Latest news with #RoyArbogast
Geek Tyrant
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Rare CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND Alien Mask Up for Auction – And It's Equal Parts Creepy and Cool — GeekTyrant
If you've ever dreamed of owning a piece of extraterrestrial cinema history, now's your chance, just don't expect it to phone home. Propstore has launched a new auction featuring an incredible lineup of film memorabilia, and one item in particular is drawing attention: An original alien mask from Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind . One of the eerily sweet 'Gray' aliens that descended at Devil's Tower in the film's unforgettable final act. This rare piece is part of Propstore's sale of items from Planet Hollywood's vast memorabilia collection. The auction kicks off May 21 and runs through June 11, and the catalog is packed with movie treasures that also includes Gremlins puppets, Ghostbusters miniatures, and Spock ears from Star Trek . But the Close Encounters alien, complete with 'functional eye mechanisms,' is the standout. According to Propstore's listing, the production team crafted multiple alien masks during filming, including prototypes, static versions for wide shots, and mechanical masks capable of limited movement. This particular piece is one of the mechanical versions used for close-ups, and it's got a bit of engineering under the hood. It comes from the collection of Roy Arbogast, the Oscar-nominated special mechanical effects artist and longtime Spielberg collaborator. The listing explains: 'It features a foam latex-backed slip latex skin dressed over a fiberglass underskull and painted gray-brown on the exterior. The interior is inset with wide cast resin eyes painted with blue irises and black pupils. The eyes are designed to move from side-to-side via cables installed along the interior.' Arbogast's filmography is filled with classic films including Escape from New York , The Thing , They Live , and Return of the Jedi . Some 'sympathetic restoration' has been done over the years to keep it display-ready, though the listing makes it clear the piece is fragile and not meant for wearing. So, maybe don't go scaring the neighbors in your driveway. The starting bid is $2,500.
Gizmodo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Summon Your Own Friendly Aliens With This ‘Close Encounters' Mask
Propstore's latest auction features a rare piece of memorabilia from the 1977 Steven Spielberg classic. You'll have to construct your own Devils Tower out of mashed potatoes (or garden dirt, depending on how much room you've got), but an authentic Close Encounters of the Third Kind alien mask is going up for auction, and it's equal parts cool, cute, and creepy. It's part of Propstore's auction of items from Planet Hollywood's extensive memorabilia collection (see the whole catalog here), kicking off May 21 and running through June 11. There's a Gremlins puppet, Ghostbusters miniatures, Spock ears from two different Star Trek movies, and lots more, but the Close Encounters alien—complete with 'functional eye mechanisms'—is the standout pick. According to Propstore's listing, the climactic Close Encounters sequence in which the musically inclined aliens land their ship at Devils Tower 'was achieved by dressing dozens of young girls as the friendly Grays. Multiple versions of their extraterrestrials masks were built by production, including a number of tests and prototypes, while two versions were ultimately selected for filming: non-articulated masks for wide or long shots of the aliens, and mechanical versions capable of a limited number of facial expressions.' This particular item, the listing explains, 'originated from Academy Award-nominated special mechanical effects artist and regular Spielberg collaborator Roy Arbogast. It features a foam latex-backed slip latex skin dressed over a fiberglass underskull and painted gray-brown on the exterior. The interior is inset with wide cast resin eyes painted with blue irises and black pupils. The eyes are designed to move from side-to-side via cables installed along the interior.' Arbogast's many special effects credits also include several John Carpenter films (Escape From New York, The Thing, They Live, and more) as well as Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Some 'sympathetic restoration' has been applied to the mask in the intervening decades, though the listing notes it's in quite fragile condition. In other words, it's for display only—don't try to wear it around the neighborhood to freak out unsuspecting Richard Dreyfuss types. The starting bid for the Close Encounters of the Third Kind mask is $2,500—you can learn more about the auction and how to bid here.
