ICONS Authentic Replicas Interview clip?

Here are some of the other names from Tone's drawing.

03.) Larry T. ( Co-Supervisor of Icons Manufacturing. Who went on to Gentle Giant. )
08.) Dev G. ( Co-Supervior of Icons Manufacturing. Who became a V.P. at Gentle Giant )
11.) Rob M. ( Master Mold maker. Who came from Streamline models with Al Z. ) ( Note: Rob was a real talent but always pissed-off it seemed. So Tone really captured that with Rob's smirk-like expression. lol.)
14.) Larry R. ( The head of Icons Fiberglass shop )
 
Greetings Petsku, Faraway Finland ! The RPF reaches far and wide.

Thank you for your post and expressing your feelings in a very deep and meaningful way. It is easy to appreciate your passion for Film and respect for your fellow artists.

I am working on a detailed response and the Peerless story. But here is a short story related to the company...The CEO of Peerless Mel Gaigerman came from the famous collectibles company Applause LLC. Which used to sell their products in Spencer Gifts and Suncoast Video stores here in the U.S. I'm sure many RPF members here are aware of Applause's line of Star Trek, Star Wars, Star Gate and Nightmare Before Christmas collectibles.

The CEO of Applause Bob Solomon chose to commit suicide in 2004, after what happened at Applause and a failed financial turn-around. His was a cautionary tale that I have often contemplated over the past 8 years.

I often wished I could have met Mr. Solomon and shared our war stories. There was only 1 degree of separation between us with numerous people, including Mel G. from Peerless, but we never met. Solomon's company was a pioneer in the field for decades. He was a maverick, a visionary and an inspiration to many in the collectibles field. And I would have thanked him and reminded him of his contributions over the 2 decades in the business.

You can find more about Solomon if you are interested on google. But here is an article shown below. Note the 22 year licensing relationship with Disney that he lost, which evidently devastated him. Been there...done that...but somehow survived. But many CEO's do not. Many sadly kill themselves.

Applause CEO Bob Solomon Dies
By Rosette Gonzales
August 2004


Robert G. Solomon, chairman and CEO of Applause LLC died Friday, August 20 from a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head.

Solomon, 50, was discovered in his Woodland Hills home still barely alive, but was pronounced dead at Northridge Hospital at 6:19 p.m.

Solomon was the sole owner of Applause, buying it out of bankruptcy in 2001, and securing major licenses with Disney, Nickelodeon, and Warner Brothers. Applause established a strong reputation in plush, creating products for “Finding Nemo,” "Star Trek", "Star Wars", “The Simpsons,” “The Cat in the Hat,” and other well known character licenses.

Solomon told TDmonthly Magazine in June of this year, "I´m a gift company. My products are bought and sold and given as an expression of love or sentiment."

The company was suffering through financial stress and lost its major licenses, finally severing a 22-year old licensing partnership with the Walt Disney Company in June. Plans to relocate offices from the Woodland Hills Headquarters to a West Los Angeles location were to take place at the end of the month.

“The company is going through major reorganization right now,” said a spokesperson for Applause, but the company has yet to release a formal statement.

Solomon leaves behind two daughters and a son.









( More to follow...)
 
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Re: The Star Trek Grandslam Convention newsclip.

Oh my goodness. lol. That is from back in the day. Think 1995, 17 years ago. Somewhere I have a tour of that entire exhibit with close-up shots of each piece. Shot beautifully. Have to find that and share it someday if anyone would be interested.

That prop, miniature, costume and production art exhibit was a ton of work, and we had a lot of help from some awesome fellow collectors and film industry pros. It was ashame to have to take it down after the convention, but we had it up and on display for 4 full days and nights. And had over 7,000 walk through. All for free. Creation paid for the trucking, mannikens, display case rentals, insurance and security and we provided the rest. Creation were awesome to work with.

Strange thing is we got a TON of lack from a few local collectors / brokers for producing the exhibit and caused a lot of backlash from them. This even contributed to the attacks on Icons with the same individuals a year later. They accused us of promoting the hobby to new potential collectors who might go hunting and find pieces that they were trying to obtain. Or worse yet...create new brokers in the hobby.

Roger and I ( and the fantastic volunteers who helped with the exhibit ) were just beyond thrilled to share all of our hard work and efforts tracking down these historic Film & TV memorabilia pieces and preserving them. We looked at it the big exhibit as a celebration and love of the hobby. But we were naive with all the politics in the L.A. memorabilia underground. But I wouldn't have traded that experience for the world. Roger and I and the others got to enjoy all of those historic pieces in one room for the first time too and for 4 full days. A joyous time and a wonderful memory.

Thank you so much for posting the link. Yes Propmaster, it was in Pasadena. And I think we may have met you there back in the day.
 
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Do you have any pictures of what Icons used to look like when it was open? I've only seen the one picture posted on the first page.
 
Yes, fortunately even with being devastated financially, I was able to preserve all of Icons photographs and documentation. There must be over 1,000 photographs. And a great deal of video footage, including a tour of the 12,500 square foot "Robot Factory" ( < As it was dubbed ).
Some people at the time compared the building / compound which has individual shops for molding / mastering / casting / sanding, painting, wood and plexiglas as a Howard Hughes mentality, and others to the movie "Tucker: A Man and his Dream."

But the truth is behind the scenes investment bankers & so-called business development experts were advising me that Icons was in fact going to "go public." And at the time the stock market was at an all time with issuing historic IPO's ( Initial Public Offerings.) I often mentioned immediately downsizing and interfacing with Pacific Rim manufacturing ( China / Asia ), but was consistently told the large Icons facility was perfect for transitioning into an office / prototyping and fulfillment warehouse.

I did not know the above was one strategic method of "Pump & Dump". Investment Bankers selling a company with great appeal and potential to investors, infusing just enough investment capital to grow ( if not bloat ) it, simply in order to cash out early via commission %'s on all money raised, with no intention of ever taking the company public. Or if the company is taken public, short-selling their % of the stock. Selling their stock for much less then market value. Icons was 100% a target of bottom-feeding Investment Bankers. The key figure in the Icons debacle was fined and prevented from operating as an Investment Banker by the SEC ( Securities & Exchange Commission ) after all that happened at Icons.

A very tough learning lesson I never expected to face.
 
If you would ever upload or post those photo's and videos I for one would love to see them.. The history of prop collecting and replicating in my opinion would be fantastic. But then again I'm a bit of a history nerd/geek anyway. Just don't get me started on the Battle of Wilson's Creek.
 
Yea, I think that was in Pasadena in 95. I think that the year before it was out at LAX, where I met Roger in his little display room off the side of the main dealers room.
 
This is a fascinating read. I did a little internet research and this article came up in conjunction with your name. I would be interested to hear more on this.




Frazetta case takes weird, nasty turn

Family beset by anonymous campaign combining demands, threats, legal advice




bilde

A large sculpture greets would-be visitors to the Frazetta art museum on the family's property near East Stroudsburg on Thursday, March 25, 2010.FILE PHOTO/Pocono Record





By HOWARD FRANK
Pocono Record Writer
April 08, 2010

A vicious campaign of accusations, threats and demands by a man identifying himself as "James L." has added a bizarre new twist to the Frazetta family feud.
If the Frazetta family doesn't agree to his demands, "I'm going to take you

Alfonso Frank Frazetta, known as Frank Jr., the oldest son of famed fantasy-artist Frank Frazetta Sr., has been feuding with his three siblings and father over control of the artist's assets since the death of his mother, Ellie, in 2009.
Frank Jr. awaits trial on theft charges after breaking into the Frazetta Museum in Marshalls Creek and allegedly trying to steal $20 million in artwork last December.
But James L. has injected himself into the controversy.
"He starts yelling at me and saying, you have to fire your father's business managers, fire my father's attorneys, and drop the charges against Frank Jr., and if we don't, he said he was going to call the IRS — that he'll get 10 percent," said Heidi Grabin, daughter of Frank Frazetta Sr. "He said I would be put in jail for two years; we'd all be in jail with my brother. And our lives were going to be miserable."
James L. may be trying to muscle into the Frazetta family business, saying he was more qualified to market Frank Sr.'s artwork than the current business team. He boasted about his experience in trademark licensing, saying he had a 20-year relationship with Paramount Studios.
James L. claims he was hired by Frank Jr. as a business consultant, adviser and strategist, and sent an e-mail to siblings Heidi, Holly and Bill with his analysis of the family feud and proposal to mitigate the disagreement.
It's a bizarre, 12-page jumble of demands (drop the charges against Frank Jr.), advice (you can buy cars, boats and homes through the family corporation), and accusations of tax fraud, incompetence, theft and abuse of the elderly. He likens family members to both Walt Disney and gangster movie characters.
James L. demanded a new family trust be established, with Frank Sr.'s grandchildren included. Bring Frank Frazetta Sr. back home to Pennsylvania from Florida "and after de-stressing, Frank Sr. should immediately meet with the DA in person and explain this has all been one big misunderstanding," James L. wrote.
He also demanded the family return the original artwork to the museum, and wants it reopened in the spring.
Among the accusations contained in dozens of phone calls, text messages and e-mails by James L. was the claim that the family excluded Frank Jr. from Frank Sr.'s estate.
But as it turns out, that's not the case.
After the death of Ellie Frazetta, Frank Sr. created a limited liability corporation that owns his artwork and intellectual property rights, according to Frank Sr.'s lawyers. Frank Sr. is the sole member, or owner, of the LLC, with each of the four Frazetta children, including Frank Jr., as equal beneficiaries in the event of Frank Sr.'s death.
But Frank Sr. excluded Frank Jr. from any management responsibilities or decisions over the artwork. That is now controlled by the artist's other three children.
That has apparently led to the mistaken belief among some fans that Frank Jr. was cut out of the artist's estate.
James L.'s e-mails include headings like "Sound the War Drums," and "Kidnapping? Phone re-routing? Coercion?" James L. even bragged he'd be relentless in his campaign against the family. "Guess you realize I've got all the time in the world, huh? I'm rich. So, you're my new full-time hobby." But the calls from James L. trace back to a Travelodge motel in Anaheim, Calif.
Grabin filed a police report in her hometown in Florida and also spoke to an FBI agent.
Frank Jr. could not be reached for comment, but his wife, Lori, said that no one by the name of James L. is working for Frank Jr.
"My family and I can't be responsible for what other people do," she said.
 
KINGJAMES - Are you James L.? I heard about the Frank Frazetta family feud a couple of years ago. After reading your article, that is a drama I would not want to be a part of.
 
James, your posy on your non guilt as well as some other statements you have I have a bone to pick with.

For Icons, I was a distributor. I had pre-purchased two hero Pulse rifles as well several Star wars items. I also had a Tie Fighter model sent back for damage the last two months Icons was opened and never received anything back. In all I had over $ 4000 dollars lost to Icons under the Bassett's business. The only reason I did not pursue it was it was too costly to do so and was cost prohibitive. I am sure MANY other dealers had the same issue as I did since I did talk to quite a few over the years at conventions.
John Pisa Relli actually leggally wrote you directly on my behalf at the end and you did personally write a compromise in return for forgiveness of the debt that you would send me two Icons Nautiluses that were still in production in the last month. You did fail to come through on that legal agreement, but again, it just was not cost effective to pursue it.

The last year as a dealer for Icons was frustrating to say the least. I was pretty much blown off by most of the reps on the phone. I did speak to you personally, and you were quite cordial but it was all talk and no substance in terms of actual follow through.

I actually had a behind the scenes view with Lucas when both Jeff Parks and Steve were applying for the Lucas License and can confirm that Lucas looked at Icons in a terribly negative manner. Icons WAS a hinderance in terms of lost reputation for future production of license prop licensees.

I also was with Steve as he was researching props at the Magic of the Myth when it was on display here in Toledo Ohio. I can absolutely say that MR started anew for all future research on the props and in fact, found many flaws with the previous works Icons produced. Icons was much more a lesson of what not to do than a foundation for future prop manufacturers in several ways.
 
Jim, in my previous post I mentioned about a certificate for a cylon helment at the 20yr BSG convention in 98 in Burbank,Ca. That is incorrect,
I dug all my paperwork up and I pre-ordered and paid for the cylon helment and colonial viper helment.

The certificate was paid and won in the auction they had at the 20yr conventionfor a proto-type colonial blaster. In fact I talked to you about it and you are aware of it at that time. You even tell me I can have all 3 matching numbers for those items. I have the converstaion and time line dates documented on paper from Donna Johnson, to Dennis, to yourself Jim Lattta. I took a picture so you can see everything I have from the collectors society original white folder, to the collectors card membership, to the vault, and original first premiere issue vault, to the faxes, the warranty card to register, to the conversation time lime, I have it all just in case theres any doubt about it.
 
John - You mentioned the BG 20th Anniversary convention contest was in San Franciso, not Burbank. Sorry, as I privately messaged you, that is what threw me.



Thank you. I'll review what you posted. But I would appreciate being emailed this kind of additonal order information directly as we have been communicating via messaging too. But that is of course up to you. I'm not trying to ask posters to edit their posts or not complain, that is going to happen, I'm saying that I can't keep up with the questions and information people are asking here on this thread, at the same time that I'm trying to go over past order issues if it becomes one massive thread of order information. Please keep in mind I'm only 1 person and have limited resources.



Also I don't want to encourage non-Icons customers to make claims that are not true. The ones who have already posted and are messaging me I remember. But some unscrupulous individuals will claim they did not get product who did, or were refunded, or never ordered products in the first place. I would rather hear the order problem, frustration, anger and insults first, and then please email me / or message me so we can discuss it. Blast away at me, but it will effect the content quality of the thread, if that matters.



I was financially wiped-out after Icons, and am still re-building my life. It was 12 years ago, I was 1 of 6 co-founders and 67 shareholders and over 5 years 312 employees and Icons was a corporation. What I am willing to do is talk openly to members here and continue to communicate with them directly. But I'd rather a member post their first horror story, and then let's try to figure out what happened exactly between us. Otherwise I simply won't be able to keep up. Right now I've got key past Icons customers and members here that I may be able to help. As people are being very communicative & cordial. That will help me to continue to see what can be done. My apologies for posting this, but I wanted to express what will keep me continuing to post. Although there will be some who don't want me to. Especially knowing where so many of the bodies are buried in the industry and hobby. My talking about inside info relating to the L.A. Underground in the 1980's and 90's? My emails lit up immediately.



Unless I am wrong in my opinion stated above. I'm open to thoughts and opinions and I'm sure I am going to get flamed into a cinder shortly regardless. But I have expressed myself to some.



They say that "20% of people who know you are going to like you, 20% of people are going to hate you, and 60% of people are going to be completely indifferent to you."



Thanks.
 
Tripoli - I am glad you posted. As over the years people have linked me to your posts from time to time and I know you have had great frustration with what happened with your experience with Icons. Firstly, I extend my sincerest apologies to you before I address some of your comments. I'm very sorry for what happened.

James, your posy on your non guilt as well as some other statements you have I have a bone to pick with.

I have never said I am "non-guilty"...of being a: co-founder, Executive Vice President, a CEO / President ( 1998-1999 ) or an executive or shareholder of Icons. Guilty as charged like any officer in a company that has gone out of business or filed for bankruptcy. Which is 3 out of 4 start-ups. I am 100% guilty. However, I am not guilty of purposely stealing money from customers. The FBI proved that. A Grand Jury proved that. The U.S. Post Office proved that. And the Los Angeles Police Department proved that.

For Icons, I was a distributor. I had pre-purchased two hero Pulse rifles as well several Star wars items. I also had a Tie Fighter model sent back for damage the last two months Icons was opened and never received anything back. In all I had over $ 4000 dollars lost to Icons under the Bassett's business. The only reason I did not pursue it was it was too costly to do so and was cost prohibitive. I am sure MANY other dealers had the same issue as I did since I did talk to quite a few over the years at conventions.

My apologies. I do remember you and what happened to you was not fair. Icons had only a few distributors and retailers it's final years, as products were sold as fast as they could be made. There was never any extra stock on the shelf. When the Starlog Stores went into bankruptcy they owed Icons over $10,000 in delivered merchandise. Icons could do nothing.


John Pisa Relli actually leggally wrote you directly on my behalf at the end and you did personally write a compromise in return for forgiveness of the debt that you would send me two Icons Nautiluses that were still in production in the last month. You did fail to come through on that legal agreement, but again, it just was not cost effective to pursue it.

Please scan that document and send it to me via email. Although John is an outstanding attorney, a professional, an expert in this field in his own right. He also helped set up Steve D.'s deal with Master Replicas and protected him as long as he could. And finally John is just as a stand-up person in my opinion. Without him, Bob Nardi and Winston Dunlop stepping in to help wrangle Guy Raz, I may have put a bullet in my head. If John repped you, then it is very possible.

In the end, I signed many documents that ended up placing me in serious jeopardy. Icons had no CEO/President when Doug Conway departed. And at that time someone had to step in and take responsibility for the company. Before Doug and Mike Moore left, I was told by numerous individuals to jump ship before them. But how on earth could I do that? With all that was at stake? Icons and the customers deserved to be fought for and that is what myself and a handful of others did in 1998-1999.

The last year as a dealer for Icons was frustrating to say the least. I was pretty much blown off by most of the reps on the phone. I did speak to you personally, and you were quite cordial but it was all talk and no substance in terms of actual follow through.

I am very sorry for that. Icons had grown very large at that point and it was difficult to ascertain it's exact condition at the time. It was complete crisis management mode.

I actually had a behind the scenes view with Lucas when both Jeff Parks and Steve were applying for the Lucas License and can confirm that Lucas looked at Icons in a terribly negative manner. Icons WAS a hinderance in terms of lost reputation for future production of license prop licensees.

Jeff Parks...really? Shall I fill you in on the preposterous lawsuit threats by Parks against Lucasfilm? He claimed he never branded his bootleg light sabers as Star Wars products but at conventions he would display them with Star Wars signage, logo, replicas, etc. ( I still have the photos archived of Jeff's booth at a show in the midwest that LFL repeatedly asked me for. But after what they did to Icons, I did not send them in. How can his name be used against Icons?

Lucasfilm abandon Icons after the company put high-end licensed Icons Star Wars replicas on the cover of 2 consecutive Sharper Image Catalogs ( a first at the time ). They demanded Icons surrender product components paid for by customers in advance and needed for Icons to fullfill it's orders. I still have the archived photos of all of those surrended parts and components.

Lucasfilm was investigated for racketeering by the Department of Justice following the closure of Icons. MANY companies fought against them as they drove the drove them towards bankruptcy. Look at what has happened to the reputation of George Lucas. Does he seem like a man of integrity? Think he cares about American companies? All of this plays into the fall of Icons. He just announced he is retiring due to the hate of fans. And you think he wasn't the way he is now, back when Icons was in business? He was my hero and he helped destroy my life and my love for Star Wars. I have none.

What to hear about when Icons was told that we HAD to sell Star Wars product to retailers that LFL deemed as "special", such as QVC? Shipping would be forced to RIP the address stickers off of Icons customer orders about to ship out the door to them. Because LFL had a major $$$ deal with QVC. So please...don't tell me that Lucasfilm found Icons lacking. Their reputation for greed proceeds them now.

I also was with Steve as he was researching props at the Magic of the Myth when it was on display here in Toledo Ohio. I can absolutely say that MR started anew for all future research on the props and in fact, found many flaws with the previous works Icons produced. Icons was much more a lesson of what not to do than a foundation for future prop manufacturers in several ways.

Master Replicas products were outstanding. At times brilliant. And Steve D. did an incredible job when it came to research, authenticity and quality. And MR achieved great success. But to say that Icons was inspired by SD Studios is not true. Did I respect Steve's talent and intelligence? 100%. Is he at times so smart that he is stupid. Yes, also 100%. He's insulted the crap out of me here on the RPF for 12 years. So I am just expressing myself.

Please pm or email me. Thanks.
 
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And as far as Lucasfilm goes, George fired his CEO who oversaw the insanity at Lucasfilm during the time of Icons. His nickname was "The Bull." The only reason why I didn't reveal what I just did 12 years ago, was being served a lawsuit: "LUCASFILM LTD. vs. James Latta". They never filed it in court. But the message was clear: "Keep your fricken mouth shut." With the fall of Icons destroying my life, I lost my home, my collection and all my savings as well as my reputation. I've got nothing else to lose for speaking up. And everything I said is 100% true and verifable with numerous witnesses including Tiger Electronics, Estees and DK Books.

Lucas will always be a hero for what he did before the late 1990's. But the man is not who he used to be. And I first met him and spoke to him in depth in 1984. 28 years ago.
 
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