October 10, 2006 12:00am
US screen legend Jack Palance is auctioning the contents of his Luzerne County home - more than 3000 items collected from around the world.
The three-day, onsite auction starts on Thursday and items going on the block range from an old straw hat of the actor's to a 1878 Steinway & Sons grand piano."People can spend $5 or $50,000 at this auction," said Phil Eagle, an antique appraiser who travelled from California to sort and catalogue the items to be sold.
Palance, the son of a coal miner and a native of nearby Lattimer Mines, collected most of the items during trips around the world filming movies.
The 87-year-old actor, who won the best supporting actor Oscar in 1992 for City Slickers, also is parting with more than 1400 books, posters from his movies, his high school championship football banners and memorabilia, movie props, his saddle, boots and vest.
Several classic cars will be sold, along with a horse-drawn carriage that is being stored in the barn alongside furniture, antique store display cases, salvaged railings and architectural pieces.
Palance, who is of Ukrainian descent, had bought the contents of a Ukrainian church that closed, and stained glass, pews, icons and other religious items also will be auctioned.
Keystone State Auctioneers Inc, the South Williamsport company overseeing the auction, is preparing for a crowd of up to 1000 at Palance's property.
The 60ha Holly-Brooke Farm, named for Palance's daughters, was a retreat for the actor and his family. It is not known what will happen to the site, about 130km northwest of Philadelphia. - AP