The Massacre Returns to Texas!

Dallas, Texas: Heritage Vintage Movie Posters (HVMP) will offer several screen-used props from Tobe Hooper's nightmare classic, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, in their upcoming Signature Auction to be held March 17 & 18 in Dallas, Texas.

"In our previous Signature Auction, which we held in July, 2004, we offered the original Leatherface apron and the 'Pretty Lady' mask," said Grey Smith, Director of HVMP. "This time, we're offering an even more gruesome collection of props, all from the personal collection of Ed Neal, who played The Hitchhiker in Saw."

These props, along with the pieces from the previous sale, were kept in a storage room in Austin, Texas, until abandoned and the contents of the storage room was sold on a blind bid basis to a furniture store in Austin. From there, the contents were acquired by Neal, who has kept possession of them until consigning them to this auction.

Offered in March will be a bone-handled knife, the infamous "Kitchen Mask" worn by Leatherface throughout most of the film, the bone-backed chair that the Grandfather sits in during the Dinner scene, and the Arm Lamp, also visible during the Dinner scene.

"All of these props were created by Bob Burns," said Smith, "the art director for Saw. Burns actually authenticated the pieces in Neal's collection shortly before his death in late 2004. He was very proud of the work he did on this film, and the effects he was able to create on a shoestring budget."

"The 'Kitchen Mask' is the last of the three original Saw masks to be offered to the public," Smith added. "We sold the 'Pretty Lady' mask in July, 2004, and Burns himself sold the 'Killing Mask' privately. These are the only three masks that Burns produced for the original film, according to Burns' own account, making them very rare, very desirable, and very historic."

"I've enjoyed being the curator of these pieces for the last several years," said Neal, "but interest in Saw is at an all-time high right now, and I figure it's time for other passionate collectors to have a chance at owning these pieces of horror film history. I was very pleased with the results of the previous auction, and look forward to some spirited bidding on these items.

For more information about Heritage's auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HeritageMoviePosters.com.

Prospective consignors and sellers of vintage movie posters and related material should contact Grey Smith at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 367, or 214-252-4367, or email GreySm@HeritageMoviePosters.com.

To order the next three sale catalogs, visit Heritage's website to pay by credit card, or send a check or money order payable to Heritage Galleries in the amount of $100 (a fraction of Heritage's actual cost-to-produce the catalogs) to: Nicole Jewell, c/o Heritage Galleries, 3500 Maple Avenue, 17th Floor, Dallas, TX 75219.