Photo archive freezes AMI building reopening

[DoYouEverWonder]

Friday, December 17, 2004

Uncertainty over who owns the world's largest library of supermarket-tabloid photos is delaying the completion of the anthrax decontamination of the former American Media Inc. building in Boca Raton.

The collection of about 4.5 million images was to have been destroyed as part of AMI's agreement with Boca Raton developer Davis Rustine when he bought the quarantined building and its contents in April at a bargain price of $40,000.

<snip>

All the images were slated for destruction, until lawyers representing photographers called to warn that the photos belong to their clients and cannot be incinerated.

<snip>

The October 2001 anthrax mailing that shut down the building killed photo editor Robert Stevens and forced AMI to move to another site in Boca Raton, leaving behind employee property and corporate records, as well as the publisher's library and cashbox.

The reopening of the building is slated to be a major media extravaganza featuring former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a BioONE principal who will keep an office here as part of BioONE's international business specializing in the cleanup of anthrax, mold and other biohazards.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/south_county/epaper/2004/12/17/c1b_AMI_1216.html


It really would be ashame to lose any photo library, especially the one that might have W's old Skull & Bones pics. I wonder if Rudy realizes what that these pics might be of some value, especially after he had to eat humble pie over the Kerik scandal?

[nashville_brook]

1. doesn't it seem weird the antrax-er went after a tabloid

paper first? i alwys thoguth that was wacky. wonder what's in those photos!

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. Bob Stevens took the pic of Jenna on the barroom floor

In W's world that would be enough of a reason.

[blm]

3. There were also photos of many of Bush's friends

over the years. I remember Bush's longtime friend, Larry Gatlin, being exposed in the early 80s for his drug soaked gay sex orgies in NYC. He had a really bad coke problem, and, of course, blamed drugs for having sex with other men. I wonder if Bush was one of the participants.

[daleo]

4. There are probably many fascinating photos there

Truly, anthraxing this business made no sense for middle eastern terrorists.

[nashville_brook]

5. isn't there something about him and victor ashe?

??? mayor of knoxville.

[daleo]

6. There are lots of rumors, I have heard

I don't know if these photos have anything that sheds light on their relationship. Still, you have to wonder why "terrorists" would attack a tabloid newspaper publisher and his business of all people and organizations.