Two original masks from the Mos Eisley Cantina in Star Wars. It’s a shitty picture, but that’s Lak Sivrak, the wolf dude, on the left. You know, from back when he wasn’t horrible CGI.
More Cantina fun!
A miserable picture of Cantina alien masks.
Commando Cody from Radar Men from the Moon hangs over Bob’s chair.
Flash Gordon’s tunic from the serials. On the left is Captain Dallas’ shirt from Alien. Look for LOTS more Alien and Aliens stuff in the next installment.
I meet the American Werewolf in London.
The original masks of the Nazi Nightmare Monsters from American Werewolf.
I’m not sure if this bust was for a concept design or what…
I’m changing! That hand is an American Werewolf transformation hand. It’s that dark because it was repainted to be used in Thriller.
Werewolf appliances.
The full body change suit, when David is changing in Alex’s living room and flops over on his back! The top half of David Naughton stuck out of the floor, and movie magic made it look like this was the rest of him.
There’s a ton more to come. Next time it’s Alien, Aliens and Terminator 2!
This past weekend I had the unbelievable privilege to visit Bob Burns, Hollywood’s great genre historian, and see his collection of movie memorabilia and props. You can read all about the visit by clicking here (and see a couple of pictures not included in this set). Here is the first installment of photos from that trip; there’s a second page to this article and another article (maybe two more, even) yet to come!
The flying saucer from The Day The Earth Stood Still. It’s huge – maybe 6 feet in diameter. As I mentioned the bottom was modified when the saucer was reused on The Twilight Zone. Bob has opted to keep it as is instead of restoring. Interestingly, lots of props got reused – that’s why Kubrick had the Discovery destroyed after 2001 was completed, as he didn’t want it turning up elsewhere.
Gort lives! And still works.
Gizmo in his cage. The cage has a hole in the bottom through which Gizmo can be controlled.
More Gizmo. Behind him is a lighting panel from Forbidden Planet.
A scared version of Gizmo, getting menaced by a spider. Not sure if that spider is a real prop or just a thing Bob has laying around. What I didn’t take a picture of in this case (stupid me) was the many maquettes of the various stages and concepts of the Brundlefly from The Fly.
A version of Gizmo that can be operated by wires. Bob has quite a few Gizmos hanging around.
A hero Gizmo. This articulated face was used for close-ups; it’s about a foot wide. It’s resting on that light panel from Forbidden Planet.
A gremlin!
Spike!
What was left of Spike after he was melted down.
On the next page you’ll see original cantina alien masks from Star Wars, stuff from An American Werewolf in London and more!
15 comments
Damnit Devin, you need a better camera. I appreciate the photos, but damn, you need better skills at taking pics yo. A fun couple o' pages nonetheless.
It's Stripe, no?
Very cool – have the Bob's Basement book somewhere around the place. Were some of those Gizmos actually the Mogwai with the crazy eyes in G2 or is that just how the puppets look with the eyelids peeled all the way back? Thems some bulgy orbs if so…
I like these posts, it harkens back to a time before CGI fucked everything up. Question though – Can you really call it a museum, when it’s just Bob Burn’s messy fucking house? There doesn’t seem to be any order. There just seems to be a bunch of shit lying on the carpet in one shot. In another shot the Gizmo close up face has been chucked on top of a Forbidden Planet prop, with a bunch of other shit it seems. Over in the corner you can almost make out an original armature from Clash of the Titans being used as a door stop. Over there on the left, is the original Millennium Falcon model, being used to prop up the short leg on Bob’s wobbly coffee table. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bob takes half these props down to the local park, and throws them around for his dogs to chase after. He’s got some cool shit (is that the caterpillar-dog from House II in the scared Gizmo photo?), a shame he doesn’t look after it better. Or maybe he does, hard to tell with these photos you obviously took with your phone. The original photos of Big Foot and the Loch Ness monster were clearer than this. Take a camera with you next time big guy. Side Note: #2 is right. Spike is that fat bitch from Degrassi who got preggers. STRIPE is Gizmo’s nemesis.
it is stripe. not spike. Its also funny after seeing what Devin looks like and compareing that to the shit he talks. Thank god for the internet, where everyone can be tough.
This is the greatest article for movie fans. Thanks, Devin. (what wouldn't I give for that Gort lighting fixture!)
catapillar dog from House 2 the second story!!!!! 4th pic
There is only one colour I can think of right now. Green. With envy. You lucky sod, Devin. Thanks for the pictures.
If only Burns and Forry Ackerman had gotten together 10 years ago, found some investors, and opened a small movie memorabilia museum someplace around the LA tourist scene. Financially viable? Dunno, but it's sad to think of what could happen to all this great stuff once there's nobody left to care for it. Amazing collection and the photos are great, feel free to make as many installments as your time permits.
Why isn't this stuff in a massive museum – people would go nuts for it!
No offense, but if you're heading to a place with THAT many amazing pieces for a multi-part post on your professional website, you'd think you'd at least borrow a low-level digital camera instead of using your phone.
Devin, would it have killed you to tell us if the American Werewolf is on the left or the right? 😉
Hey guys, just because Devin works for a semi-professional website and is a "paid" writer doesn't mean you should expect him to take decent photos with a camera that isn't total crap! Anyway, I'd love to know what the lizard creature is in the last picture on the first page behind the melted head.
Did you use your phone to take the pictures? Good Lord. Borrow a good one next time.
Awesome! You lucky bastid. 🙂
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