ANSEL ADAMS' GROUP SUES OVER GARAGE FIND

A GROUP REPRESENTING ANSEL ADAMS SUED A FRESNO MAN MONDAY FOR SELLING PRINTS AND POSTERS UNDER THE NAME OF THE FAMED NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER, THE LATEST SALVO IN A DISPUTE OVER GLASS NEGATIVES BOUGHT AT A GARAGE SALE AND PURPORTED TO BE ADAMS' LOST WORKS. THE LAWSUIT, FILLED IN FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT IN SAN FRANSISCO BY THE ANSEL ADAMS PUBLISHING RIGHTS TRUST, SEEKS TO STOP RICK NORSIGIAN AND CONSULTING FIRM PRS MEDIA PARTNERS FROM USING ADAMS' NAME, LIKENESS AND TRADEMARK IN THEIR EFFORTS TO SELL PRINTS AND POSTERS NOT AUTHORIZED OR ENDORSED BY THE TRUST. THE SUIT ALLEGES TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, FALSE ADVERTISING, TRADEMARK DILUTION, UNFAIR COMPETITION AND OTHER CLAIMS. IT DOES NOT SPECIFY DAMAGES BUT ASKS THE COURT TO ORDER THE DEFENDANTS TO PAY RESTITUTION PF THEIR PROFITS FROM ANY SALES, AS WELL AS AWARD ANY OTHER MONETARY RELIEF. NORSIGIAN'S LAWYER, ARNOLD PETER, SAID THE LAWSUIT HAS NO MERIT AND IS DESIGNED TO HARASS HIS CLIENT AND 'SILENCE THIS DEBATE'. 'WE ARE DISAPPOINTED THAT THE ANSEL ADAMS PUBLISHING GROUP RIGHTS TRUST HAS DECIDED TO RESORT TO THE COURTS IN ORDER TO RESOLVE WHAT, IN OUR VIEW, IS A DEBATE THAT SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY ART AND FORENSIC EXPERTS', PETER SAID IN A STATEMENT. NORSIGIAN SAYS THAT HE BOUGHT THE NEGATIVES 10 YEARS AGO AT A FRESNO GARAGE SALE FOR $45. HE NOTICED THEY RESEMBLED ADAMS' ICONIC PHOTOGRAPHS OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK AND HIRED PETER TO ASSEMBLE A TEAM OF EXPERTS TO AUTHENTICATE THEM. LAST MONTH PETER ANNOUNCED THAT HIS TEAM STUDIED THE 65 NEGATIVES FOR SIX MONTHS AND CONCLUDED 'BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT' THAT THE PHOTOS WERE ADAMS' EARLY WORK, BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN DESTROYED IN A 1937 FIRE AT HIS YOSEMITE STUDIO. NORSIGIAN HAS SET UP A WEBSITE TO SELL PRINTS MADE FROM SOME OF THE NEGATIVES, FROM $45 FOR A POSTER TO $7,500 FOR A DARKROOM PRINT WITH A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. A BEVERLY HILLS ART GALLERY OWNED BY DAVID W STREETS PLANS TO HOLD A PUBLIC VIEWING OF PART OF THE COLLECTION NEXT MONTH. ADAMS' REPRESENTATIVES HAVE NEVER BOUGHT THE CLAIM, CALLING IT A FRAUD. THE LAWSUIT IS THE LATEST ACTION TO STOP WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS A 'SCAM'. THE SUIT ALSO SAYS THERE IS 'SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE' SUGGESTING THE NEGATIVES WERE CREATED BY ANOTHER PHOTOGRAPHER, EARL BROOKS, WHOSE NIECE CAME FORWARD JUST DAYS AFTER PETER'S ANNOUNCEMENT TO SAY SHE HAD A PHOTO OF HER UNCLE'S THAT LOOKED IDENTICAL TO ONE OF THE NEGATIVES. THE LAWSUIT FURTHER SAYS THAT EVEN IF THEY WERE ADAMS' NEGATIVES, THE PRINTS AND POSTERS BEING CREATED FROM THEM AREN'T THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S WORKS, 'BUT ARE DERIVATIVE WORKS AT BEST'. THE SUIT SAYS THE DEFENDANTS ARE IMPROPERLY AND UNLAWFULLY TRADING ON ADAMS TRADEMARK AND DELIBERATELY CONFUSING CONSUMERS. ADAMS ESTABLISHED THE TRUST IN 1976 TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF HIS WORK AND PRESERVE HIS ARTISTIC LEGACY. ADAMS' BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS, PRIMARILY OF THE AMERICAN WEST, ARE WIDELY REPRODUCED ON CALENDERS AND POSTERS AND IN COFFEE-TABLE BOOKS, WHILE HIS PRINTS ARE COVETED BY COLLECTORS. HIS PRINT 'CLEARING WINTER STORM, YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK' BROUGHT $722,500 AT AUCTION THIS SUMMER IN NEW YORK, A RECORD FOR 20th CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHY.

MARILYN MONROE COSTUME TEST

MADONNA TO SEEK HELP FROM QUEEN ELIZABETH II

MADONNA IS WRITING TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II TO ASK FOR ASSISTANCE WITH A FILM THAT SHE IS MAKING ABOUT WALLIS SIMPSON. THE 51 YEAR OLD AMERICAN SINGER IS ABOUT TO WRITE TO THE QUEEN TO ASK ASSISTANCE WITH 'W.E.', A FILM THAT SHE IS MAKING ABOUT THE EDWARD VIII ABDICATION CRISIS. 'MADONNA IS KEEN TO MAKE THE FILM AS AUTHENTIC AS POSSIBLE AND WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL IF WE ARE ALLOWED TO FILM AT CERTAIN LOCATIONS', SAYS ONE OF HER ASSOCIATES. 'SHE LOVES THE UK AND HOLDS THE QUEEN IN THE HIGHEST REGARD.' MADONNA, WHO LIVED IN SIR CECIL BEATON'S FORMER HOUSE IN DORSET DURING HER SEVEN YEAR MARRIAGE TO BRITISH DIRECTOR GUY RITCHIE, PLANS TO START SHOOTING THE FILM LATER THIS SUMMER. THE SINGER HAS LONG BEEN FASCINATED BY THE 1936 CRISIS, IN WHICH EDWARD VIII'S DESIRE TO MARRY WALLIS SIMPSON, A TWICE-DIVORCED AMERICAN SOCIALITE, CAUSED A CONSTITUTIONAL DILEMMA. THE CRISIS WAS RESOLVED BY EDWARD'S ABDICATION AND HIS SUCCESSION TO HIS BROTHER GEORGE VI, WHO WAS THE QUEEN'S FATHER. EDWARD WAS GIVEN THE TITLE OF 'DUKE OF WINDSOR' AND HE MARRIED HIS LOVE WALLIS SIMPSON. THE FILM, FOR WHICH MADONNA WORKED ON THE SCREENPLAY, WILL STAR ABBIE CORNISH, AN AUSTRALIAN ACTRESS, AS A CONTEMPORARY WOMAN OBSESSED BY THE STORY OF WALLIS SIMPSON. A COURTIER WARNS THAT MADONNA SHOULD NOT GET HER HOPES UP AS FILMING IS GENERALLY NOT ALLOWED IN THE ROYAL PALACES. 'I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT HER MAJESTY WOULD MAKE AN EXCEPTION, PARTICULARLY FOR A FILM ABOUT WALLIS SIMPSON', HE SAYS.

OSCAR'S $91,000 CONSOLATION GIFT BASKET

AS THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS FOR TOMORROWS 82nd OSCARS CEREMONY, IT'S BECOME APPARENT THAT THIS YEAR'S ACADEMY AWARDS ARE ALMOST WORTH LOSING AS ALL THE NON-WINNING NOMINEES IN THE MAIN CATEGORIES WILL RECEIVE AN AMAZING CONSOLATION GIFT BASKET PRESENTATION DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO THEIR DOORS ON MONDAY MORNING, $91,000 WORTH OF COMPLEMENTARY ITEMS. THE STUNNING DESIGNER GIFT BASKET INCLUDES A SLEW OF TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING A PRIVATE SOUTH AFRICAN SAFARI FOR EIGHT ADULTS AND EIGHTS KIDS WORTH A STAGGERING $45,000. A $14,500 TRIP TO MONACO IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE GIFT PRESENTATION, WITH A FOUR-NIGHT STAY IN THE HISTORIC PRINCIPALITY, AND SO IS A EXCURSION TO THE TURKS & CAICOS, WITH A PRIVATE ISLAND HOLIDAY. THERE IS A SPECIAL LEATHER SUITCASE WORTH $4,000 CREATED BY SWISS ARMY, WHICH THERE ARE ONLY 175 OF THEM AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE AND A $4,850 ONE WEEK BOOT CAMP, SLIMWARE PORTION-CONTROL PLATES AND 10 PERSONAL TRAINING SESSIONS. THE GIFT BASKET DOESN'T FORGET THE PAMPERED PETS OF THE CELEBRITIES, THERE IS A TIFFANY CRYSTAL-STUDDED COLLAR AND A FLIPCAM FOR CAT LOVERS AND FOR DOG OWNER'S, THERE'S A VOUCHER FOR A PROFESSIONAL DOG PHOTO STUDIO. FOR THE CELEBRITIES WHO REFUSE TO RECEIVE THE FREE GOODIES THEY CAN BE DONATED TO CHARITY.

LAUREN BACALL RECEIVES EARLY OSCAR FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

IT HAS A REPUTATION OF OVER THE TOP GLITZ, GLAMOR AND ALWAYS RUNNING LATE. PERHAPS THAT'S WHY THE ORGANIZERS OF THE OSCARS CHOSE TO PRESENT LEGENDARY STAGE AND SCREEN ICON LAUREN BACALL WITH HER GOLDEN STATUETTE NEARLY FOUR MONTHS EARLY BEFORE THE CEREMONY. THE 85 YEAR OLD ACTRESS RECEIVED THE AWARD FOR HER LIFE'S WORK AT THE PRIVATE BLACK TIE GALA ATTENDED BY TOM HANKS, KIRK DOUGLAS AND STEVEN SPIELBERG. BUT THE DINNER, WHICH WAS HELD TO SAVE TIME AT THE TELEVISED VERSION OF THE CEREMONY, STILL WENT ON FOR OVER THREE HOURS. BACALL SAID OF HER HIGHLY COVETED PRIZE: "I CAN'T BELIEVE IT", ADDING THAT SHE WAS GLAD TO BE ALIVE. 'SOME OF YOU ARE SURPRISED, AREN'T YOU?', SHE SAID TO THE 600 GUESTS AT THE GRAND BALLROOM ABOVE THE KODAK THEATRE IN LOS ANGELES. HER LONG-TIME FRIEND KIRK DOUGLAS SAID HE'S BEEN FRIENDS WITH BACALL FOR OVER 60 YEARS AFTER SHE TURNED DOWN HIS ROMANTIC ADVANCES. HE SAID: "SHE'S A PUSSYCAT AND SHE HAS A HEART OF GOLD." ONE OF THE GREATEST SCREEN SIRENS OF THE 1940s AND 1950s, BACALL MADE HER SCREEN DEBUT IN THE CLASSIC 'TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT'. SHE WENT ON TO MARRY HUMPHREY BOGART AND TO STAR IN MORE THAN 30 FILMS, INCLUDING 'THE BIG SLEEP' AND 'KEY LARGO'. SHE WAS JOINED AT THE CEREMONY BY HER AND BOGART'S ADULT CHILDREN LESLIE AND STEPHEN HUMPHREY.

SUSAN BOYLE'S DEBUT ALBUM COVER IS PREVIEWED

IT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST HOTLY ANTICIPATED ALBUM OF THE YEAR. AND AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF WAITING, EAGER FANS HAVE BEEN REWARDED FOR THEIR PATIENCE WITH A SNEAK PEEK OF SUSAN BOYLE'S DEBUT ALBUM COVER. THE STUNNING BLACK AND WHITE PORTRAIT FOR 'I DREAMED A DREAM' SHOWS A SMILING SUSAN, HEAD HELD IN HER HANDS AND DRESSED IN A SEQUINED SWEATER. EVEN THOUGH IT DOES NOT GO ON SALE UNTIL 23.NOVEMBER, THE ALBUM'S SUCCESS IS ALREADY BEYOND ALL DOUBT. IT HAS ALREADY TOPPED AMAZON'S BESTSELLERS LIST, WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COPIES SOLD AS PRE-ORDERS. THE SHOT WAS TAKEN FROM SUSAN'S PHOTO-SHOOT FOR THE PRESTIGIOUS MAGAZINE HARPER'S BAZAAR. THE 48 YEAR OLD WAS FEATURED IN AN AMAZING SPREAD INSIDE THE ANNUAL AUTUMN/SEPTEMBER ISSUE ENTITLED 'SUSAN BOYLE: UNSUNG HERO'. A SMILING SUSAN SAID: 'IT REALLY MADE ME FEEL LIKE A HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS. HAD MY HAIR DONE UP.' AND THE UN-AIRBRUSHED PHOTO SHOULD CALM FEARS THAT SUSAN'S CHARM WOULD BE DESTROYED WITH A HOLLYWOOD MAKEOVER. BACK IN APRIL, AMANDA HOLDEN DISMISSED THE IDEA OF SUSAN GETTING A NEW LOOK. 'SHE NEEDS TO STAY EXACTLY AS SHE IS BECAUSE THAT'S THE REASON WE LOVE HER. SHE JUST LOOKS LIKE ANYBODY WHO COULD LIVE ON YOUR STREET. THE MINUTE WE TURN HER IN A GLAMORPUSS IS WHEN EVERYTHING IS SPOILED. FOR NOW WE'LL KEEP HER EXACTLY AS SHE IS BECAUSE THAT'S WHY WE'VE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH HER."

HUGH JACKMAN AND DANIEL CRAIG LOSE COMPOSURE AS RINGING PHONE INTERRUPTS SHOW

TWO OF HOLLYWOOD'S TOUGHEST AND MOST SOUGHT AFTER LEADING MEN RECENTLY LOST THEIR COMPOSURE AT A THEATERGOER FOR LEAVING HIS MOBILE PHONE ON WHILE THEY PERFORMED ON BROADWAY. JAMES BOND STAR DANIEL CRAIG AND X-MEN'S HUGH JACKMAN MANAGED TO STAY IN CHARACTER, THOUGH APPEARED STUNNED, AS THE PHONE RANG. BUT AS THE RINGING CONTINUED, THEIR PATIENCE WAS PUSHED TO THE LIMIT AND THEY TOLD THE MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE TO 'ANSWER THAT CALL'. THE PAIR WERE DEEPLY IMMERSED IN 'A STEADY RAIN'. IN WHICH THEY PORTRAY TOUGH CHICAGO COPS, WHEN THE PHONE SOUNDED. JACKMAN STOMPED ABOUT THE STAGE AS HE ASKED: 'YOU WANNA GET THAT? COME ON, JUST TURN IT OFF. UNLESS YOU'VE GOT A BETTER STORY. YOU WANT TO GET UP AND TELL YOUR STORIES?' THE AUDIENCE LAUGHED AND GAVE JACKMAN A ROARING ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR TAKING A STAND. SECONDS LATER, ANOTHER PHONE RANG. CRAIG RESPONDED: 'JUST GET THE PHONE.' THEIR COOL APPROACH WAS IN CONTRAST TO ACTOR RICHARD GRIFFITHS, WHO IN 2005, ORDERED A WOMAN OUT OF A WEST END SHOWING OF 'HEROES' AFTER HER PHONE RANG DURING THE PERFORMANCE. SET AGAINST A SPARSE BLACK BACKDROP, THE PLAY TELLS THE STORY OF TWO POLICEMEN AND HOW THEIR FRIENDSHIP IS CHANGED FOREVER BY A DOMESTIC DISPUTE. ALTHOUGH THEY ARE MAINLY KNOWN FOR THEIR DIVERSE MOVIE WORK, BOTH ACTORS ARE EXPERIENCED STAGE ACTORS.

SMITHSONIAN ACQUIRES TWO 'LION KING' COSTUMES

PRODUCERS OF "THE LION KING" MUSICAL ARE DONATING TWO OF THE BROADWAY SHOW'S ELABORATE COSTUME PIECES TO THE SMITHSONIAN'S NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY. MUSEUM OFFICIALS ACCEPTED SIMBA'S MASK AND THE COSTUME FOR TRIBAL SHAMAN AND SHOW NARRATOR RAFIKI WHICH WILL BE PLACED IN THE ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY COLLECTION. THEY'LL BE IN RARE COMPANY AMONG OVER 50 OBJECTS FROM BROADWAY, INCLUDING COSTUMES FROM "HELLO, DOLLY!", "FIDDLER ON THE ROOF", "RENT", AND "CATS". "WE'LL HAVE RAFIKI NEXT TO DOLLY LEVI. THAT'S A BIG THING", SAID A GIDDY THOMAS SCHUMACHER, THE SHOW'S PRODUCER. "THE RAFIKI COSTUME REALLY SPEAKS TO THE DESIGN AND SOUL OF THE SHOW", HE SAID. "THIS IS A COMPLETELY ORIGINAL COSTUME THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYTHING ELSE. THAT'S KIND OF THRILLING." DESIGNER JULIE TAYMOR CREATED THE COSTUMES, PUPPETRY AND SCENIC DESIGN THAT BROUGHT THE 1994 ANIMATED DISNEY MOVIE TO LIFE ON STAGE IN 1997. THE HIT SHOW HAS NOW BEEN SEEN BY OVER 50 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE, THE FIRST AMERICAN MUSICAL TO HIT THAT MILESTONE AND ONLY THE FOURTH IN THEATER HISTORY. THE STUNNING SHOW, FEATURING THE MUSIC OF ELTON JOHN AND TIM RICE, INCLUDING THE ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING "CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT", HAS BEEN PRESENTED IN 13 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. MUSEUM CURATOR DWIGHT BLOCKER SAID THE SHOW REPRESENTS AN EVOLUTION IN BROADWAY DESIGN, ONE REASON WHY HE SOUGHT OUT THE "LION KING" PIECES. IT ALSO HAS A INTERGRATIONAL APPEAL, WHICH HE SAID IS RARE BECAUSE MUSICAL TASTES TEND TO VARY BY AGE GROUP. "THE MUSICAL IS AN INDIGENOUS AMERICAN ART FORM IN TERMS OF HOW WE KNOW IT", BLOCKER SAID. "THE LION KING", HE CONTINUED, "TOOK THE MUSICAL TO AREAS IT HAD NEVER EMBRACED BEFORE, BRINGING ANIMALS TO LIFE WITH LIVE PUPPETRY AND GROUNDBREAKING COSTUMES." THE MUSEUM HOPES TO DISPLAY THE OBJECTS IN LATE 2010.

DOROTHY'S RUBY SLIPPERS RE-CREATED FOR CHARITY EVENT

IN CELEBRATION OF THE HISTORIC 70th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ICONIC FILM 'THE WIZARD OF OZ', WARNER BROS. CONSUMER PRODUCTS TOGETHER WITH SWAROVSKI, APPROACHED 19 OF THE WORLD'S MOST INFLUENTIAL AND CREATIVE SHOE DESIGNERS, ASKING THEM TO RE-CREATE DOROTHY'S RUBY RED SLIPPERS FOR THE MODERN DAY. THE DESIGNERS SELECTED FOR THIS UNIQUE CELEBRATION INCLUDE ROGER VIVIER, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN, JIMMY CHOO, MANOLO BLAHNIK AND ALBERTA FERRETI, WHO WILL HAVE THEIR DESIGNS SHOWCASED IN THE SWAROVSKI BOUTIQUE IN SOHO, NEW YORK, FROM 15-23.SEPTEMBER. ONCE THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN GIVEN THE CHANCE TO SEE THE SPARKLING EFFORTS, THE SLIPPERS WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF AT WARNER BROS' EMERALD GALA, WHICH WILL FEATURE PERFORMANCES FROM ASHANTI AND LORNA LUFT -- DAUGHTER OF WIZARD OF OZ START JUDY GARLAND -- AS WELL AS APPEARANCES FROM THE ORIGINAL MUNCHKINS AND THE CAST OF THE NATIONAL TOUR. THE AUCTION IS OPEN TO GLOBAL BIDDERS AND WILL TAKE PLACE ONLINE ON 24.SEPTEMBER AND IS IN AID OF THE ELIZABETH GLASER PEDIATRIC AIDS FOUNDATION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION charityfolks.com/cfauctions/auction_verticalngo.asp?slrid=1863

TRUE BLOOD JEWELRY COLLECTION DESIGNED BY UDI BEHR FOR HBO

HBO IS GIVING VAMPIRE ENTHUSIASTS SOMETHING TO SINK THEIR TEETH INTO. THE NETWORK RECENTLY LAUNCHED ITS NEW "TRUE BLOOD" JEWELRY LINE, DESIGNED IN COLLABORATION WITH DESIGNER UDI BEHR. BEHR DESIGNED THE COLLECTION OF RINGS, NECKLACES AND EARRINGS USING THE TV SHOW'S THEMES AS INSPIRATION. THE PIECES, WHICH INCORPORATE STERLING SILVER, STAINLESS CHAIN, LEATHER AND RUBIES, TARGET FANS OF THE SHOW AND ITS GOTHIC AESTHETIC. SEVERAL ITEMS INCLUDE FANG-LIKE CLAP-CLOSURES, AND PRICES RANGE FROM $59 TO $1,295. "I HAD A LOT OF FUN WITH THE COLLECTION. I DIDN'T JUST WANT TO MAKE ANOTHER VAMPIRE JEWELRY LINE, AND THAT WAS CHALLENGING BECAUSE I WANTED TO REALLY GO BEYOND THAT", SAID BEHR. "I LOOKED TO THE SPIRIT OF THE SHOW. THE SHOW IS VERY SEXY AND SEDUCTIVE, AND IT TALKS ABOUT ETERNITY. I TRIED TO CAPTURE THAT IN WHAT I DESIGNED." BEHR'S 'LOVE, PEACE AND HOPE' COLLECTIONS PREVIOUSLY WON HIM LUXURY MAGAZINE'S TITLE OF DESIGNER OF THE YEAR, AND HIS PIECES HAVE BEEN WORN BY CELEBRITIES SUCH AS ELTON JOHN AND SHARON STONE, HELPING HIM TO CATCH HBO'S EYE. "WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO BE WORKING WITH UDI BEHR", SAID JAMES COSTOS, VICE PRESIDENT OF LICENSING AND RETAIL AT HBO, IN A STATEMENT. "HIS DESIGNS ARE UNIQUE IN THE MARKETPLACE, AND THIS JEWELRY COLLECTION REALLY CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF THE SERIES."