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Bert Lahr's "Wizard of Oz" Script

Value (2013) | $150,000 Insurance
Watch  

GUEST:
This is my great-grandfather, Bert Lahr, and this is his script of The Wizard of Oz. He was the Cowardly Lion.

APPRAISER:
He was the Cowardly Lion. People just probably gasped when they saw that. Tell us a little bit about the history of the script.

GUEST:
It was sitting in my grandparents' closet within the bathroom. I don't think they really saw the value that it could hold. When my grandfather passed away, it was willed to me.

APPRAISER:
And here we have a wonderful photograph of your great-grandfather, and it's to your grandfather, and that face, who could forget that face? When you were a kid-- obviously everybody watches The Wizard of Oz, every kid watches it-- were you afraid of the Cowardly Lion when he comes out? Did you know it was your great-grandfather?

GUEST:
I was always told that it was my great-grandfather. It's nice to know. It's a fun fact that I kind of hold.

APPRAISER:
And you yourself do some acting as well?

GUEST:
The new Oz movie was filmed here in Michigan, so I got a chance to play in Oz for about a good month. I was a Tinker. It was a great experience.

APPRAISER:
That's really wonderful. And here we have this amazing piece of pop culture history. The Wizard of Oz was released in 1939 and has continued in popularity to its iconic status today. This is his script that he used on set. It's to him. It's been in your family ever since. It has a few condition issues, but you see it and you're just amazed and it brings you right back to when you first saw that wonderful movie and his remarkable performance. It's really such an honor to see and to touch a piece like this. Thank you. Do you have any idea of value?

GUEST:
I tried looking it up a few years ago and I remember seeing one that sold at auction, but I don't remember it having any significant name associated with it. And I believe it sold for $7,000 or $8,000.

APPRAISER:
Yeah, Wizard of Oz scripts are very, very desirable because it is one of the most important films of all time and still one of the most popular and certainly one of the most collectible. As far as scripts belonging to members of the cast, it doesn't get much better than the Cowardly Lion, and here it is. Obviously, this is a family heirloom. I wouldn't insure it for anything less than $150,000. I think it's one of the most remarkable scripts I've ever seen.

GUEST:
That's definitely a lot more than I thought it was going to be valued at. Insurance is a necessity

APPRAISER:
It is, definitely. Thank you very much.

APPRAISER:
And he's so great. I mean, he just steals the movie. "Put 'em up, put 'em up, put 'em up!" "Put 'em up!"

Support provided by: Learn more

Appraisal Details

Appraiser
Simeon Lipman
Collectibles, Sports Memorabilia
Appraised value (2013)
$150,000 Insurance
Featured In
Detroit, Hour 1 (#1804)
Event
Detroit, MI (June 01, 2013)
Category
Collectibles
Period
20th Century
Form
Movie Memorabilia , Script
Material
Paper

Executive producer Marsha Bemko shares her tips for getting the most out of ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.

Value can change: The value of an item is dependent upon many things, including the condition of the object itself, trends in the market for that kind of object, and the location where the item will be sold. These are just some of the reasons why the answer to the question "What's it worth?" is so often "It depends."

Note the date: Take note of the date the appraisal was recorded. This information appears in the upper left corner of the page, with the label "Appraised On." Values change over time according to market forces, so the current value of the item could be higher, lower, or the same as when our expert first appraised it.

Context is key: Listen carefully. Most of our experts will give appraisal values in context. For example, you'll often hear them say what an item is worth "at auction," or "retail," or "for insurance purposes" (replacement value). Retail prices are different from wholesale prices. Often an auctioneer will talk about what she knows best: the auction market. A shop owner will usually talk about what he knows best: the retail price he'd place on the object in his shop. And though there are no hard and fast rules, an object's auction price can often be half its retail value; yet for other objects, an auction price could be higher than retail. As a rule, however, retail and insurance/replacement values are about the same.

Verbal approximations: The values given by the experts on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW are considered "verbal approximations of value." Technically, an "appraisal" is a legal document, generally for insurance purposes, written by a qualified expert and paid for by the owner of the item. An appraisal usually involves an extensive amount of research to establish authenticity, provenance, composition, method of construction, and other important attributes of a particular object.

Opinion of value: As with all appraisals, the verbal approximations of value given at ROADSHOW events are our experts' opinions formed from their knowledge of antiques and collectibles, market trends, and other factors. Although our valuations are based on research and experience, opinions can, and sometimes do, vary among experts.

Appraiser affiliations: Finally, the affiliation of the appraiser may have changed since the appraisal was recorded. To see current contact information for an appraiser in the ROADSHOW Archive, click on the link below the appraiser's picture. Our Appraiser Index also contains a complete list of active ROADSHOW appraisers and their contact details and biographies.

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