By MICHAEL GINGOLD
An entertainment auction house is offering the unprecedented opportunity to control a piece of nature-amok-cinema history.
California-based Julien*s (“The auction house to the stars”) and TCM are hosting “A Week of Hollywood Legends,” a live (at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills) and on-line auction December 10-13. On Thursday, December 12, a number of horror/fantasy items will be available for bidding, including a prop sword from the original CONAN THE BARBARIAN, items from both the TERMINATOR 2 movie and theme park attraction and a Slimer maquette and concept artwork from GHOSTBUSTERS. The most unusual offering, however, is the copyright and intellectual property rights to Bill Rebane’s cult fright flick THE GIANT SPIDER INVASION.
First released in 1975, the Wisconsin-lensed THE GIANT SPIDER INVASION became popular on the drive-in circuit and later a cult favorite, thanks in part to airings on MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 and RIFFTRAX LIVE! In celebration of the movie’s 50th anniversary, Julien*s and TCM are giving the public the chance to bid on control of underlying IP rights to INVASION, including a copyright transfer of ownership of the original 35mm negative, plus remake and sequel rights (estimated value: $75,000-$95,000). Also up for auction will be the full-sized giant spider prop, measuring 20 feet long and made of wire framing and faux fur (a Volkswagen Beetle, on which the mockup was mounted, is not included). Estimated value of that is $20,000-$30,000. Registration is required to bid, and can be done in person at the exhibition or on-line at JuliensAuctions.com, where you can also find more information.
