Is it possible to get access to the Lucasfilm archives and..

Discuss all of the intricacies of the jacket in full detail

Moderators: Indiana Jeff, Mike, Indydawg

Post Reply
CM
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 2592
Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:43 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Is it possible to get access to the Lucasfilm archives and..

Post by CM »

... measure some of the film used jackets? I've seen photos and film footage of people in the archives checking out the gear. Will it ever be possible for a trusted someone to go in there (with permission, of course) and do some measuring of those famous jackets so we can once and for all put ourselves out of our speculative misery?

I for one would love to measure the LC pockets, since I have been obsessed with them for years.

Any thoughts?

Cheers- CM
User avatar
Indiana Strones
Museum Curator
Museum Curator
Posts: 1760
Joined: Thu Mar 13, 2008 4:48 pm
Location: Roma, Italy

Re: Is it possible to get access to the Lucasfilm archives a

Post by Indiana Strones »

CM wrote:
I for one would love to measure the LC pockets, since I have been obsessed with them for years.
I think you need some holidays... :wink:
User avatar
Holt
Craftsman
Posts: 14391
Joined: Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:40 am
Location: COW's Watch Tower

Post by Holt »

no.this is not possible from what I have heard and read.


only family and very trusted persons have had acces to lucas archives and with heavy surveillance

and it has not been many of those either

bests
Holt
CM
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 2592
Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:43 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Is it possible to get access to the Lucasfilm archives a

Post by CM »

Indiana Strones wrote:
CM wrote:
I for one would love to measure the LC pockets, since I have been obsessed with them for years.
I think you need some holidays... :wink:
I hear you, Brother.
agent5
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3911
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2002 8:02 pm

Post by agent5 »

Even people who have worked for LFL for years have not been inside the archives. You have to know someone pretty high up.
User avatar
PSBIndy
Professor of Archaeology
Professor of Archaeology
Posts: 838
Joined: Mon May 26, 2008 11:06 am
Location: Chicago, IL

Post by PSBIndy »

....Are the archives located in Skywalker Ranch by any chance?
agent5
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3911
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2002 8:02 pm

Post by agent5 »

From what I understand the items were recently moved to the Presidio in San Francisco.
gladd96
Field Surveyor
Field Surveyor
Posts: 84
Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:39 pm
Location: Missouri, United States

Post by gladd96 »

agent5 wrote:Even people who have worked for LFL for years have not been inside the archives. You have to know someone pretty high up.
Who?

Top Men.
Chewie Louie
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 587
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:39 pm
Location: Florida

Post by Chewie Louie »

Lucasfilm archives? No problem. We're not going to Moscow. It's Lucasfilm. It's like we're going into *Wisconsin*
1stsargent
Dig Worker
Dig Worker
Posts: 19
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 12:50 pm
Location: California,

Post by 1stsargent »

Just to chime in on this, my buddies work at the ILM in the presidio and other than a few props and statues there are no "archives" there to the best of their knowledge. I have been in there a bunch of times and there really isn't a whole lot to see other than computers and story boards. I have asked them about the starwars props and other movie props before and they have never personelly seen much of anything and the big wigs they know have seen very little aswell. They've even told me that Lucas himself really does'nt have to many props at his home either.
Last edited by 1stsargent on Sun Jun 08, 2008 1:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Chewie Louie
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 587
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:39 pm
Location: Florida

Post by Chewie Louie »

Yeah, that's what they want you to believe.
User avatar
John Falcon
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician
Posts: 112
Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:43 am
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Contact:

Post by John Falcon »

Tell them you're there to see the Howard the Duck stuff.
User avatar
Bufflehead Jones
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3191
Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2004 10:11 pm
Location: Maryland

Post by Bufflehead Jones »

You have to sit down in the right chair and lean back. That is when the secret stairs open up.
1stsargent
Dig Worker
Dig Worker
Posts: 19
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 12:50 pm
Location: California,

Post by 1stsargent »

Howard the Duck is almost treated like a bad word there. :)
User avatar
starks_6
Archaeologist
Archaeologist
Posts: 244
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2002 7:32 am
Location: Queensland, Australia

Post by starks_6 »

John Falcon wrote:Tell them you're there to see the Howard the Duck stuff.
ahahahaha thats gold! Im in stitches now :lol:
User avatar
PSBIndy
Professor of Archaeology
Professor of Archaeology
Posts: 838
Joined: Mon May 26, 2008 11:06 am
Location: Chicago, IL

Post by PSBIndy »

Howard the Duck?......the movie that made Elizabeth Shue a Hollywood legend? :)
User avatar
Mike
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 9663
Joined: Wed Jul 03, 2002 7:34 pm
Contact:

Post by Mike »

I think you mean Lea Thompson, who had already been in Back to the Future (among other things). Though Elizabeth Shue was in BTTF 2 and 3.

Most of the footage obtained from the archives are from when it was still warehoused in the city, before it moved to Skywalker Ranch. I've seen photos of people's visit to the Ranch, but nothing from the archives there.
User avatar
TheMechanic
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 597
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 4:56 pm
Location: In a skillet with potatoes & onions

Post by TheMechanic »

There's a picture on this forum of a guy in 1991 in the archives wearing the "last Crusade" jacket & hat, holding the whip and the grail. If he was allowed to wear the stuff he surely could have taken measurements.

That was many years ago though and now I'm sure they won't let anyone near the stuff.
User avatar
Neolithic
Professor of Archaeology
Professor of Archaeology
Posts: 845
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2003 11:46 pm
Location: Sydney, Australia

Post by Neolithic »

The last two photos in John Knoll's book Star Wars 365 Days are panoramic images of what I had thought were the new Lucasfilm archives.

I'm pretty sure if you paid enough money you could get in. :wink:
User avatar
Vindy
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician
Posts: 145
Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2007 10:10 pm
Location: North of Atlanta, Georgia

Post by Vindy »

Wow - from reading this thread, the Lucasfilm archives are starting to sound like the warehouse where they stuck the Ark... :shock:

...well, I guess they are, after all. :D
1stsargent
Dig Worker
Dig Worker
Posts: 19
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 12:50 pm
Location: California,

Post by 1stsargent »

I have asked if they would open a small museum there at the Presidio location. Though space is limited there I always thought it was possible. The Disney Family museum archive is kept up the hill from LFL so why can't Lucas do it?
agent5
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3911
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2002 8:02 pm

Post by agent5 »

I guess they still do keep the props at the Ranch then.
CM
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 2592
Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:43 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Post by CM »

You Tube features a couple of home movies of people inside the "archives". There are obvioulsy thousands of props inside - mainly Star Wars but also you can see some Indy stuff. You can see them on film. The question is when was that footage taken?
User avatar
John Falcon
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician
Posts: 112
Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:43 am
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Contact:

Post by John Falcon »

Always thought there should be a Lucasfilm theme park....nice place for a prop museum.
User avatar
Cassidy
Professor of Archaeology
Professor of Archaeology
Posts: 1175
Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2003 10:24 am
Location: Oakville, Ontario, Canada...

Post by Cassidy »

CM wrote:You Tube features a couple of home movies of people inside the "archives". There are obvioulsy thousands of props inside - mainly Star Wars but also you can see some Indy stuff. You can see them on film. The question is when was that footage taken?
I think there was some kind of a contest or something where someone won a trip to the archives. This is from memory, mind you, so I could be wrong.

I say we go in...all I need is a Russian psychic and some gunpowder and I'll find you that jacket.
StarTrekChuck
Dig Worker
Dig Worker
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon May 05, 2008 11:10 am
Location: Deep in the Heart of Arkansas

Post by StarTrekChuck »

Couldn't you try the whole, measure something you KNOW the length of, and apply that to the pockets too. Don't they use that in Forensics???

It was just a suggestion, but I thought it might be worth a try!

Anything to help! LOL
whipcracker
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 624
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:57 pm
Location: Hyde Park UT

Post by whipcracker »

I agree with StarTrekChuck. Why couldn't we do that. I would but don't have the technology. Any out who does?
User avatar
hollywood1340
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 655
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2007 4:24 am
Location: Missoula, MT
Contact:

Post by hollywood1340 »

Or we could just accept the fact there are no ONE set of measurements for anything gear related and understand close enough is as good as it gets. Ever.
CM
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 2592
Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:43 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Post by CM »

hollywood1340 wrote:Or we could just accept the fact there are no ONE set of measurements for anything gear related and understand close enough is as good as it gets. Ever.
We could, but that would be boring.
User avatar
hollywood1340
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 655
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2007 4:24 am
Location: Missoula, MT
Contact:

Post by hollywood1340 »

Touche! And it make for such interesting reading!
User avatar
Holt
Craftsman
Posts: 14391
Joined: Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:40 am
Location: COW's Watch Tower

Post by Holt »

wow I envy you.

did you take any pictures?

bests
Holt
User avatar
Herr Doktor
Archaeologist
Archaeologist
Posts: 390
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2003 7:12 pm
Location: I don't know...I'm making this up as I go

Post by Herr Doktor »

I've been there. They didn't allow pics, but I managed to snap one on the sly...




Image

:rolling:
User avatar
TimInKC
Field Surveyor
Field Surveyor
Posts: 67
Joined: Fri May 30, 2008 7:41 pm
Location: Independence, MO
Contact:

Post by TimInKC »

Vindy wrote:Wow - from reading this thread, the Lucasfilm archives are starting to sound like the warehouse where they stuck the Ark... :shock:

...well, I guess they are, after all. :D

I had always heard that George had the Ark from Raiders sitting in a glass case in the main entry foyer at Skywalker Ranch, and the Holy Grail is in George's office.

Anyone know the veracity of those reports?


---Tim
User avatar
Holt
Craftsman
Posts: 14391
Joined: Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:40 am
Location: COW's Watch Tower

Post by Holt »

what is rumored as the Hero prop grail.... is in display at George's office


Holt
IndianaChris711
Professor of Archaeology
Professor of Archaeology
Posts: 821
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2007 11:51 am
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana

Post by IndianaChris711 »

I am guessing in 20 years Skywalker Ranch will become a tourist attraction. Maybe then we will get to see the hero jacket then. :wink: I read on IndianaJones.com website that they had all the gear from LC and had him try it all on and Harrison said it fit like a glove. The only way we are going to measure the actual Raiders hero jacket is for someone to measure it while George Lucas is away from his office. :wink: I think they should do an exhibit with the Indiana Jones clothes and props like they did for the starwars exhibit a while back. I am not sure they would have as much stuff, but it would be nice to see something.

IndianaChris
Rambler
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician
Posts: 144
Joined: Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:34 am
Location: The DelMarValous Eastern Shore

archival storage

Post by Rambler »

I am somewhat surprised by the photos that have surfaced on this forum of the original props being stored on industrial shelving right out in the open. It seems sort of contradictory to keep them locked up like they are valuable artifacts yet to not use some basic museum conservation products and procedures to preserve them. I mean, face it, this stuff, with rare exception, was not made to last much beyond the shoot of the film. If the intent might be to one day put it all on display, it would be nice if it was in the best shape possible. Maybe the stuff described as being in display cases is better preserved. But, even so, most people do not use UV blocking glass, lights on timers and inert gas etc. the cases are often there just to keep dust and sticky fingers off the items.

I guess a warehouse full of props makes for a great retirement fund though?
YARVTON
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 408
Joined: Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:45 pm
Location: NYC

Skywalker "Museum"

Post by YARVTON »

It makes sense to lock-up everything before it all goes missing. But much of the stuff will just crumble to dust since it just wasn't meant to last. "Real" art museums have trouble funding conservation departments, so I unless Lucas funds a museum -- with an enormous endowment, I doubt everything will go on public display. Also, many of the props don't look good or right under normal lighting conditions. They were meant to be seen through a camera lens with lighting designed for the lens, not for the naked eye.
User avatar
Treadwell
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician
Posts: 175
Joined: Sun Jan 16, 2005 6:22 pm

Post by Treadwell »

Usually the photos that turn up were taken early 1990s at the latest. The facility was moved twice since then and I understand they are now stored with much more care.
delfloria
Archaeology Student
Archaeology Student
Posts: 40
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:42 am

Post by delfloria »

Been there as well....... No Ark.
User avatar
Holt
Craftsman
Posts: 14391
Joined: Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:40 am
Location: COW's Watch Tower

Post by Holt »

funny that you say no Ark.

this picture is taken a couple years back in the Archives and here is the Ark showing...

Image

Holt
delfloria
Archaeology Student
Archaeology Student
Posts: 40
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:42 am

Post by delfloria »

Yep. You are right about the archives. I was still talking about the ranch and the main house when I posted. (Anybody can get into the archives.) Just kidding.
Post Reply