For Keeps

Come on down! TV producer Bob Boden's long career in game shows has helped him collect a garage full of unique memorabilia from the genre's biggest programs — and now he's working with a museum to establish an archive preserving game show history. Bob's website: www.tvbob.com The Strong National Museum of Play: www.museumofplay.org Opening theme: "Keepers" by Still Flyin' Closing theme: "Slow Draw...

For four intense years in the 1980s, Susan Rogers worked side by side with pop superstar Prince, recording many of his best-known songs — and creating the archive of his recordings that's led to "new" releases, and expanded re-releases, since his 2016 passing. Susan's bio at the Berklee College of Music: https://college.berklee.edu/people/susan-rogers Opening theme: "Keepers" by Still Flyin' Closi...

Coleco Pac-Man! Mattel Electronic Football! The Legend of Zelda! Linda Guillory's love affair with gaming consoles began in childhood, when she and her father fixed handheld games they bought at second-hand stores. Today, her collection has led to two Guinness World Records — and shelves full of games, many dating back to the glory days of the 1970s and 80s. Linda's Instagram feed: www.instagram.c...

Chris Lyndon, also known as "DisneyChris," has archived thousands of audio tracks that capture the history and unique sounds of Disneyland — presented on his website in "chapters" that guide visitors through the sounds of the beloved theme park. Chris's website: www.disneychris.com Chris's Disney podcast, "Jiminy Crickets!": jcricketspodcast.blogspot.com Opening theme: "Keepers" by Still Flyin' Cl...

New Yorker Alan Gross devoted much of his life to his passion for airships, amassing an incredible collection of blimp-related videos, toys, books, and much more. Jeff Parnes reflects on his good friend "Airship Al" — and where Alan's sizable archive ended up after his death in 2018. Alan's website: www.airshipal.com Alan's 1984 video presentation for Airship International Ltd.: www.youtube.com/wa...

Working as a staff writer on "The Late Show with David Letterman," Steve Young began collecting records of industrial musicals — obscure productions commissioned by large companies and performed for their executives or distributors. Since then, he's co-written a book on the subject and starred in "Bathtubs Over Broadway," a touching documentary about his obsession with the shows and their creators...

Attention Kmart shoppers! When Mark Davis worked at Kmart stores in the 1980s and 90s, he saved the cassette tapes (full of soft-rock hits, sale announcements, and "elevator music") that played over the in-store audio system. Years later, the digitized audio went viral, inspired new music, and even brought Mark a bit of Internet fame. Mark's Kmart audio archive: www.archive.org/details/attentionkm...

He's been a ranch hand, a rodeo rider, and a country music singer, but these days Larry Callies runs the Black Cowboy Museum, which showcases his collection of Black cowboy artifacts — and sets the record straight on the history of African-Americans in the American West. The Black Cowboy Museum: www.blackcowboymuseum.com Opening theme: "Keepers" by Still Flyin' Closing theme: "Slow Draw/Feeling In...

University professor Christine Whelan has devoted much of her career to examining self-help literature, collecting more than 200 of the genre's titles — and asking her students to try the advice in self-help classics for a book of her own. Christine's website: www.christinewhelan.com Opening theme: "Keepers" by Still Flyin' Closing theme: "Slow Draw/Feeling In My Heart" by Eric Frisch Additional m...

Charlie Ramirez maintains a lasting connection with the late singer-songwriter Elliott Smith in many ways — as a collector, a webmaster, and an ambassador for the Oscar-nominated musician's work. Charlie's original Sweet Adeline website: www.sweetadeline.net Sweet Adeline on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sweetadelinenet Opening theme: "Keepers" by Still Flyin' Closing theme: "Slow Draw/Feeling In My...

Irish photographer William Fagan's camera collection includes about 45 cameras made by world-class manufacturer Leica — and now he's gathering clues about the mysterious travel photos found on film in one of them, dating back to the early 1950s. Article by William on the "Swiss Roll" photos: www.macfilos.com/2020/12/22/swiss-roll-the-facts-of-the-70-year-old-photo-mystery-as-we-now-know-them/ Open...

Documentarian Brian Chidester collects recordings, photography, sheet music, and other rarities that tell the story of songwriter Eden Ahbez, who composed the 1948 Nat King Cole classic "Nature Boy" — and whose proto-hippie lifestyle contrasted sharply with the times in which he lived. Brian's forthcoming documentary, "As the Wind: The Enchanted Life of Eden Ahbez": www.edenahbez.com Opening theme...

Karen Ronne Tupek's love for Antarctica runs deep — and as the daughter and granddaughter of three polar explorers, she's preserved a tremendous archive of historical items marking her family's achievements. Plus, she's got penguins!   Karen's website: www.ronneantarcticexplorers.com Opening theme: "Keepers" by Still Flyin' Closing theme: "Slow Draw/Feeling In My Heart" by Eric Frisch Additional m...

Tim Lybarger's love of "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" led him to create the Neighborhood Archive, an online tribute to the legacy of Fred Rogers — and a virtual showcase for Tim's 1,000 or so collectibles celebrating the gentle icon of children's television. The Neighborhood Archive website: www.neighborhoodarchive.com Opening theme: "Keepers" by Still Flyin' Closing theme: "Slow Draw/Feeling In My...

An avid enthusiast and historian of Nancy Drew, Jenn Fisher has amassed an incredible collection of items celebrating the history of literature's beloved "girl detective" — and clues about the life of the series' first ghostwriter, the enigmatic Mildred Wirt Benson. Jenn's website: www.nancydrewsleuth.com Opening theme: "Keepers" by Still Flyin' Closing theme: "Slow Draw/Feeling In My Heart" by Er...

Since the mid-1980s, Andy Golub has been a passionate fan of pop band Duran Duran, amassing an unmatched archive of posters, flyers, advertising, and press clippings that's received visits from adoring "Duranies" — and inspired his two books on the group.   Durandy Productions: www.durandy.com Andy's Instagram feed: www.instagram.com/durandyarchive Opening theme: "Keepers" by Still Flyin' Closing...

Nearly 30 years after the death of jazz legend Miles Davis, Jo Gelbard — his painting teacher, collaborator, and companion in the final seven years of his life — holds onto 12 of the intense, abstract paintings that they created together.   Jo's book, "Miles and Jo: Love Story in Blue": www.amazon.com/Miles-Jo-Love-Story-Blue/dp/1477289550 Opening theme: "Keepers" by Still Flyin' Closing theme: "S...

Pratfalls! Short shorts! Misunderstandings! "Three's Company" generated big laughs and ratings throughout its eight seasons on American TV — and has inspired longtime fan Sacha Pavic to collect memorabilia from the hit sitcom, from trading cards and action figures to signed scripts, props, and much more.   Sacha's website: www.threescompanycollection.com Sacha's Instagram page: www.instagram.com/t...

As best-selling author Jonathan Eig wrote "Ali: A Life," his biography of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, he found himself collecting all kinds of Ali memorabilia — from items he found on eBay to jewelry, handwritten letters, art, and other mementos he acquired from those in the inner circle of "The Greatest."   Jonathan's website: www.jonathaneig.com "Chasing Ali," Jonathan's podcast on the biography...

Author and Alcoholics Anonymous historian Mike Fitzpatrick is preserving and sharing the audio history of AA — "a story handed down," as co-founder Bill W. said — by collecting, digitizing, and streaming thousands of AA and other recovery-related recordings dating back to the 1940s.   Recovery Speakers (Mike's website): www.recoveryspeakers.com Books written by Mike: www.hazelden.org/store/author/...

Roger Steffens' passion for reggae has led to a colorful life as an author, DJ, photographer, and lecturer — and his reggae archives, a massive trove of memorabilia that fills his Los Angeles basement, reflect his love of Jamaica's popular musical export and its prime figure, the late Bob Marley.   Video tour of Roger's archives: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vgg__FYpTI The Family Acid on Instagram: ww...

When Emmy-winning actress and lifelong "saver" Rue McClanahan ("Maude," "Mama's Family," "The Golden Girls") passed away in 2010, her close friend Michael La Rue became the archivist for her vast estate, which includes awards, jewelry, costumes, and props from her long career — the highlights of which graced a New York City cafe created in her honor.   The Estate of Rue website: www.estateofrue.co...

For puck's sake! Kenn Shaw's Ultimate Hockey Fan Cave features a mind -boggling array of collectibles (many celebrating his beloved Chicago Blackhawks) and creations he's handmade from hockey sticks, nets, goalie pads, and more. Plus he's got a Zamboni!   The Ultimate Hockey Fan Cave: www.ultimatehockeyfancave.com Blade Shades, Kenn's line of sunglasses: www.bladeshades.com Opening theme: "Keepers...

In the 1970s, Frank Nesmith and Claudia Sailor created the Kindred Spirit Mailbox, a special spot amidst the dunes of the North Carolina coast where visitors leave messages expressing their joys, sorrows, and everything in between. Annie Breth, one of the mailbox's "keepers," talks about its emotional collection of notes — and its inspiration for the best-selling novel Every Breath by Nicholas Spa...

Canadian musician Richard Baxter is on a mission to rebuild Le Studio, the legendary Québec recording facility where Rush and many other big acts recorded before it closed and fell into disrepair. Along the way, he's selling collectibles — including pieces of glass and flooring from the original studio, plus new memorabilia — to fund the project. Also, songwriter/producer Jim Vallance (Bryan Adams...