What is the prize item in your collection?

milefilms · Post by **milefilms** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 7:59 pm

Well, books are my passion and there's several non-children children I love (some worth something, some worth nothing but thank god all tax deductible) including a signed copy of Von Stroheim's Paprika, a signed copy of William deMille's autobiography (also signed by Cecil), Marguerite Harrison's Born for Trouble (the English edition of her autobiography) and the World War I memoir Things Men Die For by "C" otherwise known as Merian C. Cooper. BUT, my favorite is the original painting that Agnes deMille commissioned for her book Where the Wings Grow as the book is actually a masterpiece. I got it from her Merriewold house auction and only wished I got her and William's tennis trophies that were also for sale.

Jonathan · Post by **Jonathan** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 4:40 am

I have an original UK poster (The Palace, Orpington) for The Atonement of Gosta Berling ("A MIGHTY DRAMA OF HUMAN DESTINIES"). Also advertised, but later in the week: Robert Agnew & Anne Cornwall in Racing Blood ("THRILLINGLY DRAMATIC STORY OF 'THE SPORT OF KINGS'"). Plus Chapter Nine (Danger of Dynamite) of The Winking Idol ("A VIRILE BLOOD-STIRRING STORY OF HIDDEN TREASURES OF THE AZTECS"). The latter two are 1926 titles, so presumably the Stiller was being released here to capitalise on Garbo's MGM successes (she is first-billed on the poster).

Also mentioned with Racing Blood are a "Cameo Comedy" and "Super Gazette". The bottom of the poster - tall and thin playbill shape - asks, "Who is the Green Archer?" - presumably a reference to the serial.

This was once owned by my late friend, author and collector Leslie Shepard, and (Leslie once told me) the film historian Liam O'Leary.

Brooksie · Post by **Brooksie** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 3:09 am

On the topic of enviable items in other peoples' collections, I recently met a collector who had one of the original booklets that was distributed with viewings of `The Story of the Kelly Gang' (1906). Something like five copies are known to exist.

Though the cover was in pretty bad shape, the pages were pristine. There are numerous photos from parts of the film that did not survive. Along with the text, which was intended to be referred to by the audience in lieu of intertitles, it gives the most complete idea of this, the world's first feature film. Amazing!

N_Phay · Post by **N_Phay** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 4:23 pm

I bought this promo still of Corinne Griffith in "Infatuation" a year or two ago. It's nothing special in collectoresque terms, it only cost me 5.99! It's such a beautiful photo though, it's my prize item, easily.

ChaneyFan · Post by **ChaneyFan** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 6:45 pm

Brooksie wrote:On the topic of enviable items in other peoples' collections, I recently met a collector who had one of the original booklets that was distributed with viewings of `The Story of the Kelly Gang' (1906). Something like five copies are known to exist.

Though the cover was in pretty bad shape, the pages were pristine. There are numerous photos from parts of the film that did not survive. Along with the text, which was intended to be referred to by the audience in lieu of intertitles, it gives the most complete idea of this, the world's first feature film. Amazing!

Wasn't that movie supposedly the first feature length narrative film? I may have it mistaken with another film.

skyvue · Post by **skyvue** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:18 am

Few of my mementoes date to the silent era, but my prized possession is a photo of the Marx Brothers signed by Groucho.

But I'm also proud of my signed copy of Rudy Vallee's 1930 memoir, Vagabond Dreams Come True, my signed copy of Gloria Stuart's memoir (I interviewed her when it was published), photos autographed by Lauren Bacall, Jimmy Stewart, Ginger Rogers, Myrna Loy and Robert Mitchum (I'm confident the first four are legitimate; slightly less so about the last one, but I'm still glad to received something from Mitchum, even if a flunky signed it for him). I also have autographs by Ann Harding, Kay Francis, and Dennis O'Keeffe (that last will be gift to the wife at some point).

I also am pleased to own a novelization of THE JAZZ SINGER with photos from the movie throughout and a signed copy of Edward Arnold's 1930s memoir.

I also have fond memories of face-to-face encounters with Frances Dee, Kitty Carlisle, Gloria Stuart, Fay Wray, and Esther Williams.

Brooksie · Post by **Brooksie** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:30 am

ChaneyFan wrote:Wasn't that movie supposedly the first feature length narrative film? I may have it mistaken with another film.

You were correct the first time - it's recognised as the world's first feature length fictional film. It was around 70 minutes long; about 15 minutes of very fragmentary material still exists.

Jim Roots · Post by **Jim Roots** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 11:26 am

skyvue wrote:I also have autographs by Ann Harding, Kay Francis, and Dennis O'Keeffe (that last will be gift to the wife at some point).

I hope you're leaving the Kay Francis to our own Frederica.

Jim

Frederica · Post by **Frederica** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 11:46 am

Jim Roots wrote:
skyvue wrote:I also have autographs by Ann Harding, Kay Francis, and Dennis O'Keeffe (that last will be gift to the wife at some point).
I hope you're leaving the Kay Francis to our own Frederica.

Jim

I wouldn't leave me anything. Except for real estate. Bonds, maybe.

Rodney · Post by **Rodney** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 2:21 pm

Well, the gem of my collection would be... my collection. In particular, several thousand orchestrated musical cues from several theater music libraries, alphabetized in four (and counting) five-drawer filing cabinets. While I have some originals, those scare me by their very fragility (some of them are on really lousy paper) so I make and use photocopies and get the originals to archives where they'll be taken care of, and musicians will be able to do what I do on into the future.

I'm particularly fond of the cues that include penciled cue notes from the original orchestra leaders. "Buster comes on deck with lantern," "Dynamite in box car," or "Fade to elephants."

Doug Sulpy · Post by **Doug Sulpy** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 3:15 pm

What a great topic.

My "treasure" is probably a first edition of "Mr. Laurel & Mr. Hardy." In addition to being signed by Stan and John McCabe, Stan has written comic captions under most of the photos.

CliffordWeimer · Post by **CliffordWeimer** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:23 pm

Oh, I dunno... I have an awful lot of "stuff"... Right now, the original "Bowery Boys meet the Monsters" poster I have posted in my dining room is probably my favorite.

The Blackbird · Post by **The Blackbird** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:58 pm

Hanging on my wall in front of me is my still of Lon Chaney and Anita Page in WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS, which she personally inscribed for me "For Aaron, a wonderful artist! Bless you, Anita Page..." back in 2002 when I sent her a couple of portraits I did of her. I'll always miss her but I'll always be glad I had the chance to communicate with her.

After that, my collection of first-editions of various novels later made into features, eg. THE SHEIK, THE SCARLET CAR, THE FLAMING FOREST, SCARAMOUCHE, MARE NOSTRUM, THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE, THE BARRIER, THE AUCTION BLOCK, THE SPOILERS, NEVER THE TWAIN SHALL MEET, LOVEY MARY, THE PRARIE WIFE (and its unflimed sequel, THE PRARIE MOTHER), THE COVERED WAGON, and THE GARDEN OF ALLAH. THE PRARIE WIFE and THE GARDEN OF ALLAH are even illustrated with stills from the film versions, while THE COVERED WAGON'S dust jacket is decorated with poster art from that movie. Always keep your eyes on the local used-book stores; it's amazing the gems you can find.

Brooksie · Post by **Brooksie** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:23 pm

Rodney wrote:I'm particularly fond of the cues that include penciled cue notes from the original orchestra leaders. "Buster comes on deck with lantern," "Dynamite in box car," or "Fade to elephants."

Moderators - I would officially like to change my user name to `Fade To Elephants'.