....Happy 4th of July....

....Elephant Diva's....Kelly Miller Circus 2009....

....Photo from The Mudshow Diaries....

Exciting new Silent Auction Announced in Monte-Carlo

Monday, June 29, 2009 - News
International circus federation seeks U.S. circus collectibles to help promote circus arts worldwide




The Federation Mondiale du Cirque, an international organization of circus-related associations based in Monte-Carlo under the patronage of H.S.H. Princess Stephanie of Monaco, is seeking U.S. circus collectibles and memorabilia to be donated for a silent auction in Monte-Carlo in January 2010 as part of the festivities surrounding the Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo.

"We held our first silent auction last January in support of the Federation's work to promote circus arts and culture worldwide," said Laura van der Meer, the Federation's executive director who spoke at the annual Circus Fans Association of America convention in Las Vegas in June 2009. "We discovered that there was a great deal of interest in American circus items that reflected the rich circus heritage in the United States."

She added: "Collecting, trading and auctioning of personal items, autographed photos, souvenir books and other circus memorabilia present a very personal and meaningful way to share circus arts and culture across national boundaries."

At her appearance in Las Vegas at the CFA convention, Ms. van der Meer challenged each membership Tent to identify and find at least one circus collectible that reflected the history and heritage of that particular group or area, and to donate it to the silent auction as a way of reaching out to and embracing circus fans and enthusiasts from around the world.

Donated items may be sent to the Outdoor Amusement Business Association (OABA) for collection and delivery to Monte-Carlo. Donors of items should provide a short written description of the item including the year of its production or use, plus an estimated fair market value. The address is FMC Silent Auction c/o OABA, 1035 S. Semoran Blvd., Suite 1045-A, Winter Park, FL 32792.

After the auction, each donor will receive a letter from the Federation identifying the donated item, purchaser and amount raised for the donation.

For more information on the Federation and/or the Silent Auction, please contact Rodney Huey at 703-627-1080, or rahpr99@gmail.com

From His Glove to His Limo: The King Of Pop's Neverland Ranch Auction

Iconic memorabilia from Jackson's career is featured alongside his luxurious home furnishings and profuse amusements in this once-in-a-lifetime auction of Neverland Ranch




above: An orange spandex glove covered with orange Swarovski Loch Rosen crystals and rectangular mirrored beads. Guide price $1,000-$1,500




above: A pair of Michael Jackson's Triumph-era socks with uppers covered in rhinestone banding. They date back to his 1981 Triumph tour with the Jacksons. Guide price $600-$800



above: A robotic Michael Jackson head featured at the climax of his 1988 film Moonwalker, when he transforms into a robot and defeats Joe Pesci's evil character, Mr Big. Guide price $2,000-$3,000


The robotic head lights up as each piece of the face pushes out and expands before retracting back into the shape of Jackson's face. It still animates at the push of a button


A portrait of Michael Jackson dressed as a king, oil on canvas, signed and dated 1995 and housed in an elaborate gold frame. Guide price $4,000-$6,000




A hanging swing featuring scenic wild animal panels and elaborate carvings. Guide price $1,200-$1,800



The prop 'scissorhand' gloves that Johnny Depp wore in Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands. Stan Winston, the visual effects artist for the film, worked with Jackson on the 1997 short film Ghosts. Guide price $4,000-$6,000



above: A larger-than-life figure of Superman. Guide price $1,000-$1,500




above: A marble chess table supported by four parcel gilt horses on marble pillars. Guide price $2,000-$3,000






above: A Victory tour jacket worn by Jackson at the Kansas City opening of the 1984 tour with the Jackson. It is currently on exhibit at the Los Angeles Grammy Museum. Guide price $2,000-$4,000








above: Jackson's Rolls Royce with interior designed by himself. Guide price $140,000 - $160,000

The sale also includes vintage video game machines, as well as Jackson's collection of 18th- and 19th-century art. There are books about Disney, the Three Stooges, Peter Pan and Alfred Hitchcock, as well as a collection of black history books, including the autobiography of Malcolm X. Then there is a selection of his own stage costumes, dating back from the days of the Jackson 5 through to the present. There is one of the fedoras he wore in the video for Billie Jean; a pair of trousers so studded with diamanté that they feel as heavy as chain mail; there are customized military jackets, featuring insignia surely acquired on his global travels - including badges from the Royal Air Force and the Thai Narcotics Bureau.

All Photographs Courtesy of Shaan Kokin/Julien's Auctions





About the ranch:
The ranch opened as a private amusement park in 1988, with its own zoo and Ferris wheel, roller coaster and bumper cars. It was named after Peter Pan's fantasy island where children never grow up, and for years children would arrive by the busload, invited to play freely in its grounds. But following the 2005 child molestation trial - which saw Jackson acquitted of all charges - the singer never returned to the 2,800-acre property in the Santa Ynez Valley, 130 miles west of Los Angeles. The ranch has recently been renamed Sycamore Valley Ranch.

Michael Jackson deal stops auction of Neverland ranch contents

April 15, 2009

Michael Jackson’s recent good fortune continued yesterday when he stopped an auction house selling a vast number of his unconventional belongings.

The pop star reached a settlement with American company Julien's Auctions, who were set to sell the singer’s famous crystal-encrusted white glove along with more than 1,000 other possessions next week.

Jackson stunned critics by selling out a summer residency at the O2 last month.

Darren Julien, the auction house owner, said that a confidential settlement had been reached and none of the 1,390 lots, recovered from Jackson's eccentric former residence Neverland Ranch, would go under the hammer.

The star’s personal effects, estimated to be worth $10 million (£7 million), were already being exhibited to potential buyers in Beverly Hills, California, after several previous attempts by Jackson’s production company to halt the sale failed.

The battle was due to continue in court today, where Jackson’s team were seeking an injunction, when the settlement was reached.

Jackson has always maintained that he never authorised the sale, while Julien’s Auctions have argued he gave permission after he abandoned Neverland, and the possessions inside it, following his 2005 acquittal on child molestation charges. He later lost possession of the ranch after defaulting on a loan.

Julien said that the exhibition, which includes Neverland’s front gates, arcade games from the ranch and military-style jackets that Jackson wore on stage, would continue before Jackson was reunited with his possessions.

Jackson has been in financial difficulty since his career slumped following his 2005 trial, with his debts estimated at more than £100 million.

He has lived a reclusive life, mostly outside of his native America, until last month, when he appeared in London to announce a series of comeback concerts at the O2 venue.

The rush for tickets surprised critics and saw the singer add a string of further dates.