Icons 1st Season "Stunt" 1:1 Scale Laser Prop Pistol Replica, "Brown-Handle Grip" Prototype (1996)

Here is an extremely rare prototype from one of Icons best selling 1:1 scale Studio licensed, authorized and authenticated prop replica product lines, a non-functioning 1st season laser pistol from the beloved and classic television series Lost in Space. 

Behind Star Wars and Terminator, Lost in Space was Icons best-selling product line. These stunning prop replicas were sold through quality retailers such as FAO Schwarz and The Sharper Image. Several hundred were sold & shipped to collectors all over the world. 

The original prop pistols used in the 1st season (and often 2nd season) seen on the popular T.V. series, Lost in Space, were originally created by 20th Century Fox Studios prop fabricators, who created them by molding a readily available Remco brand toy pistol, found at department stores in the early 1960's. These talented prop makers took the original toy and modified it by adding changes, such as a large simulated battery compartment, the simulated brass-colored target aims, a simulated battery-energy regulator light, the brass-colored cylindrical feature near the barrel and the red cone at the end of the pistol barrel (both solid and red translucent-clear for the illuminated "Hero" prop version). 

The cast and modified body of the Lost in Space prop pistol was painted solid black, which appeared visually stimulating on-screen combined with it's brass and deep red colored accents. 

Both "Hero" electronic, functioning illuminated prop pistols, as well as "Stunt" non-functioning versions, were constructed for production use on the Lost in Space television series. The illuminated versions interestingly assisted 20th Century Fox sound engineers with sound effect cues. And the illuminated "Hero" versions of the prop laser pistol also helped the actors during filming on set, feel like they were actually firing a futuristic laser weapon at some strange alien creature or huge space monster, like the dreaded Giant Cyclops.... 

Icons produced three (3) 1st season prop replica prototypes for approval by the Studio licensor on the Lost in Space property at the time, New Line Cinema who produced the much loathed and horrible Lost in Space big budget feature film released in 1997. 

1st one was painted solid black with 2 brown hand grips on either side of the prop pistol handle (as were occasionally seen on the Lost in Space T.V. series), the 2nd was painted solid black with black grips on either side of the prop pistol handle, as was the primary version seen on the T.V. program. And finally, the 3rd one, that one, a brown handled "Stunt" (non functioning) version of the 1st season Lost in Space laser pistol. 

This scarce, 24 year old, rarely seen, 1:1 scale, Studio licensed, authorized and authenticated Lost in Space 1st Season prop pistol replica is extremely well-made and gorgeous ! As you can see by the picture above. 

The 3 display plaques that are featured in the display case are very unique. They are the 1st (all metal cast & etched) Lost in Space celebrity signature plaques that were ever produced for this product line, plus a standard plaque bearing an AP number.

Icons Jurassic Park Velociraptor "Wall" Claw Prototype (1996)

Here we have yet another very interesting early Icons prototype. It is a Universal Studio licensed Jurassic Park Velociraptor dinosaur claw replica prototype, molded off of an original used in filming.

5 variations of Icons Jurassic Park claw prototypes were created at the same time, to present to Universal Studio licensing in order to determine which Jurassic Park Velociraptor claw display would eventually be chosen for manufacturing. It is very interesting to see these variations which include an alternate display case in one unit (mine) and an alternate paint scheme on both the claw replica and its background in another (not shown).

This particular replica is one of the 5 un-produced Icons Velociraptor claw prototypes, known as the "wall-claw" version because of the display stand where the claw does not sit "flat" but hanging on the black plexi-background panel, just under an original affixed photograph of a Velociraptor as seen during filming, printed from a master negative supplied to Icons by Universal Studio's.

The other individual Icons Velociraptor claw replica horizontal display prototypes were created to simulate an archeologist discovery. Each of these 5 prototypes was designed, developed and fabricated by and under the direct supervision of a special effects and prop fabrication film & television professional.

The Icons claw was molded as 1st generation replica, directly off of a screen-used original used in the filming of Steven Spielberg's mega-blockbuster, Jurassic Park, which was a landmark achievement in visual effects at the time of its release. Perfectly melding classic creature effects with sophisticated high-tech CGI technology. If you watch the film again closely, there is a beautiful close-up shot of the claw when the Velociraptors hunt the two children in the movie, while they hide in the kitchen area of the main complex on the fictional Jurassic Park Island. Watch as one of the menacing Velociraptor's taps its claw repeatedly on the floor in anticipation of the kill.

The Icons Velociraptor claw replicas were sold through a variety of channels, including at the "Jurassic Park The Ride" gift shop at Universal Studios in Universal City, California.

Included in the display, two original Icons prototype display plaques for the claw replica, one bearing the first and more intricate Icons pedestal logo.

Icons "The Vault" Collectors Society Official Catalogs

Here we have Icons official Collectors Society magazines / catalogs.

As most collectors know, the Icons Vault magazines / catalogs have become quite collectible in their own right. Only 3 Vaults (with #3 being a double issue) were produced by Icons Graphic Design and Marketing department, who were very caught up in the excessive growth of the company and focusing most of their energies on Certificate of Authenticity documents, plaque design, packaging, sales kits, advertising, etc...

Vault #1 was only 4 pages long. Vault #2 was 20 pages long. The legendary Vault #3/4 was over 75 pages and has sold on eBay in excess of $80.00 each. That edition of the Vault #3/4 really shows the mindset of the company in the Spring / Summer of 1998. That issue really was the swansong of Icons Marketing & Graphic Design department. Collectors rarely let editions of the Vault go due to their limited print runs and the fact that they tend to increase the value of an Icons replica if the edition is kept with the product.

"Vaults" are an indepth quarterly journal which takes us behind the scenes of Icons and the unsung special effects artisans of Hollywood. They're filled with interviews, feature stories and special studio updates on Icons editions and more !!

Icons Magazines

Icons has received exclusive media coverage with the following magazines : Sci-Fi Universe, HFX Magazine, The Official Guide to Star Wars Toys, Go Figure ! and many more....and have included many fine specialty retailers such as The Sharper Image, F.A.O. Schwarz, The Warner Bro. Studio Store, The Smithsonian Institute, Walt Disney, Universal Theme Parks, and Icons products appeal to collectors all over the world, especially in countries such as Japan, The United Kingdom and France.

Icons Predator 2 Disc

This Icons disc was molded from an original Predator 2 throwing disc weapon used in the production of Predator 2. The unique wall mount display was created by noted Hollywood special effects artisan Brian Bero. It appears to be constructed from a fiberglass material.

Boris Karloff Rare Fiberglass Life-Mask Icons Prototype (With Etched Signature Plaque)

Shown here is a rare original Icons Boris Karloff (Frankenstein, The Mummy etc...) licensed Icons manufacturers prototype, produced by Icons in 1998. Unbeknown to Icons collectors, the company secured the license from the Karloff Estate for this piece and had planned to produce an extensive line of 1:1 scale life castings of Icons of Film & Television. With the Karloff Life-Mask being the first in a series.

Only "4" of these were made. One is in the collection of Sara Karloff, the three others with private collectors.

Long bootlegged (the quality often very substandard compared to this beautiful casting), Life-Masks have not been licensed to my knowledge, which makes this prototype quite scarce. It was to be the first of many licensed Life-Masks that were planned, but the collectibles company Icons closed after 5 years in business (1995 to 2000) and this Boris Karloff Life-Mask was never released or sold to the public.

Life-Masks are made in Hollywood directly off of actors faces to be used in the creation and casting of latex foam make-up appliances. Having historically been produced since the early days of make-up effects.

This one in particular was molded (or pulled) from a 1st or 2nd generation copy of an original. It is so detailed you can even see Boris Karloff's eyelashes !!
What is rare about this piece, besides being a prototype, is the fact that it is made of lightweight fiberglass (vs. plaster, which is used most often in bootlegg Life-Mask castings that are sold) and as you can see, it is a 3/4 head life-casting. Mr Karloff's ears are cast on the sides.

Go compare this Karloff Life-Mask casting to any for sale on eBay or on the Internet. There is no comparison. Most do not feature the ears, are 3rd, 4th and 5th generation copies, losing much of the detail in the facial features, forehead, scalp and neck area.
Additionally they have often been re-sculpted on important areas such as the eyebrows etc.
The condition is impressive as you can see. The burnished patina custom paint job was provided by a Film & Television painter who was a lead at Icons (either Vince Odoni or Brian Bero).

The piece features an etched plaque with Karloff's signature engraved on its surface, copied directly off of one of his original autographs.

Sadly this piece never made it to the production line and is shown here publicly for the first time. So top-secret was this project at Icons, this prototype was not shown in Icons conference room.

Icons Jim Latta recalls "Life-Mask collectors had been producing bootleg copies and selling them for many years when we secured the license from the Karloff estate for this piece. As it was, Icons had significantly taken away from the unauthorized sales of unlicensed prop replicas. It was quite obvious that if we announced the Icons Life-Mask replica line, we would have made even more enemies, so this prototype was never displayed".

A fascinating piece of Hollywood Memorabilia as well as being a rare manufacturing prototype, for an awesome and historic product line that was never released.

Here is the original (signed by Sara Karloff, the daughter of the legendary Boris Karloff and the curator of the Karloff estate) of the faxed licensing agreement issued in 1998, for this proposed product.
The document features the facsimile signature of Mr Karloff.



Icons The Black Hole Sentry Pistol

As usual with Disney, the Studio asked for 6 samples to be made for product approval.

Only 6 were completed (replica, display stand & numbered plaque, paperwork, box & foam), no more.

The following picture is a concept advertisement for the Sentry pistol replica, with some Disney's hand-written corrections.