
This first-to-market artifact should be a highly sought-after item amongst "Ghostbusters" collectors and monster collectors alike. While I do appreciate its historical significance and the emotional connection it possesses to the film, puppets comprised of foam latex are delicate and need to be handled with precautionary measures when added to one's collection.
Foam latex is heavily used when creating puppets as it easily allows artists to bring to life intricate character designs, however, the lifespan is meant to last as long as production does, which is why they are put to the test during the filmmaking process. They aren't built to last for decades, which is why pieces like this don't usually surface.
Sometimes, puppets are saved for years after production and end up in auctions, which is how most collectors obtain these pieces.
Once acquired, foam latex props should be stored in cool environments away from sunlight as hot temperatures can rapidly deteriorate the material. One of my friends who collects puppets has gone as far as installing UV screens on his windows to prevent any of the sun's rays from damaging his collection (prop collectors do not mess around).
While ultimately not used in the film and sympathetically restored, this piece is the first appearance of a Slimer-cast puppet 40 years after the first film. The piece symbolizes the classic techniques of Hollywood's practical effects and is an instantly recognizable character from a film franchise beloved by many.
"Happy Gilmore" screen-matched Boston Bruins jersey
From Roy Hobbs' "Wonderboy" bat to Rocky Balboa's boxing gloves, the desire to collect from iconic sports films is consistently high. These movies resonate with viewers on a deeper level as they are more relatable and elicit more of an emotional, nostalgic feeling.
One piece I have been searching for quite some time is Happy Gilmore's Boston Bruins jersey. For some reason, key props and costumes from Adam Sandler's films (such as his "Billy Madison" costume) have not surfaced, which makes me wonder whether Sandler has amassed an archive of pieces from the "Sandlerverse."
For the first time in history, a Gilmore jersey is coming to auction, and it's what all collectors hope for when buying a costume: It's screen-matched.
To put it simply, "screen-matched" refers to when a prop or costume possesses specific markings, damage, or thread fiber that align with the same artifact in the film.
If you've seen the film, you can visibly see this jersey throughout the first golf tournament, where you can match the subtle rips on the collar to the jersey in the auction. While subtle, this match not only confirms the jersey was the one worn by Sandler, but it also increases the price tag as obtaining something worn on screen is ideally sought after, especially compared to a piece merely made for production.
If this piece sells for a high price (and I think it will given the rarity), we could expect more notable pieces from the Sandler films to appear on the market.
"Scream" screen-matched Ghostface costume
Since the first "Scream" film was released in 1996, the franchise has been pervasive throughout pop culture and a staple in the horror community.
Known to the fans as the "Sidney attack mask," this mask was created by Fun World DIV and is the main mask used throughout the film. However, what makes this piece significant is that this is the mask we see during the very first encounter Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) has with Ghostface in the Scream franchise, as well as the film's final battle. The former is notably the most iconic shot of Ghostface.
But, where has this piece been hiding ever since the film wrapped? After researching, I discovered this mask was displayed at Planet Hollywood in Orlando, Florida. Given Planet Hollywood teamed up with Heritage Auctions earlier this year for an auction, this begs the question: Did Planet Hollywood consign this, or did a collector buy it and put it up for auction?
How do we know this is the mask scene on screen? Again, this item is "screen-matched." from above? "Scream" expert Nate Ragon and Propstore were able to pinpoint some of the flaws on the mask that align with what we see on-screen throughout the film. Specifically, we can see defects in both eyes and the lower portion of the nose, along with the black tape on the mouth which was a temporary change by the film's director of photography, Peter Deming.
The purpose of this modification was to make the mouth of the mask look dull for certain scenes (versus shiny which was achieved through applying ChapStick), and the presence of this tape indicates the mask was last used for a scene calling for this specific look.
The significance of this piece needs to be emphasized as it embodies so much horror history: It's the mask fans were first introduced to, igniting their emotional connection to the horror franchise.
With 10 days to go, this piece has exceeded its high estimate with an absentee bid of $110,000. I believe this will sell close to $250,000 on Thursday.
"Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" Imperial trooper "biker scout" helmet
Stormtrooper helmets and TIE Fighter helmets are no strangers to Propstore's auctions, For the first time in the company's history, it will be offering an Imperial scout trooper "biker scout" helmet from "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi."
Designed by Nilo Rodis-Jamero, the biker scout helmet is significantly different than the other trooper helmets seen in the "Star Wars" universe. Notably, the helmet features a visor around the eyes inspired by horse blinders with the idea that the wearer would be able to focus on what's in the line of sight while speeding throughout the forest moon of Endor.
But why the estimate of $250,000-$500,000? According to the lot description, "This is one of two known scout trooper helmets that exist in private collections out of the 24-30 that were made and used for filming" and is the first helmet of its type to hit the public market.
Assuming George Lucas owns the others and is saving them for his museum, slated to open in 2025, this is more than likely the only chance "Star Wars" collectors will have to buy this style of helmet.
From Disney, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, private collectors, and Lucas himself, I believe this helmet has garnered a lot of attention and will be a highly competitive lot that could exceed its high estimate of $500,000.
As these treasures go under the hammer, many quests will reach their culmination, allowing new custodians to cherish and preserve these symbols of movie magic.
Dan Gastin is a seasoned expert in the entertainment memorabilia industry with over five years of experience and an active passion for collecting movie props and costumes. He previously worked at Propstore.