Club Obi Wan

Hi everyone. Like many of you have already done, I get to meet John Rhys-Davies (Sallah) at out local Calgary Ent. & Comic Expo this April. I'm also a huge Indiana Jones autograph collector, and want to get Mr. Rhys-Davies to sign a red fez/tarboosh just like the one he wore in the Last Crusade.

The problem I'm having is that I can only find cheap $10 costume fezes that are too tall, or have a tassel on them. Indy Magnoli was kind enough to send me a picture of the actual one used in the movie, that was on display. I can send you the picture if you request it. (I'm still not quite sure how to post pics as I don't yet have a web photo album). It's quite different than the ones I can find.

I'm sure it was made by a professional costumier, and I've already contacted Western Costumes, and Angels in Costumiers, with negative outcomes.

I'm simply looking to see if any of you know where I can find, or have made a very screen accurate red 'Sallah' fez.

Any feedback is welcome.

Thank-you very much

Jonny

Well, I guess I'm sort of the "Resident Sallah" here, at least in the northeast US, so...

I have seen, held, and worn a fez that was from the LC production, but it's exact use has not been officially determined. However, looking at photos, I'm pretty sure John wore it for at least one publicity photo. It was a fairly thick felt, and hot as a bugger in New York summer (which isn't very hot by most standards). It did have a small felt tab on top, and was actually shaped down from it's full height, kind of like a deep telescope crown.

Following that concept, I purchased what I would call a "better costume quality" fez of a thinner felt with small vent holes and shaped it by hand to lower the crown. It's not bright red, but it gets very close to what Sallah wears.

The original;
http://www.e4hats.com/wool-felt-fez-hat-burgundy.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Final results;




I hope that helps you.

Also, I have learned that several of the "better costume fezzes" that have a tassel, the tassel can be removed. So, if you've found a nice red one with a tassel, remove it and rebash it.