When Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from Kris Humphries after a blink-and-you-missed-it 72-day marriage, it wasn't completely shocking that the media immediately intimated that perhaps the quickie wedding and split were staged for the benefit of reality TV. What is surprising, however, is that Humphries himself is now claiming the whole thing was a sham.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Nicolas Cage's 'Superman' Comic Sells for $2.1 Million
Actor's pristine copy of 'Superman' debut sets record for comic book sale.
By Gil Kaufman
Nicolas Cage at the "Kick-Ass" premiere
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images
It's a good thing Nicolas Cage was able to get his rare copy of "Action Comics" No. 1 back in April after it was stolen from his house in 2000. Because in an online auction on Wednesday, the most sought-after comic in history sold for a record $2.1 million, after 50 people bid on the June 1938 book in which Superman makes his debut.
Cage's copy (though the identity of the owner has not been disclosed, many believe it still belongs to the actor), one of only 100 believed to remain in existence, was graded at 9.0 before the auction, making it the best condition of an Action #1 that has ever been graded by the leading comic book grading company, Certified Guaranty Company. Shattering the previous $1.5 million record for a less-well preserved copy of "Action Comics" No.1 sold last March, Cage's comic became the most expensive to ever sell at auction , when it went for $2,161,000.
And it almost didn't happen. Cage's comic was stolen from his house in 2000 and then recovered by Los Angeles police when an unidentified man bought the contents of an abandoned storage locker in the San Fernando Valley. Cage reported it stolen on January 21, 2000, after noticing that it, along with two other rare comics, had been stolen from security frames mounted on the wall of his Los Angeles home.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, experts believe that only five other No. 1's with quality near Cage's exist and all are in private hands. Cage bought his copy at auction in 1997 for around $150,000.
Bradley Cooper Steps Out in Paris with French Actress
Is the reigning Sexiest Man Alive snuggling up to a new sexy lady in the City of Lights? Bradley Cooper was spotted on the romantic streets of Paris with gorgeous French actress Melanie Laurent on Monday night.
Michael Jackson House Contents Up For Sale
Auction items from rented home include bed on which Jackson died.
By Gil Kaufman
Michael Jackson
Photo: Getty Images
Michael Jackson's fans are notorious for their rabid worship of the late pop star. But will they pony up big bucks to own the bed on which their icon died? We will find out on December 17, when Julien's Auctions Gallery will auction off the contents of the rented Holmby Hills, California, home that Jackson was renting at the time of his death.
Though the announcement of the sale does not mention Jackson by name, it lists a variety of fine art and furnishings from the residence, including a gilded Louis XV headboard (est. $3,000/$4,000) and a $30,000 watercolor painting by Maurice Utrillo. An Associated Press story revealed that the sale of contents of 100 North Carolwood Drive will comprise items left behind by Jackson.
The singer passed away in the home on June 25, 2009, and on Monday his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, was found guilty of one felony count of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death. Among the pieces of evidence brought up by prosecution witnesses attesting to Murray's medical incompetence was the fact that he gave Jackson CPR on a bed instead of a hard surface. The hundreds of items up for sale in the auction include the queen-size bed where Jackson slept.
In an ironic twist, just as Murray was getting news of the guilty verdict, reporters were being taken through the three-story home on a private tour in order to publicize the auction.
"We want to preserve the history of these items," said auctioneer Darren Julien of the contents, which include paintings and sculptures Jackson surrounded himself with in the rented home as he tuned up for his planned "This is It" comeback tour. The house, where Jackson lived with his three children from December 2008 until his death, is also separately up for sale.
One of the most-personal items on the block ($400) is a chalkboard that hung in the home's kitchen that features a note from the kids that reads, "I (heart) Daddy. SMILE, it's for free." A mirror on an antique armoire in Jackson's private bedroom featured a message the star wrote to himself that read, "TRAIN, perfection, March April. FULL OUT May," a reference to the grueling rehearsal schedule the 50-year-old was keeping up as he prepared for the string of concerts that were to begin in London in July 2009.
Reporters also saw a "medication room," the bedroom shown in evidence photos at Murray's trial, where fans can pick up upholstered chairs smudged with Jackson's makeup. An attorney for Jackson matriarch Katherine Jackson said that the family is aware of the auction and has made certain that the event does not use Michael's name or likeness to help sell the items; Jackson's name is not mentioned in the promotional materials for the auction.
Related Videos Related ArtistsSara Gilbert Coupling Up With Linda Perry?
Over the Summer, former Roseanne star and current The Talk host Sara Gilbert announced publicly that she and long-time partner Alison Adler had broken up after 10 years and 2 children together. This week, tho, we learn that new love may be in the air for Sara as she was spotted out and about with [...]
1 Trend, 3 Ways: Printed Maternity Pants
Beyonc� Knowles, Hilary Duff and Jessica Alba look hot in their printed maternity pants. Check them out, plus our picks for every budget.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)