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!