The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: Tim L on May 20, 2010, 03:28:08 PM
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Just received an email from someone representing a Mr. Stephen Hofer, a Philo Farnsworth enthusiast:
"I wanted to just drop you a quick note and invite you to this historic auction event.
Dr. Stephen Hofer, noted Philo T. Farnsworth scholar and enthusiast, has decided to liquidate his entire museum collection! This entire collection (currently housed in the National Military History Center, Auburn, Indiana) is selling at absolutely NO RESERVE!
Bidding has already begun on line and will culminate during the live auction event on Saturday, June 19th. I've attached an easy print flyer for your convenience or to share with any fellow enthusiasts.
Here is a direct link to the Philo T. Farnsworth Museum Liquidation auction:
https://www.proxibid.com/asp/Catalog.asp?aid=27984 (http://\"https://www.proxibid.com/asp/Catalog.asp?aid=27984\")
Have a great day,
Jama Smith, Auctioneer"
I have no way of buying any of this, but included in the auction are loads of Game Show Home Games, A Lot of vintage TV's, radios, etc..And a Complete TV Guide Collection.. Thought some might want to look into it..
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I vividly remember seeing an earlier version of the Farnsworth Museum, probably about fifteen years ago, when it was housed in an antique mall in Fort Wayne. What's more, I'm helping to direct a community theatre production of The Farnsworth Invention, a play by Aaron Sorkin about the development of television, later this fall. Wouldn't it be cool to have some authentic props?
I'm a little surprised, seeing how some of the lots have been broken up, that the TV Guide collection is being sold as one piece. Even accounting for post-Ebay deflation of collectible prices, a collection like that is probably worth thousands of dollars, whereas some of the board game lots they've compiled are practically worthless. They probably could earn more money by selling the TV Guides in lots of a hundred or so, maybe in sets by year or something, in order to open the auction up to the vast majority of collectiors without pockets deep enough to bid on the whole thing.
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For those interested in the game lots, here's a listing of those with indications of what game show home games are in each set:
Includes Password, Match Game, Trivial Pursuit, Jeopardy, Survivor, Body Language (http://\"https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=1694&aid=27984&lid=7939192#topoflot\")
Includes Twenty Questions, Name That Tune, New Newlywed Game, Family Feud, Dollar a Second, Video Village (http://\"https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=1694&aid=27984&lid=7939193#topoflot\")
Includes Match Game (http://\"https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=1694&aid=27984&lid=7939194#topoflot\")
Includes Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader, $10,000 Pyramid (http://\"https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=1694&aid=27984&lid=7939195#topoflot\")
Includes The Who What or Where Game, What's My Line (Endless), Win Lose or Draw, Jeopardy, Family Feud (http://\"https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=1694&aid=27984&lid=7939196#topoflot\")
Includes Figure it Out, Number Please, Wheel of Fortune (http://\"https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=1694&aid=27984&lid=7939197#topoflot\") (and a Where's the Beef game? Wow.)
Includes $10,000 Pyramid, Concentration (http://\"https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=1694&aid=27984&lid=7939198#topoflot\")
Includes Beat the Clock, Say When, Masquerade Party (http://\"https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=1694&aid=27984&lid=7939199#topoflot\")
Includes Electronic Let's Make a Deal, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, The Price is Right (http://\"https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=1694&aid=27984&lid=7939200#topoflot\")
Includes Newlywed Game, Wheel of Fortune, Stump the Stars, Hollywood Squares, Eye Guess (http://\"https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=1694&aid=27984&lid=7939202#topoflot\")
Includes Scrabble, Charge Account, Double Dare (http://\"http://www.proxibid.com/asp/showImageFullSize.asp?url=/AuctionImages/1694/27984/539.jpg&t=Stack%20of%20TV%20Related%20Games\")
Includes Pyramid (http://\"https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=1694&aid=27984&lid=7939204#topoflot\")
Includes Truth or Consequences, Weakest Link (http://\"https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=1694&aid=27984&lid=7939205#topoflot\")
Includes $ale of the Century, American Idol, Hollywood Squares (http://\"https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=1694&aid=27984&lid=7939206#topoflot\")
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[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'241163\' date=\'May 20 2010, 03:06 PM\']I'm a little surprised, seeing how some of the lots have been broken up, that the TV Guide collection is being sold as one piece. Even accounting for post-Ebay deflation of collectible prices, a collection like that is probably worth thousands of dollars, whereas some of the board game lots they've compiled are practically worthless. They probably could earn more money by selling the TV Guides in lots of a hundred or so, maybe in sets by year or something, in order to open the auction up to the vast majority of collectiors without pockets deep enough to bid on the whole thing.[/quote]
I'd argue there's an exponential curve to the price of the discretized TV Guide collection. He could sell off the 1950s and 1960s for about as much as the other years put together. Of course this may simply be due to the scarcity of the oldest magazines and their subsequent condition. But like you, Matt, I wouldn't even consider the whole thing. Whoever does get it might happily turn around and sell it off in smaller pieces and make a healthy profit.
So Matt, shall we go halfsies on it then? ;)
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The rules are a bit confusing (I don't have a credit card, and I don't drive), and so I'm unsure whether I want to go through with this. I can't seem to find any game show tapes/discs going out the door, so boo that. Also, the TV show board game lots are mixed.
Includes $10,000 Pyramid, Concentration (https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=1694&aid=27984&lid=7939198#topoflot)
The $10,000 Pyramid game seen in this lot is the 3rd Edition that was later reissued under the $20,000 title. Just want to note that for collectors.
Some of these games are pretty good (and relatively hard-to-find), but...well, I don't know.
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[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'241164\' date=\'May 20 2010, 03:24 PM\']Includes Password, Match Game, Trivial Pursuit, Jeopardy, Survivor, Body Language (http://\"https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=1694&aid=27984&lid=7939192#topoflot\")[/quote]I should note that IIRC, the Body Language game was not released at the same time as the show; but rather c. 10 years earlier.
I want to say Goodson or one of his usual celebrities had something to do with this, but I wouldn't swear to it.
Also, the TV-show board game lots are mixed. If somebody is looking for just game shows (like myself), they might be upset when they discover a lot includes such gems as The People's Court.
You can't make do with the gameshow games included in a lot and do something else with the ones you don't? Even Matt gives the People's Court game a mention on his page.
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[quote name=\'Modor\' post=\'241171\' date=\'May 20 2010, 04:06 PM\']I should note that IIRC, the Body Language game was not released at the same time as the show; but rather c. 10 years earlier.[/quote]
And has not one thing to do with the game show (http://\"http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/9889/body-language\").
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'241172\' date=\'May 20 2010, 07:11 PM\']And has not one thing to do with the game show (http://\"http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/9889/body-language\").[/quote]Well, I didn't go through and fact check all of these.
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[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'241173\' date=\'May 20 2010, 04:16 PM\']Well, I didn't go through and fact check all of these.[/quote]
Was just saying, man. Wasn't calling you out or anything.
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But it does have Lucille Ball on the box... can't go wrong with Lucy right?
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FYI, there are a pair of CBS Password Tickets for Studio 50 in NYC in a lot with other TV memorabilia. Date looks like Aug. 16, 1967 without completely straining my eyes.
https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?...939177#topoflot (http://\"https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=1694&aid=27984&lid=7939177#topoflot\")
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[quote name=\'Modor\' post=\'241171\' date=\'May 20 2010, 07:06 PM\']
Also, the TV-show board game lots are mixed. If somebody is looking for just game shows (like myself), they might be upset when they discover a lot includes such gems as The People's Court.
You can't make do with the gameshow games included in a lot and do something else with the ones you don't? Even Matt gives the People's Court game a mention on his page.[/quote]
#1, I forgot The People's Court had a section on Matt's site (which is strange, as it really isn't a game show).
#2, you're right. I'm strongly considering setting up an account, although my brother says I won't win anything.
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[quote name=\'Dan88\' post=\'241179\' date=\'May 20 2010, 07:49 PM\']although my brother says I won't win anything.[/quote]
That's the spirit.
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[quote name=\'Otm Shank\' post=\'241178\' date=\'May 20 2010, 08:39 PM\']FYI, there are a pair of CBS Password Tickets for Studio 50 in NYC in a lot with other TV memorabilia. Date looks like Aug. 16, 1967 without completely straining my eyes.
https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?...939177#topoflot (http://\"https://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=1694&aid=27984&lid=7939177#topoflot\")[/quote]
That's probably from one of the last tapings in NYC. I think those last shows with Betty and Frank Gifford were done in NY.
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Just an update about the recently-concluded Farnsworth Museum auction that took place earlier today. Sure enough, most of the 'lots' of TV related board games were not big-ticket items, most going for anywhere from five to fifty bucks. The lots that went for more typically had one particularly rare game in the set that the bidder was going after. A couple of the game lots got no bids at all.
The enormous collection of TV Guides went for $3,200.00. Hard to say whether that was a good deal or not since it's not clear to me that 'complete' meant 'no issues missing in the set' or whether it meant 'the complete total of TV Guides in the museum, whatever they happen to be'. It's certainly a massive haul, but I don't see much of a resale market anymore so I'd be curious about the buyer's plans.
The big-ticket item turned out to be an original (or close to it) 'image dissector' from Philo Farnsworth's early efforts to develop a working system for television itself. It sold for $17,500. Several other image dissectors that weren't as old or weren't in as good a condition sold for much less. Many old and rare televisions sold for hundreds of dollars.
I wish I could have been there to see it, and maybe bid on a few things. I stumbled across the Farnsworth Museum years ago and was just fascinated with all the goodies. Later this year, I'm helping to direct a production of The Farnsworth Invention, an Aaron Sorkin play about the development of television. At the very least, I got to snag some nice big pictures of some of the older items from the auction website, so I'll have something to work with as I design props.
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As I recall, he had every issue of digest-sized TV Guide. I'd love to have them myself, but I am running out of room. I'm limiting future purchases to NYC, Los Angeles or Michigan editions as much as possible because NYC and LA stations had full network schedules in pattern 99.9% of the time and Michigan is my home. Maybe Google Books can work out an agreement with the copyright holder and digitize them for posterity with the click of a mouse.
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[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'242768\' date=\'Jun 19 2010, 02:39 PM\']Later this year, I'm helping to direct a production of The Farnsworth Invention, an Aaron Sorkin play about the development of television. At the very least, I got to snag some nice big pictures of some of the older items from the auction website, so I'll have something to work with as I design props.[/quote]I got to see this in La Jolla with Aaron himself in the audience. It was, to put it mildly, a very good day for me.
/Aaron Sorkin is not related to Arlene Sorkin
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'242770\' date=\'Jun 19 2010, 05:50 PM\']As I recall, he had every issue of digest-sized TV Guide. I'd love to have them myself, but I am running out of room. I'm limiting future purchases to NYC, Los Angeles or Michigan editions as much as possible because NYC and LA stations had full network schedules in pattern 99.9% of the time and Michigan is my home. Maybe Google Books can work out an agreement with the copyright holder and digitize them for posterity with the click of a mouse.[/quote]
Very, very unlikely. The copyright is currently held by a venture capital company with no sense of their history. They had little sense of their history when we still owned TV Guide, I couldn't find anyone to, ahem, let me see the vault.
There's almost enough in Google News now to slap together schedules as necessary, although I would still like to have a set. Just not for $3,200.
--Mike
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Well, I'm sure collectors have more in their "archives" than the actual copyright holder, but at least they could give permission to Google to digitize and it would be up to private collectors to provide the actual issues. As you may know, the Undergrad Library at U of M A2 had a few reels of the '70's-'80s Detroit Edition on microfilm. Whether that still exists, I don't know.
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'242776\' date=\'Jun 19 2010, 10:49 PM\']Well, I'm sure collectors have more in their "archives" than the actual copyright holder, but at least they could give permission to Google to digitize and it would be up to private collectors to provide the actual issues. As you may know, the Undergrad Library at U of M A2 had a few reels of the '70's-'80s Detroit Edition on microfilm. Whether that still exists, I don't know.[/quote]
If they still have it, they're hiding it well. Eastern's library has an 80s-90s collection.
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[quote name=\'mmb5\' post=\'242777\' date=\'Jun 19 2010, 10:52 PM\'][quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'242776\' date=\'Jun 19 2010, 10:49 PM\']Well, I'm sure collectors have more in their "archives" than the actual copyright holder, but at least they could give permission to Google to digitize and it would be up to private collectors to provide the actual issues. As you may know, the Undergrad Library at U of M A2 had a few reels of the '70's-'80s Detroit Edition on microfilm. Whether that still exists, I don't know.[/quote]
If they still have it, they're hiding it well. Eastern's library has an 80s-90s collection.
[/quote]
Circa 1981 when I was there, they were on the ground floor behind the elevator wall leading to the reference section.
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I know from my Pittsburgh days that the main Carnegie Library there has the Pittsburgh edition on microfilm.
Just checked their online catalog, and it claims they have the entire run, 1953-2005, except 1984.
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'242778\' date=\'Jun 19 2010, 10:56 PM\']Circa 1981 when I was there, they were on the ground floor behind the elevator wall leading to the reference section.[/quote]
It's an entirely different building now. I don't even think they have books on that floor anymore.
Checking their catalog, they have 1992-1993 and 2001-through mid 2009. There's also a search only version from 1980-, but that's only available to students/faculty. The full-text version is searchable only through a library computer, and I'm not there right now, so I don't know their ranges.
I would assume the search only version is available at many universities.
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[quote name=\'trainman\' post=\'242780\' date=\'Jun 20 2010, 01:59 AM\']Just checked their online catalog, and it claims they have the entire run, 1953-2005, except 1984.[/quote]
I know that a lot of us would like to pretend AfterMASH never existed, but that's going a bit far, don't you think?
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[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'242785\' date=\'Jun 20 2010, 10:11 AM\'][quote name=\'trainman\' post=\'242780\' date=\'Jun 20 2010, 01:59 AM\']Just checked their online catalog, and it claims they have the entire run, 1953-2005, except 1984.[/quote]I know that a lot of us would like to pretend AfterMASH never existed, but that's going a bit far, don't you think?[/quote]Not in the least. That program was an aberration of the franchise from start to finish. It was a heaping mound of piss on its best day. If that means wiping out an entire year, I support the move....even though that was the year which brought us Celebrity Hot Potato.
I am sorry about the closing of the museum.
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As I recall, he had every issue of digest-sized TV Guide. I'd love to have them myself, but I am running out of room. I'm limiting future purchases to NYC, Los Angeles or Michigan editions as much as possible because NYC and LA stations had full network schedules in pattern 99.9% of the time and Michigan is my home. Maybe Google Books can work out an agreement with the copyright holder and digitize them for posterity with the click of a mouse.
If the winning bidder got the entire run of the digest-sized TV Guide for $3200, he got a steal ... either that or the value of old TVGuides has gone way down from where it was just a few years ago. Maybe that's what happens when the magazine goes the way it has since the digest-size version ended.
If I'd known that's all they would have gone for I might have tried to bid for them myself. It's still a lot of money, but I'm missing many issues from '53-63 and it would probably cost me that much trying to get them individually. Some issues from that time period still go for big bucks on e-bay and are hard to acquire. To be honest, I really haven't been looking at older issues recently...not that I've lost interest, but I haven't really been pursuing it for a few years now. I have every issue from '63-05 when the larger-format version was introduced.
Maybe one day I'll have a complete run :)
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[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'242795\' date=\'Jun 20 2010, 03:45 PM\']If the winning bidder got the entire run of the digest-sized TV Guide for $3200, he got a steal ... either that or the value of old TVGuides has gone way down from where it was just a few years ago.[/quote]
The latter is certainly true. Go on Ebay right now and search "tv guide" and 1953, and you'll see dozens of issues with a 'Buy It Now' price of less than $20, some around $10. And they're available, meaning no one is buying them even at that price. Meanwhile, I keep an old 1993 dealer catalog I use for reference, and those prices -- from nearly twenty years ago -- are at least two or three times higher.
Now sure, even at $10 each, it doesn't take long to get to $3200, so if you wanted an instant, complete collection, this was a great deal. If you're buying them to resell, though, it's probably going to take quite a while to get your investment back.
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[quote name=\'trainman\' post=\'242780\' date=\'Jun 20 2010, 12:59 AM\']I know from my Pittsburgh days that the main Carnegie Library there has the Pittsburgh edition on microfilm.
Just checked their online catalog, and it claims they have the entire run, 1953-2005, except 1984.[/quote]
That's ungood.
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[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'242799\' date=\'Jun 20 2010, 05:03 PM\'][quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'242795\' date=\'Jun 20 2010, 03:45 PM\']If the winning bidder got the entire run of the digest-sized TV Guide for $3200, he got a steal ... either that or the value of old TVGuides has gone way down from where it was just a few years ago.[/quote]
The latter is certainly true. Go on Ebay right now and search "tv guide" and 1953, and you'll see dozens of issues with a 'Buy It Now' price of less than $20, some around $10. And they're available, meaning no one is buying them even at that price. Meanwhile, I keep an old 1993 dealer catalog I use for reference, and those prices -- from nearly twenty years ago -- are at least two or three times higher.
Now sure, even at $10 each, it doesn't take long to get to $3200, so if you wanted an instant, complete collection, this was a great deal. If you're buying them to resell, though, it's probably going to take quite a while to get your investment back.
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Over the last several months, I bought 9 Cleveland area TV Guides from 1954-56 for a total of about $35.00 off Ebay..If I had interest (and the money) in buying that entire collection, I would have..Thing is, my interest is primarily Cleveland programming listings..
The Akron/Summit County Library has most of the issues in paper form from 1959-2005 stored in their basement..I've told them I'd take the issues through at least the 1980's off their hands if they ever got TV Guide in Microfilm..They told me that would be unlikely with Ohio Library budget cuts in recent years..The Cleveland Public Library has all the small-digest issues from 1953-2005 in Microfilm..
One more thing I wanted to mention..If anyone here sells TV Guides on Ebay..Please mention the name of the City/Regional edition you are selling..So many dont include that info..Unless they include an image of a programming page, its hard to guess..
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The news that the entire TV Guide run went for $3,200 is a bummer, although there are some caveats...serious collectors would want to see the condition of each issue, no opportunity for inspection, delivery questions, etc.
I have a few complete years from the '80s, Nebraska edition, in good shape, that I am planning to list on eBay in the next few weeks. I wonder if they are even worth selling anymore, other than to clear shelf space.