Star Wars: Prototypes and Production

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...

In 1992, Steve Sansweet published a groundbreaking book on collecting Star Wars figures and memorabilia. And since then, he has written some of the most comprehensive Star Wars collecting resources. And in 2022, Paul Harrison and Rich Alot created a Vintage Collection book that became the new standard for Star Wars publishing. During the May 4th weekend, the three authors shared the stories behind...

The spring Delaware toy show may have had its largest crowd ever. Held on the Sunday between the Syracuse FonzCon trip and the Georgia Rogue Fun event, April’s Delaware toy show was the place to shop for vintage and modern Star Wars collectibles. Join host David Quinn as he travels to Delaware for the day. And find out what makes this show an east coast treasure trove for collectibles and meaningf...

Have you met the man who first brought Boba Fett to life? In 1978, John Celestri animated Boba Fett for his introduction in the Holiday Special, kicking off Star Wars fans’ nearly 50-year fascination with the mysterious bounty hunter. During the May 4th weekend, John shared his experience with more than 150 collectors at the Rogue Fun weekend in Kennesaw, Georgia. Learn more about John’s contribut...

How did a Boba Fett figure become the first Star Wars toy to publicly cross the half-million dollar threshold? Why was Hasbro’s HasLab announcement delayed? Why is an X-wing in the Smithsonian? How is a decades-old Disney attraction now part of Star Wars canon? Which recent milestone did Lego and Lucasfilm celebrate? And why is a YouTuber’s assessment of a failed Star Wars hotel garnering more att...

In the Star Wars community, customizers create the action figures that never made it into the Kenner toy line. Ryan Shaw and Gary Ray Weaver are two of the most prolific and talented customizers in the galaxy, and have designed some of the most popular custom figures ever. And during the May 4th weekend, they shared their stories, challenges and breakthroughs with more than 150 passionate Star War...

Another FonzCon is coming to a close. It’s Saturday evening at FonzCon 4. But like any FonzCon, the night is still young, and the party continues! Join host David Quinn for part three of a multi-episode series highlighting the unforgettable weekend of FonzCon 4. And in this episode, Fonz completes the tour of his jaw-dropping and storied collection, housed in a Kenner-centric collection room and a...

For children of the 1970s and 80s, the Sears Wish Book was the portal to the latest exciting Kenner Star Wars toy releases. Georgia collector Jerry Hancock, known in collector groups as Ki-Adi Randy, is an expert on the history of Sears, as well as the retail company’s relationship to the Star Wars franchise. And during the May 4th weekend, Jerry shared that history with more than 150 passionate S...

FonzCon 4 is finally here! A FonzCon event is like no other Star Wars meetup in the entire galaxy. And collectors are already planning for the next one. Join host David Quinn for part two of a multi-episode series that explores the unforgettable weekend of this year's FonzCon 4. Celebrate Star Wars and collecting with some of the most passionate and knowledgeable collectors in the galaxy at Saturd...

Where can you still purchase 1985 POTF action figures for $10??? If you were at Syracuse’s ToyFest 5 in April, those were some of the fantastic finds at this vintage and modern trove of Star Wars treasures. ToyFest was one of the exciting stops during the FonzCon 4 weekend, an Empire State Star Wars Collectors Club meetup hosted by Fonz Napolitano. FonzCon has become a destination for Star Wars co...

Why did a pair of Jawas sell for $19,000 at Goodwill? Why does the name Beau Willimon give Star Wars fans hope for a future film? And has Disney finally figured out a way to bring Star Wars characters from different eras to its theme parks without destroying canon? Join host David Quinn for a new series that explores Star Wars news from around the galaxy. From film and series updates to the collec...

What can collectors expect from the biggest Star Wars event of the year? During the May 4th weekend, more than 150 Star Wars fans and collectors will travel to Kennesaw, Georgia for a once-in-a-lifetime gathering: the incredible Rogue Fun weekend. Join host David Quinn for part two of a conversation about the making of Rogue Fun, with three members from the Georgia Alliance of Star Wars Collectors...