Hi Rudy and Mopo.. I left a message for you Rudy in La phone. also your
experience with AMPAS says volumes...
Funny I told the Amps® atty. that he questioned my self proclaimed 30
years in Memorabilia.. yet the Margaret Herrick library sent me
a Form every few years to be on thier List of recommended Movie
memorabilia dealers so I would assume they wouldn't be sending
people to a con artist swindler selling fake or illegal stuff would
they?? also they used my Clappers at a Opening segment of the Oscars
event .. and I was proud to be part of it in a little way... Countless
items Vie sod for the famous parties held in La through the years.. Like
the swiftly Lazar used to have..... I was just sadden that the atty
was so aggressive and didn't allow me time to respond... here's what
happened/
he e-mail me... I responded... he then emailed with the same
questions... and said unless you answer this Now we will take action....
so meanwhile i was tying to pack orders, and eat, nd consider a
response.... so i also re weighed, and remeasures.. because thought he
was more worried the were legit ,, then he said well we cant take your
good faith opinion... so...... after looking at all the facts i pressed
end the auction... several hours later I get a vero from ebay which i
didn't understand where he had filed a Complaint sighting I was
violating the trademark..
which I wasn't... i clearly stated it was a trademark put the ® and
stated that no rights given or implied.. So it almost seemed like he
wanted me to appear like i wasn't heeding his request,,, well I have
proof., times etc... ten what they also do is entrapment by making you
appear like a scam artist... what i did was see a Opportunity and the
timing and a market that was ripe for a Good sale.. and with military
precision placed a Target so the in 3 days would create interest.... I
was so successful in that aspect I drew fire from about anyone n the biz..
Now seriously... I thought as probably you also , that the criteria was
met , and still do... its just that if a federal law is being broke that
says if a Label is broke off something it cannot be sold well that seems
the issue.. I clearly stated that and also that I knew it would effect
its desire.
If It was stolen I would have never accepted it..as that makes no scene
and 7500-10,000 isn't worth jeprodizeanything as I have been trying to
sell my company trademark that i feel is worth LOts more than that. And
lastly... I do respect intellectual property as in 1993 I was
infringed on my trademark by a company that went on the Nasdaq and
raised 6 million calling themselves jeopardizing even when the Us patent
Office and a fed Judge said Do not use the name... so i spent several
years defending our Trademark.. when Though about talking to the atty.
realized he ws just a Hired hitter and saw me as a threat and so he had
to be aggressive in his eyes as he probably had no idea about me or my
philosophies etc... and it may ave been foolish to go so public... I
just thought my presentation was respectful and that I presented it with
dignity and pizzazz..... so I got thrown off a Big Bull..... heroes the
cute part.......... I got to see some people on mopo show great
opinions... You ave got to see me and see if Im a weasel .. we have all
seen the Amps®.. and Rudys story... and so we all learned about the
weird aspect o f Law.. I have never wanted to be a back alley dealer
or someone that needs to hide or be at odds with legit people.
as You all know I see many gray areas in show Business..
My son Tommy has educated me more on the Horror Movie Biz than i knew
in 25 years... basically from the chronology it seem Roger Corman has
started everyone's career and lucas, Coppola Scorsese.. Spielberg,
many are all intertwined... the Old school guys like Blake Edwards ,
Wise, and Ford and all those are about Gone.
I saw Tonights Oscars... I liked the president ofOscars he seemed like a
Kind man.
Robert Altman was a treat as was seeing Bacall, and Spielberg..... But
the Old hollywood of yesteryear seems History....... There still are so
many people
that have done well,,, Like Hanks.... hes the new Jimmy Stewart, and
George Coloney the new Gable Flynn..
and the women are stunners... and some seem to have extreme talent.
Hope everyone had a great weekend at the Oscars..
As For Dennis Thomas.. I am sorry for all his friends and its always
sad when someone we are freinds with passes.. That why we all are really
important to each other as you can see how much you all helped me this
weekend.. because I really felt bad.
well remeberthe Living and keep the ones that past alive so that others
can see how they made a differance in Your Life..
so Dennis Thomas thanks for making others lives more enriched and
meaning..... sorry we didnt meet!
best, Tom
Rudy Franchi wrote:
So I guess I have to jump in here and comment on the Oscar for sale
problem. Last August, when Antiques Roadshow came to L.A., I did a
special short piece on the Academy's reference library, which is a
amazing resource. I showed some movie posters, costume sketches and
stills. This was done on the Friday before or our regular taping.
During the actual Antiques Roadshow on Saturday at the L.A. Convention
Center, a woman came to me at the collectibles table carrying a
cardboard box that contained an Oscar statuette and a quantity of
printed material (ballots, etc.) related to the Academy Awards
ceremony. As is our custom when we find something outstanding (you have
to realize that we see hundreds of mundane pieces during the day. Over
12,000 items come into the hall and there are 70 appraisers looking at
them.) I called over the producer and she decided it should be one of
the 50 odd pieces taped that day for presentation on the show. Turns
out that the woman's father had been, for many years, The Academy's
keeper of the Oscar. He would pick up the Oscars at the site of
manufacture in the Mid-West and be responsible for them right up
through the Awards' ceremony, guarding them backstage and handing them
to the presenters who then give them to the winners. She told me that
the actual Oscar, without a name plate, had a been a damaged example
that her father had been told he could keep. After leaving the Academy,
he became their official printer for all mailings related to the
balloting for the Awards and did this for many years.
It was an amazing experience to handle a real Oscar and I was even more
amazed at the effect it had on people. As soon as it was placed on the
table in front of me, people began to gravitate towards it, wanting to
stroke it and pick it up. When we taped the segment, a large crowd
gathered to watch and I said during my appraisal, that it just glowed
with a power all its own. Let me say, that no one will have any problem
recognizing a real Oscar. It sent out almost mystical rays, much like
the Ark of the Covenant in Indiana Jones.
I put a value of $12,000 to $15,000 on the Oscar and I also said ( I
don't know if this was included in the appraisal broadcast because I'm
in London and didn't see the show) that there were about at least a
dozen people around us who were ready to take out their checkbooks as
we spoke.
I told the woman who had brought it in that when this piece ran on
Roadshow, The Academy would be after her to return the Oscar. She
seemed to show no fear of The Academy.
The show with both the piece about the Academy and the Oscar appraisal
was scheduled for February 23, but for some reason, the Los Angeles PBS
outlet ran it the week before. I received a phone call from the
producer of Roadshow saying that a letter from the legal arm of the
Academy had been sent to the show saying that they did want the Oscar
appraisal segment shown again. They stated that legally this Oscar
could not be re-sold and thus I could not appraise something that had
no market. I pointed out to the producer that The Louvre was not about
to the sell The Mona Lisa, but I was sure they had it insured and if
so it would have to have been appraised. The same applies to the
perhaps millions of national treasures around the world. Of course one
can value something that isn't going to be sold.
Roadshow threw the issue back to their lawyers and they are slugging it
out with the Academy. Meanwhile, they broadcast the full show,
including the Oscar appraisal and the visit to the Academy on the
entire PBS network on February 23.
I might note that the Academy is absolutely virulent in its protection
of the Oscar copywright. They are hype-protective as Disney and the
Olympic Committee, who also go to what absurd lengths to protect the
symbols and characters associated with them.
As for selling the Oscar, I would advise a private sale for cash. Use a
trusted third party to hand over the Oscar and collect the cash. The
seller should have no contact with or knowledge of the name of the
buyer. The trusted party's reward will be having held, if only for a
moment, a real Oscar. As one who has, I can tell you, it is reward
enough. Regards, rudy franchi
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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