8mm Forum: 8mm Betty Page

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Posted by Jimmy Baker III (Member # 2541) on April 22, 2011, 11:43 AM:

Hello everyone. I was told this is the place to go to get an idea of what I may have.
Short Version:

My grandfather was in WWII in 45-48 well tale end of it. He was station on a carrier in or outside of Guam. He left to me a tin box containing 8mm films of Pin Ups...the one in particular is a YOUNG Betty Page.. 4 1/2 mins long, cut off..of her in an Indian headdress and topless.. Now, most "Betty Page" enthusiasts say it doesnt exist...must be someone else..then I had a fella (collector) from California offer me a grand.. I was told not to sell it for that..if it was really her (AND IT IS) that the film is worth a lot more. This film would put Betty at 18/19/20 years old.

Anyway, I want to sell it for what it is worth if anything to the right person. I am 33, I have full custody of my 8 yr old lil girl and I am looking at our first home here in NY.. I want to sell 8mm of Betty, and a few other pin ups in this as well... so I can have a nice down payment on my mortgage. Truth!

The film is not oranged or discolored..very good condition

If anyone, ANYONE could please help me..send me in the right direction.. me and my lil one WILL GREATLY appreciate it!

p.s.- Hugh Hefner, and his secretary both contacted me a few years back after I inquired to Hugh about his collecting.. howevr, he does not collect 8MM.. odd, but true.

email me at 1854dream@gmail.com if you ladies or gents could help me out in a desperate time.

Sincerely,

Jimmy Baker!

Posted by Barry Fritz (Member # 1865) on April 22, 2011, 01:22 PM:

Welcome to the Forum Jimmy. I'm sure you will get some help from members here. Condition will be important and prices will vary based on conditon. How long have you had the film? How are you storing it?

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on April 22, 2011, 05:33 PM:

I am not a Betty Page fan nor know about the value of your films.

But many non-collectors when found or given old films containing Mickey Mouse, Elvis Presley, Charlie Chaplin, Ben Hur, J F Kennedy, etc suddenly thinking million dollars in their hands.

That is not always the case because 8mm can be re-printed even for one copy only using reversal stock. It is similar to VHS that can be easily duplicated.

So the best way to know what is worth is to bring to Ebay. Make a very clear description, photos and details.

Good luck,...and I better spend my money for Derann products...to be honest.

ps: unless you have the Zapruder reel

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on April 22, 2011, 07:23 PM:

Whilst Winbert is correct in saying that the value of a 8mm film can easily be overestimated, on the other hand, if you're right that it's a Betty Page film that's so rare that even most fans don't think it exists, then I can imagine that it could genuinely be of great value. Even Betty Page films that I'd imagine were produced in large quantities very rarely seem to be offered for sale, let alone an ultra-rare one. But if the guy from California has the specialised knowledge to consider it authentic, it could possibly be that he has made a fair offer, as it's a far higher sum than rare glamour would normally go for. You could perhaps try to get some advice from an auction house that sells vintage pin up type material. Although you might do well on eBay, film-related memorabilia often sells for what is considered less than its market value there.

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on April 22, 2011, 08:33 PM:

Unless you can find an expert, just to give better description why Ebay is the best way to know the value of your item:

I will never know that this hammer (looks ordinary to me) can reach $137:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&hash=item2a0f97e844&item=180650240068&nma=true&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&rt=nc&si=EuK%252FPqU7m3V%252FveznE3es15ttVFk% 253D

I personally may price it for $5.

cheers

Posted by Gerald Santana (Member # 2362) on April 23, 2011, 02:08 AM:

Hello Folks - I know a little about this film and about it's star and around the time it was made. For starters her name was Bettie, not Betty (as in Boop) and this film was made between 1952 and 1957. Bettie Page began taking pin-up shots after her divorce to a Navy man Billy Neal, later traveling to Haiti and living briefly in San Francisco. In 1950 she took her first shots with Jerry Tibbs (by then, she was already 22) and was around 24 before she started posing for Irving Klaw. Many films were made using 8mm and 16mm formats for adult-underworld voyeurs. These prints continued in circulation until 1958 and Klaw's all-female films (and still photos) never featured any nudity or explicit sexual content.

If your film features nudity and the headdress, chances are that it was shot at William Glanzman’s studio between those times. It is uncertain if Glanzman shot the photos, or rented the studio for the session. The series is the “rail fence” set, which some people nicknamed “the O.K. Corral” shoot. In this pose, Bettie was wearing an Indian (as in Native American) headdress. Is this the scene you might be talking about?

These films are obviously collectors items but not "rare" and after looking at completed listing on ebay for Bettie Page on film turn up essentially nothing. it is an unusual item but depending on the condition, I estimate it to be worth between $50 and $100 -- I would go back to the guy who offered you $1G for this 100" Standard 8mm reel, take the money (if it's real) and don't look back...

Posted by Jean-Marc Toussaint (Member # 270) on April 23, 2011, 05:54 AM:

Jimmy, Gerald speaks the voice of reason.
You could try Ebay and see if it sparks some interest, but there's no guarantee that it will reach 1G.
I know someone who collects these films (I just finished cleaning his collection of Mayfair Girl reels) and he confirmed that $50 to $100 was the max he was paying for the rare items.

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on April 23, 2011, 07:33 AM:

quote:
I would go back to the guy who offered you $1G for this 100" Standard 8mm reel, take the money (if it's real) and don't look back...

Not to be sarcastic, the other way around, Jimmy is saying if someone is going make an offer, "please make it above 1G".

Jimmy, are you going to let it go if I make an offer for $860? [Wink]

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