We get neat old stuff all the time in the salvage department of our Portland store, but rarely do they motivate as much discussion as our new lions.

“Did you see those great old film props?”

“You mean the foo dogs?”

“You mean the shishi lions.”

“It’s very ‘Big Trouble in Little China.’  I bet you Kurt Russell touched them.  With his luscious locks.”

“No, I think it was for theater.  It definitely passes the 30 foot rule.*”

“I don’t know; putting them by the children’s play area means it’s the 10 foot rule.  As in ‘no child will walk within 10 feet of these lions.’”

Note how amazingly untouched those toys are.

Whatever they are, and wherever they’re from, they’re definitely a statement.   I love the juxtaposition between the original artificial cracking and the actual wear from age.

 Also Foley likes to point out they’re the perfect size for hugging.

* = Any of you with mispent youths building sets for theater in high school may remember this…  Sets and props only needed to look good from 30 feet away, hence the 30 Foot Rule.  For film it’s 10 feet.  Or at least it was before the days of high definition!