Star Wars: Prototypes and Production

Where can you still purchase 1985 Power of the Force action figures for $10??? If you were at Syracuse’s ToyFest 5 in April of 2024, those were some of the fantastic finds at this vintage and modern trove of Star Wars treasures. ToyFest was one of the stops during the exciting 2024 FonzCon 4 weekend, an Empire State Star Wars Collectors Club meetup hosted by Fonz Napolitano. FonzCon has become a destination for Star Wars collectors from New York and beyond, and is a true celebration of the best parts of the Star Wars community. Join host David Quinn for part one of a three-part look back at the 2024 FonzCon 4 series. Travel to Syracuse with him, as he reflects on the special moments of previous FonzCon meetups and attends a Friday evening collectors’ dinner. And tour the ToyFest show together on Saturday morning, before heading to Fonz’ home for the weekend’s main event. This is the lasting magic of collector trips. And this is Star Wars: Prototypes and Production! To Listen to the Episode on the Prototype Archives Site: https://www.prototypearchives.com/podcast Links to the Episode on Various Podcast Platforms: APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/star-wars-prototypes-and-production/id1448205460 YOUTUBE MUSIC/PODCASTS: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7UruGWpd8qKrObL8-DSLekomB8GuB1VT SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/744L0XQhmpXn2AZeaxUhOZ CASTBOX: https://castbox.fm/channel/Star-Wars%3A-Prototypes-and-Production-id1904296?utm_source=website&utm_medium=dlink&utm_campaign=web_share&utm_content=Star%20Wars%3A%20Prototypes%20and%20Production-CastBox_FM STITCHER: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1054209 PANDORA: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/star-wars-prototypes-and-production/PC:1001054209 PODBEAN: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/u4ywr-80960/ AMAZON MUSIC: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c98fb265-c233-43d9-ae3b-1102bfb03e45/star-wars-prototypes-and-production PLAYERFM: https://player.fm/series/2473540 SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/david-quinn-908355451/tracks PODVINE: https://podvine.com/podcast/star-wars-prototypes-and-production iHEART: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-star-wars-prototypes-and-p-31050806/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/star-wars-prototypes-and-production/id1448205460

Fonz Napolitano has one of the best Star Wars collections in New York State. And the stories behind his treasures make it even more meaningful. Fonz, a longtime vintage Kenner collector and Boba Fett obsessive, is also a member of the Empire State Star Wars Collectors Club. And in May of 2019, Fonz opened his home to collectors for the second FonzCon weekend. Ahead of this month’s FonzCon 5, join host David Quinn for an in-depth look back at that joyous, momentous weekend in 2019. And tour Fonz’ extensive collection, as he shares the stories behind items like his carded Vinyl Cape Jawa and Yak Face, his impressive international carded run, and his massive Boba Fett focus. Learn why these Star Wars collector weekends are so special, and are so helpful in building lasting relationships with other collectors within the Empire State and across the galaxy. This is the type of gathering that makes collecting worthwhile. And this is Star Wars: Prototypes and Production! To Listen to the Episode on the Prototype Archives Site: https://www.prototypearchives.com/podcast Links to the Episode on Various Podcast Platforms: APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/star-wars-prototypes-and-production/id1448205460 YOUTUBE MUSIC/PODCASTS: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7UruGWpd8qKrObL8-DSLekomB8GuB1VT SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/744L0XQhmpXn2AZeaxUhOZ CASTBOX: https://castbox.fm/channel/Star-Wars%3A-Prototypes-and-Production-id1904296?utm_source=website&utm_medium=dlink&utm_campaign=web_share&utm_content=Star%20Wars%3A%20Prototypes%20and%20Production-CastBox_FM STITCHER: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1054209 PANDORA: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/star-wars-prototypes-and-production/PC:1001054209 PODBEAN: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/u4ywr-80960/ AMAZON MUSIC: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c98fb265-c233-43d9-ae3b-1102bfb03e45/star-wars-prototypes-and-production PLAYERFM: https://player.fm/series/2473540 SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/david-quinn-908355451/tracks PODVINE: https://podvine.com/podcast/star-wars-prototypes-and-production iHEART: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-star-wars-prototypes-and-p-31050806/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/star-wars-prototypes-and-production/id1448205460

Which famous Kenner Star Wars action figures did Bill Lemon create? During the era of the original trilogy, one legendary toy sculptor was responsible for some of the most important and unique figures in the Kenner line. And unlike the majority of his peers who sculpted figures in wax, Bill carved each one out of a hard acetate, a difficult and exacting method used by a previous generation of artists. But the result? Galactic works of art, and ones that you could use to tell your own Star Wars stories. Join host David Quinn for part two of a fascinating conversation with collector Ron Salvatore about Bill’s prolific work on the original Star Wars toy line. Ron, a writer for the premier vintage Star Wars memorabilia site, The Star Wars Collectors Archive, shares the insights he gleaned from researching and publishing an article titled, “A Model Craftsman: Bill Lemon and His Sculpting Contributions to Kenner's Star Wars Toy Line.” Ron also discusses the Star Wars figures Lemon sculpted, and tells some of the stories behind how he and other collectors discovered them years later and purchased them from former Kenner employees. This is a perfect way to learn about the action figures you love. And this is Star Wars: Prototypes and Production! To Read Ron's Bill Lemon Article on The Star Wars Collectors Archive: https://blog.theswca.com/2026/08/a-model-craftsman-bill-lemon-and-his.html To Listen to the Episode on the Prototype Archives Site: https://www.prototypearchives.com/podcast Links to the Episode on Various Podcast Platforms: APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/star-wars-prototypes-and-production/id1448205460 YOUTUBE MUSIC/PODCASTS: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7UruGWpd8qKrObL8-DSLekomB8GuB1VT SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/744L0XQhmpXn2AZeaxUhOZ CASTBOX: https://castbox.fm/channel/Star-Wars%3A-Prototypes-and-Production-id1904296?utm_source=website&utm_medium=dlink&utm_campaign=web_share&utm_content=Star%20Wars%3A%20Prototypes%20and%20Production-CastBox_FM STITCHER: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1054209 PANDORA: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/star-wars-prototypes-and-production/PC:1001054209 PODBEAN: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/u4ywr-80960/ AMAZON MUSIC: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c98fb265-c233-43d9-ae3b-1102bfb03e45/star-wars-prototypes-and-production PLAYERFM: https://player.fm/series/2473540 SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/david-quinn-908355451/tracks PODVINE: https://podvine.com/podcast/star-wars-prototypes-and-production iHEART: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-star-wars-prototypes-and-p-31050806/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/star-wars-prototypes-and-production/id1448205460

Bill Lemon created Kenner Star Wars figures in a miraculous way. Unlike the majority of his peers who sculpted in wax, Lemon meticulously carved his creations out of hard blocks of acetate. And as a model craftsman, Lemon delivered some of the most beloved and iconic action figures of the 1970s and 1980s. Kenner’s Jawa, the Death Squad Commander, the AT-AT Driver and TIE Pilot, Leia Hoth, 2-1B, 8D8, Luke Jedi, the Rebel Commando, Yak Face, Kez-Iban, the 12” C-3PO and many more came from a self-taught sculptor who blended artistry and engineering seamlessly. Join host David Quinn for the monumental 250th episode of the podcast, and for part one of a conversation with collector Ron Salvatore about Bill Lemon and his incredible work. Ron, a writer for the premier vintage Star Wars memorabilia site, The Star Wars Collectors Archive, shares the history behind how Bill became a toy sculptor, and why both designers and collectors have coveted his acetate sculpts for decades. This is truly the best way to celebrate eight years and 250 episodes of the podcast. And this is Star Wars: Prototypes and Production! To Listen to the Episode on the Prototype Archives Site: https://www.prototypearchives.com/podcast Links to the Episode on Various Podcast Platforms: APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/star-wars-prototypes-and-production/id1448205460 YOUTUBE MUSIC/PODCASTS: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7UruGWpd8qKrObL8-DSLekomB8GuB1VT SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/744L0XQhmpXn2AZeaxUhOZ CASTBOX: https://castbox.fm/channel/Star-Wars%3A-Prototypes-and-Production-id1904296?utm_source=website&utm_medium=dlink&utm_campaign=web_share&utm_content=Star%20Wars%3A%20Prototypes%20and%20Production-CastBox_FM STITCHER: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1054209 PANDORA: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/star-wars-prototypes-and-production/PC:1001054209 PODBEAN: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/u4ywr-80960/ AMAZON MUSIC: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c98fb265-c233-43d9-ae3b-1102bfb03e45/star-wars-prototypes-and-production PLAYERFM: https://player.fm/series/2473540 SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/david-quinn-908355451/tracks PODVINE: https://podvine.com/podcast/star-wars-prototypes-and-production iHEART: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-star-wars-prototypes-and-p-31050806/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/star-wars-prototypes-and-production/id1448205460

How did the Toys for the Ages Expo become one of the best toy shows in the country? In July, promoter Andy Cook moved the show from its former home in Carlisle, Pennsylvania to a 73,000 square-foot sports complex in the historic town of Gettysburg. With larger booths, double the amount of vendors, and Andy’s pledge of continuing to offer the greatest selection of rare and vintage items, the Toys for the Ages Expo may become your new favorite toy show. Join host David Quinn for part two of the Toys for the Expo weekend series, as he travels to Gettysburg to reunite with friends and to hunt for exciting Star Wars treasures. Visit the Expo on Saturday morning, for the toy show’s first official day in its new locale. Learn which Star Wars items surfaced for sale at the show, along with some incredible and iconic pieces from other popular toy lines from the 80s, 90s and 2000s. And experience a full day at the Toys for the Ages Expo, complete with collector conversations, a return to a very special restaurant, and how the show become an annual destination for thousands of collectors in the Northeast and beyond. This is why you need to come to Gettysburg in 2027. And this is Star Wars: Prototypes and Production! To Listen to the Episode on the Prototype Archives Site: https://www.prototypearchives.com/podcast Links to the Episode on Various Podcast Platforms: APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/star-wars-prototypes-and-production/id1448205460 YOUTUBE MUSIC/PODCASTS: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7UruGWpd8qKrObL8-DSLekomB8GuB1VT SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/744L0XQhmpXn2AZeaxUhOZ CASTBOX: https://castbox.fm/channel/Star-Wars%3A-Prototypes-and-Production-id1904296?utm_source=website&utm_medium=dlink&utm_campaign=web_share&utm_content=Star%20Wars%3A%20Prototypes%20and%20Production-CastBox_FM STITCHER: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1054209 PANDORA: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/star-wars-prototypes-and-production/PC:1001054209 PODBEAN: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/u4ywr-80960/ AMAZON MUSIC: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c98fb265-c233-43d9-ae3b-1102bfb03e45/star-wars-prototypes-and-production PLAYERFM: https://player.fm/series/2473540 SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/david-quinn-908355451/tracks PODVINE: https://podvine.com/podcast/star-wars-prototypes-and-production iHEART: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-star-wars-prototypes-and-p-31050806/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/star-wars-prototypes-and-production/id1448205460