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Re: movie prop painting

Lou,
Thank you for replying!! I live in an apartment, so it doesn't live up to it's potential here ... YET!!! LOL!!! The past two Halloweens, I've placed a glow in the dark bracelet between the painting and the slide so it goes around the eyes and makes them glow. Then I set in my window looking out on the sidewalk and close the blinds. It is really quite impressive!!!
I have tried Google images, Flick'r images and pinterest to find something similar. All I ever find is the paintings you stick your head through - like at a fair. I've been trying variations of "movie prop peek through painting". If you or anyone else can think of a different site, search engine, resource, even books, I'd consider it all!!! I did find a site where there is free black and white movies to watch on my computer. It does have Charlie Chan's Secret movie there as well as other mysteries. I may have to spend a weekend doing a mystery movie marathon!!!
Thanks again, Jesse
the black and white movie database: http://www.bnwmovies.com/

Re: movie prop painting

Jesse, found this website searching on "Portrait Painting Peephole". I think the term is "peephole painting". Search the web with that text and for images also. The site I found is at www.tvtopes.org. It lists different films, TV, Comics, games, etc. that used various paintings with peepholes in them. Maybe you can check a few of them out! Here's the specific link:

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PortraitPaintingPeephole

Also, there's one for sale at this fine arts site ($2000)!!!!
http://fineartamerica.com/art/paintings/peephole/originals

Last I found that one was used in a TV episode of The Wild Wild West, "The Night the Dragon Screamed" (though I don't know what it looks like).

Your Halloween set up sounds cool. I got a little German Man smoking a cigar. You tap his head and he laughs kinda evil. I like to make the kids tap it before they get candy. Some of them won't do it, Ha, ha.

Thanks again for sharing, and good luck.

Lou

Re: movie prop painting

Lou,
Thanks for the info!!! I never even considered the Three Stooges or Wild, Wild West shows!!!! This is getting to be quite the undertaking.
Thanks for the lead on what to call the darn thing also!!! I wasn't quite sure how to word it. I still haven't been able to find anything like it. The picture you found for sale just have peepholes painted in the pictures, there is no physical hole to peep out of on them. But I do appreciate the effort. I don't know if I'd sell it. I'm just kind of interested in finding out if it was ever on film. Now I'm thinking, if it was ever used on a Three Stooges skit, it could be worth some serious money. There are a lot of fans out there for them, wealthy ones too!!! LOL
If I ever figure it out, I'll be sure to drop a line here letting you know what I found!!! Again, thanks for the help!!!!
Jesse

Re: movie prop painting

Here's a short clip from that Wild Wild West Episode showing the painting (no luck, it's a Dragon). Enjoy the search. Lou

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw8Hc2vSyWA

Re: movie prop painting

Thanks Lou!!!!

Re: movie prop painting

There is an episode of the Andy Griffith Show called "The Haunted House" in which a painting eyes can switch back and forth between the eyes of the man in the painting and a person behind the painting..One of my favorite episodes of that show..If that's it it would it would be a great possession.. Hope this helps.

Re: movie prop painting

Tom - thanks for your reply. I watched a clip on youtube of the episode you mentioned. That is the right style of painting, but not the same one that I have. I'm still searching!!!! If ANYONE has ANY ideas of a resource book, web site, etc, I will be happy to hear it and track it down myself!!! Thanks, Jesse :)

Re: movie prop painting

As a "long shot" possibility, there is a scene in the old Warner Oland film about Fu Manchu called "Daughter of the Dragon" where an item like yours is featured. In this scene, the Princess is speaking to a man in a room where there is a painting hanging on the wall. A slot opens in the painting, and another person looks in the room. If you watch this film, the scene is about halfway through the movie. This may be a match for your item, or perhaps a similar item.

Re: movie prop painting

John -
Thank you for the lead. I just watched the section of the movie you are referring to. Unfortunately, it is not the same one. The main difference is that my painting has only the eyes cut out and the panel slides up. So there would be two holes in the painting to peer through rather than the larger single hole as in the movie. BUT, it is one lead I can cross off!!! The more I cross off, the closer I get!!!!
Thanks again,
Jesse

Re: movie prop painting

Hi Jesse,

There were loads of movies that used the "Moving eyes behind the painting" plot device. Monogram loved it and you'll find it in the Bowery Boys/Bela Lugosi movies and others. I don't recognize it from any of the Chans, but what about one of the "Mr. Wongs?" There were also plenty of so-called "Yellow Peril" Movies from independent studios in the early thirties. I also wonder if perhaps the prop is from an early TV show like "The Lone Wolf" or "Superman," both of which had Chinese themed episodes.

Great prop...thanks for sharing and good luck.

Brian McFadden

Re: movie prop painting

Brian, thanks for responding.
This weekend, as I was searching more leads, I ran across the Antiques Roadshow website. I was looking at the archives (nothing) and decided I'd look to see if I could send pictures to an appraiser. I FOUND ONE!!!! His name is Rudy Franchi and he appraises movie and television memorabilia, posters, autographs, props, scripts, etc. He has a website ( http://www.posterappraisal.com/) and there I found an email address to send everything to. So I did that right away.
I'm assuming he probably did not look at his email until Monday and it may take some time for him to investigate. I've not heard anything yet, but when I do, I'll post on this thread the results.
Thanks again, Jesse