Are you allowed to love? I thought it was forbidden for a Jedi.

And now a new type of post.  The purpose of this blog is not just to record stories of my past acquisitions but to serve as a log of new additions to the collection.

My cousin works at Target setting up the new displays.  I received a text this morning with pictures of new Valentine's Day Star Wars items.  I decided to go check them out.

When I entered the store I remembered that I saw a post of new items in the $1.00 bin.  My Target has been under construction so they currently don't have $1.00 bins.

I found a few new items in the bin.  Two 48 sheet memo pads, two 60 sheet journals and some light up yo-yos.  I picked up the pads and journals and a R2-D2 light-up yo-yo.  All of these items are by Innovative Designs.

Jedi Journal

Poster Journal-Switches between Episode I one sheet and the space battle of Naboo

Memo Pads

R2-D2 Light-Up Yo-Yo

I headed into the Valentine's Day section.  There were enough Star Wars items to take up their own set of shelves.  There were three sizes of M&M dispensers (Vader, Boba, Red Jedi), heart shaped boxes of candy, teddy bears, candy tins, character plushes and mugs filled with candy. The paper valentines were kept in another aisle.  

I decided to pick up some items today and wait and see if anything would end up in the clearance bin.  I picked up the medium sized Darth Vader M&M's Dispenser, all three of the small M&M's banks, and the Character Plush with Conversation Hearts Yoda and Vader.  

Medium Size Dispenser $4.99

Boba Fett M&M's Bank- $2.99

Red as Jedi M&M's Bank -$2.99

Darth Vader M&M's Bank -$2.99

Vader Character Plush With Conversation Hearts - $3.99

Yoda Character Plush With Conversation Hearts - $3.99

Slap Band - $3.99

I next went to the toy section to do my regular check for new figures.  I was hoping to find the new Episode I figures.  No luck.  Just Clone Wars figures and 4 or 5 Vintage Collection figures.  I glanced down and noticed a little shelf/bin under the main shelf.  It was labeled "$5 and Under".    The shelf was empty except for a few Slap Bands- Vader, Darth Maul and Anakin.   Having never seen one before, I picked one up to add a new category to my collection.  I'm not quite sure now to catalogue it.  Maybe under "Apparel"?









"Are you allowed to love? I thought it was forbidden for a Jedi."- Padme Amidala Episode II

First Step Into A Larger World

Most Star Wars fans who where around in 1977 know the story of Kenner's "Early Bird Kit".   Basically,  nobody, including the toy company Kenner, expected Star Wars to be a success.   Kenner was totally unprepared and could not produce action figures before the 1977 Christmas season.  To placate young Star Wars fans, the sold what they called the "Early Bird Kit".  Among other things this kit had a certificate that you would mail in and receive the first four figures; Luke, Leia, Chewie and R2 in the mail 6 to 8 weeks later.   The set also came with a flimsy cardboard stand to display the original 12 figures.    Click here for more details.


Unfortunately, I do not have much of the original kit left.  I do still have the original four figures.  They came in a white tray inside a little unmarked white box...more than 8 weeks later.   We are talking about an eight month gap between seeing the movie and having the first figures to play with.  To a nine year old eight months is an eternity. 


Finally we had something to play with but we still had to wait for the remaining 8 figures.   A friend of mine, David, had found a new figure at the LA Farmer's Market while he was up with his family at the King Tut exhibit.   Needless to say we were all extremely jealous!  One day I was in a small neighborhood shopping center called Clairemont Square.   I spotted a toy store across the mall.  I am far sighted and had the amazing ability to see toy stores from miles away.  The store was called Toy World.  We went in and to my surprise there were new Star Wars Figures!   


The figures cost $2.27 and I was lucky enough that my mom bought me the three figures available that I did not have; C-3PO, Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi and Darth Vader. 

Being nine, I was a little over zealous ripping it open to get to the figure. 

Notice the price tag at the top. Also, the cut out circle at the bottom corner.  More on that latter. 

I can't believe I wrote on the card, but I was nine. What did I know? 

The back of the card is worth mentioning.     It listed the original 12 and the same drawing (not a picture) as the Early Bird Set.  There were descriptions of each figure.  It also had a glimpse of the first vehicles- but only drawings.  The instructions for using the light saber were always amusing- even to a nine year old. 

Original Card Back

Original 12 list.  Notice the height of each figure is listed.  Before Star Wars most action figures were 8 to 12 inches tall.  Thing small figure format was new at this time.

How to work Light Saber :) 

The first vehicles

What is interesting to note is that this was the first actual picture of the figures.  It was the first chance to see what the figures you didn't have yet looked like.  Notice that three figures are not shown.  

 I had to have the Collector's Action Stand so I immediately cut of the proof-of-purchase seals (thus the missing circle at the bottom of the cards, gathered my two dollars and sent it to Kenner.  A little more than 10 weeks later it arrived. 

My original 12 on the Collector's Action Stand.  Despite being heavily played with they are all in good shape.  Only Leia's cape and Luke's lightsaber are missing. 

Shortly after returning from the first trip to Toy World the quest to find remaining five was on. 

I was able to find Han Solo at the Toy World in Mission Valley and the Stormtrooper at the Mini-City on Convoy.  Yet, the final three eluded me.  Interesting enough, they were the three figures missing from the Collector's Stand photo; Death Squad Command, Sand People and the Jawa.  

Stormtrooper from Mini-City.  Notice the $2.49 price tag. 

 

In the following weeks I was able to pick up the Death Squad Command and then the Sand People but the Jawa still eluded me.

Sand People from Mini City- Notice the $2.99 price tag.   A 50 cent jump from just a few weeks before. 

Finally, on my 10th birthday in late September 1978, my friend got me the Jawa.  He had found it at FedMart.  The collection was complete... at least for a couple of months.   The Jawa came in a cloth robe, not the vinyl cape advertised.  It was a mystery that haunted us for years.... 






"You've taken your first step into a larger world" -Obi-Wan Kenobi, Episode IV

This Will Be A Day Long Remembered

I first saw Star Wars in late May or early June of 1977 - I can't remember the actual date.   I didn't really want to see it.  I wasn't into Planet of the Apes or Space 1999, which is about all the Science Fiction that I knew at the time.  I was in the third grade and the teachers were on strike.  They took us on a school field trip.  The bus pulled up in front of the Valley Circle Theater and we walked right in.  I'm sure the people who were waiting in line for hours weren't too happy to see 30 eight year olds cut the line.

The Valley Circle Theater where Star Wars ran for over a year. 

The moment that Star Destroyer went over the screen my life changed.  I was hooked forever.

Before leaving the theater I visited the concession stand and bought the Official Souvenir Program.  So, I suppose this is my very first Star Wars collectable.

Front Cover 

Samples of Inside Pages

Despite the fact that it is almost 35 years old and was read over and over by an eight year boy, this piece is still in very nice shape.

"This Will Be A Day Long Remembered"- Darth Vader,  Episode IV

Worthy of Recognition in the Archives of the Jedi Order

Back in 2002 I was wondering what the point of having a collection was when it was just stored in boxes under the stairs.  I decided to turn a room in my house into what has become to known as "The Star Wars Room".  (Although I think Archives of the Jedi Order might be a better name)   The room is constantly evolving as the collection grows.  As you can see it is almost at capacity.  

Entering Room

South Wall

West Wall 

Center Island- South Side

Center Island-North Side

North Wall

East Wall

"Worthy of Recognition in the Archives of the Jedi Order" - Count Dooku, Episode 2

Your Focus Determines Your Reality

So it's been almost a year since I started this blog and I've only made the original post.  I decided that this blog needs a focus.  This will now about my Star Wars collection.   I have been collecting since I first saw Star Wars in the theaters back in 1977 when I was 8 years old.   My collection has over 2,000 pieces.     This blog will be a place for me to archive my thoughts and memories about the pieces I've collected over the past 35 years.  I know that there are most serious collectors out there.  I am no means a completist.  I have an eclectic collection.  Many of the pieces were gifts and most of the new things I purchase tend to be odd or unusual items.    If anyone happens to read this blog maybe it may spark a happy memory of their Star Wars experiences.


"Your Focus Determines Your Reality" - Qui-Gon Jinn, Episode I