"Who ya gonna call ?..."
Here's a very unique item. This is the only Studio authorized and authenticated Ghostbusters replica patch-set display that the Icons Studio wardrobe department ever produced.
Unbeknownst to most, in 1998 Icons was gearing up for a public offering on Wall Street. They were being groomed by multiple investment bankers to expand and diversify in order to attract more potential stock buyers. Icons began to plan in total secrecy to create wholly owned subsidiaries that would produce licensed wardrobe replicas, toys & novelties, etc.
One unique concept was to apply the same stellar quality and sales and marketing methodologies Icons was World famous for in the licensed prop and miniature replica arena to the manufacture and distribution of precise Studio wardrobe and costume piece licensed replicas. Icons successfully negotiated with and entered into an exclusive agreement with two renowned film and television wardrobe fabricators that were also highly regarded in the cosplay fandom universe, for their custom costumes. Which were known for being flawless in their accuracy and tailoring. These two individuals were Kathy Pillsbury and Joe Kerezman. If you ask around fandom, all of the information contained in this description is verifiable.
In the Spring of 1998, Icons opened a full-scale wardrobe shop complete with computerized sewing machines, hundreds of bolts of fabric, and pattern making equipment, etc. 5 prototypes were produced in this facility. 1) A Star Wars Empire Strikes Back Han Solo costume 2) a Ghostbusters jumpsuit 3) a Battlestar Galactica Colonial Warrior jacket 4) a Ghostbusters 1 & 2 jumpsuit patch display and finally 5) a Starship Troopers 2-piece military uniform.
Unfortunately, before this dream could be realized, Icons closed its doors forever. The existence of the Icons Studio Wardrobe department was a closely guarded R&D secret and was considered just another rumor for many years.
The rare, one of a kind item displayed here is a prototype display set, of authentic replicas of the patches worn on screen in the blockbuster-hit films Ghostbusters 1 & 2.
Original Ghostbusters 1 & 2 costumes worn by the stars of the films were provided by Sony Studios / Columbia / Tri-Star Pictures to the Icons Wardrobe Department and utilized to create precise 1:1 scale replications of the screen-worn patches which adorned the Ghostbusters' jumpsuits. Icons had hoped to utilize its relationship with Sony Studios to procure a master license for both Ghostbusters properties.
As you can see by the photo, this old prototype is in gorgeous condition and has obviously been well preserved. Also, as you can see by the photograph, the quality of the computerized sewing is exceptional. The display was created by mounting precise Studio authorized and authenticated 1:1 scale quality reproductions of the name patches of the beloved character names, as seen in the film on the Ghostbusters jumpsuit uniforms, as portrayed by Bill Murray (Dr. Peter Venkman), Dan Aykroyd (Dr. Raymond Stantz), Harold Ramis (Dr. Egon Spengler) and Ernie Hudson (Winston Zeddemore) and the classic Ghostbusters / jumpsuit uniform sleeve logo and Ghostbusters 2 sleeve logo, which have been carefully placed and mounted between 2 sheets of custom cut quality Plexiglas which are bolted together with six custom screws. The original Icons prototype metal inventory tag number (#000139) is still affixed to the piece in the bottom right hand corner.
The prototype display includes a rare paper "temp-plaque" with the Icons, Columbia Pictures Studios logo and a credit area where a Icons Studio Wardrobe Department logo would have been placed between the two, but this logo was never developed. There is a mock-up celebrity signature in the center of the temp-plaque of actor Dan Aykroyd. This is a facsimile signature and was not signed by the actor. The #42 of 500 is a simulated number on the temp-plaque, this edition is actually #1 of 1.
The reverse of the Plexiglas wall display has an interlocking hanging point bracket which includes the original mounting piece which is easy to screw into a wall for immediate home display.
This prototype was on display in Icons legendary memorabilia adorned conference rooms in both the Sun Valley and North Hollywood, California locations, from 1998 until 2000. It now resides with Andrea in Italy.
