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Happy Halloween!

  • Writer: Donley Auctions
    Donley Auctions
  • Oct 31
  • 4 min read

Updated: Nov 17


Halloween, Outlaw Death Masks & a B-17 Bomber!

Welcome to the Donley Auctions unfiltered podcast! This week, Randy and Susan kick off the Halloween weekend surrounded by the "organized chaos" of shipping out items from their last successful auction [00:43]. While the team is buried in bubble wrap, they're already looking ahead to their next massive sales, including an incredible new military auction and the long-awaited Donley's Wild West town collection.

This episode takes us from the Old West to a secret hangar, and you won't believe what they find. Here are the chronological highlights:

  • "Law & Order" Display: Mike Donley gives us a detailed tour of one of the Wild West town museum's most popular exhibits. The centerpiece is a one-of-a-kind set of six death masks of famous outlaws [02:24]. These masks were made by Arthur Frasier, who later worked for Marshall Field's, and are the last known survivors of a larger collection that toured with a circus.

  • Wild West Treasures: The same display features an original American Express strongbox (complete with its rare, original key!) [03:19] and bulletproof English armor from the Cromwell period, which appears to have stopped a couple of bullets [03:58]. These items will be in the November 22 auction.

  • Silent Film Cowboy: Mike shares another amazing piece of history: the complete outfit (hats, chaps, boots) of Harry May, a cowboy actor for the Luben Studios in Pennsylvania, one of the earliest silent film studios [05:25]. The collection was acquired directly from Harry's widow and includes a "loving cup" presented by the studio to Harry's father, who owned the saloon where they filmed all the fight scenes [06:36].

  • The B-17 Project: This is the highlight of the show. Randy and Mike take us on a field trip to a local barn to meet a man who is restoring a B-17 bomber [08:46]! It’s one of fewer than 50 left in the world. He found the plane cut apart in a scrapyard and has been working on it for 40 years [10:14].

  • Consignments for the D-Day Auction: The B-17 restorer is consigning several items to Donley's upcoming February D-Day auction, with the proceeds going directly to fund the bomber's restoration. The items include:

    • A Link Trainer [13:11]: The flight simulator that nearly every WWII pilot used to get instrument rated.

    • A C-47 Wing Desk [18:41]: An actual horizontal wing section from a WWII C-47, left with its original paint and patina, ready to be made into the ultimate man-cave desk.

  • Sun City Success: Ryan reports from the Sun City Consumer Showcase, where the team was "slammed" with appraisal requests. The event brought in great new leads for military items, classic cars, and advertising [22:28].

  • The Chase Continues: The team is hitting the road again, with consignment trips planned for Florida, Indiana, California, and Tennessee [24:05].

To see the incredible B-17 bomber and all the Wild West artifacts for yourself, watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/JOjedyOQ4_I


Welcome to the Donley Auctions Unfiltered Podcast, where history meets the highest bidder. Randy Donley and the rest of the Donley Auctions team are here to bring you the thrill of the auction, the behind-the-scenes scoop, and everything in between. We've got amazing stories behind the treasures, even some crazy stories you wouldn't believe. Insider tips for both buyers and consigners and maybe even a cameo or two from Tucker, the auction dog. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just dipping your toes in, get ready for a wild ride through the world of auctions.

Join us each week on your favorite podcast platform, but for the best experience, tune into this video podcast on a platform that supports videos like YouTube or Spotify. We've got some great visuals to enhance every episode.


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Donley Auctions is a team of experienced auction professionals dedicated to creating a fun and exciting auction experience. With a rich history connected to the original Union Phonograph Show, the Seven Acres Museum, and Donley’s Wild West Town, Donley Auctions offers a diverse range of items for both seasoned collectors and newcomers. Specializing in firearms, militaria, coin-op, phonographs, cars, motorcycles, petroliana, antique advertising, architecture, coins, sports memorabilia, early inventions, and more, we are the place to get top dollar for your high-quality antiques and collectibles. We host live and in-person auctions monthly, complete with complimentary food and beverages, as well as online auctions at DonleyAuctions.com, where you can bid from anywhere in the world. Our friendly atmosphere, combined with our commitment to providing an engaging auction experience and expert shipping, makes us the go-to auction house for buyers and sellers alike. Whether you're looking to buy or sell, Donley Auctions is the place to be!


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