Suppose They Held an Auction and Nobody Came?
juice at a bar in "Beverly Hills Cop III"). Next to the dining table, he showed off the teeth and top hat worn by Lon Chaney in the 1927 film "London After Midnight."
"Don't touch it! That will blow us all to Adam!" he jokingly shouted when a reporter neared a mounted electricity switch from the 1935 "Bride of Frankenstein."
Forry has no heirs. "These things are his children," said Ann Robinson, a friend who starred in the 1953 "War of the Worlds."
And, no surprise, this big-hearted creature still wants to share his brood with everyone. Next month, with his live-in nurse at his side and by appointment only, Forry plans to begin giving tours of his new digs. He devilishly smiled; once again he'll joyously spook "victims" with long-lost Hollywood lore.
Forest Ackerman was successful, and how he managed to keep a smile on his face as his collection was dismantled item by item is a mystery to me. Inside, he was probably weeping. Not for himself, but for the fans who spent Saturdays going to his house to visit, and touch, and be 'with' the best of memorabalia.
When the late Robert Phillips was ailing, he was forced to sell part of his lifetime collection of Roy Rogers, and western items. He tried for many months, and was in the end successful only to the point of recouping his medical bills. How many collectors responded to his plea to salvage an incredible collection? Only he knows.
Roy Rogers, too held a garage sale that thousands took advantage of. I remember watching an episode of 'The Incurable Collector" that focused on the Roy Rogers garage sale. Bill Murray, other celebrities, and fans from every walk of life walked away with one of a kind treasures. Roy and Dale probably signed most of the items just to make sure the fans were happy.
My point is this.
After the 'grandsons' of the fans of the western stars pass away, what will happen? When the Roy Rogers Museum finally closes it's doors in the mid 21st century, who will purchase the jeep, the books, the clothes, or Trigger? Who will care if Trigger was the most famous horse of the 20th century?
Who will care for the Gene Autry Museums' goods when that establishment fades away and the last fan walks through and says 'So Long'?
Who will dust and pack away the last of Rex Allen's belongings when
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