PA's Jack Palance Sells Personal Items at Auction
On October 9, 2006, a news article reported that veteran actor Jack Palance is auctioning off more than 3,000 personal items from his Pennsylvania home. The "City Slickers" movie star will begin the three-day sale of memorabilia at his 150 acre Holly-Brooke Farm on Thursday, October 12, 2006.
The three-day auction starts Thursday, and items going on the block range from the screen legend's old straw hat to an 1878 Steinway & Sons grand piano.The complete Associated Press article, as posted by Yahoo News, can be found online here.
"People can spend $5 or $50,000 at this auction," said Phil Eagle, an antique appraiser who traveled from California to sort and catalog the items to be sold.
Palance, the son of a coal miner and a native of nearby Lattimer Mines, collected most of the items during trips around the world filming movies.
The 87-year-old actor, who won the best supporting actor Oscar in 1992 for "City Slickers," also is parting with more than 1,400 books, posters from his movies, his high school championship football banners and memorabilia, movie props, his saddle, boots and vest.
Several classic cars will be sold, along with a horse-drawn carriage that is being stored in the barn alongside furniture, antique store display cases, salvaged railings and architectural pieces.
The article notes that "Keystone State Auctioneers Inc. is preparing for a crowd of up to 1,000 at Palance's property." The collection items to be sold are listed on that auctioneer's website here.
In Pennsylvania, there are many such auctioneers, often utilized in the liquidation of tangible personal property by estates.
The Pennsylvania Auctioneers Association has existed for 57 years. It is self-described as "a professional organization of nearly 600 auctioneers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania which was formed in 1949 to unite auctioneers, provide education and monitor legislation affecting the auction industry, with the desire that buyers and sellers would be better served." PAA operates the Pennsylvania Auctioneers Accredited Continuing Education (PAACE) Program, which is a "voluntary educational program . . . for all PA-licensed auctioneers in the absence of mandatory continuing education for auctioneers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."
The PAA website notes the existence of the National Auctioneers Association, and its "Accredited Auctioneer, Real Estate" professional designation, which is awarded by the National Auctioneers Association Education Institute "to qualified real estate auctioneers who meet the educational and experiential requirements of the Institute and who adhere to a strict code of ethics and standards of practice."
That website mentions the Auction Marketing Institute, founded in 1976, as an international association. It also notes the auctioneers' professional designations CAI (Certified Auctioneers Institute), GPPA (Graduate, Personal Property Appraiser), and AARE (Accredited Auctioneer Real Estate) that are awarded to properly qualified auctioneers.
These notations, a list of definitions, and other information about auctions & auctioneers all can be found here in PAA's "Frequently Asked Questions".
From a quick review of the auction list, the Palance collection appears to reflect his very energetic & accomplished life.
“One of the most important reasons for living is to do something -- live outside of yourself and put together an idea, an idea that you want to explore and then complete . . . Awaken your creative sensitivities!” -- Jack Palance
