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All I Want For Xmas is Maxwell Smart’s Shoe Phone

Spies, high tech military gear and exotic seductresses – some things never change! That was the 1960’s pop culture of my formative years. TV provided a mirror to California’s aerospace years. Hughes, Douglas, and Lockheed employed many of our Dad’s. We lived in households where acronyms and security clearance was a way of life. Memorabilia collector John Azarian’s collection of TV artifacts provide evidence of the Hollywood TV industry’s cracked mirror reflection of this time. Imagine if Get Smart’s writers were hired by the defense industry! Azarian collected costumes, props and scripts from TV shows including Batman, I Dream of Jeannie, Wonder Woman, Star Trek, Gilligan’s Island, Bewitched, and more. Now he feels it is time to divest himself of the treasure and it will be auctioned December 17th : https://profilesinhistory.com/auctions/the-azarian-collection-auction/. What treasure it is! Batman and Robin full costumes made the news, but the excitement for me was the Get Smart “shoe phone,” (auction est. $12,000-$15,000. Skipper and Gilligan hats (est. $20,000-$30,000), The “Bat Phone” (est. $30,000-$50,000), I Dream of Jeannie harem costume (est. $45,000-$55,000) and Jeannie’s bottle (est. $30,000-$50,000). If you love Batman, the costumes for 3 of the Catwomen will be auctioned, Batgirl’s cape and belt and walkie talkie and costumes from all of the villains we know and love including Joker, Riddler and Penguin. There is a huge amount of Star Trek costumes including “Alternative Universe” Kirk, Spock and Uhura outfits. May the 60’s sitcom reality live on! Profiles in History auction, December 17, 2019.

Azarian Collection – Profiles in History Auction
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Turquoise Worth Its Weight In Gold

The crème de la crème of Native American artists and their art will be showcased this weekend (November 9 and 10) at the Autry Museum American Indian Marketplace in Griffith Park https://theautry.org/events/signature-programs/american-indian-arts-marketplace/artist-list . The annual event hosts 200 artists from over 40 Native Nations throughout the US (even includes some from Canada and Mexico). It’s a dazzling display across the arts spectrum, in both traditional and non-traditional styles. Whether you are a novice or advanced collector, this is the place to go. The Autry annual Native American art market sits alongside the very top art markets including the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Red Earth in OKC, and Santa Fe. This is where you will see up and coming artists (when you can still afford to buy a piece), as well as the established artists who create internationally known, museum quality pieces. My favorite artist, Ellouise Padilla, showcases her stone inlay mastery and innovative designs. It’s an event appropriate for children too (activities, traditional music & dancing) and a great way to learn more about our local history. Food and beverage is available. A side note on the California tribes: in 1958 Congress passed the Rancheria Act which terminated federal supervision and Indian status for 41 California Rancherias and these tribes lost their acknowledgement of tribal status. Subsequently via judicial settlements over 27 Rancherias have status restored. If you want to learn more about our California tribes, click here: http://www.native-languages.org/california.htm

Ellouise Padilla (left), jewelry artist from the Santo Domingo Pueblo, NM.