Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Mission Impossible: The Holy Grail of Gift Giving


Yesterday's post got me thinking about Christmas gifts. Since I told you yesterday that My Guy gifted me with my "Holy Grail" of gifts, I started thinking about his. And I knew exactly where to go, in my mind. The trouble with Grail-type gifts is that they are never easy to find and this one is no exception. So today, I ask for your help, your expertise, your know-how, because NOW I am a possessed woman on a mission. God help anyone or anything that stands in my way.

The story begins like this: My Guy is a HUGE baseball fan. Born and raised here in Boston, those of us in his life, probably all run a close second to his beloved Red Sox. That being said, his beloved Sox most definitely run a close second to his ultimate hero, The Babe. Last year we transformed an unutilized guest room in the house into his home office. It came out amazing. We all love it and use it, but ultimately it is his room. We decorated the walls with only the most prestigious pieces of baseball memorabilia from his expansive collection and kept a quality, not quantity theme when choosing the works to display. Last year for Christmas I commissioned an artist friend to paint an oil portrait of The Babe as Christmas gift. The finished product was fantastic! I had asked her to paint Babe Ruth in a Red Sox uniform and she took it a step further and captured him on canvas in a Boston Braves uniform (which was at the end of his illustrious career). She even captured the sadness in his face. My Guy loved it! The Holy Grail, right? Wrong.

Just a few short weeks before Christmas, (the timing could not have been more fateful) with my fabulous gift safely stowed away in the basement until Dec 25th, he and I were at home watching a movie we rented, "I Now Pronounce you Chuck and Larry". The movie stars Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Jessica Biel. There's a scene in the film when Adam Sandler goes into Jessica Biel's apartment and as the camera pans the entrance of the apartment, on the wall just by the door hung a poster size, framed photograph of Babe Ruth. But this wasn't just any photograph of The Babe, this was the one, the Grail. I knew it the second I saw it, and I gasped out loud, my body overcome by that strange sinking feeling. My Guy knew it too because he gasped also and declared with amazement that he had never before seen that photo. We had to pause the movie and dissect and discuss this photo. I also knew immediately that my gift had just been exposed for what it really was. A poser, a cheap imitation of this, the only Ruth photo that mattered. I sucked. I gave it to him anyway and he loved it, but I know what we were both thinking in our subconscious when I gave it to him.

Enter yesterday, I spent a good part of 3 hours searching the Internet for that photo and what I found was that I am not alone. There are lots of other Ruth fans out there searching for the same photo with little success, as I told you-this is the one. After pouring over hundreds of sites with photos of Babe, I finally located a thumbnail of the original photo. I printed it out in document size but it is pixelated and probably useless. I even went to Barnes and Noble and poured over books about Ruth searching for it to no avail. I then found this web site justanswer.com and I actually PAID $15.00 for their assistance on my quest. They inform you via text and e-mail when they have answered your question. They say that the average wait time for your answer is between 20 minutes and one hour and I got my response some six and a half hours later with nothing more than the information I had already found myself. The "entertainment expert" assisting me told me that she believes the photo to be a one time thing, created for the movie and directed me to other sites with other photos of Ruth for sale. Basically I got hosed, but I can't waiver, it's got to be that photo.

So I ask you all for your help. What can I do? When I am done here, I am taking my crappy pixelated image over to a photo shop to see what can be done with it. The image in the movie was done in sepia tones, so there may be hope for me yet. I already e-mailed the website with the thumbnail photo about obtaining a print of the shot, but have yet to hear back from them. What makes me even more crazy is the fact that I found the photo and have the image (albiet a thumbnail), I just want and need a better resolution. You got any better suggestions?


You asked for it so here it is:

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Email me the picture, I'll see if I can fix it up for you or find something better. My Googling abilities are legendary!

Verdant Earl said...

Yeah, can you post the thumbnail so we can see it?

Candy's daily Dandy said...

ok- this is good. I'll post the thumbnail now and e-mail you Peebs.

Anonymous said...

How big do you want it?

Candy's daily Dandy said...

Poster size baby!

Dr Zibbs said...

Just have the picture modified so it's original. Like make his eyes crossed and a caption that says, "Here comes trouble" or "Where's all the hotdogs at?" or something like that.

LYDIA said...

You are incredibly thoughtful (and might I add, a touch OBSESSIVE)

Your man is lucky that you do such nice things for him :)

MJenks said...

Clearly what he needs is a Derek Jeter jersey.

Gwen said...

I've been known to go to extremes for the perfect gift. If faced with this particular task I would contact the production company for the movie and just keep telling my story and begging for assistance until the set people sold it to me.

I might also ask words, words, words since he works in the biz in LA and might have an "in."

Piece o' Coconut Cake said...

Best bet is to find out who the set designer is and go through him/her. It's probably in some studio warehouse or out for rental from one of the PA's that worked the set.

Piece o' Coconut Cake said...

Gary Fettis was the set decorator. YOu can find more on him at www.imdb.com

Piece o' Coconut Cake said...

Art Department
Antonio Andraus .... set dresser
Chuck Askerneese .... assistant property master
P. Scott Bailey .... set dresser
Michael J. Bertolina .... assistant property master
Susan Bode .... set decorator: New York
Steve Brennan .... key on-set dresser
Amanda Bromberg .... set decorating coordinator
Christopher Carlson .... buyer
Michael Casey .... set dresser
Krysten Childs .... additional props
John Collins .... assistant art director
Michael Crowe .... lead propmaker foreman
Dennis DeWaay .... construction coordinator
Frank Didio .... co-construction coordinator
Warren Drummond .... storyboard artist
William Eliscu .... graphic designer
Jann K. Engel .... set designer
Robert Fechtman .... assistant art director
Danielle Giovannello .... assistant property master
Alex Gorodetsky .... charge scenic artist
Gina Herold .... art department coordinator: New York
Bill 'Kauhane' Hoyt .... stand-by painter
Steve Kissell .... laborer
David Ladish .... set dresser
Jeff Markwith .... set designer
John Hammer Maxwell .... on-set dresser
Richard A. McCarthy .... plaster gangboss
Michael O'Luasaigh .... propmaker
Joseph S. Patire .... shop craftsman
Ron Petagna .... construction coordinator
Ronnie Petagna .... head carpenter
Morgan Pitts .... assistant property master
Mark Pollard .... graphic artist
Edward J. Protiva .... gang boss
Jaime Ramirez .... art production assistant
Shane Richard .... art department production assistant
Graham Robertson .... set dresser
Daniel Rosenfeld .... scenic shopman
Steve Salazar .... welder
Doug Sieck .... set dresser
Brett C. Smith .... lead man
Julie Smith .... set decoration buyer
John Snow .... paint supervisor
Patte Strong-Lord .... set designer
David Swayze .... art director: New York
Jonathan Tessler .... property master
James Whelan .... set dresser: New York
Tim Wilcox .... digital illustrator
Timothy S. Wiles .... property master
Bruce Lee Gross .... leadman (uncredited)


Entire art dept on the film. Best bet is the ass't art director or prop master.

BeckEye said...

I think you should just give him a box of Baby Ruths and call it a day.

(And with that, I've given you further insight to why I am still single.)

Candy's daily Dandy said...

Thank you so much for all your help!I think I can safely say: Mission accomplished!!!

Unknown said...

You're a winner of my contest! Check my blog for details. And congrats!

slopmaster said...

THAT is the GREAT holy grail?

I liked your skulls thing way better.

slop

Anonymous said...

Mission accomplished? So where is the painting/photo from?

Anonymous said...

Hello,

I found your blog when searching for the Babe Ruth Photo from "I Now Prounounce You Chuck and Larry". I actually DID find the photo, however - it's an original signed edition, that is going for $13,050! Here's a link...

http://www.mlbfansite.com/authentic-memorabilia/babe-ruth-autographed-signed-framed-head-shot-8x10-photo-james-spence-authenticated.html

I hope this helps your search. I haven't been able to find it anywhere else but here. If by chance you do end up finding the print, would you mind sharing the information? Thanks!

Amy
akers84@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Hey Candy.. I am going through the same problem and I would love to get this picture for my boyfriend for V day. He is OBSESSED with this and we have both been looking high and low... how did u find and and how did u get to blow it up? Thanks so much...

katelyn.nudo@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I also love the Babe Ruth pic and have googled like a mad woman to find this print. How did you find it? Can you point me in the right direction? Thanks,Cindy
nautical810@comcast.net

Anonymous said...

Were you able to find the photo or recreate the one from the movie? I really need your help!!! :)

Unknown said...

Hi, PLEASE let me know if you were ever able to find the picture in a higher resolution. I want to get this made for my dad who is a HUGE Babe Ruth fan. We will be celebrating with my dad who is almost one year cancer free and this would be the perfect gift. I look forward to hearing back from you. Thanks :)

Anonymous said...

I'm currently trying to do the same thing! Were you able to find a higher resolution picture? If so, do you still have it... are you able to email it to me? I'd appreciate it so much!

jdizzz@live.com

Anonymous said...

Did you have any luck finding a high resolution of this picture? I would be interested in know where I should be looking. Im desparate, my BF has been wanting this picture and I cant find it anywhere.

Jessika

Please email me
jessikaalicia@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Can you email me a better copy of this picture so that I can also blow it up? I can't find it anywhere else!

my email is teresa.richert@okstate.edu
Thanks!!

Anonymous said...

Ive been looking for this photo since I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry came out . . . please send anything you might have that can help me out

lee_ramirez7@yahoo.com

thanks

Anonymous said...

Can you email me a copy of this picture as well?

my email is che19ron@hotmail.com

Thank you!!

Unknown said...

Can you send me this photo its one of my favorite pictured of all time

cjjohnson26@gmail.com
THANK YOU

Unknown said...

Hello- I too have spent years looking for this and have never found it. I really really want this painting. Can you tell me how you found it?? I am looking for the soft cream background with just the black and THAT Picture!
Thank you soooo much
Amy S
amelia-a@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Unknown said...

I want to get this printed on canvas. Could you please send it to thebusbys2013@gmail.com