Hot Springs film group selling items

— A variety of items have been for sale at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute’s auctions, with proceeds benefiting the 2013 Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival.

Auctions took place at 5 p.m. on Mondays throughout February at Godbehere Auction Co. in Hot Springs at 901 Airport Road.

“It’s just anything and everything,” said Matt Godbehere, owner-auctioner.

Vintage projectors, office equipment and a poster signed by festival alumni - film directors-producers Ken Burns and Harry Thomason - were among the items available to viewers and bidders at the first sale.

The auction next Monday will feature additional mementos.

“It will be the big Malco sale. We will probably have about 20 tables full of Malco memorabilia. Plus, we have been selling all of their office supplies. There are lots of computers and envelopes,” Godbehere said, referring to the Malco Theater.

For Monday’s sale, old doors, an article from The Sentinel-Record dated 1912 from the former Princess Theater, old movie posters, newer posters, artwork, the art car from the 2009 festival and signed memorabilia from actor James Earl Jones will be available.

The Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival began in 1991. The next year, Jones was the featured actor at the gala fundraiser, where he affirmed that Hot Springs is “one of the genre’s most important venues.”

Part of the auction will feature some items made specifically for the Malco Theater.

“We have come across some old film reels, a movie camera, and we will dig into the old projection room. We are limited to what we can bring out. If it is attached to the building, we cannot take it out,” Godbehere said.

Carolyn Hill of Royal was not looking specifically for Malco memorabilia when she found some large, empty film reels among the objects at the auction site.

“They would be awesome for decorating, if it was something to suit your house or man cave. I remember when they had reels hanging up for decorations at the Malco,” she said.

Susan Altrui, chairman of the board of the film institute, said earlier that the institute’s operation has been streamlined since it moved from the MalcoTheater complex last year to the offices of The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, and the film institute has had little need for the office space and its materials.

The institute’s film archive will not be for sale.

However, the Malco is still on the market.

“We’re still in a holding pattern and slowly finishing renovations from the storm damage. I’m hoping the renovations will make it more attractive for a buyer once they are complete,” Altrui said.

The 2013 Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival will be held Oct. 11-20 at the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa.

The Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute encourages interested bidders to communicate all questions and concerns to the Godbehere Auction Co.

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 9 on 02/21/2013

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