Harry Greb footage valuation

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594333
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Harry Greb footage valuation

Post by 594333 »

If somehow one day a reel of Harry Greb fight film is found in today's market, how much would it be valued at auction? (Ballpark figure)
gilgamesh
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Re: Harry Greb footage valuation

Post by gilgamesh »

I'm sure the value would depend on the quality of the footage. Pretty much ANY new footage of Greb would be valuable. Actual In Ring Footage of Greb would be a huge find.

I can't imagine footage from this far back getting found at this point though.
HomicideHenry
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Re: Harry Greb footage valuation

Post by HomicideHenry »

594333 wrote: 08 Feb 2023, 12:21 If somehow one day a reel of Harry Greb fight film is found in today's market, how much would it be valued at auction? (Ballpark figure)
Interesting question and I can only base it off of what the value of silent films would be that have been lost to history like "London After Midnight," or, "President Pancho Villa." If those films were found I think they would be half a million dollars at the very least if they went up to an auction.

Boxing films are more of a niche category, though. If such a film was found I could only imagine that either the Boxing Hall of Fame or somebody like Bob Arum, or even ESPN, might try to purchase the film and it would probably end up somewhere in the ballpark of a quarter million dollars.

I'm reminded of when film of Jack Johnson versus Jess Willard was found in a barn in Australia of all places and I think Jim Jacobs gave the person $40,000 for the fight film then. That was in the 1960s. Then again the Broadway play The Great White Hope was going on at the time and there was this big resurgence of African history going on in America so the fight film was culturally relevant for the 1960s.
The Docker
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Re: Harry Greb footage valuation

Post by The Docker »

594333 wrote: 08 Feb 2023, 12:21 If somehow one day a reel of Harry Greb fight film is found in today's market, how much would it be valued at auction? (Ballpark figure)
A very strange opening gambit to a thread. Have you stumbled upon some holy grail footage? As sporting memorabilia goes, I'd imagine it would be an incredibly lucrative find, if likewise you locate the right buyer.
Caractacus
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Re: Harry Greb footage valuation

Post by Caractacus »

The question should be
"where and what circumstances would it turn up"
somewhere in the "outback" like Australia ?
594333
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Re: Harry Greb footage valuation

Post by 594333 »

The Docker wrote: 08 Feb 2023, 15:53
594333 wrote: 08 Feb 2023, 12:21 If somehow one day a reel of Harry Greb fight film is found in today's market, how much would it be valued at auction? (Ballpark figure)
A very strange opening gambit to a thread. Have you stumbled upon some holy grail footage? As sporting memorabilia goes, I'd imagine it would be an incredibly lucrative find, if likewise you locate the right buyer.
If only! I just find it interesting to think how valuable it would be, as you say it would be the holy grail of boxing footage, I would think even a non boxing fan with lots of dough would be interested in owning it, just as a speculative investment.
594333
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Re: Harry Greb footage valuation

Post by 594333 »

Caractacus wrote: 08 Feb 2023, 16:01 The question should be
"where and what circumstances would it turn up"
somewhere in the "outback" like Australia ?
Maybe in an attic somewhere in Pittsburgh!
Caractacus
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Re: Harry Greb footage valuation

Post by Caractacus »

Or maybe FJB has a "spool in his basement back in Scranton ?
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