80s Movie Props EXPOSED: Secrets Behind the Classics!

Scott and the Prop Guys deliver some amazing info on some of the top props of the 1980's. We are merely scratching the surface. There will be more.

[@TopDwarf]

I made the bats for "The Natural" (as well as many of the other props) and worked on the Pee Wee bike. Both were made at "The Hand Prop Room". The three stages of the bats were made by observing what cuts from a spoke shave looked like, then I used a belt sander to replicate these types of marks. We used unfinished factory made bat blanks for the Wonder Boy close up bat.

[@GreyHulk2156]

"Was there just one phone booth?" No, Scott, there were many. All across the country. So you could make a call in many different places. ;P

[@user-ht5ce2it3z]

I thought for a second he was asking in the same way someone that didn't grow up with them would lol

[@DominikKrzanowski]

My dad built the mechanical owl. Each metal feather was hand cut and embossed.

[@MrLockedfor]

I thought that was Colin Chilvers. And his nephew made the one for the remake.

[@DominikKrzanowski]

@@MrLockedforColin Chilvers was a model maker and Brian Smithies was the supervisor and my dad worked on the owl with Jeff Love. Often times other people actually do the work and may not get full credit for it.

[@MrLockedfor]

@@DominikKrzanowski Interesting. That is not what Colin said in an interview I read. His nephew said he himself work on beating the metal on the wings, which was in a docu on the Wrath of the Titans blu ray, though probably shot for the Clash remake. May I ask your fathers name?

[@DominikKrzanowski]

@@MrLockedfor interesting. My father is Tadeusz Krzanowski. This was for the ‘81 film. He was asked by Brian Smithies to build the owl with Jeff Love. It’s entirely possible that they needed extra owls later. Brian or Jeff might remember more since they were on set.

[@boogiedaddy3434]

Your father is an absolute legend. Many thanks for his work in this business. He brought many of our childhoods to life, and for that I am forever grateful.

[@WorldOfEnchantment44]

I worked with Wilford Brimley on a movie when I was an animal handler. He only ever took one take. Ever. Unless he was working with a child in the scene and if the child wanted to do a re take he would do as many as they wanted until they felt good about their acting. Such a great guy!

[@jordibarguno]

I love how excited Scott gets when he makes a bad pun. It is hiiiiiilarious.

[@mattmarich2199]

I worked effex on Bill and Ted. There were two Phonebooths, all were made from scratch in Wickenburg, Az. First was the hero set version. It was rigged to fly only via a crane..the antenna was a totes umbrella, rigged to be opened via trickline. The other version was modified with a gimble, to be propelled vertically or horizontally via hydraulic cylinders on a blue screen stage. These shots were filmed at the former Care Free Studios in Care Free, Az. Principal photography was completed and the set version was shipped to France for the final scenes with the Princesses. The rigged version was purchased by a prop shop in Phoenix, and eventually ended up in Planet Hollywood, Phoenix.

[@matthewharvey3556]

So cool how many insiders comment here.

[@Nitro1000]

As an Arizona resident and Bill & Ted fan I know what I'm doing next weekend

[@thecrystalcabinet]

Amazing.

[@Dsdcain]

Really enjoy these long form videos with all of you. You all provide interesting facts about props and how they fit into production. Not to mention more dad jokes and puns.

[@amancalledkev]

Met Ray Harryhausen many years ago at a special event in Leeds, England. He turned up with his wife and a large suitcase. He went to the front of the auditorium and unpacked this case which contained a lot of his famous stop-motion models and placed them on a table. The audience were free to get close to these items, and yes, they were beautiful pieces of work. Ray was a very interesting, polite and humble guy. Fascinating fact: Ray Harryhausen was actually listed in the London telephone directory; he wasn’t ex-directory and was the ONLY Harryhausen in the book!

[@zaturnneo]

Another great episode, gents! You should do an episode digging into "just prop and movie knives". Rambo, Mortal Kombat (Gil Hibben design maybe?), Chinatown, and many other epic examples out there. 🙂

[@thespicemelange.1]

I remember my grandpa had one of those owls. I don't know where he got it from, but I used to play with it. When I saw that movie as a little kid it scared the crap out of me, seeing it when I got older, I thought it was such a great movie. After watching the remake, I soon realized how much I appreciated the original.

[@jphanks]

That owl is my childhood! Later I was given the owl as my spirit animal too!

[@baconsarny-geddon8298]

Time Bandits is one of my all-time favourite movies. It deserves so much more love than it gets.

[@outsider238]

I love these discussions you guys have so much! I've always been obsessed with props from TV and movies. I love your discussions about these iconic pieces and where they are today. I met Sid Krofft this weekend and I was talking to him about the props from their iconic Saturday morning shows. Wonderful man! Please keep doing these videos! They're awesome!!!!

[@aliashensel999]

So glad to see you guys continue these. Keep it up! We appreciate you!

[@fbgin]

Never thought of Bubo as a prop! Bubo is an icon, a star🌟

[@orlock20]

I believe the only prop star was Robbie the Robot which was actually credited in the movies it was in.

[@luigicsta6950]

Loved this video guys! Keep up the great work! 💪

[@SwissArmyTin]

The builder of the robots in Short Circuit was Eric Allard. He got the job based on his work building another robot named 'PAL' for one of Douglas Trumbull's early Showscan films.

[@CitizenKang]

I saw the original Syd Mead drawings for Johnny 5 at an exhibit. An amazing artist.

[@ernieb3304]

The 411 line caught me off guard. I had a great full body chuckle with that. Made my day. Great video as always. I love what you're doing. Thanks

[@bpalm74]

I was lucky enough as a kid growing up in the early/mid 80’s in a small town in Northern Utah to have a $1 movie theater two blocks from home. I can remember seeing all of these movies on the big screen and it so very much influenced and inspired my love of the movies. Such a great time to be a kid and going home pretending I was a lot of these characters in the movies. Such great memories sitting here watching this episode all coming back to me. Thank you gentlemen. You all made my night.

[@UNcommonSenseAUS]

Sortable similar situation.. used to get a book of "movie money' (50 coupons for the cinema each one was a movie + med popcorn & drink)

[@LukenUSee]

Thanks for giving us "the 411" on all these 80s movies. Keep 'em comin'!

[@redbeard36]

I can’t say how much I love these! I saw The Natural at a low point in my life and it had a deeply profound impact on me. I owned that type of boom box…didn’t help my love life at all.

[@andronuss]

On a school trip many years ago to the Australia national film and sound archive I was very lucky to not only get to try on the jacket from mad max but also hold that famous knife and as a child it was big and heavy and so cool.

[@jjmetrejhon1743]

Those three props are pretty striking! Congrats on hitting a million - you guys are really batting a thousand! 🧡

[@Tker1970]

Another great one gents. Thanks a bunch-can't wait for the next installment.

[@RebeccaRaven]

Whippersnappers! Phone booth phone calls in my day were a dime! :D

[@ReysonFox]

Oh Yes Scott and gang ty. My favorite era! Some of the most incredible practical effects! 😎😎😎

[@majorpain8569]

Clash of the Titans (2010) Bubo appears only briefly in the 2010 remake. While preparing for the quest, Perseus finds Bubo in a bin in the armory and, picking him up, asks the soldiers of Argos what it is. They tell him, "Just leave it." Bubo is unceremoniously tossed away. ____ That made me so angry.

[@deakniles7759]

In 1998 I saw it in Penny Marshall's bungalow that was on Universal Studios lot. A friend worked for her back then. Missed seeing Carrie Fisher by a day or two. Plus the bungalow she was in was Hitchcocks

[@Maverick7r]

Yet another Shockingly good episode, awesome work!! 😊

[@UNcommonSenseAUS]

Who remembers that film "batteries not included" came omm

[@hazonku]

That outtro was AMAZING!!!

[@KomradZX1989]

Your videos always bring a smile to my face and never disappoint. I hope you enjoy doing these because I don’t ever want your stuff to come to an end. The world needs more nice people like you! ❤✌️😁

[@joshhastie2075]

I really appreciate you guys doing these videos. I've loved props for decades, and the 80's produced some of my favorites. I'd love to learn more about the remote control from Stay Tuned, as I couldn't find much about it!

[@ScottPropandRoll]

Our pleasure!

[@MADmosche]

I love these long form react videos!

[@deptofcarstereorepair]

i love the super advanced and futuristic sweeps and dissolves

[@samanthamaynard4447]

While the Zoltar Speaks machine is truly iconic (and terrifying), the floor piano sticks out more for me. I would love a deep dive into Big by itself. I just about wore out that tape as a kid. Would also love a deep dive on Pee-Wee's Playhouse. I badly wanted to be able to visit the set and walk through it slowly, taking everything in.

[@nickdisney3D]

Please make longer videos and full movie watchalongs. Yall are amazing.

[@Mistwolfss]

The "made a random Aussie famous for a bit" made me crack a smile.

[@bearrubble1917]

Great video! Whenever you post one of these it really helps prop up my week

[@ChrisMentzer]

Great video and, as Scott would say, knifely done. 😊

[@kasperstenbom]

Some wild transitions Mr. Scott haha.

[@stentor1980]

I always thought the chain scene in Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure was deliberate.

[@whtlightnn]

LOVE these episodes! Emphasis on back lot tours and movie props would be fun also. Like the ship from flight of the navigator behind Universal! ; )

[@rcabbage5150]

When it comes to humor, you guys are pun-beatable🤪

[@wombatdk]

All excellent movies and excellent props! Great presentation too.

[@ScottPropandRoll]

Thank you kindly!

[@lily_skye]

That wrap-up was legendary

[@jenrose1002]

Always excited to see one of these come out!

[@ScottPropandRoll]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@jenrose1002]

@@ScottPropandRoll I really did.

[@davidyoung518]

Congrats on reaching a million subs!! Can't get enough of your puns!!

[@ScottPropandRoll]

Thanks! 😃

[@strungoutkid]

I love these videos! Propping awesome!

[@metalinyourhead3604]

I remember watching the Short Circuit movies when I was 12 and Netflix was just beginning to take off. I still think the most bad ass ever it’s the final showdown in Short Circuit 2 when Johnny 5 fixes a mohawk to his head and goes after the bad guys. Simply awesome 😅

[@dadtype2339]

I'm on new meds that make me sleepy, so I had to Prop myself up for this one.❤

[@OkellaWood]

You all are brilliant!

[@amatije]

What a wonderful episode. Props are interesting when you're an adult but when you're a kid you think all those things are real and your imagination goes wild. I always wanted to have Zoltar's machine and a phone booth for time traveling 😊

[@patlussenden4536]

Forgot about the owl! Brought back great memories of seeing Clash of the Titans as a kid too.

[@PetesGuide]

Eighteen minutes of potential puns…let’s go!

[@nigelcarren]

"Stephanie.... Beautiful". Great video. 🏆 Best wishes from a movie armour-maker currently working in a French forest. 🇬🇧⚒️🇺🇲

[@davidp2888]

You all pun-ished us for 18 minutes. As usual, this was really enjoyable.

[@ScottPropandRoll]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@brefasdra]

Having never seen the natural, thanks for showing what the Simpsons was referring to with the wonderbat (wonderboy ⚡)

[@JohnWick-dn6ty]

You're a legend. Great video. You know Y

[@Digthemadscientist]

You are all grounded for not mentioning that the music in the opening scene from Short Circuit is Die Roboter (Craft work) 😁

[@ScarysReviews]

80s had many GREAT and fantastic props. amazing era of film.

[@stevenduering7155]

One of the bikes is located at the Volo Auto Museum

[@firefly2k7uk]

Love these, keep them coming.

[@Noneyobusiness7822]

I love this channel!

[@squange]

I would hazard a guess that the majority of modern robotics that seem very "Johnny Five-esque" are because the people building robots today were kids when Short Circuit came out and it is an example of art dictating the design trend, kind of like how the startac phone was made because the designer wanted a phone that opened like a star trek communicator.

[@BoulevardTrash99]

I love this show. I was just thinking about those prop guys the other day. Would love to see a Roger Corman or Lloyd Kaufman tribute episode one day.

[@ikimawsome]

Amazing video! Do you guys think you could do a video on how each of you got into the prop master profession and maybe some advice for those who are interested in getting into it? Thank guys!

[@WandaWitch2800]

You need to do some props from back to the future, probably the most iconic 89’s film!!!

[@StanOwden]

My biggest accomplishment as a props guy on one movie was causing a scene to be canceled because I diverted a props van in the wrong direction while the entire crew was waiting for it at the designated location.

[@DeepSpaceNetwork]

Hell yeah more of this

[@MadMorgie6318]

These was all a hoot, including the owl.

[@thespicemelange.1]

Making a particular bat that the director likes for a movie is not easy, you really have your work cut out for you. In the beginning you'll have a lot of close shaves, but in the end you'll have everything all smoothed out for him and when the director sees the final product he'll say you really knocked it out of the park.

[@rubencastilleja6163]

Nicely done

[@SauloBenigno]

Amazing ending

[@Ms.Pronounced_Name]

2 dim witted GUYS!?!? I think you meant 2 dim witted LEGENDS!!

[@rexrodecolt]

This was fun! Thanks

[@CDRaff]

OY! Why were there two different Australians that became randomly famous here in the US? I'm sure a lot of us remember the Jacko Energizer commercials.

[@DocIdaho]

Quarter for a phone call? When I was a young kid, it was a dime. It went up to a quarter when I was a teenager.

[@haggielady]

In western Massachusetts, back in 1985, it was a law that phone booth calls were a nickel.

[@KurtCollier]

LOL, I'm old enough to have seen Bill and Ted in the theaters as a memeber of its target market- as well as understanding why someone asked what the "411 on this movie" is.

[@gwog]

You guys ever see/review "3 Ninjas"? It's a treasure trove of mistakes :) My favorite is when the girl's bike gets stolen by bullies - when it is recovered it is a COMPLETELY different bike! haha

[@AngelusNielson]

That moment when you realize you're older than Poppy by a decade...

[@ScottPropandRoll]

A decade and a half for me!

[@2lefThumbs]

Yeah, not knowing then who poppy might be, it'd be close to have been getting on for 4 decades ago for me

[@AngelusNielson]

@@ScottPropandRoll We're not that old ten, right? Right?

[@stephanieoregan]

Looking forward to Part 2!!! Totally tubular 🤪

[@Kashed]

I want the 1977 Malibu, you can keep the radio.

[@nikkiewhite476]

This was a lovely walk down memory lane! I have to ask can you guys find the DeLorean from back to the future?

[@The_Fat_Panda]

I was so hoping to learn about the glaive from Krull 😥 That thing will always be my favorite prop from any movie, and an awesome note, we get to see it back in action in Ready Player One.

[@miriamgreen3973]

Cisack wasn't playing that song- he was playing loud rock and they put the romantic song in afterwards :D sorry to kill the vibe for ya ❤

[@puddindancer]

Really love these videos! It's so cool to be able to hear professional prop guys talk about props. Little peak behind the curtain, ha. Crazy how you don't notice things like, how would they fit 12 people into a normal size phonebooth? When you're a kid, you just accept that it's the same booth when of course it couldn't be! 😂 Also, I would love it if you could find out where the huge final stage Audrey II is now from the Little Shop of Horrors (1986) movie. I hope it is surviving somewhere! I have tried to look it up but information, at least my side of the pond, is pretty non-existent. The Never Ending Story props would be cool to talk about too, last I saw they were in a German museum. Bavaria Filmstadt, not sure if that's still the case. The poor deteriorating Falkor is my nightmare fuel 😅 Much love from the UK!

[@michael-dm2bv]

❤😂❤ the cameraman never dies 😂❤😂

[@lforlight]

A funky 80s prop I noticed is one that appears both in Ghostbusters and They Live. In Ghostbusters it's a ghost detector. In They Live I think it's an alien walkie talkie or something.

[@erinmalone2669]

I love seeing the mistakes in Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure! There’s also one where they are supposed to be driving down the road at night and the signs are passing, but you can see the signs are on dolly tracks😅. The movie feels kind of low budget in a fabulous way.❤

[@donnienicholson6062]

We weren't Physics Professors 60 years ago in Alabama but it's obvious the more junk you remove from a bicycle the easier to pedal.Ahead of our time since modern bikes are 2 wheels and a frame while PeeWee's land yacht is in a museum.

[@U2fan24]

You needed the flux capacitor in this episode! Which also requires magical movie lightning.

[@MasatoKay]

Another banger guys!

[@WandaWitch2800]

Love your channel❤❤. Just wondering what your usual schedule would be, as in how long are the average working days of a prop master?? Because this is what I want to do in the future and wondering how much sleep I would get 😂😅(I know this would be different depending on what type of film it is)

[@ScottPropandRoll]

It really depends on the project. Typically 10 to 14 hour days but you have time off in between jobs.

[@WandaWitch2800]

@@ScottPropandRoll thank you

[@andypierson4742]

That was a Big show.

[@vickithompson7503]

Didn't they use the mechanical owl,or one like it in the new version of Clash of the Titans? I have the DVD and it shows the owl lying in an old chest when it's opened up, then shut again.

[@PetesGuide]

Disappointed the final word wasn’t cut.

[@ScottPropandRoll]

Hahaha!!!!!!

[@PetesGuide]

@@ScottPropandRoll So how many of your bosses have called you “pun master”?

[@Grndl42]

Cut It Out!

[@PetesGuide]

@@Grndl42 Oh, so that’s where it went! ✂️

[@ConstantlyDamaged]

>movie that made a random Australian guy famous My immediate first thought was Young Einstein. Kinda weird seeing Crocodile Dundee and thinking of it as a popular movie. At least here, it kinda wasn't (at least I don't remember it being when it came out).

[@J-Rod91]

My school would put on Bill and Ted’s Excellent adventure when they had students but nothing to teach. It actually happened quite a bit so I have seen the movie A LOT! I think we watched 3 or 4 times per school year EVERY YEAR from 1st grade to 12th. 🤷🏻‍♂️😂

[@shannonmorrow2399]

A Daily Woo Cameo! They guy who found the Zolton Speaks.