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Post by Figuremaster Les on Oct 4, 2006 10:58:42 GMT -5
Well, here goes.... Here is part one of a LARGE group of shots, nearly 1000, that I took...MANY, MANY more to come... ENJOY MY FRIENDS! You were all with me in spirit! I mean that. (And you'll know the shots that are for YOU!  ) Me in L.A. on Friday afternoon...Bob Burns' Basement is a day away...  And then... September 30, 2006...after 11 years since my personal invitation to come over.... Arrival at Bob's House Bob and Kathy Burns Entering the Sanctu Sanctorum... Room of DREAMS! or, Nerd Heaven! Nerd Heaven, reverse view... Wall of heroes Flying Rocket King (Mart, Bruce, Troy, Steven...all you Serial madness guys!!...) American Werewolf...no longer in London... GORT!  A small scale Icarus spaceship (enjoy it Andy!) from Planet of the Apes (yes, that is the Conquest of Space Spaceships behind it!!!!) Wolfman cane head used by Claude Rains to beat up Lon Chaney Jr. in The WOLFMAN The Time Machine with wax repro Rod Taylor full figure in his old clothes... ALIENS Queen puppet 1/4 scale THE ALIEN QUEEN!!! Full scale!  ALIENS QUEEN TONGUE!!!! ROBOT MONSTER helmet! (Enjoy Kev!) THE EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD!!!!!   I think I made Bob nervous...   Satisfaction of a Lifetime...The circle is now complete.
I have been to the top of the Empire State Building...now I have held KING KONG!!!!!!! (CORRECTION HERE dated 10/5/06 : I posted this last shot thinking it was Kong, but in this particular picture, where I am sort of hugging the puppet, in this shot, this is Mighty Joe Young! Note the slightly smaller size, and the aluminum parts. Kong was all steel baby! I was still excited though. The spirit is the same. Just wanted to correct this for all that have looked. It's important to keep it straight! ) There is so much more, but until then, enjoy these my friends!
IT WAS SOME HEADY STUFF!!!!! ;D |
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Post by martingb on Oct 4, 2006 12:34:09 GMT -5
Where to start??!!! What a time you must have had. Hanging out with Bob and Kathy must have been the coolest in itself what with their history and the stories they have about things we can only dream about. Of course they both appeared in the Peter Jackson KING KONG too which ain't half bad in my book but that collection is just incredible. So many iconic pieces there. The Icarus!!!!!Boy is that screaming out for a few Mego Apes to be posed around it. Beautiful. That Bonnestell art along the wall too. Lovely. The costumes look amazing too especially with your mini-versions of some of them! Gort and the rest but....seeing Kong putting the bite on you is the tops for me. You are one lucky, but well deserving bloke. Look forward to more. Brilliant!
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Post by BlackKnight on Oct 4, 2006 19:48:14 GMT -5
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Post by Figuremaster Les on Oct 4, 2006 20:09:14 GMT -5
Thanks guys. IT wuz funnern hell! OK, back to the story... So, about halfway through the day, (I got there at 11:15am and left at 9:30pm) we all went out to dinner at Bob's favorite restaurant. That's Bob, Kathy, Me, Pat (West's ma in law, a big Sci-Fi enthusiast) and my host West Maatita, a great guy whose writing a book about the Jaws shark.  Then, it was back to the Basement... Glenn Strange's Frankenstein boot from Abbott & Costello meet Frankenstein  The head puppet of the dragon Vermithrax from the movie DRAGONSLAYER  The actual Martian leader prop from INVADERS FROM MARS!  Another view of the amazing Conquest of Space ships...  The spaceship from The Day the Earth Stood Still  Bob with his Tracy the Gorilla mask from the TV show The Ghostbusters. Yes, there was a Ghostbusters show that came before the famous movies!  Bonestell art with the Purple Monster costume (and my figure) and other cool stuff...  An original Zanti Misfit from Outer Limits  The hind end of the spaceship Sulaco from ALIENS  and speaking of ALIENS... THE original ALIEN sculpted by creator H.R. Giger himself...  An ALIENS warrior head  The ALIEN 3 warrior head  And the other two, Alien Resurrection and Aliens vs Predator Alien warrior heads  He has a LOT of ALIEN stuff...good thing I am nuts about 'em! That's it for now. I'll show a few more shots later on. It's taken me all day just to get these ready for showing. Hope you have enjoyed it so far! MORE TO COME! |
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Post by glorbes on Oct 5, 2006 9:06:02 GMT -5
I don't really have anything to say.
What CAN someone say?
That man has some of the greatest treasures of Sci-Fi cinema history in his basement...he himself is a legend...and you were there Les...you touched Gort's helmet...you saw and touched Stan Winston's Aliens puppets...you bloody well held King Kong....and you know what? I can think of no one else that deserves this experience more than you...I know you appreciated every moment you were there, and I thank you for capturing it all in pictures to share it with us.
You're the best Les, and I give you a Karma Point for taking us there "in your back pocket."
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Post by phantom11 on Oct 5, 2006 10:58:47 GMT -5
Oh MAN!!! Les.... this is just un-freakin'-believable.... to have you "on the inside", showing us photos of the most amazing sci-fi prop collection in the world, I'm sure. You're our hero, my friend, no doubt.  Each pic is like pure gold; heck, I'm seeing things in the BACKGROUND of the shots that are makin' my head spin... a Creature from the Black Lagoon, a Flying Sub from Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea... and what you DID photograph!!! The Vermithrax head!! Always wanted a nice close up look at that, and the ORIGINAL Alien head by Giger!!!! WOW! And of course, KONG. A dream come true! But, I have to ask: what will happen to this collection when the great Mr. Burns is no longer here to shepherd it? It HAS to make it into some kind of museum... there's just so much history there; too much to be lost! Did Bob ever talk about the eventual fate of the collection? Or provisions for it's future safety? Regardless: thanks again for the pics so far!! Please, sir, may we have some more? ;D |
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Post by martingb on Oct 5, 2006 12:11:17 GMT -5
Amazing!! What a time you must have had. To be around like-minded people is always great but when they have asll that cool stuff too...the tops! That saucer from THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. A showstopper in anyone's book I reckon. All those 'Aliens' too. Just incredible. More pics please!!!!!
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Post by casimir on Oct 5, 2006 14:19:14 GMT -5
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Post by nickvalor on Oct 5, 2006 16:40:34 GMT -5
UNREAL!
OMG!!
I sure hope that home is well alarmed! I had heard several stories about this famed basement/museum of bob's from people but this is surely the most well documented pictorial of it! man that must have been cool to be there!
todd
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Post by Figuremaster Les on Oct 5, 2006 18:29:07 GMT -5
Thanks and I do understand fellas. I am just glad I could go and catch all this so well for future reference. I had just bought a new camera for this trip, so all my shots are nice, hi-res shots. Some better than others, but yes, I sure did think of all you guys, alot while I was there. I mean, I was there for hours. You know, alot goes through your mind while you are walking around a room like this. First thought is, NONE OF THIS IS REAL!  Second thought is, IF THIS IS REAL, THEN THIS KICKS ASS! Third thought is, UM, WHY AM I HERE? WHO AM I TO DESERVE THIS?  Fourth thought is, YEAH! CHECK THIS OUT! I"M IN THE ROOM WITH KONG! ;D There was this part, where I had to hand Kong off to one of my companions, and when I said the line "Here, hold Kong", it occured to me, that I really meant hold KONG, not a facsimile or some model kit, but KONG! The other thing was, later after holding him for a while, that steel metal smell is on your hands, and we were all saying, "I got Kong on my hands!" Now, imagine that all around you, and you get a part of the feel of it. NOTHING was normal. Just kind of surreal. Sure wasn't like at any convention I have ever been to, unless there was some movie or TV cars or some big stars there, but not with the stuff. And when I got home, and walked in and looked at my personal collection, all of a sudden it was all just a bunch of copies of stuff. A trip like this changes your take on all this we do. Really no other way to put it. But, I'd sure do it again. And might, someday. Last thing, I think Bob's comraderie with Director Peter Jackson may have a big payoff for all this stuff...I think Bob's gonna "loan" some of it to a special museum that Jackson is constructing in New Zealand for it. Looks like Bob has a plan for it all. We'll see. Anyway, look for a few more pics soon and a couple more stories. He told of many tales, good and bad about movie props. Some will chill you to the bone. It's good we have a Bob around to save some of this stuff! |
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Post by aburabusimbutu on Oct 5, 2006 21:31:24 GMT -5
Your experiences through words and pictures transcend anything I can say Les- you know how I fel about this stuff and Bob Burns- as Andy would say "Good on you mate".
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Post by Wild Willy on Oct 5, 2006 22:57:16 GMT -5
Les! [glow=red,2,300]YOU ARE DA MAN!!!![/glow] Asmentioned before, nobody deserves such a personal experience with bob here more then yourself.
I was anticipating wall to wall glass showcases well lit and organised and I'm a little surprised at the clutterness( <- is that a word?) and dust which is on some of these peices BUT!!! I love it all. My eyes are filled with pleasing sites here, The Giger Alien is awesome and then Creature suit is cool.
One thing which is tops in my opinion here is that you actually tried on that Robot monster helmet. How many dudes can say they have done that? You get a well deserved K point for that and another K (next time I log in) for bringing all your buddies here along with you on this epic adventure.
Thanks to Bob and his lovely wife for allowing you to come into his world and snap shots to your hearts content.
[glow=red,2,300]QUESTION![/glow] ;D Is there a story of how Bob came to aquire the Kong and MJ Young armatures?
Will
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Post by faithfulbutler on Oct 6, 2006 0:21:38 GMT -5
YOU HELD KONG!YOU HELD KONG! Oh what a treat,what an adventure!I have studied and studied these Piccies and there's more little tidbits to be seen every time! Les you have no idea how happy i am for you,you have lived the dream of so many right there. I really can't wait to see more,i feel lucky to be able to share the adventure with you in some small way!
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Post by Figuremaster Les on Oct 6, 2006 2:29:19 GMT -5
Guys, I so understand, but refrain from giving me any more points about this. I have done nothing here!
I was just one lucky lad that got to follow up on an old invitation.
Direct your kudos to Bob Burns. We all owe him so much.
I was about to go to sleep just now, and something kept eating at me, making me think...
I got to say some things...just out in the open here...with you guys.
If you see some dust on things, if his collection is not in glass cases like in a museum. it's because he is not the richest man in Hollywood. He is not a well off fancy pants hoarding collector like half of what I see online, like I see some of these guys with immaculate cases and perfectly designed rooms...
Bob's basement has survived earthquakes and flooding, the roof gave in and he had to have a steel beam installed to support it so this priceless stuff could be maintained only a year or so ago. There's some of the dust right there.
As you all may have noted, he is not a young man...he is getting through his days with a lot of trouble. BUT, THANK GOD FOR HIM!
He told me of ten glass paintings that were in the midst of being destroyed at MGM studios, and how one guy stopped the fellow from breaking them into bits, saving only three...they were the original glass background painting for the WIZARD OF OZ!
The remaining three are now in a Film museum, but if it weren't for Bob and other guys that grab what they can, and save it under a roof, somewhere, out of reach of the public, then none of what I have shown you would be here at all. He watched stuff get bulldozed....
His movie making friends have gladly donated to his collection, but as much to get it out of reach, as to get it out of their way.
Bob is a savior, plain and simple. Everything I have shown you, and everything I haven't yet, is a miracle. That is is even still here, in the world, and not thrown away, is a miracle. KONG is a miracle. He was in a pile of stuff to be tossed at RKO and after a series of scary tranferred possessions, Bob saw it and recognized it among one man's stuff, and let a fellow he knew know about it, a guy with some clout to get it back, and due to that man threatening this other questionable guy, (and some threats of lawsuits etc.) the guy let it go. The kind man, I can't recall his name, felt that since Bob had seen Kong among this shady guy's possessions, that he deserved to have it.
How's that for luck?
My guess is, that Peter Jackson may be trying to help Bob to find a final home for all of these wonders. Maybe part in L.A. and some in New Zealand, but whatever the case, there are folks aware, and these things will be saved.
I am just lucky. I hit it off with the old guy 11 years ago. I remembered him, and still longed to see his amazing collection, and somewhere along the way, came to really care for the old guy. I am aware of some things I will not discuss, but know that I made the two figures for him willingly, and without any desire for any payment of any kind. I just wanted to see him smile.
I gave him those things first. Before I let loose with my camera in this place of dreams.
In some ways, I couldn't care less about the stuff, I was concerned for Bob. The look on his face when I gave him his figures was worth it all to me. I then felt ok to look about. AFTER he had his dream figures.
When I saw the dust, and the state of some of the props, I understood, that he has done his best. They are under lock and key, and are being tended to by the best guy I can imagine to protect them. I just hope he lasts.
Sorry to get a bit emotional about this, I've kind of buried a lot of feelings about it since, it's very hard not to feel it now. This was one amazing experience for me. But, my care for Bob and what he has done selflessly for all of us is way more important that what you think of me for even sharing this.
Just know that I am glad you guys care, and that you fellas understand what is being saved, and that I can even go and then share it with you.
Bob said this is for everyone. He gave me permission to post pictures. Just know, I wish I could do more.
I wish I had the money to help him.
I wish...
Just be grateful guys. WE are lucky this man is here, watching out for all this history. For us. I can only hope that others will be able to help him. Peter Jackson maybe...
Someone.
Anyone.
Give Bob some karma. He's the one that deserves and needs some!
Thanks Bob. Love ya, you nutty old man!
(Sorry, just desperate to help and can't... I just had to say all that. It hits you hard later on I guess. Silly me. I guess I am a bit sappy. )
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Post by casimir on Oct 6, 2006 9:21:28 GMT -5
Les, your words are resounding and powerful. It's a shame to think so many "artifacts" have already been lost, and more would have been if not for the efforts of this great man. I'm sure such efforts have taken a toll on the poor guy. It's like one man against a flood. I'm glad to hear he's got some powerful connections that can help make sure this stuff gets preserved.
Maybe you can write a book on Bob and the art of Preserving Hollywood someday.
Thanks for sharing.
C.
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