Elvis’s private jet sold on auction after sitting on a runway for 30 years

The private jet once owned by Elvis Presley and his father was sold on auction Saturday after languishing on a runway in New Mexico.

Photo screengrab from Wochit News video

   
The 1962 red Lockheed JetStar was previously owned by Elvis and his father, Vernon Presley, but has been sitting abandoned on a New Mexico runway for 30 years. It was auctioned on Saturday, bringing in $430,000 at the GWS Auctions Inc. event in Agoura Hills, Calif. The auction reportedly featured celebrity memorabilia. The name of the new owner of the plane was not disclosed.

According to GWS Auctions, the interior of the plane was designed by Elvis himself and featured gold-toned woodwork, red shag carpeting and red velvet seats. However Roy McKay, a previous owner of the jet, disputes the claim that the rock ‘n roll star designed the interior. Billboard reports that McKay said he designed it himself, saying when he bought the plane the interior was two-tone gray, which he said looked like a casket. 

Photo screengrab from Wochit News video

However, GWS Auctions spokesman Carl Carter told the Associated Press that they are confident the interior was designed by Elvis. According to Carter the records of the Federal Aviation Administration show no changes had ever been made to the jet’s interior.

As reported by CBC News, while the interior is still in a reasonable condition, the plane reportedly has no engine and the cockpit is in need of major restoration. The exterior of the plane also needs some work.

Elvis was 42 when he died on August 16, 1977, in Memphis.

See more of the plane in the video included below.

Rare signed copy of The Regulators by Stephen King book on auction to help poor

A rare, signed copy of "The Regulators", published in 1996 and written by Stephen King under the pen name Richard Bachman, is to be auctioned off. Proceeds will go to a local fuel fund for poor residents who cannot afford heating this winter.

The book, written by Maine native and popular horror author, Stephen King, has been donated to Scottie's Bookhouse in Hancock by a loyal customer. Initially, the book was unsigned.

"There's only 550 of these that were boxed this way," explained Scottie's Bookhouse Owner Michael Riggs. Its slipcase cover apparently makes it even more unique.

"I told him the book would be worth more if he could get Mr. King to sign it," said Riggs. 

While it is unknown how it actually occurred, if you open the cover now, you'll find that Stephen King has signed and dated it
 

The donor, who prefers to remain anonymous, decided to put the limited edition book up for auction to help local residents survive the winter.  All proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the Emmaus Homeless Shelter's emergency fuel fund in Ellsworth. 

The Shelter Director, Sister Lucille MacDonald, told WABI-TV, "I just think it's an ingenious way of being able to get a little bit extra to help people out." 
 

"People come in and their tanks are empty and they have children and babies and the elderly. The other day an 85-year-old woman came in to the shelter and I was able to give fuel for her," she added. 

And now the shelter may be able to help out many more with the potential for a very high bid on this rare copy of "The Regulators."

The signed book is currently on display at the bookstore at 209 Route 1 in Hancock and bids will be accepted by email or phone until January

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/340826

'Casablanca' piano sold at Sotheby's, New York for $602,500

The famous phrase, "Play it, Sam" is now off the table, as the famous piano goes under the hammer at Sotheby's in New York. 

The 58-key upright piano made an appearance in the classic 1940's Oscar-winning World War II movie, Casablanca. It was used in one of the movie's most iconic scenes, when the song "As Time Goes By" was played by Sam (Dooley Wilson). 

 As Sam played, Humphrey Bogart's and Ingrid Bergman's famous characters, the doomed lovers Rick and Ilsa, toast with glasses of champagne. Then Bogart's character, Rick, pronounces his most famous line, "Here's looking at you, kid."  

The sale of the piano marks the 70th anniversary of the classic film, which was largely set in the Moroccan port city of Casablanca, then part of unoccupied French North Africa. 

Just before the bidding began, Rachel Kaufman, a pianist invited by Sotheby's, played the famous tune "As Time Goes By".

Kaufman, 43, is a professional pianist, who made her living as a music director and accompanist in the musical theater and cabaret worlds in New York City for 20 years.

She said, “It was very emotional to play. I’m still choked up. There’s something magical about this piano.”

The Japanese owner purchased the piano for $154,000 on auction in 1988. At the time, this was one of the highest prices ever paid for a movie prop.

He was hoping to get $1.2 million for the piano, but had to settle for $602,500 when the famous piano went under the hammer to an unnamed owner. Apparently the lot failed to meet the expert's expectations.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/339143