Star Wars: Prototypes and Production

If you grew up during the era of the original Star Wars trilogy, you’re probably more familiar with Kenner’s repro art than you may realize. From weekly newspaper ads to many of the images on cardbacks, cups, and Star Wars memorabilia, repro art presented the latest toys in an appealing way, enticing both children and parents to “collect them all.” And for Kenner, repro art standardized how these...

What awaits Star Wars fans and collectors in the coming year? Will the sale of Jeff Jacob’s legendary collection at Hakes ignite a flurry of activity and interest in the action figures? Will the second season of Andor be the small-screen story Star Wars fans desperately desire? Will updates from April’s Star Wars Celebration Japan illuminate Lucasfilm’s direction for the franchise? Will the relati...

Which once-in-a-lifetime grail purchase left one collector sobbing, and another wandering his town in a stupor? Why were Star Wars events like FonzCon, May the North and Rogue Fun so impactful? What was it like to tour Lucasfilm with fellow collectors and club members? And why should everyone be handed a B-Wing at some point in life? Join host David Quinn for part two of a new three-part series th...

Star Wars will be forever connected to the holidays. Whether it’s receiving a special Kenner toy under the tree, marking Hanukkah with a prized playset, spending the winter weekends with other collectors, or seeing a new film for the first time with friends and family, Star Wars has made a lasting imprint on the holiday season. So, what is your favorite Star Wars memory from Christmas and the holi...

"We can't keep Star Wars items on the shelf.” Between 1978 and 1980, the marketing blitz of Star Wars toys and memorabilia was unlike anything previously experienced by both consumers and retailers. From Darth Vader figures, to TIE Fighters and X-Wings, to the massive Death Star Space Station, many of the exciting toys Kenner released during the holiday season sold out as quickly as they arrived....

A once-in-a-lifetime Star Wars auction occurred at the beginning of December. And its results may shock you. After a year of record-breaking sales, did the iconic Rocket-Firing Boba Fett prototype finally return to Earth? Why did key pieces of original Kenner packaging art struggle to find bidders? Which international grail figure underperformed by a substantial margin? Which store display sale su...

It’s been a very busy month in the world of Star Wars and collecting. And you may have missed some of the biggest news over the past thirty days! How did Star Wars collectibles perform at the Propstore and Hakes catalog auctions? Which iconic item from the 1977 film sold for more than $400,000? Why was Return of the Jedi recently reclassified? Which previously announced project did Lucasfilm remov...

Can a Star Wars collectors club meetup really be a life-changing event? For the podcast’s milestone 200th episode, join host David Quinn for a look back at RonCon 2, an unforgettable 2017 meetup in the Hudson Valley area of New York. Hosted by Ron Salvatore, RonCon offered members of the Empire State Star Wars Collectors Club the opportunity to spend time with other Star Wars collectors and to tou...

We’ve reached the end of another toy show season. In a year of fantastic trips and bountiful blessings, the Maryland Toy Expo stands out among the very best. And there’s no better way to close out the season than to return to Timonium for the November fall show. Join host David Quinn as he tours the Expo during Friday’s setup and Saturday’s main event, hunting for Kenner and Hasbro Star Wars treas...

Four of the best Star Wars collections are uniting to form the ultimate museum. And that’s just one of the stories in an exceptionally newsworthy and fascinating month. Which iconic helmet and uniform are appearing publicly for sale at auction for the very first time? Which exciting action figure announcements did Hasbro make at New York Comic Con? What newly uncovered documents give us a clearer...

Continuing the momentum of a powerhouse franchise like Star Wars or Marvel is not easy. In October of 2023, Disney spoke with The Hollywood Reporter, acknowledging the issues the company faced with its Marvel films and series, and what it planned to do to correct them to get Marvel back on track. And while Star Wars fans have wished for something similar - more direct communication and a clearer r...

A new era of Star Wars is coming. Lucasfilm is rumored to be cutting back on its Star Wars series output. The timeline for films and shows is starting to align. And a beloved character franchise is coming to a close. But that is just a taste of what has been one of the busiest months of the year for Star Wars news. After two record-breaking sales at auction, why did the latest Rocket-Firing Boba F...

Is Retro Con the best toy show on the east coast? A number of toy fans certainly think so, and with good reason. The Pennsylvania event offers so much for collectors and attendees of all ages. Across more than 67,000 square feet of toy show space, it contains more than 300 booths filled with vintage and modern toys, with a number of the dealers saving their best items for Retro Con. And over the p...

A Boba Fett figure shockingly skyrocketed past the million-dollar mark for the first time at auction in August. And with a controversial series cancellation, major updates to Lucasfilm’s movie and series slates and a theme park attraction overhaul, Star Wars fans now have a clearer view of the franchise’s future. But where is Star Wars truly heading? What was announced at Disney’s D23 expo and in...

An $1800 holy grail figure for….12 dollars??? This year’s Toys For The Ages Expo in Carlisle, Pennsylvania may have been the best one yet. The sheer amount of amazing finds and pickups of Star Wars items and ones from a vast number of other toy lines makes this show a must-attend event each year. Join host David Quinn for part two of a weekend at the Toys For The Ages Expo. Explore the Saturday sh...

The Star Wars Collectors Archive changed the collecting world forever. The essential website, created by Gus Lopez in 1994, showcased the prototypes and production pieces from the Kenner Star Wars toy line, as well as memorabilia from the global release of the original trilogy. But more importantly, its contributors and authors helped to inform and educate collectors on the significance of each tr...

It’s time to return to Carlisle in search of rare Star Wars collectibles. Pennsylvania’s Toys For The Ages Expo weekend marks the middle of the summer in a busy toy show season. And for collectors, it’s a perfect toy trip to reconnect with old friends, to make new ones and to possibly come home with some grail pieces in the process. But what makes this show so special? And why do collectors excite...

Star Wars auctions are heating up this summer. Heritage Auctions had a blazing July sale, with a million-dollar Y-wing and other incredibly iconic Star Wars props. White-hot bidding for carded Kenner figures like a Vinyl Cape Jawa, and prototypes like a Leia Boushh sample, led to some record-setting prices at Hake’s latest catalog auction. And for the first time, collectors had the opportunity to...

Our time at the Expo is almost over. But with the second half of Saturday remaining, there’s time for more Star Wars finds and more conversations with our fellow collectors! Join host David Quinn for the third and final part of an in-depth series highlighting The Maryland Toy Expo weekend. Hear about a deal between Andy Cook and Arthur Lew for an incredibly rare Return of the Jedi set. And learn w...

There’s been an awakening…in the North! In the previous episode, we learned about the history of May The North Be With You, a Canadian Star Wars convention started by members of the Ontario Alliance. May The North stands out among other conventions, as it offers a more intimate, VIP-level experience. Each May The North weekend features legends who worked with George Lucas on the original trilogy a...

The Rebellion is growing in the North! Three years ago, four Canadian collectors were inspired to create a Star Wars convention in the Toronto area. They aimed to make May The North Be With You a more intimate and personal Star Wars experience for their fellow collectors. And since 2022, May The North attendees have had once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to interact with the legends who worked with...

It’s Saturday morning, and time to explore the Expo! In the previous episode, we saw how the two-building toy show came together at setup. Now that the nearly 300 vendors’ booths are constructed and collectibles fill every inch of the hundreds of tables awaiting attendees, the show is about to open to the public! Join host David Quinn for part two of an in-depth series highlighting The Maryland To...

It’s time to head to a new part of the country in search of rare Star Wars figures and memorabilia. During the first week of June, promoters Mark Ryan and Kristian Kuhn hosted The Maryland Toy Expo in Timonium, Maryland. The show featured almost 300 booths and hundreds of tables of toys and collectibles, spread across two adjacent buildings at the Maryland State Fairgrounds. Join host David Quinn...

This month’s Newsdesk proves there’s more going on in the Star Wars universe beyond The Acolyte. As the fanbase continues to fracture and the series demands the month’s spotlight, what were the other newsworthy moments for Star Wars fans and collectors? What does analytics data actually tell us about the makeup of the Star Wars film and series audiences? Which longtime collector is selling his 3,0...

Getting stuck in a toilet, starting an office fire, and firing blow darts into plastic dolls? Just an average day at Kenner. These are just some of the ridiculously funny and fascinating stories from the final Star Wars-themed panel of the Rogue Fun collectors weekend, held during the May fourth weekend in Kennesaw, Georgia. Former Kenner employees Howard Bollinger and Tim Effler shared tales from...