Jadis, a Santa Monica-based prop shop that has supplied items for major productions including "Oppenheimer" and "Austin Powers," is celebrating its 50th anniversary on July 25. The shop, co-founded by Susan Lieberman and her late husband Parke Meeks in 1976, has weathered significant industry shifts and a near-closure event.
In 2010, Lieberman, who had recently lost her husband and business partner, placed the business up for sale. The impending closure prompted a strong reaction from the local film community, with many likening the potential loss to that of a loved one. Super-producer Joel Silver was among those who lined up for hours to support the shop.
Shortly after, Oscar-nominated set director Robert Gould contacted Jadis seeking props for the film "The Artist," which would go on to win five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. This inquiry played a role in Lieberman's decision to continue operating the business.
Established after Lieberman and Meeks met while working for designers Charles and Ray Eames, Jadis began as a venue for their antique collection. Over the decades, it has provided props for hundreds of productions, ranging from "The X-Files" and "That's So Raven" to more recent projects like Maggie Gyllenhaal's "The Bride," the Amazon series "Spider Noir," and the upcoming "Street Fighter" movie.
For Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," Jadis supplied "three complete shelves of chemical glassware." Lieberman noted that she may have underbid herself for the rental, humorously stating it took only 15 minutes to load the items. This flexibility with pricing and maintaining a small staff of three has been key to the shop's sustained operation amidst a challenging production landscape. Lieberman expressed sympathy for larger prop houses with higher overheads, emphasizing the need for adaptability in the current economic climate.
