Star Wars Celebration 2019 Collecting Track Panel Schedule

The Star Wars Collectors’ Stage, located in Room W474, will feature panels by expert collectors around the world during all 5 days of Star Wars Celebration. The panel topics and schedule will be announced shortly. In keeping with the tradition of the Collecting Track, there is an extra-special bonus for collectors who attend the panels. For every panel held throughout the show on the Collectors Stage, each attendee (to the capacity of the room) will receive an exclusive Star Tot, created and sponsored by collectors for Star Wars Celebration Chicago. There are 20 Star Tots in total for 20 different collecting panels. Here is the schedule.


Friday Apr 12th, 2019

12:00PM - 1:00PM - Tiki Wars
It's Tiki Time! Originally a mid 20th-century theme inspired in part by Polynesian tiki carvings, Tiki culture is back in a big way! There are a number of available licensed collectibles that mashup Star Wars & Tiki, including an amazing line of mugs and aloha shirt, as well as highly collectible fan made items. It's time to talk Star Wars Tiki and even how you can customize your own Star Wars Tiki items to celebrate your love of both these worlds.

1:30PM - 2:30PM - Special Collections: 40 Years of Star Wars Holiday Special Collecting
A presentation showing 40 years of the various items of merchandise and promotional items connected to The Star Wars Holiday Special over the years, and some of the collectors who focus on them.

1:30PM - 2:30PM - 20 years of the LEGO Star Wars Story - A Retrospective and Forward Look

3:00PM - 4:00PM - Weird, Wild & Whimsical Star Wars Collectibles
Lucasfilm reigns supreme in the licensing realm, approving Star Wars branding for practically every product imaginable. You can find Star Wars on everything from pencils to passenger jets! With such a cacophony of collectibles to choose from, it takes a keen eye and a tireless effort to turn up those genuinely obscure and jaw-dropping gems. Join us as we reveal some of our favorite off-the-wall collectibles from all over the world.

4:30 PM - 5:30PM - The Archive Turns 25: The History of the Star Wars Collectors Archive

6:00PM - 7:00PM - 20 Years of Collecting LEGO Star Wars


Saturday Apr 13th, 2019


10:30AM - 11:30AM - Toltoys: An Australian Star Wars Story
TOLTOYS distributed Star Wars toys in Australia during the late '70s to mid '80s. Join veteran Aussie Toltoys MOC guru Brody Walker, ESB Vinyl Cape Jawa authority Ben Sheehan, & POTF coin aficionado Mark Salotti on a trip down amnesia-lane, as they try to recall the differences in the figures, the offers, non-offers and the idiosyncrasies of Vintage product found only in the Land Down Under. (Foster's Larger not provided, or recommended. BYO Shrimp).

12:00PM - 1:00PM - Star Wars Prototypes and Unreleased Toys
This panel will present a unique behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Kenner's Star Wars toy line that began in 1977, covering artifacts from all stages of toy production from concept to final product using numerous examples from the presenters' extensive collections of one-of-a-kind items.The presentation will walk through toy prototype examples from action figures, to vehicles and much more. Our presenters will share information obtained from interviewing numerous former Kenner employees and show rare, never-released Star Wars toys that were never available in stores.

1:30PM - 2:30PM - The Effect & Influence of the Palitoy Company on Star Wars Toys
By the time Star Wars was released in the U.K. The Palitoy Company was already the number one powerhouse in the boys toys retail marketplace. Whilst the divisions within The Palitoy Company were granted the opportunity to distribute the Kenner products (Palitoy, Denys Fisher & Chad Valley), it wasn't as easy as just repackaging the toys, many changes and compromises were required in the U.K. market early on which led to unique variations and, in some cases, creating new product. This presentation takes a look back at those challenges, the highs and lows, the successes and failures that all contribute to one of the most coveted areas of international Star Wars vintage collecting.

3:00PM - 4:00PM - Bring Balance To Your Tree: Collecting Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments and other collectibles for Life Day and everyday


4:30PM - 5:30PM - Kenner: From Concept Model to Collectible
A deep-dive into the earliest concept models Kenner created to visualize their Star Wars toy line. Hosted by collector Chris Georgoulias and Jim Swearingen, Kenner lead concept designer 1976-1979. This presentation is a detailed exploration of the earliest stages of Star Wars action figure development as well as a showcase of concept models for nearly the entire toy line from the first film. Including behind the scenes stories, rare and never seen before photos, marketing imagery, and packaging detailing how the handmade concept models transformed into finished products. A fascinating overview of the first steps that spawned a generation of toys worldwide.

6:00PM - 7:00PM - The Toys That Made Us: Star Wars Pt. 2

7:00PM - 9:00PM - Collectors Swap Meet & Social


Sunday Apr 14th, 2019



12:00PM - 1:00PM - Vintage Canadian Collectibles -- A Tale of Two Languages!


1:30PM - 2:30PM - The Man Who Shot Luke Skywalker
Presenting the Kenner images everyone grew up with from 1978 thru 2000 (A New Hope to Episode 1) by the photographer who took all these photos.

3:00PM - 4:00PM - Star Wars Sports Collectibles

4:30PM - 5:30PM - Grail Stories
Once upon a time there was an unobtainable treasure. It was an item so incredibly rare or valuable that our hero could not even dream of adding it to his collection! Then somehow a miracle occurred, and he did. Gather 'round to hear the thrilling tales of your fellow collectors who have actually lived this story! We'll show you how sometimes the impossible becomes reality.

6:00PM - 7:00PM - Star Wars Original Props and Costumes


Monday Apr 15th, 2019


12:00PM - 12:45PM - Collecting Collector's Books: Turning the Page on Star Wars Reference Material
Long before the internet, collectors used books as their reference material to expand their knowledge about what Star Wars items were available. Over time, these books evolved from simple price guides to the more focused books of today. Some of them even became collectibles themselves. We will take a look at the progression of collecting resource books and what are considered vital editions to have in your collection and on your bookshelf.

1:00PM - 1:45PM - Star Wars in a Country Far, Far Away (Argentina)
The proposal is to review in great detail but in an interactive way (videos, photos, unpublished material) everything Star Wars that was produced around the franchise in the period 1977-1985 in Argentina

2:00PM - 2:45PM - Collecting Star Wars Fashion
As apparel forms an essential part of human existence, Star Wars fashion is often a 'gateway' collecting hobby. This panel examines the concept of Star Wars clothing and related collectibles as both a form of self-expression and as a collecting focus, particularly those aspects of the hobby that are unique when compared to other pursuits. Presented by Kristy Glasgow, writer for the Star Wars fashion blog The Kessel Runway.

3:00PM - 3:45PM - Star Wars Pinball and Arcade Collecting
We will discuss the various pinball and arcade machines produced over the years. Talk about the game play and discuss how to collect and maintain them.

4:00PM - 4:45PM - Star Wars Around the House

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