Every week we choose our ten favourite lots from an upcoming auction. This week we’re focusing on the Van Eaton Galleries’ ‘Art of Entertainment’ sale, which takes place in California on May 4.
The Empire Strikes Back Chewbacca socks
Estimate $100 – $200
A pair of vintage Star Wars socks featuring Chewbacca, created to promote the release of ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ in 1980.
Alternative Jaws poster artwork prints
Estimate: $200 – $400
A highly rare set of vintage prints featuring alternative concept poster artwork for Steven Spielberg’s classic 1975 movie Jaws.
The set features six unseen poster designs, all using different depictions of the shark and a variety of fonts, along with the final version, which has since become one of the most famous posters in cinema history.
Vintage Paramount Studios vehicle logo
Estimate: $700 – $1,000
A striking vintage metal panel bearing the Paramount Studios logo, originally attached to an official studio vehicle during the 1940s.
Burt Reynolds ‘James Bond’ character concept painting
Estimate $1,000 – $2,000
An original concept artwork by illustrator Bill Wallen, featuring Burt Reynolds as a suave James Bond-style character.
According to Wallen, Burt Reynolds occasionally commissioned promotional artwork depicting him in movie roles he was interested in.
It’s not known whether Reynolds was lobbying for the part of James Bond, or a similar parody role, but he certainly looked the part.
The Simpsons Original first episode animation cel
Estimate $1,500 – $2,500
A highly rare original animation cel and background used in the first ever episode of The Simpsons, featuring Homer as a department store Santa Clause.
The special Christmas episode Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire was actually the eighth episode of the show’s first season, but it was the first to be shown on TV when it made its debut on December 17, 1989.
Thirty years later, The Simpsons is the longest-running American sitcom in history, with 30 seasons and more than 650 episodes along with dozens of awards; and in 1999 Time Magazine voted it as the greatest television show of the 20th century.
Original Willy Wonka Candy Room concept art
Estimate $5,000 – $7,000
An original piece of concept artwork created for the classic 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory by Art Director Harper Goff.
The hand-coloured production drawing depicts the candy room, as it appears in the film’s famous ‘Pure Imagination’ musical sequence.
Signed Dr. Seuss The Cat in the Hat original drawing
Estimate $6,000 – $9,000
A rare and original signed drawing of the iconic children’s character The Cat in the Hat by Theodor Seuss Geisel, otherwise known as the beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss.
Vintage Disneyland ‘PeopleMover’ attraction poster
Estimate $8,000 – $10,000
An original Disneyland poster for the PeopleMover attraction by the celebrated Disney artist Ken Chapman.
The PeopleMover ride opened in July 1967 when Tomorrowland re-opened as New Tomorrowland, and was an instant hit with visitors, transporting an estimated 100 million people around the park in style until it finally closed in 1995.
Walt Disney’s 20,000 Leagues presentation Nautilus model
Estimate $20,000 – $30,000
The original wooden model of the Nautilus submarine, used by Walt Disney himself during promotion of the 1954 Disney film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
The unique, handcrafted model appeared on-screen in two episodes of the Disneyland TV show, including the 1954 episode Operation Undersea, in which Disney introduced audiences to the movie before its theatrical release.
Murder by Death poster artwork by Charles Addams
Estimate $30,000 – $40,000
A large and rare original painting by Charles Addams, creator of The Addams Family cartoons, used for the promotional poster of the 1976 comedy film ‘Murder By Death’.
The film was a murder mystery spoof featuring the world’s most famous detectives, and featured an impressive cast including Eileen Brennan, Truman Capote, Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, Elsa Lanchester, David Niven, Peter Sellers and Maggie Smith – all of whom are depicted in Addams’ painting.
