In the former twenty-four hours of Hollywood , it was impossible to predict there would be any fiscal or historical reason for savingmovieprops . Later , even when collectors began to show interest and film conservationists beg filmmakers to have on to materials , studios found it too expensive to sample and keep rig decorations in storehouse . And if the memorabilia somehow feel its way out into the world , its owner had little idea of the cinematic account they held in their hand . Check out eight iconic props that wound up in a dumpster .
1. The Map //The Goonies(1985)
Sean Astin is careful with the terminology he employ to describe how he add up to own the treasure function fromThe Goonies . “ I do n’t think we were formally gift those item , ” hetoldan audience after a thirtieth anniversary showing in 2015 . When Astin was 18 , he left a number of personal possessions behind in the house owned by his mother , actress Patty Duke . When he render , many of the item — including the map — were no longer there . “ It ’s an item that would in all likelihood be worth like $ 100,000 now , ” he say . “ And I think my momma throw it out . ”
2. Emerald City //The Wizard of Oz(1939)
Dorothy ’s crimson carpet slipper haveexperiencedenough theft , malposition , and intrigue to fill a picture , and MGM has n’t had much luck with the respite of theOziconography , either . One of the matte paintings — a hand - illustrated backdrop that create the illusion of profundity prior to computer graphics — used to describe Emerald City was toss away out after the studiohireda salvage caller to clear out their back quite a little in the mid-1970s . Fortunately , one of the garbage man realized the painting might have been more valuable than that . The business held on to it until the piece entered the auction circuit in 1980 , where they netted$44,000for their conservation sweat .
3. The Scrumdidilyumptious Bars //Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory(1971)
Candy pitchman Willy Wonka ’s sweet treat of selection from 1971’sWilly Wonka and the Chocolate Factorywas the Scrumdidilyumptious chocolate bar . Though thousands were made for the production , about all of them were throw out when the Munich - based crew had to quick make room for the filming ofCabareton the same lot . Wonka accumulator Gee Gregor saysonly oneScrumdidilyumptious ginmill exist the fresh massacre . “ I am very majestic to have it , ” he tell the BBC in 2014 .
4. The Death Star //Star Wars(1977)
While George Lucas and Lucasfilm would later on have the resources to curate the extensive number of props and costumes from theStar Warstrilogy , not all of the models used in the original film were so favorable . After motion-picture photography was completed , the undivided Death Star make for screen use wasmovedto a memory facility . Fox before long decided they were threadbare of yield rent , so the subject matter were ordered to be thrown out . A storage unit employee noticed the Death Star , rob it from the trumpery , and hung on to it for the next decennium before displaying it in his mother ’s Missouri antique store . The store betray it to a player who used it as a trash can , stuff dissipation through a pickle where the radar knockout had been . A collector later rescue it , giving the satellite - destroying superweapon a life of lordliness as a public display .
5. Scarlett O’Hara’s dress //Gone With the Wind(1939)
Beginning in the 1960s , Universal Studios employee James Tumblin set about compiling props and costumes fromGone with the nothingness . By chance , hevisitedthe Western Costume Company and comment that one of Vivien Leigh ’s concealment - used dresses was in a megabucks on the flooring . Recognizing it immediately , Tumblin enquire about it ; he was tell it was being thrown forth . Aghast , he offered the owner $ 20 . In 2015 , Tumblin sold it at auction for $ 137,000 .
6. New York //King Kong(1933)
While Peter Jackson possess a small portion of the hold on - motility role model used for the originalKing Kongfilm , he ’s not probable to be able to couple them with a weighing machine model of New York . The Chrysler Building , Empire State Building , and other sets that were owned by RKO eventually wind up on the Desilu Studios lot . According toBarry Livingston , who played Ernie Douglas onMy Three Sons , he and his chum would play with the props during shooting . One day , they arrived to find them gone — everything from the flick had been thrown aside to make more elbow room for the needs of the TV product .
7. The Leg Lamp //A Christmas Story(1983)
Ralphie ’s father had questionable predilection in home interior decoration , but that has n’t terminate fan of the vacation classic from buy replica lamps regulate like a seductive female leg . alas , getting the real matter is unimaginable : According toPeter Jones , who manoeuver a tourist business out of the family used in the film , all of the leg lamp were discarded by the 1990s .
8. The Theater Chairs //Siskel & Ebert(1977-1999)
Though they were never featured in a movie , the balcony behind take by dueling film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert might be some of the film industry ’s most significant pieces of article of furniture . When Siskel died in 1999 , Ebert continued Colorado - hosting with Guest — include tenured critic Richard Roeper — until 2006 . Just before Disney canceled the show in 2010 amid some acrimonious business enterprise dealings with Ebert , heallegedworkers destruct the original circle and the chairman with maul . Ebert felt they belonged in the Smithsonian .
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A version of this story run in 2016 ; it has been updated for 2024 .
