tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469620267466173380.post8624033387366626978..comments2024-01-24T11:12:13.089-05:00Comments on The Ernie Kovacs Blog: Kapusta Kids And Nairobi Trios: IN COLORAl Quagliatahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263782786009068693noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469620267466173380.post-11744631722150943742010-07-12T17:45:47.911-04:002010-07-12T17:45:47.911-04:00Ben Model has informed me that the puppet labeled ...<a href="http://www.erniekovacs.info" rel="nofollow">Ben Model</a> has informed me that the puppet labeled "Space Bear" in one of the pictures above is in fact "The Kapusta Kid".<br /><br />Thanks Ben!Al Quagliatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263782786009068693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469620267466173380.post-56929706350707083692010-01-01T14:33:18.833-05:002010-01-01T14:33:18.833-05:00Thanks for the info Rick! That's great.
Ha...Thanks for the info Rick! That's great. <br /><br />Happy New Year all!Al Quagliatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263782786009068693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469620267466173380.post-72736449340679075962009-12-31T19:01:27.906-05:002009-12-31T19:01:27.906-05:00Hi all,
Just got my pieces today and I am thrille...Hi all,<br /><br />Just got my pieces today and I am thrilled. The Ernie puppet is in remarkable shape, not fragile at all, as they claimed. Also, inside the body we found a coiled tube that would allow the operator to blow smoke out of Ernie's cigar. If anyone has a recollection of seeing this guy perform, please share that with us. I would guess it is even possible it was used in a cigar commercial. Any help appreciated.<br /><br />The 'Nairobi Trio' coat also held a fine surprise in that the right side pocket was littered with many bits of cigar tobacco! It has an NBC stapled on tag inside. I am told the other two do as well. We have identified it to have been worn by Ernie in the NAIROBI DUO IN SPACE skit due to the patterns and marks on the lighter colored fur. <br /><br />As expected, the wig is a modern replica made in china. The hat is from California, and bears the name of Lowell Purvis, a Broadway dancer of the 1950s and 60s. The original mask is in a bag in chunks, long since decayed. It was stored with a wad of paper to fill it out, but the acid ate through the entire face. It is gray and has hair matted to it.<br /><br />RickRick Spectorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02118985861880327562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469620267466173380.post-1209237397065608152009-12-26T14:45:17.779-05:002009-12-26T14:45:17.779-05:00Rick,
Can you post the link?Rick,<br /><br />Can you post the link?Al Quagliatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263782786009068693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469620267466173380.post-48473528579909015942009-12-26T14:24:08.852-05:002009-12-26T14:24:08.852-05:00Another, Ernie collector here has provided me with...Another, Ernie collector here has provided me with a link that shows images of the masks at the TV MUSEUM, in Chicago, proving they are not the three sold at HERITAGE last year. In fact, they more resemble the ones just sold in LA and look just as new.<br /><br />J., <br /><br />Are there existing copies of catalogs from TOPSTONE that show the masks?Rick Spectorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02118985861880327562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469620267466173380.post-45891520662203148082009-12-24T13:15:39.423-05:002009-12-24T13:15:39.423-05:00Gents,
Thanks for all the great commentary. I lo...Gents,<br /><br />Thanks for all the great commentary. I love it when folks interact here. <br /><br />Rick, I am reading your email right now. Thanks so much. Great info. I'm also removing the price link at the end of the post. You are correct; I did see prices the first day but now it just says "undisclosed".Al Quagliatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263782786009068693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469620267466173380.post-48454041332317073192009-12-24T12:11:46.459-05:002009-12-24T12:11:46.459-05:00Then the question arises: why did they not want th...Then the question arises: why did they not want the three costumes or two other masks? I would have to conclude that they were available, since she ended up giving them to the Hollywood Entertainment Museum in LA, along with all these other wonderful artifacts that could not be found anywhere else.<br /><br />I suggest some of the answers can be found in this week's THE COLLECTORS WEEKLY interview with the Entertainment curator.Rick Spectorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02118985861880327562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469620267466173380.post-34626629054876174282009-12-24T08:07:14.542-05:002009-12-24T08:07:14.542-05:00I remember two things about the mask, when I saw i...I remember two things about the mask, when I saw it: 1) it was painted green (which I've been told was common, to make things "look right" to the B&W TV cameras), and 2) the placard next to the mask said it was donated by Edie Adams.Snardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05559307752256546005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469620267466173380.post-58141184253921765782009-12-23T20:06:15.641-05:002009-12-23T20:06:15.641-05:00The three masks sold at HERITAGE last year are at ...The three masks sold at HERITAGE last year are at the Museum of Broadcasting in Chicago according to their website.Rick Spectorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02118985861880327562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469620267466173380.post-11896954281911537072009-12-23T16:42:38.105-05:002009-12-23T16:42:38.105-05:00Snard,
I was not aware of that. Thanks for point...Snard,<br /><br />I was not aware of that. Thanks for pointing it out.<br /><br />With all due respect to my friends who have purchased items of EK's at auction, I have often thought that some of the inventory ought to have ended up there.<br /><br />He was such a part of the early television fabric that it seems fitting.Al Quagliatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263782786009068693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469620267466173380.post-75100671902424284612009-12-23T11:40:36.023-05:002009-12-23T11:40:36.023-05:00This is probably already well known, but one of th...This is probably already well known, but one of the Nairobi Trio masks is in a display case at the Smithsonian (next to Archie Bunker's chair, last time I was there).Snardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05559307752256546005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469620267466173380.post-12978546674150192082009-12-22T19:37:29.775-05:002009-12-22T19:37:29.775-05:00J.,
Thanks to you as well. I'm going to add ...J.,<br /><br />Thanks to you as well. I'm going to add a correction to the post right now to have folks read these comments.<br /><br />Geez, I'm bummed! They're still some great items though. Why would they put up facsimile masks?Al Quagliatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263782786009068693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469620267466173380.post-69854386550411058732009-12-22T19:22:25.149-05:002009-12-22T19:22:25.149-05:00Correct. I was going to mention the masks, too (m...Correct. I was going to mention the masks, too (most of the originals, I assume, are either petrified or dust now).<br /><br />The original Trio masks were "Gorilla" masks made by Topstone. Their "Caveman" mask was used for the New Years Eve Unmasking blackout sketch during one of the later ABC specials.J. Theakstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02806774985137746617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469620267466173380.post-39877419179589103912009-12-22T19:19:25.043-05:002009-12-22T19:19:25.043-05:00Rick,
Thanks for the correction. I'm going t...Rick,<br /><br />Thanks for the correction. I'm going to put this in the actual post.<br /><br />I'm glad you found the post as I was just about to send you an email.Al Quagliatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263782786009068693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469620267466173380.post-42105345819182958572009-12-22T18:58:41.350-05:002009-12-22T18:58:41.350-05:00Nice write up!
Al, it needs to be noted that the ...Nice write up!<br /><br />Al, it needs to be noted that the masks shown are replicas and that was stated. There was one original mask, included in Lot 87, and I bought that also along with the lighter colored fur coat with pants. The mask is reported to be in bad condition. I was also not able to match the hats and wigs they sold, but I was only able to use the three 'Nairobi Trio' segments on the DVD as reference. Possibly others, or stills, exist that might explain the shorter haired wigs and very dark, very small hats.Rick Spectorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02118985861880327562noreply@blogger.com