This auction will be conducted in two parts:
PART 1 - Begins at 9 AM
Household and Special Collectibles
41 Countertop Jukebox
and stand
71 Countertop Jukebox
and stand
850 Wurlitzer Peacock Jukebox
950 Wurlitzer Jukebox
PART 2 - Begins at 12 NOON
MGM Treasures accumulated for over 75 years
These are the artifacts documenting a lifetime of adventure: the Collection of Volney Phifer.
What you see represented in this auction are not just items from an avid Hollywood collector. Yes, Volney Phifer was the man behind the famous Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer roaring lion.
But he was also a man with a lifetime of extreme adventure. Sent by the studio to Africa in 1930 to be the wildlife expert for the groundbreaking film, "Trader Horn". A remote set where the local wildlife could, and did,take the lives crew members. Taking up residence with the entire production on the Arctic Circle for the 1931 film "Eskimo". Constructing a sprawling Chinese farmland in Chatsworth, California for the 1937 film "The Good Earth". Oh, and all the while domesticating a water buffalo to be one of the film's stars.
The stories he could have told about his daily routines on "Gone With the Wind" as chief animal wrangler, whenever he handed the reins to Clark Gable. The intensive training he and Cheeta must have gone through preparing for every single "Tarzan" film. And who wouldn't want to have been there for the daily ritual on the set of "The Wizard of Oz". Volney was MGM's go-to man for literally any production that involved an animal, on set or on a publicity tour, throughout the Golden Era of Hollywood.
Everything you see here... is a studio keepsake... representing one or another of those adventures...
What an amazing ride this life must have been for Volney!
Pre-1940 TARZAN Posters
never displayed in public
WIZARD OF OZ Posters
and signage
GONE WITH THE WIND
Buckboard wagon
Thousands of photos
dating from 1916
RARE MARIONETTES
modeled after MGM stars
LEO THE LION TOURING WAGON facade pieces
and signage
SEQUOIA and ESKIMO
Film Props
MORE ITEMS BEING ADDED DAILY! CHECK BACK!
IN DEPTH: "The Good Earth"- one sheet (27" X 41") movie poster, 1937 MGM
Special promotional for upcoming appearance of 'HII, The Chinese Bull' who appears as a principal actor (and was touring the world in a 1937 Chevrolet!). HII was one of MGM animal handler, Volney Phifer's amazing accomplishments. This was just one of the many great challenges MGM imposed upon Volney.
The Good Earth stars Paul as Wang Lung, a Chinese farmer with Luise Ranier as his wife.
Ranier won an Academy Award as Best Actress for her performance and the film won Best Cinematography that year. The film was also nominated for Best Director,
Best Film Editing and Best Picture.
It was a massive production, three years in the making, with a massive budget, for that era, of $2.8 million. An entire 500 acre farm in Chatsworth California was transformed into the rural Chinese landscape for the production. Volney Phifer was animal handler in charge of all the livestock in the picture. Sadly, due to anti-miscregenation rules in Hollywood at the time,
the lead roles were cast with actors of Western descent, made to look Asian with
specially developed makeup techniques.
There is no documented sale to date of this rare poster.
This auction will be conducted LIVE at AuctionZip. Register and bid online here. For the most up to date lots for Part 2 of this auction, please visit AuctionZip.
An auction registration form is available for download here. Also, a promotional mailer can be downloaded here.
Looking for a place to stay for the auction?
Suggested Motel: I, Preston Evans, have checked out Home Town Suites located off Moon Rd., Columbus.
It is convienent to the auction and it is in a good location. Phone number - 706-561-1795