Bob Burns III

Bob Burns (born May 12, 1935) is an American actor, consultant, producer, archivist and historian of props, costumes, and other paraphernalia from science fiction, fantasy, and horror motion pictures. He is best known for his work with and collection of movie props, particularly from horror and science-fiction movies. He has also had numerous smaller acting roles in movies, including Tracy the Gorilla in the 1975 television show The Ghost Busters. Bob's Basement Bob's Basement is the informal name given to Burns's collection of props, costumes, and other memorabilia. The New York Times stated that it could be described as the "premier film museum in the Los Angeles area, though it is not open to the public and has no regular hours." Notable contents include the last surviving 18-inch armature model used in the animation sequences of the original 1933 King Kong movie, costumes from several of the Republic Pictures serials of the 1940s (including Roy Barcroft's costume from The Purple Monster Strikes), masks from several different movies made by special make-up effects creator Rick Baker, a 7-time Academy Award winner for makeup, and the original Time Machine prop from the George Pal film of the same name. Burns was also best friends with AIP special effects technician Paul Blaisdell for many years, and assisted him with the effects on several AIP films, such as Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957). Burns and Blaisdell also co-published a monster magazine together in the early 1960s called Fantastic Monsters of the Films. The Smithsonian Institution has made several offers to acquire the 1933 King Kong 18-inch armature model, but all of the offers have been refused. One famous director offered Burns half a million dollars for the model and again, Burns turned it down. Burns says that he has no plans of ever selling or donating the prop, as he wishes it to stay in Hollywood.