We’re EBTH- Everything But The House- the largest and most trusted digital marketplace for shipping estate sales, but we started small, in front yards and tag sales. Our founders,-Brian Graves and Jacquie Denny, met while working in the Cincinnati auction and antiques world. While they loved uncovering the potential of pieces waiting inside their clients’ homes, they couldn’t help feeling like the traditional estate sale formats made it difficult for families to earn fair market value for their belongings. Not to mention the fact that design lovers and deal-hunters were limited to shopping for home furnishings and decor in their areas alone.
EBTH founders, Brian and Jacquie.
They also realized they liked helping people and they liked working together and so naturally, EBTH was born, and its online auctions let fans from Ohio to Anchorage in on a well-kept secret: that there were thousands of one-of-a-kind treasures waiting in the America’s best homes and now, at their fingertips.
Eight years later, EVERYTHING BUT THE HOUSE ( CEO Andy Nielsen , CBO Mandana Dayani ) sells furniture, jewelry, art coins, cars, collectibles, and more in over 27 US cities and counting. We’re bigger, but no less committed to giving buyers access to incredible homes around the country, fueled by the sellers who inspire us every day. We feel lucky to be at the center of a community that celebrates the rare, historical, weird, and wonderful.
The cast and crew of STAR TREK CONTINUES finished principal photography on our series a few months ago, and we are working at warp speed to put all of the finishing touches on Episodes 9, 10, and 11 – which will complete our salute to The Original Series.
And while we are all sad to see STAR TREK CONTINUES come to a close, we have committed to our supporters that these last three chapters in our story will be finished and released this year. That means three more upcoming premieres of the continuing voyages of the Starship Enterprise.
Episode Nine is in sound design and will have a debut screening at the end of July at Florida Supercon in Ft Lauderdale. We’re so honored to announce some very familiar names in guest starring roles for Episode 9, including John de Lancie and Anne Lockhart.
Of course, John needs no introduction. His character will be among the first to appear on our Planet Set (constructed with support from our crowdfunding campaign).
Anne Lockhart may be best known to science fiction fans for her role as “Sheba” on the original Battlestar Galactica, but she has also been in hundreds of other productions and commercials – including a recurring role in Chicago Fire on NBC. (And, of course, her Mom was June Lockhart, the matriarch of Lost in Space!)
John de Lancie, Chuck Huber (McCoy) and I will each be guests at Florida Supercon. So we hope you might plan a trip to Fort Lauderdale to enjoy the world premiere screening of “What Ships Are For,” at the end of July. Details about the screening will be on the Supercon website.
Finally, our remaining episodes constitute an exciting two-part story that will not only finish out our series, but bring an exciting and satisfying conclusion to the original five year mission of the Enterprise. Episode Ten is set to premiere at Salt Lake Comic Con (the weekend of September 21) and Episode Eleven will have its debut screening at New York Comic Con October 6.
Keep this comm channel open for more info about our final installments. And again, thank you to all of you for your enthusiasm and support for this “love letter to Star Trek”. John De Lancie Beaming In To STAR TREK CONTINUES
With Episode 9, STAR TREK CONTINUES adds another feather to its cap — versatile actor, comedian, singer, director, and producer John de Lancie. Well-known to fans for his strong Trek background, de Lancie met STAR TREK CONTINUES founder Vic Mignogna on the convention circuit, and Mignogna offered him a role in the production.
“Vic asked me if I’d be interested in appearing in STAR TREK CONTINUES, and he told me a little bit about the show. I asked him to let me read the script, and I was immediately impressed with it. It’s definitely classic STAR TREK, because it’s a secular moral story and one that I think is particularly poignant in our current times. I believe the material is the most important thing, and this is really good material.” Episode 9 is penned by Kipleigh Brown, who appears as Lt. Smith in the series.
De Lancie says he’s “also very sympathetic to people who put together their own projects. I know how much work it is. And in this case, Vic has his hands in every element of the production. It was an easy choice to say yes because I knew I could be somewhat helpful in a modest sort of way. And I knew I would be acting in an interesting story.”
Strange New Worlds
De Lancie said he didn’t really have any preconceptions about STAR TREK CONTINUES, since he had not seen any of the series’ episodes.
“I have to say legitimately that I was really impressed,” once he joined the production crew on set in southern Georgia. “There is a lot of attention to detail, and a lot of love went in to all of this.”
He said that he was surprised and “got chills” as he walked the halls of the Enterprise.
“I had the feeling that I was on a historic set, even if it is a facsimile of the original. These were the identical colors to what was used in the 1960’s, when they were trying to sell color TVs. And the other thing that struck me is that these sets have a certain 1960’s look, from the gadgets to the crew quarters. This had the same look of all the shows that I used to watch as a kid.”
Growing up in the 1950’s, de Lancie said that he didn’t watch that much television, and in fact his parents had taken the TV away. “I had a real problem with reading, so my parents just took the TV out of the house.” De Lancie’s escape was Saturday afternoon science fiction movies at the theater.
For Episode 9, de Lancie is careful not to reveal any plot details when describing his character, except to say that there are elements of the character that are revealed as the story unfolds.
“He is a character not unlike many of us. He has recognizable human traits and deep-seated prejudices.”
De Lancie came prepared for his role, just as he is for any acting assignment, and spoke his first lines on the Planet Set that had just been dressed into a lush forest environment.
Convention Capers
A frequent guest at conventions throughout the world, de Lancie had just returned from FedCon in Germany when he spoke to STAR TREK CONTINUES.
“I really do enjoy meeting the fans at the conventions. I enjoy being up on stage and answering the questions. And I enjoy having drinks later with the actors. But what is becoming wearisome is the travel – especially if you go overseas. It takes your body about three days to adjust to a new time zone, and then the event is over and you’re heading back the other way.”
Travel has certainly been on his agenda of late for another reason, since the entire de Lancie family recently returned from a big journey.
“My wife was in Burma, teaching. So I went with her. Then we went to Vietnam, and then our kids joined us in Japan and the whole family took a boat trip. I was back for a couple of days, did a convention in Phoenix, and then it was off to Bonn, Germany,” for FedCon.
Ponies, Dragons, and Video Games
The busy actor has another fan base, far different from those who appreciate his Trek credentials. For the past six years, de Lancie has been the voice of a dragon named Discord on the cartoon series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.
“Yes, there are conventions for My Little Pony. But it’s a very different fan base. I like particularly talking with the little kids. They have a hard time imagining that they’re looking at someone their grandfather’s age who plays a mischievous dragon. It’s also an unusual fan base, in the adult world. I did a documentary about that. I like the show very much, because it also has a sort of secular morality attached to it. You don’t need to have a religious text to be the source of a moral lesson. There are a lot of unusual people involved with My Little Pony. I talk to a lot of people in the military who just like looking at something bright, happy, and upbeat,” de Lancie says.
In addition to the My Little Pony TV series, de Lancie has also voiced his character for a Pony video game. And he’s worked as a voice actor for games like World of Warcraft, StarCraft 2, and others.
“While I don’t play video games, I was asked a few years ago to do voices for one. I’ve watched my kids over the years play a lot of games. I’m a big history buff, so one thing I really liked about the game Assassin’s Creed was the fun way they went back in time with very detailed representations of Florence and Constantinople.
“I like the fact that doing video games keeps me current in the minds of people who are 20 years old,” he adds. Guest Star Anne Lockhart Comes Full Circle with STAR TREK CONTINUES
An actress and voiceover artist with literally hundreds of credits to her name, veteran performer Anne Lockhart will be a guest star in Episode 9, which will have a debut screening in late July.
Lockhart is best known to science fiction fans for her groundbreaking role as Sheba in the original Battlestar Galactica in 1978. Now her travels take her to another science fiction universe. An invitation to join the cast came from STAR TREK CONTINUES creator Vic Mignogna.
“I’ve known Vic for a couple of years. He called me one day and said that he had an idea to talk about regarding STAR TREK CONTINUES, which was a guest starring role in an upcoming episode. And I asked him what took him so long! It’s such an honor to be in an episode, because I’m a fan. I love the whole look and the concept of it. And the fact that I got asked to be part of that universe is amazing,” Lockhart says. “I was there before I’d even read the script!”
Lockhart loved working with fellow guest star John de Lancie on the episode, and it was actually the second time that both had worked together.
“We did the first two-hour episode of EMERGENCY, a long time ago. I don’t think he remembered being in that one with me. He played a doctor, and I was his patient – rescued from a burning building. I remembered him because he was so dear. Working with John is joyful. There are so many actors who just show up and do it in their sleep. But not him.”
Lockhart has built an impressive resume over several decades of TV, film, and commercial work. Her first series was Lassie in the late 1950’s, as a child actress. Years later, Glen Larson, the creator of Battlestar Galactica approached Lockhart about a role in proposed series.
“The role of Sheba was written for me. I knew Glen Larson because I had done episodes of the The Hardy Boys for him. He sent me the barebones pilot script for Battlestar Galactica. And basically it was about a bunch of guys and a girl who came in every few pages and said ‘don’t forget your laser gun.’ I turned it down,” Lockhart explains. She was recovering from a fire that had burned down her house and was living with her mom (TV actress June Lockhart) at the time.
“Glen said he could always rewrite the character, and the script went through several re-writes.” Lockhart loved the revised script and came aboard the Battlestar.
“Jane Seymour didn’t want to do a series. So they killed her character. The character of Sheba was so strong and so wonderful to play – and it was nothing like the original script. I ended up with a better character.”
Being in space was nothing new to the Lockhart family. Lockhart’s real mom played Maureen Robinson on Lost in Space, the mother to a family traveling the stars. Some days, Anne and her sister were dropped off at the 20th Century Fox lot to wait for their mom to finish her work and do homework in her dressing room.
“I remember one day there was a chunk of time when Billy Mumy (who played Will Robinson) had nothing to do. We just took off and wandered the Fox lot for two hours, exploring the sets of shows like Peyton Place. And then we finally wandered back. My mom was panicked. And so was Billy’s mom,” Lockhart laughs as she recalls the memory.
Currently, Lockhart stays busy with the recurring role of a dispatcher on Chicago Fire, a role that she has to reprise at the drop of a hat. “There are some times when they’ll call me over the weekend and say that I have to be in Los Angeles on Tuesday.”
She worked out the schedule to come to southern Georgia and the new planet set of STAR TREK CONTINUES for her role in Episode 9.
“We worked our tails off. Vic shot over twenty pages in three days. That’s just insane. But that shows how good he is. It shows how good the crew is. I was just so overwhelmed with the commitment and the people who were there volunteering their time, just out of love. It was really a wonderful experience.”
Like William Shatner, Anne Lockhart has a fancy for horses and has raised thousands of dollars of the years with rodeos benefitting autistic children. And she serves on the board of directors for the Thousand Oaks, California Kingsmen Shakespeare Company.
“It’s been several years since I’ve appeared on stage with Kingsmen. It was started by my friend Lane Davies, and literally it started with a dirt stage and two lights. Now it’s one of the premiere Shakespeare companies in the country. My children have grown up performing with me. It was so cool to go there, thrown down your blanket, and see Shakespeare presented in a very contemporary way. We did Julius Caesar, but set in a city like New York. It was like The Godfather. We did The Merry Wives of Windsor as if it was the swinging London scene of the 1960’s. It’s not just a bunch of people in togas,” says Lockhart.
While she has seen some rough cuts of the episode, Lockhart says she’s looking forward to the public release of Episode 9.
“This was kind of like a dream come true for me. Being part of the STAR TREK universe is something I’ve looked forward to doing. I adored STAR TREK. And Lost in Space, to be honest, kind of became a comic book. STAR TREK was always just my favorite.”
For the Silo, Vic Mignogna -Captain of STAR TREK CONTINUES
When the next episode of STAR TREK CONTINUESis revealed, science fiction fans will see a familiar face in a guest star role. The new episode, titled Still Treads the Shadow, features guest star Rekha Sharma, perhaps best known to science fiction fans for her role in more than 30 episodes of Battlestar Galactica. While details of Sharma’s character in STAR TREK CONTINUES are being kept under wraps until April, she says the offer for a role came after meeting Vic “Kirk” Mignogna at FedCon Germany last year during the 50th Anniversary of STAR TREK event.
“Vic and I kept in touch after FedCon, and then he asked if I’d be interested in coming aboard STAR TREK CONTINUES. He told me about a script that was in development and the character he had in mind. I’m so delighted that it worked with my schedule,” Sharma says. Sharma’s first introduction to the original STAR TREK series came from her big brother. “All my friends were watching Full House or something. I’m not sure! And there I was, coming home after school and watching the original STAR TREK and old Perry Mason reruns! I remember my brother told me that there were people opening and closing the doors, which I thought it was so cool and cheesy. And it very much appealed to my dreams of utopia — especially as a young colored girl growing up in very white neighborhoods,” says Sharma. Rekha’s character of Tory Foster in the rebooted Battlestar Galactica, which began in 2004, developed after several auditions. “From the very first audition, I was immediately struck by the intelligence, artistry and kind-heartedness of the directors and producers. I thought, I’d really like to work with these people! First I went in for the role of a Viper pilot, then a captain, and then the role of Tory came along. Oh yeah, I thought, this is a perfect part for me.” Galactica’s producers apparently agreed. “Working on Battlestar Galactica was a dream come true. From my previous experience, I honestly didn’t think I could be creatively satisfied working in TV. But Battlestar Galactica changed that. Not only was it creatively satisfying, but we also had such a great team of people. We are all like family to this day,” Sharma explains
What does it mean to be a STAR TREK CONTINUES guest star? “It means I have fulfilled a dream, in a way, and that I’ve come full circle. I loved those stories. They had a wonderful morality and vision for humanity that made my heart sing. And then I got to step onto those sets and step into my childhood and be a part of telling that kind of story. Not only that, but that world was so fun! I loved those neat-o futuristic gadgets when I was a kid. And now, as an adult, I got to play with them. I got to sit on the bridge. There weren’t any trailers, so when I needed to rest between scenes, I took naps in sickbay on board the Enterprise. And I got beamed in the transporter! I can’t wait to see that,” she says enthusiastically. The experience of working on the STAR TREK CONTINUES set “was so refreshing,” Sharma says. “Everyone is there for love, not money. It felt like Battlestar Galactica that way. Although it’s a fan run project, the STAR TREK CONTINUES sets were surprisingly professional and very impressive. It was a mix of TV veterans and total newbies, and that made for an awesome atmosphere to work in. It was the best of both worlds, really.” Sharma likes to compare the character she’s playing in Episode 8 to be much like aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. “She is smart as a whip, very technically inclined, and brave. I thought of her as a bright light of goodness and intelligence with a big heart.” She admits to being very surprised at what the cast and crew have created with STAR TREK CONTINUES. “You know, Vic told me that I’d become part of the family, but I had no idea what he meant. They have chosen a team who are all friendly, diligent, thoughtful and good-hearted people. I felt so welcomed and incredibly lucky. It makes sense that they’re shooting in the south – they’re so hospitable! And those sets! Again, Vic told me what they built, but until you’re there you just can’t conceive of it. It’s really impressive. I know I’m not the only one who was moved to tears,” Sharma says. Fans will be able to see Rekha Sharma at future conventions and events. “It’s funny. At first it felt so strange to do conventions, but as time has gone on I’ve really come to appreciate them. It’s special to have the opportunity to meet the fans and discuss the themes of these shows. You get to connect with people that you’d never get to meet otherwise. And sci-fi fans are awesome because, generally speaking, they still have dreams. They’re not jaded. They believe in possibility. And without that, nothing would ever change for the better. We’ve got to hold on to our dreams and keep being warriors in this world – to truly go where no man has gone before.” “Still Treads the Shadow” will premiere at Fan Expo Dallas on April 1 at the Dallas Convention Center.
How are you getting around the guidelines for fan films? As CBS/Paramount has made clear, the guidelines are not laws; they are general parameters applied on a case-by-case basis. Since the implementation of the guidelines, we have stopped all crowdfunding activities and have focused strictly on completing the four episodes which had already been funded as of that time by fans’ donations to our 501(c)(3) non-profit. STAR TREK CONTINUES has always followed any and all instructions given to us by CBS regarding our production, and will continue to do so. Does STAR TREK CONTINUES have any type of special and/or official arrangement with CBS/Paramount? No.
How long are the episodes? They will be exactly the same format as our previous episodes Why are you ending the series? Recent developments necessitated our finishing up sooner than we intended, but it was always our goal to bring The Original Series to a conclusion. With our final four episodes, we will have done that. It’s been an amazing five years creating this series, and we will miss making it. But all good things… Weren’t you going to make 13 episodes? Did CBS make you stop? CBS is not responsible for the decision to end the series. We are doing 11 episodes instead of 13 because another fan group took advantage of the good graces of the copyright holders forcing them to protect their property and the interests of their license holders. In deference and gratitude to CBS, we are wrapping up earlier than planned. We always have stood, and continue to stand, with CBS. Can we get DVDs/Blu-ray discs of the final episodes? As we do not own STAR TREK, we cannot sell DVDs or Blu-ray discs. In the past, we’ve made a limited number of discs available as crowdfunding perks. However, since we are no longer crowdfunding, providing episodes to the public on DVD and/or Blu-ray discs is not currently feasible for us. What will happen to the studio/sets? Will set visits/tours be available? We don’t have a definitive answer on this right now, but we’re considering all our options.
Okay I admit it, newspapers are dead. But maybe in China they aren’t. Or are. Because in a local bargain shop I discovered a cache of wastebaskets in three different sizes made entirely out of newspapers: Chinese newspapers to be exact. And that started me thinking.
It seems probable that in China, or somewhere near there, an active recycling program is taking place. Instead of shredding or burning them for landfill, some sort of manufacturing facility is turning clean, bright and seemingly unread newspapers into functional everyday objects. Does this mean that the newspaper industry is suffering in China? Is there a surplus of printed newspapers? Are more Chinese people getting their news from digital media than print? Who can say. My phone calls to the Chinese embassy consulate in Toronto about these pressing issues were not returned.
The irony of wastebaskets made out of, well, waste, is not (ahem) wasted on me.
These products are powerful “green” metaphors produced in one of the most polluting nations on the planet. The industrialization of China is full steam ahead and damn the torpedoes. Consumer goods? They want everything we have, so it’s hard to claim any moral high ground. Anyway, there is an environmental statement here, intended or not. I’m just not sure what it is.
On the other hand, they are just really fun and handy wastebaskets that feel great when you pick them up by their long, soft handles. I kind of want one.
Supplemental:
In Jennifer Baichwal’s film Manufacturing Landscapes, about Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky, we learn there are whole towns in China dedicated to breaking down and “smelting” the useable metals out of discarded electronics. When you choose to buy a new DVD player because it’s cheaper than repairing your old one, this is likely where your old one goes. Apparently you can smell these towns a mile off. The Chinese government sure knows a thing or two about recycling. But what would it cost to do this kind of metal recovery safely? What would it cost to make baskets out of the millions of unread, discarded and obsolete print newspapers in Canada?
“The Countess of Beverly Hills Mansions” Before Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian, socialite Dorothy Taylor may have been the first Hollywood celebrity who wasn’t in the entertainment business. She was the ultimate party host and frequent 1930’s scandal rag fodder. Her lovers included Gary Cooper, Bugsy Siegel, George Raft and an Italian count.
Dorothy’s trip to celebrity fame began after she inherited $12 million in 1916, the equivalent of about $275 million today. The first thing she did with her money was divorce her British aviator husband, Claude Grahame-White, and embark on a long party in Europe’s best circles. In 1923, she married Italian Count Carlo Dentice di Frasso, many years her senior. On the outskirts of Rome, the new countess acquired and restored one of Europe’s most famous homes, Villa Madama, that had been designed in the sixteenth century by Raphael. It was later used by Benito Mussolini during World War II for National Fascist Party functions.
While residing in the villa, actor Gary Cooper was doing a movie in Rome and became quite ill. Dorothy took him in and during his recuperation began an intense affair with him under her husband’s nose. Since she and the count were at that point leading separate lives, Dorothy went on with the affair and moved to Hollywood where she purchased a mansion in Beverly Hills. Making friends of some of Hollywood’s most important stars through her Cooper connections, Dorothy called in the best decorators and landscapers and created a luxurious estate that was classic Art Deco filmdom glamour. Dorothy and Cooper eventually went their own ways but remained distant friends. She was always known as the woman who taught Gary Cooper how to dress, making him the most elegant man in Hollywood.
Through her new Hollywood friends, Dorothy eventually rented her mansion to Marlene Dietrich and headed off to search for sunken treasure on the studio-owned schooner, Metha Nelson; Captain Bligh’s ship in the 1935 movie “Mutiny on the Bounty.” Also on the ship was American gangster Bugsy Siegel. Although the trip turned into a disaster when the schooner was tossed violently by 70 mile-per-hour gale winds that split the main mast and destroyed the sails, it was the start of a new affair with Bugsy. She always rejected gossip of her association with Bugsy, instead referring to him as Benjamin to her friends.
In 1947, Dorothy sold the Beverly Hills house to MGM pianist Jose Iturbi, who lived there until he died in 1980. In 1954, Dorothy died of heart failure in a train compartment while she was traveling with George Raft from Las Vegas to Los Angeles after attending one of Dietrich’s performances.
Hand painted murals & mirrored verre églomisé panels.
Once again for sale, the beautifully preserved Spanish Revival estate hasn’t changed much since its heyday in the 1930s when it was featured in “House and Garden.” At approximately 8,000 square feet, it has four bedrooms and five baths on 1.12 acres. The home was built for entertaining with large public rooms and although it looks like wallpaper, the walls are covered in hand-painted murals. In the dining room, the walls are mirrored verre églomisé panels that depict towering palms. There is also a two-bedroom guest house and pool nestled within the mature landscaped grounds. The asking price is USD $26.9 million. Dimitri Velis of Hilton and Hyland in Beverly Hills is the listing agent. For the Silo, Terry Walsh.
Don’t miss out on incredible historic space items such as the first complete Lunar Bible flown aboard Apollo 14. Heritage Live! allows you to place late proxy bids and compete live against the auction floor from your PC or mobile device*. We recommend placing proxy bids before the live session in the unlikely event either side experiences technical problems during the auction.
The software is available for Android, Safari for iPhone, and Opera Mobile version 10+. More will be supported in the coming months.
We may never know who the artist was that made the auctioned cel. Walt Disney employed many young, pretty women to work in the inking and cell departments. Image: Still from an early 1940’s Walt Disney film explaining how cartoons were being made. CP
“It’s an extraordinary price for an extra ordinary piece,” said Jim Lentz, Director of Animation Art at Heritage. “This is really a Holy Grail piece of animation and one of the best I’ve ever seen, from one of the best early Mickey cartoons and one of the very last black and white Mickey cartoons before Disney changed everything by going to color.” Besides the rarity of the cel and the background, it is also believed that this is the only known black and white production cel featuring Goofy in private hands. In the classic cartoon Mickey (voiced by Disney himself), along with Goofy and Donald, do their best to find a squeaking sound in Pete’s roadster. Naturally, they take the car apart looking for the source of the annoying sound, which turns out to be a cricket.
One of the great surprises of the auction came in the form of a set of 1961 storyboards from The Bullwinkle Show (Jay Ward Studios), three extremely rare trimmed storyboards by Roy Morita for the episode “Buried Treasure,” on Ward Inc. storyboard paper, which crushed its $750+ USD pre-auction estimate to finish, amidst very spirited bidding, at $44,460 USD. One panel features Rocky and Bullwinkle, one has a close up of Bullwinkle, and one is an amazing drawing of Frostbite Falls, Minnesota, with the handwritten notation “B+R House” and an arrow pointing out the specific abode.
TORONTO- Five years ago, a Group of provincial Masonry experts selected its top masonry heritage buildings in the Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge region in conjunction with the North Waterloo Region Branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario. These buildings that define Kitchener-Waterloo (K-W) and Cambridge are known for their distinctive beauty, history and longevity.
The Walper Hotel- stopping point for Lady Gaga and in the past Eleanor Roosevelt, Louis Armstrong. photo: Nick Stanley
With an enduring presence that shapes the landscapes on which they were built, these heritage buildings were selected by industry experts as the finest examples of masonry design in the tri-cities of southern Ontario. “Heritage buildings made of brick, block or stone are the longest lasting and most architecturally significant designs in any community,“ says Jack Prazeres, President of MasonryWorx. “Landmarks like these move people with their iconic beauty.”
Prazeres went on to say, “Often built with locally quarried stone and clay for brick, many of these buildings not only define their communities through their design but also their material – they are true reflections of the geography on which they stand.”
The yellow-hued brick for example is a hallmark of this region that creates a sense of place like no other part of Ontario. The yellow-coloured brick comes from calcium rich clay mixed with limestone from the Niagara escarpment.
“Although none of our top masonry heritage buildings used the yellow brick, because in the past it was not considered as high quality as red brick, the yellow brick deserves honourable mention for the regional distinctiveness it has created,” Prazeres says. “There is no doubt however that this regional brick has stood the test of time and has helped define Waterloo Region.”
Jack Prazeres, President of MasonryWorx- photo courtesy Ministry of Citizenship
The criteria used to choose the top buildings included: durability, aesthetic appeal, craftsmanship, and the best use of masonry products in their architectural design.
After a panel discussion by masonry professionals working with brick, block and stone, MasonryWorx selected the following five Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge buildings to honour for their masonry heritage value:
Galt Collegiate Institute – This Cambridge landmark was founded in 1852, when it was known as the Galt Grammar School, a highly reputable private school for boys. Today, the symmetrical building designed in the Scottish Baronial style houses a public secondary school. The building, which is constructed from fossilized limestone quarried from on-site riverbanks, underwent several additions between 1859 and 1923.
Gore Mutual Insurance Company head office — The 1935 Neoclassical Revival head office of the historic Gore Mutual Insurance Company in Cambridge features impressive exterior fieldstone walls and a beautiful interior finished in at least four types of marble and locally supplied granite. Stunning features of marble and fieldstone also grace the 1955 addition to the building.
Wilfrid Laurier University, Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work– First known as St. Jerome’s College, the two buildings on this property in Kitchener were built in 1907 and 1909. The buildings are handsome and well-preserved examples of Neo-Classical architecture. The features of the 1907 Duke St. building include the monumental central pavilion with pediment, coupled columns, front entrance, window openings and brickwork. Features of the 1909 College St. building include the brickwork and window openings.
Walper Hotel – A parade of notable guests from Eleanor Roosevelt and Louis Armstrong to Pierre Trudeau and Lady Gaga have dined and slept at this hotel at King and Queen Streets in Kitchener. Established in 1893, the building cost just $75,000 to build. Guests could have a room, three meals a day, a pitcher of water, gas lamp lighting, a spot to hitch their horse and use of one of the hotel’s common area bathrooms for just $4.50 per week. With its delicate brickwork over the arched windows and elegant cornices, it is the city’s best example of hotel architecture.
Wissler-Cascaden House The simple Mennonite Georgian style popular with Pennsylvanian settlers inspired the design of his two-storey house in Waterloo. It was built in 1842 by John Wissler, a pioneer from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He helped establish the hamlet of Lexington thanks to his tannery and the many businesses and trades that sprouted up to support it. The current owners have given a great deal of time, effort and care to the extensive restoration of the house which portrays a faithful representation of early Waterloo. For the Silo, Vickie Fagan.
The Georgian Style: Constructed in 1842, Waterloo’s Wissler-Cascaden House.
Supplemental- MasonryWorx is the trade association of brick, block and stone masonry industry professionals. Its membership includes product manufacturers, suppliers and skilled professionals from across Ontario, and the organization is committed to providing home buyers, homeowners, architects, engineers, builders and government leaders with accurate, timely information about the use and benefits of brick, block and stone products.
The stunning three sheet movie poster for the lost 1926 Paramount big budget silent film The American Venus realized $35,850 to lead the day in Heritage Auctions’ July 25-26 Vintage Movie Posters Signature Auction in Beverly Hills. The auction realized, in total, more than $1.45 million. All prices include 19.5% Buyer’s Premium.
Controversy surrounds this 1932 Disney cartoon- in one scene, Mickey Mouse is seen using a cigarette lighter that has a painted swastika on it. In 1932, the world did not fully understand the significance of the swastika as it would relate to the rise of Naziism. image: Heritage Auctions
“Demand was steady and prices were, overall, quite good across the more than 1,300 lots we featured in this auction,” said Grey Smith, Director of Movie Posters at Heritage. “We saw a trifecta of focuses in this auction as collectors went after early Hollywood, Disney animation and Universal Horror. At the end of the day, we were all quite pleased with the solid results.”
The American Venus (Paramount, 1926) three sheet is a film that is now lost to history, minus a few trailers. What is known about it, however, is that the poster spectacularly features Louise Brooks, though this was only her second film appearance. She was relatively unknown at the time and her role in the film was very minor. The producers, however, obviously realized her star potential as they featured her exclusively on the poster. Brooks would go on to become one of the most iconic female stars of the late silent era.
“Brooks crafted a personal style that left an indelible mark on 1920s popular culture that’s still imitated today,” said Smith. “She achieved a cult status rarely garnered by entertainers of that time and is clearly a star that still resonates with collectors at the top of the hobby.”
Vintage posters were emotional, engaging and uniquely hand-crafted before hitting the printing press. image: Heritage Auctions
Rare and early Disney posters always create a stir when they appear at auction and the presence of a 1932 United Artists one sheet for Disney’s The Wayward Canary, depicting Mickey and Minnie Mouse, set collectors buzzing on its way to a $26,920 final price realized. Released in November 1932, the same year that the Academy awarded Disney a special Oscar for his creation of a nationwide phenomenon, Mickey Mouse, this is a key addition to any top Disney collection.
Universal Horror posters are still the gold standard in movie posters and this auction boasted several prime pieces from the top films of the genre, including a beautiful pre-war 1935 Belgian one sheet for Bride of Frankenstein, James Whale’s sequel to his 1931 masterpiece Frankenstein that quickly became a classic in its own right, realizing $20,315 from a determined collector, while a 1943 one sheet for Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man — often cited as one of the best posters in the Universal horror cannon — was the subject of intense collector interest before finding a new home at $15,535.
Incredibly rare “Owl type” Silver Drachm (opposite face with Jerusalem lily) image:courtesy Heritage Auctions
The first silver shekel struck in Jerusalem by Jewish forces rebelling against Roman oppression in the first century CE, one of only two specimens known, brought a world record price of $1,105,375 at Heritage Auctions on March 8 as part of the auction of The Shoshana Collection of Ancient Coins of Judea. The coin sold to an anonymous overseas collector. Overall, this auction realized over $7.6 million, with the whole of the collection, consisting of more than 2200 coins in total, expected to realize more than $10 million in multiple auctions this year.
“This Year 1 silver shekel, struck shortly after the Jewish War began in May of 66 CE, is an incredible piece of history,” said Cris Bierrenbach, Executive Vice President of Heritage Auctions. “This is literally one of the very first coins the Jewish rebels struck after the ousted the Romans from Jerusalem, sending shockwaves through the empire. That history, as evidenced by the spirited bidding and the superb price realized, obviously continues to resonate today, more than 2,000 years later.”
The Shoshana Collection, assembled over the course of four decades by an American collector, is the greatest assembly of ancient coins related to the foundation of ancient Israel ever offered, spanning more than 11 centuries.
Other highlights from the collection include an incredibly rare gold aureus as Caesar (69-79 CE), struck at an Eastern mint in 69 CE, likely Tyre, anticipating the subjugation of Judaea, which the Romans achieved with the fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE, which brought $956,000, while one of only two known surviving silver quarter-shekels of Year 1 (May 66-March 67 CE) in existence brought $896,250.
A few of the additional highlights included:
Jewish War (66 – 70 AD). AR half shekel. Year 4. Hendin 1365. TJC 209. AJC 262,25. Samuels 980 (this coin). Extremely Fine. One of six recorded specimens. Realized: $358,500.
Vespasian (69 – 79 AD). AE sestertius. AD 71 Rome. Hendin 1500b. RIC 71,161. BMC 543. Impressive Good Extremely Fine. Realized: $262,900.
Jewish War (66 – 70 AD). AR shekel. Year 5. Hendin 1370. TJC 215. AJC 263,31. Samuels 94 (this coin). Very Fine. Ex: Nelson Bunker Hunt. Realized: $262,900.
Jewish War (66 – 70 AD). Year 5. Hendin 1370. TJC 215. AJC II 263,31. Brand 3. Bromberg II, 309 Good Very Fine. Realized: $179,250.
Divus Vespasian (69 – 79 AD). AV aureus. Struck by Titus, AD 80-81, Rome. Hendin 1581. RIC 230,363. Cohen 143. BN 89. Superb. Realized: $131,450.
Aelia Capitolina (Jerusalem, renamed by Hadrian) Collection, 164 coins. Realized: $107,550.
Titus as Caesar (79 – 81 AD). AV aureus. AD 72-73 Rome. Hendin 1469. RIC 84, 370. BMC 520. BN 73. About Extremely Fine. Realized: $101,575.
Vespasian (69 – 79 AD). AE sestertius. AD 71 Rome. Hendin 1500b. RIC 71,161. BMC 543. Samuels 146 (this coin). Extremely Fine. Realized: $95,600.
Bar Kokhba Revolt (132 – 135 AD). AR sela. First year (132/133 AD). Mildenberg 125,4.1 (this coin). Hendin 1373. TJC 218c (this coin). AJC 264,1c (this coin). Samuels 98 (this coin). Superb. Realized: $89,625.
Bar Kokhba Revolt (132 – 135 AD). AR sela. First year (132/133 AD). Mildenberg 124,3.5 (this coin). Hendin 1373. TJC 218 (these dies). AJC 264,1 (these dies). Samuels 97 (this coin). Superb. Realized: $89,625.
Auction of US coins continues on New York and over the Internet at www.HA.com/Coins through Sunday, March 11.
Seldom Seen Selections: One of the finest known 1795 Eagles
The famous 1795 American gold ‘eagle’ coin
The ten dollar gold pieces, given the name “eagle,” were the largest gold coins produced by the first U.S. Mint from 1795 through 1804. Like all early gold coins (and many early silver coins), these pieces did not carry an actual denomination as part of the design.
The 1795 BD1 is considered the first variety coined for the year, therefore it is the first eagle minted by the United States! There are more of them surviving today than all other 1795 varieties combined, and it is actually one of the five most common die varieties of the entire series from 1795 to 1804, a fact that would probably surprise most collectors. Quite a few examples survive in Mint State grades, giving collectors a reasonable chance of obtaining a high-quality example of the Small Eagle reverse design.
Many of the Mint State pieces have prooflike fields, including the coin we are featuring in our upcoming 2012 April 18-22 US Coins & Platinum Night CSNS Signature Auction. Although the fields are not deeply mirrored, they are clearly reflective. The surfaces are exceptional with only a few scattered abrasions. Faint adjustment marks are evident at the center obverse and on some of the obverse dentils. All design elements on both sides are sharply struck, suggesting to some the possibility that this may have been some type of presentation piece. This example is a relatively early die state of the variety, with faint obverse die cracks but no evidence of reverse cracks. Despite the existence of several Mint State pieces, this example is one of the most attractive we have handled.
A curious situation exists for both early half eagles and early eagles. For both denominations there were multiple varieties dated 1795 and only a single variety dated 1796, despite mintages that suggest this is illogical. During the course of 1795, just 2,795 eagles were minted from September 22 through November 27. In 1796, the Mint produced 6,934 eagles from January 9 through December 22. If we take these annual production totals at face value, an average of 560 coins per die marriage were struck in 1795 while a single die marriage produced all 6,934 coins in 1796. Clearly there is something wrong, unless many of the coins produced in 1796 were from dies dated 1795, and we can be certain that this was the case. According to the Guide Book, the 1795 mintage totaled 5,583 coins and the 1796 mintage totaled 4,146 coins, but even those figures are suspect, suggesting a survival rate of 10% for 1795 eagles and only 4% for 1796 eagles. This discussion illustrates the challenge that numismatists have today when attempting to reconstruct the events of the earliest years at the Philadelphia Mint. There were no records of mintages for individual die varieties, and any attempt to make such estimates today is plagued with problems.
In Early U.S. Gold Coin Varieties, John Dannreuther provides estimated mintages for every variety and for the number of survivors for each variety. The only thing we know for sure is the number of die marriages known from 1795 through 1804 (32) and the total mintage for that period (132,714 coins including 122 pieces reserved for assay). By using the midpoint of Dannreuther’s survival estimates, we can also establish an approximate survival rate for the series of 2.5%. Is this enough information to establish original “mintage figures” for each variety or even for each coinage date?
Mark Van Winkle has spent considerable effort over several years attempting to correlate mintage figures with individual varieties, and now feels that it is impossible. There are at least two variables that cannot accurately be determined. First, the exact emission sequence needs to be determined (including both die marriages and remarriages). In a series like the early eagles, the emission sequence alone is enough to give a numismatist nightmares. Once the emission order is known, an accurate estimate of the survivors must be established for each variety and remarriage, and this is nearly an impossibility. Finally, differing survival rates from one coinage date to the next must be pinpointed, a seemingly impossible task. CP for Heritage Auctions Dallas, Texas www.ha.com
Supplemental– The Numismatic Network of Canada for those interested in studying and collecting Canadian coins, tokens, paper money and related numismatic materials http://www.nunet.ca/
How can we honestly say that today’s rain and overcast skies influenced our choice for today’s 90’s flashback…umm, urr, we can’t. But this throwback track from R.E.M. rocks. Pack your umbrella for the next few days and if you’ve got room on your ipod (we’re guessing you do, and if you don’t drop us a line explaining why not) , add this song to your playlist. It just might be a cure-all for the turn in the weather. Now where did i put my can of orange Crush?
CP
Back in the mid 80’s, my high school buddies and I would travel every month or so from Simcoe to the Brantford Civic Center to get our fill of WWF wrestling. It was great because in those days they used to do the TV taping right there in Brantford for broadcast all over North America. It was usually a long night of about 3 hours of wrestling for 3 different TV shows. For $5 it was the best entertainment value around. Sometimes the matches would drag on.
Harley Race and Nikolai Volkoff were not exactly the most captivating performers, but we would endure them waiting for something to peak our interest. I’ll never forget the night a new wrestler was introduced to us. The ring announcer welcomed him as Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage. Out he came in a garish, metallic robe which reflected the television lights in a million directions. He had a maniacal look on his face and he revealed the craziest wild eyes when he finally removed his dark ski-goggle type sunglasses. His matted hair was held back by a colourful headband and he sported an unruly beard.
Once in the ring, he took off the robe to reveal not the plodding weightlifter type body we were used to seeing, but the more sinewy muscularity of an athlete. We, the veteran and savvy fans, took this new guy and his ring entrance with a grain of salt. “Macho Man”? Really? “Who calls themselves the “Macho Man”?” we thought. At that time our only reference to a Macho Man was voiced by a pop group named the Village People, and that was just plain challenging for a group of adolescent high school boys. So we watched on with wary eyes. The bell rung, the match started, and then the Macho Man turned into a human whirlwind.
He raced around the ring delivering all his moves with expert efficiency, but at a hyper-speed we had never seen before. He threw his man out of the ring, darted up to the top turnbuckle and came down hard onto the opponent’s backside with a double axe handle. He then threw the poor sod back in, picked him up and body-slammed him to the centre of the ring and jumped back up onto the top turnbuckle as quick as a cat. What was he going to do now? He raised his arms and pointed his fingers up high towards the arena roof and paused for a moment while the crowd held its collective breath. Then….he leapt. Sky-high into the air he launched, coming down with devastating force into the chest of his opponent with what would become his signature move, the Flying Elbow. One, two, three, and it was all over in the blink of an eye. We were awestruck. A star was born. After that display of wrestling awesomeness, it goes without saying that we were now all charter members of the Macho Madness fan club.
Savage’s “Oooooyyeeaaah” catch phrase and white-hot interviews would solidify his character, and his lovely manager Elizabeth would provide the eye candy which surely helped propel him to the highest heights of wrestling stardom. Whenever his entrance music, “Pomp and Circumstance” hit, the excitement level dialled up to a fever pitch. He would become a multi-time WWF champion and face off against Hulk Hogan in the top money-drawing program of the day. His crowning achievement was likely his match against Ricky Steamboat at Wrestlemania 3 in what is widely regarded as one of the best wrestling matches of all time.
Randy Savage, real name Randy Poffo, died tragically in Florida last month after having a heart attack while driving his car and then colliding with a tree. He leaves us at the too young age of 58. I know my buddies and I are not the only ones out there missing him. I’m sure some of you have your own favourite Macho Man moments.
Maybe you should have a stroll down memory lane and check out some Macho Man on Youtube In my mind, he was thegreatest of all time. John McIntosh is a favourite writer for The Silo.
We’re EBTH- Everything But The House- the largest and most trusted digital marketplace for shipping estate sales, but we started small, in front yards and tag sales. Our founders,-Brian Graves and Jacquie Denny, met while working in the Cincinnati auction and antiques world. While they loved uncovering the potential of pieces waiting inside their clients’ homes, they couldn’t help feeling like the traditional estate sale formats made it difficult for families to earn fair market value for their belongings. Not to mention the fact that design lovers and deal-hunters were limited to shopping for home furnishings and decor in their areas alone.
For the Silo, Vic Mignogna -Captain of STAR TREK CONTINUES
Dorothy’s trip to celebrity fame began after she inherited $12 million in 1916, the equivalent of about $275 million today. The first thing she did with her money was divorce her British aviator husband, Claude Grahame-White, and embark on a long party in Europe’s best circles. In 1923, she married Italian Count Carlo Dentice di Frasso, many years her senior. On the outskirts of Rome, the new countess acquired and restored one of Europe’s most famous homes, 
