Superman's cape goes under the hammer - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Tandem · 07-29-2003, 10:23 PM

Quote:

The cape in which Superman ran faster than a speeding bullet and leapt tall buildings in a single bound is up for auction.

Auctioneers expect the cape worn by 1950s TV Superman George Reeves to fetch about $US150,000.

The S-emblazoned outfit is among the pop culture memorabilia going under the hammer when Los Angeles-based Profiles in History opens the bidding in an auction this week.

About 360 items are for sale, including the gloves Arnold Schwarzenegger used in Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

The auction features mostly items from science-fiction movies and television shows.

One other piece up for grabs is Mel Brooks's first screenplay of the 1968 film The Producers, an adaptation of which is now a hit stage play.

It is expected to fetch between $US8,000 and $US10,000.

Profiles' chief executive Joseph Maddalena says the Superman costume is the auction's centrepiece because it is one of only two known authentic George Reeves Superman suits.

"I can't think of a more important TV show costume," Mr Maddalena said.

He says he expects the auction to bring in about $US1 million in total with the costume going for about $US150,000.

Mr Maddalena says collecting show business material has become increasingly popular because it is more affordable than antiques and fine art.

Collecting goes in waves and currently Hollywood's sci-fi material is hot, he said.

Last year, Profiles auctioned Captain Kirk's Command Chair from the Star Trek TV series for $306,000.

Authenticating pieces is made easier by the fact that many people who made or wore them are living, he said.

"The industry kind of polices me and I work within the industry. If the material wasn't real, they would hang me," he said.

Or perhaps they would send Superman to do the job.

Bids can be made in person at Profiles in History's Beverly Hills office or online.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s913357.htm

I'm surprised that the cape wasn't held onto by the Reeves family.

YourNeverThere · 07-29-2003, 11:04 PM

thats amazing, sometimes i wish that i was really really rich

Stare At The Sun · 07-30-2003, 12:16 PM

i would rather have picards cap chair, but, that still is really cool. I need more money.

Fagabeefe · 07-30-2003, 04:21 PM

I'd love to have Riker's luck with women!

hawkeye · 07-31-2003, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tandem
I'm surprised that the cape wasn't held onto by the Reeves family.

Their son killed himself because of his role as Superman. You think they would Really want a reminder?

johnnymysto · 08-01-2003, 11:19 AM

WHAT??? Is this true? George Reeves' son killed himself because his father was Superman?

oldtimer · 08-01-2003, 03:32 PM

Hawkeye, elaborate? At the very least, all the items are movie history and such should be on display for all. A museum for example, perhaps. But not in some fruitsy old man's home deep in an mansion never to be enjoyed by the public.

Tandem · 08-02-2003, 01:01 AM

As a follow up ...

Quote:

A nearly 50-year-old costume emblazoned with a giant 'S' on the chest worn by television's original Superman has been sold for almost $200,000, auctioneers say.

The red and blue wool and polyester outfit was worn by actor George Reeves, who played the "man of steel" in the first small-screen version of Superman that ran in the United States from 1952 to 1957.

"It is extremely valuable because Reeves was such an icon in television and comicbook history as well as in pop culture," Brian Chanes of Los Angeles-based movie memorabilia auctioneers Profiles In History said.

"It's also the most complete and best preserved Reeves costume ever to reach the auction block," he said.

The items raised considerably more than even the auctioneers had hoped.

The costume is thought to have been used by Reeves, who committed suicide in 1959, during the 1955 to 1957 seasons of The Adventures of Superman.

Other movie memorabilia that went on the block at Thursday's sale included Mel Brooks' handwritten lyrics for the song, Springtime for Hitler, from his 1968 comedy The Producers, which went for $41,000.

Rubber-faced funnyman Jim Carrey's costume as the Riddler in 1995's Batman Forever sold for $16,000.

"People around the world want to collect and own items such as these from their favorite movies and television shows," Joseph Maddalena of Profiles In History said.

"Because it brings them closer to the people, programs and films they love, there's no stopping them once the bidding opens."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s915832.htm

I'm more than a little surprised that someone is willing to part with that much cash for a cape and tights.

08-04-2003, 09:44 PM

Damn.

There was a whole shitload of old props on auction on an Ebay site not too long ago, and they had old sci-fi props hanging around, and some of them were going for upwards of $100K.

Sick and wrong. If you have that much money to throw away, might I suggest you send it to me.

more fire · 08-05-2003, 08:55 AM

Who makes the money off the sale, reeves? the auction house?

TRPF · 08-12-2003, 01:26 PM

I imagine most of that stuff is studio property and they make the $ off it.

AntHackerX · 08-12-2003, 09:17 PM

They can sell anything...

Someone out there will buy anything that you have for sale...

07-29-2003, 11:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
YourNeverThere Practical Anarchist Location: Yesterday i woke up stuck in hollywood	thats amazing, sometimes i wish that i was really really rich __________________ The Above post is a direct quote from Shakespeare

07-30-2003, 04:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
Fagabeefe What? WHAT?! Location: Over here	I'd love to have Riker's luck with women! __________________ If you can't make fun of yourself... Well at least there's always the French! Those chese-eating surrender monkeys!

08-01-2003, 11:19 AM	#6 (permalink)
johnnymysto Overreactor Location: South Ca'lina	WHAT??? Is this true? George Reeves' son killed himself because his father was Superman? __________________ "I'm disinclined to acquiesce to your request." - Capt. Barbossa

08-01-2003, 03:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
oldtimer Addict	Hawkeye, elaborate? At the very least, all the items are movie history and such should be on display for all. A museum for example, perhaps. But not in some fruitsy old man's home deep in an mansion never to be enjoyed by the public. __________________ Slowly but surely getting over the loss of TFP v. 3.0. Where the hell am I?.... Showering once a month does not make you a better person. "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." Martin Luther King, Jr.

07-30-2003, 12:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
Stare At The Sun Eh? Location: Somewhere over the rainbow	i would rather have picards cap chair, but, that still is really cool. I need more money.

08-04-2003, 09:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
Achernar Guest	Damn. There was a whole shitload of old props on auction on an Ebay site not too long ago, and they had old sci-fi props hanging around, and some of them were going for upwards of $100K. Sick and wrong. If you have that much money to throw away, might I suggest you send it to me.

08-05-2003, 08:55 AM	#10 (permalink)
more fire Psycho Location: London	Who makes the money off the sale, reeves? the auction house?

08-12-2003, 01:26 PM	#11 (permalink)
TRPF Tilted	I imagine most of that stuff is studio property and they make the $ off it.

08-12-2003, 09:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
AntHackerX Crazy	They can sell anything... Someone out there will buy anything that you have for sale...