Introducing Pop Comforts, a seven-part podcast series that explores the unexpected corners of popular culture that people turn to for comfort. The series launches on May 1, 2024. Follow on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/popcomfortspodcast and listen/subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, or wherever you get your podcasts. Pop Comfort…

Happy holidays! In case you missed it, "For Keeps" was featured on this July 2022 episode of the podcast MetaPod. Special thanks to Wendy Morrill of MetaPod... enjoy! MetaPod's website: https://www.metapodshow.com Additional music by Chris Zabriskie Visit "For Keeps" online: https://www.forkeepspodcast.com Follow "For Keeps" on Instagram: https://w…

Since his early teens in the 1960s, activist John O'Brien has fought for causes he believes in — gay rights, farmworkers' rights, and dozens of other movements championed by progressives. Along the way, he has amassed a sprawling archive of pins, medallions, membership cards, whistles, recordings, and other ephemera that vividly illustrate these st…

The humble shoehorn: Is it merely a mundane tool, or a portal to history, art, and human ingenuity? During his travels as a physician and researcher, Dr. Forest Tennant stumbled onto an unexpected passion for shoehorns, eventually collecting approximately 3,000 of them and showcasing them in a museum he founded in West Covina, California. The Tenna…

Self-described "political entrepreneur" Jim Warlick has spent much of his life tracking down valuable presidential collectibles, including rare items once owned or used by John F. Kennedy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Harry S. Truman — and he recently sold off many of his most impressive pieces to fund a historical monument in his North Carolina home…

Entertainment publicist and author Jeff Abraham is endlessly expanding what he calls the Abraham Comedy Archives — which include roughly 5,000 comedy recordings from the well-known to the exceedingly rare, plus books, ephemera, and a wide range of personal items celebrating the work and lives of beloved comedians, including his favorite, Jerry Lewi…

Just before Jean-Michel Basquiat became a big name in the 1980s art world, the up-and-coming artist shared a New York apartment with Alexis Adler, a scientist and photographer who snapped roughly 150 photos of her then-boyfriend and his creative endeavors. She's held onto those photos as well as many of Basquiat's creations, from drawings to clothi…

For years, puzzle enthusiasts Roxanne and George Miller filled their Florida home with their world-class array of puzzles of all kinds — but they recently moved into an Italian castle, where they have grand plans to showcase and share their collection of more than 80,000 puzzles. Roxanne's blog, "Notes From Puzzle Palace": https://ipp30.blogspot.co…

For nearly five decades, "Saturday Night Live" has delivered laughs to television audiences, and its rich history has inspired SNL superfan James Stephens to collect cast jackets, cue cards used on the show, signed photos, toys, scripts, and more — plus a massive video archive with every sketch the show has aired since its debut in 1975. James show…

Gary Lassin isn't just the president of the Three Stooges Fan Club — he's also the founder of the Stoogeum, a museum in suburban Philadelphia that's dedicated entirely to the iconic comedy trio and spotlights many of the roughly 100,000 items in his personal collection of "Stooge-abilia." The Stoogeum website: www.stoogeum.com Gary's book, "A Tour …

The 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic has long fascinated avid collector Mark Zaid, whose Titanic trove includes an impressive array of vintage postcards, books, movie memorabilia, and rare historical documents related to the disaster — as well as medals given to rescuers. Mark's former Titanic coin on TV's "Pawn Stars": https://www.youtube.com/watch…

Nathan Shedroff's fascination with the Concorde — the supersonic passenger plane that blended speed with style — has led the college professor to collect everything from complete place settings from its in-flight meal service to gift items that celebrate the legendary aircraft's innovation and grace. Nathan Shedroff's Concorde collection: https://n…

As a teenager, Steve Gold attended 1969's star-studded, mud-covered Woodstock music festival, but it wasn't until nearly 50 years later that a hazy memory inspired him to track down and collect the wood panels from the concert stage — and create new memorabilia from the reclaimed plywood through his company, Peace of Stage. Peace of Stage website: …

In the late 1990s, Australian wine purveyor and collector John Baker pursued the adventure of a lifetime — the chance to purchase an incredible collection of wines that Joseph Stalin had hidden in the former Soviet republic of Georgia during World War II, to shield it from the advancing Nazi army. John shares his tales of chasing this elusive colle…

American bullfighter John Fulton (1932-1998) led a colorful life in and out of the bullrings of Spain — and distinguished himself as an artist, most notably through paintings colored with the blood of the bulls he killed in the ring. Friend and fellow artist Britt Zaist has held onto 80 of Fulton's works, while selling much of his work though her a…

Funny and philosophical, the quirky 1990s TV series "Northern Exposure" maintains a loyal following of devotees including collector Corey Davorin, whose Texas home includes a wide range of collectibles and even much of the show's actual radio booth — plus other unexpected parts of the show's history. Corey's KBHR South group on Facebook: www.facebo…

Since childhood, Steve Desroches has had a fascination with Studio 54, the exclusive, anything-goes New York nightclub that was the toast of the town during the disco heyday of the 1970s. As an adult, Steve collected guest lists, party invitations, and even clothing related to the club — before eventually finding a permanent home for much of his co…

Matinicus Island, Maine, is home to under 100 year-round residents — as well as a tiny public library that, thanks in part to treasurer Eva Murray, features a collection of books that have been banned or challenged elsewhere in the U.S. Matinicus Island Library on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Matinicus-Island-Library-1647462318852842 Opening theme by…

Long live the letter! Over the past decade, Liz Maguire has collected nearly 2,000 vintage handwritten love letters of all kinds — from sweethearts to sweethearts, from soldiers to their families, and more — and shared her finds on Flea Market Love Letters, a website and social media account she's run since 2017. Flea Market Love Letters website: w…

Jazz legend Art Pepper brought honesty to his playing and composing — and unflinching truth to his harrowing autobiography "Straight Life," co-authored by his widow, Laurie Pepper. Since Art's death in 1982, Laurie has archived innumerable recordings of Art's live performances, turning many bootlegs she's collected into releases on her own music la…

The Houston Astrodome was dubbed "the eighth wonder of the world" when it opened in 1965, and dome enthusiast (and former Houston Astros team historian) Mike Acosta keeps its path-breaking legacy alive through his collection of dome memorabilia, including stadium seats, lights from the huge scoreboard, pieces of AstroTurf, items from its presidenti…

In the 1960s, American entrepreneur Burt Todd devised an interesting way for the tiny, cash-strapped kingdom of Bhutan to raise funds — through the sale of distinctive postage stamps to collectors. Stamp enthusiast Leo Van der Velden talks about his collection of the Asian nation's one-of-a-kind postal offerings, including "talking stamps" (a serie…

In the 1920s and 30s, Harvard scholar James Madison Carpenter traveled in the northeastern U.S. and along the British coast to collect sea shanties, the maritime work songs that rose to prominence among sailors in the early 19th century. His notes and recordings of sailors preserved many shanties that would have otherwise been lost to history. To h…

Since coming to the U.S. as a teen in the early 1960s, Emilio Cueto has collected anything and everything that relates to his homeland of Cuba — from books to news clippings to porcelain to cigar memorabilia — capturing a multilayered view of the island nation and its complicated history. Virtual tour of Emilio's home and collection (from the Wall …

For more than three decades, autograph hunter Bryan Ulrich has artfully positioned himself to snag the signatures of seemingly every celebrity under the sun, most notably movie stars and legendary musicians. And his hard work is paying off — literally — through the sale of signed items in his collection. Bryan's website, The Signature Library: www.…

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: "…

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-rog…

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 1970…

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.blogsp…

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 …

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 abo…

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 …

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…

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 Dra…

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 Sti…

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-7…

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 Li…

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/…

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 St…

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' Cl…

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 O…

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 th…

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…

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 "C…

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…

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/watc…

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 hono…

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 sunglass…

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 t…

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. A…