As the big weekend draws nearer more news and info filters through regarding the various stages and tracks, and one of the most important is the Collecting Track. Overseen by our friend Gus Lopez since the very first Celebration back in 1999 at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, the Collecting Track is a treasure trove for anyone interested in collecting Star Wars stuff, delving into the deeper nitty gritty of collecting, the many unique quirks found in the hobby…and of course, the panel giveaways, which this year sees the return of Star Tots.
Here’s what we have so far from the Collecting Track, starting with The Force Awakens Luke Skywalker Star Tot:
STAR TOTS
PANELS
“Party Like A Star Wars Collector”
Date: Sunday 29th May at 13.30 in room 303A
Hosts: Josh Mingle, Daryl Whitlow, James H. Gibbons, and Amy Sjoberg.
With our expert help, you can create the most impressive bar in the galaxy and party like a Star Wars collector. We will start with helping you collect items for the bar including drinkware, bartending tools, and bar decorations. After that, we will get the party going with our favorite Star Wars themed beverages, and discuss collecting Star Wars themed beer cans. After this panel, you will want to party like a collector who opens the can or bottle.
“The History of Kenner’s Rocket-Firing Boba Fett”
Date: Thursday 26th May at 16.30, Room 303A
Hosts: Chris Georgoulias, Gus Lopez, Brian Rachfal, and Jim Swearingen.
An in-depth look at the development of the character by Lucasfilm through the prototyping and development of the action figure.
“Collecting Star Wars (Non-Kenner!) Prototypes”
Date: Friday 27th May at 13.30pm Room 303A
Hosts: Will Grief, Gus Lopez, Chris Georgoulias, and Duncan Jenkins.
Step into a realm seldom seen within the Star Wars galaxy! Did you ever wonder where the artwork came from on that Return of the Jedi tin garbage can sitting behind the door to your rebel base? And how on Endor did they make that Admiral Ackbar cookie look so life-like back in the 80’s? Or who created that giant Chewbacca mug that you drink your blue milk out of every morning? Well, head on down to the “Collecting Star Wars (Non-Kenner!) Prototypes” panel to see some relics from the production of the Star Wars merchandise that helped shape your childhood.
“Collectibles from Star Wars Legend TV Shows”
Date: Thursday 26th 13.30
Hosts: Amy Sjoberg, Jarrod Clark, Scott SKot Kirkwood, and Shawn Moynihan.
We will explore collectibles past and present for the following legend shows: the Star Wars Holiday Special, the ewok movies, Ewoks and Droid cartoons, and the Tartakovsky Clone Wars series.
“Women in Star Wars Collecting”
Date: Saturday 28th May at 16:30
Hosts: Robin Bocra, Amy Sjoberg, Anne Neumann, Vicki Bitter, Alyssa Loney, Brooke Moorehead, and Lauren Kupka.
Join seven women who have been collecting for varying lengths of time and range from beginners to experts. Hear what they collect, why they collect, and how it makes them feel. Learn how they represent the Star Wars community not just to their family and friends, but to the entire world in this age of Social Media, and beyond that how the boom of the collecting hobby has transformed the world’s perception of what it means to be a collector and fan.
“The Toys That Made Us: Star Wars A 5th Anniversary Look Back”
Date: Saturday 28th May at 13:30
Hosts: Richard Mayerik, Brian Volk-weiss, Billy Galaxy, Daniel Vonner, and Robin Henry.
An in-depth look behind the scenes on how the episode came together, the most fascinating revelations learned along the way, and what got left on the cutting room floor.
“Beyond 1985: The Legacy of Kenner Star Wars Action Figures”.
Date: Saturday 28th May at 12.00
Hosts: Jake Stevens and Matthew Fox
Join lifelong Star Wars collectors Jake Stevens and Matthew Fox as they take you on a journey into the lasting impact of Kenner’s Star Wars action figure lines. Over the past four decades, Star Wars action figures have not only increased in value but have become pop culture icons the world over. They have appeared in numerous films, television shows, music videos, and documentaries. They have been repurposed for other Kenner action figure lines. Their card back design has inspired entire figure lines from other companies. They have been reinterpreted as greeting cards, mugs, posters, T-shirts, Funko Pops!, trading cards, calendars, and comic books. Websites, publications, podcasts, and YouTube channels are dedicated to them. And some of Kenner’s original toy concepts have been used in shows like The Mandalorian. This presentation will explore these interesting aspects of collecting through photos, videos, and real-life examples.
“30 Years On: ‘From Concept to Screen to Collectible’ – The Book that Launched 1,000 Collections”
Date: Friday 27th May at 15:00
Hosts: Stephen J. Sansweet and Shawn Moynihan.
“From Concept to Screen to Collectible,” one of the cornerstone books on Star Wars collecting, celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2022 — and to commemorate this milestone, author and Rancho Obi-Wan Chairman & Executive Chairman Steve Sansweet sits down with award-winning journalist and Star Wars collector Shawn Moynihan for a one-on-one live interview exploring the book’s rich history, untold stories, and its enduring impact on the Star Wars collecting community.
“Kenner Star Wars Special Action Figure Sets (3 Packs) – A Comprehensive Guide”
Date: Thursday 26th May at 15.30
Hosts: Jesse Cedar Soberman and Mac Dunbar-Bickmore.
What’s better than a vintage Star Wars action figure mint and sealed on its original card? Three vintage Star Wars action figures mint and sealed in a colorful special offer box – a Kenner Special Action Figures Set, also known as a 3-Pack! Join two of the world’s most passionate vintage Star Wars collectors as we take a deep dive into one of the most elusive and mysterious areas of vintage Star Wars toy collecting: Kenner Special Action Figure Sets. We will take you on a historic and colorful visual journey from concept, to prototype, to production, to point of sale advertising, with never-before-seen photos and information known to only a select few, some of which having rarely (if ever) been shared publicly.
“Evolution of the Collectors Network”
Date: Friday 27th May at 18.00
Hosts: Mike De Stefano, Bill Cable, Steven Rensi, Matt Erickson, and Narayan S. Naik.
For forty five years, collectors have been on the hunt, and a very important aspect to this process has been networking. Over four and a half decades, the networking process has gone through several iterations as technology has linked the world together. From the original fan club, newsprint, email, the Internet, web forums, and local collecting clubs to the current social media trends. We will take a look at the history of the collectors networking options through the eyes of our expert panelists. Each iteration has evolved the social network, often with pros and cons; we will examine this history, the impact each has had, and what the future holds.
“Star Wars Original Props and Costumes”
Date: Thursday 26th May at 18:00
Hosts: Brandon Alinger, Stephen Lane, Gus Lopez, Tom Spina, and David Mandel.
There’s no greater connection to a film than the original props and costumes used in production. Super-collector Gus Lopez and prop restoration artist Tom Spina (Tom Spina Designs, Regal Robot) host this presentation and Q&A that delves deep into the ever-expanding hobby of collecting original props and showcases photos and stories of amazing Star Wars items from private collections around the world that you won’t see anywhere else!
“Authenticating and Grading Star Wars Collectibles”
Date: TBC
Hosts: Pete Fitzke, Thomas Derby, and Chris Georgoulias.
With billions of items sold over the years and a growing collector base across the globe, the world of Star Wars collectibles is infinitely vast and diverse. As unique as the merchandise is, so are the tactics to undermine legitimate collectibles with forgeries and counterfeit items. In this panel, authentication experts and long-time collectors sit down to talk about how to safely buy and collect Star Wars collectibles, through the lens of the Star Wars toy collecting hobby. We’ll focus on creating awareness about the existence of fakes and counterfeit items, educating collectors about tools and resources to authenticate things on their own, and ultimately when, and how, professional authentication and grading services can be used to protect collectors from forgeries.
“LEGO Star Wars Collecting”
Date: TBC
Hosts: Jeremy Beckett, Graham Hancock, and James Burns.
LEGO and Star Wars go together like blue milk and Wookiee cookies! Join fellow collectors to mark 20 years since the release of Attack of the Clones with a look back at all the sets from a movie that has yet to be fully explored in the brick. In grand Star Wars tradition, it’s a trilogy – with the second and third episodes looking at different ways of getting into collecting LEGO Star Wars without tracking down all of the more than 800 sets released so far, and how the LEGO Star Wars theme has evolved to be more adult-friendly than ever before. Presented by The Holo-Brick Archives founder Jeremy Beckett, Blocks Magazine editor Graham Hancock, and James Burns from Jedi News, this panel will offer experience and insight into more than two decades of the world-renowned toy line that has become a beloved modern collectible
“Star Tours at 35: Collectibles from a Kingdom Not Far, Far Away”
Date: TBC
Hosts: Chris Logli, David Matthew Brown, Elling Haug, and Gordy Owen.
Welcome aboard! This panel celebrates and showcases more than three decades of collectibles related to one of the earliest and most beloved collaborations between Lucasfilm and Disney – STAR TOURS. We’ll examine the history of the attraction and highlight some of the unique items from the grand opening and cast member premiere in 1987 before embarking on a journey through a galaxy of STAR TOURS collectibles. The panel provides an in-depth look at theme park merchandise, cast member and crew items, action figures, vehicles, pins, buttons, posters, special event exclusives, and unique ephemera. Autographs from the cast, designers, and special-effects crew are also featured. We’ll conclude by spotlighting some of the panelists’ personal favorites from their collections. Join us for a fun and informative panel celebrating the 35th anniversary of STAR TOURS at Disneyland in 2022!
“Making an Action Figure – Modern Prototypes”
Date: TBC
Hosts: Elling Haug, Don Henderson, and Brandon Vise.
Star Wars collecting has become incredibly diverse over the past 45 years and one of the most popular areas continues to be action figures. For some collectors, understanding what’s involved in the design and manufacturing of each new action figure is as interesting as the finished product we ultimately enjoy. Join our presenters as they share their knowledge of the creative process, as well some unique and amazing examples they’ve been lucky enough to see over the past two decades (1995-2015)
“The Art of Star Wars Poster Collecting: 70s to Modern”
Date: TBC
Hosts: Tony van Dam, Douglas Hott, and Kevin LaNeave.
Our group of poster collecting experts will discuss the ins and outs of collecting vintage, alternative, and modern Star Wars movie posters. We will talk about the differences between fakes and originals, and the pleasure of finding those limited print, rarities, and giveaways.
Stay tuned, we’ll be updating this page as the weeks countdown to the show.
- Hardcover Book
- Christopher, Adam (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 496 Pages - 06/28/2022 (Publication Date) - Random House Worlds (Publisher)
