Bonhams in Beverly Hills is showing off an epic collection of science fiction and fantasy movie memorabilia this weekend in advance of its auction TCM Presents…Wonders of the Galaxy auction on Tuesday. Many of the 200 items, which range from silent movie posters to iconic props, came from the collection of W.E. “Wes” Shank, a longtime collector from Pennsylvania who passed away last year. Shank got the bug when he visited the filming locations of The Blob as a teenager, and talked the director into selling him five gallons of the red silicone star of the movie. Here are some of our favorite items in the sale, and their astronomical auction estimates.
LOT 175
A Klingon mask from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Auction estimate $ 300-$500
The head, hair, and beard of captain Kirk’s worst enemy (unless they can make that peace agreement!) might be yours for the cost of a nice bottle of wine. The sixth and final film starring the original TV cast was nominated for an Academy Award for best makeup.
LOT 171
An Elaine Baker zombie costume from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”
Auction estimate $ 10,000-$15,000
Shredded lace and a pretty face made for a great zombie in Michael Jackson’s landmark 14-minute music video. The sale includes the distressed 1950s party dress, the original pearls, crinoline, pillbox hat, and faux spider webs.
LOT 15
London After Midnight lobby card
Auction estimate $ 18,000-$25,000
This 92-year-old mini poster is one of the few remaining artifacts from the most famous lost movie of all time. The last known print of the Lon Chaney horror was destroyed in a 1965 MGM film vault fire.
LOT 92
A Planet of the Apes background actor ape mask
Auction estimate $ 1,000-$1,500
We all know Cornelius and Doctor Zaius, but countless unnamed simians populated the confines of Ape City, and one of them wore this mask. Seventy-eight makeup artists were employed on the film, and lead artist John Chambers won an Honorary Academy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Makeup.
LOT 179
The iconic hat and shirt worn by Heather Donahue in The Blair Witch Project
Auction estimate $ 4,000-$6,000
The star of the 1999 indie hit kept the knit cap and Gap shirt for 20 years after the infamous “found footage” movie wrapped. The low-budget film grossed more than $250 million dollars.
LOT 119
Captain America Chapter 6: Vault of Vengeance
Auction estimate $ 600-$800
Before Chris Evans reimagined him for The Avengers, Captain America was a staple of movie serials. This one, from 1944, had Cap fighting off a gangster while protecting his secret identity.
LOT 91
A Planet of the Apes bust of the Lawgiver
Auction estimate $ 10,000-$15,000
Shank purchased this likeness of the orangutan prophet deity at an auction of 20th Century Fox’s treasures in 1971. It sat on a courtroom table behind Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowell, and Kim Hunter in the film.
LOT 54
A Forbidden Planet illuminating blaster pistol
Auction estimate $ 8,000-$12,000
Nothing screams 1950s sci-fi more than Forbidden Planet, and there is no more iconic artifact from the movie than these blasters. OK, maybe Robby the Robot, but he’s not up for auction today.
LOT 52
A Forbidden Planet prop United Planets Cruiser C-57D
Auction estimate $ 30,000-$50,000
Wait, I take it all back. Those guns are formidable, but this is the outtasight awesome amazing flying saucer itself! This is how Leslie Nielsen and the gang arrived on the forbidden planet to begin with. This profound piece of sci-fi art not only influenced generations of movie space vehicles, its design was drawn from actual reports of 1950s UFO sightings.
LOT 3
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Auction estimate $ 150,000 – 200,000
Generations before the Disney version, this 1923 silent captured audiences with the story of Quasimodo and Esmeralda. This rare, original one-sheet shows her dancing at the Festival of Fools.
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The post A Bunch of Cool Sci-Fi Artifacts Are Going Up for Auction in L.A. appeared first on Los Angeles Magazine.