When it comes to Star Wars memorabilia, there are two types of collectors.
For Tim Powell - who's collected games, action figures, and movie posters for the better part of the last four decades - it's all about unboxing the sacred swag.
"I decided that if I was going to collect a toy, I wanted to be able to open up, share it and look at it," said Powell.
He said the original film on opening night May 25, 1977 and has seen each subsequent film on opening night ever since.
The seventh film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, will be no different.
Now he's spreading that fascination with the world via Kansas City's National Museum of Toys and Miniatures.
"It just came to a point where this needs to be enjoyed by someone rather than being in a box so I contacted the museum and they thought it was a great idea," he explained. Now, here they are, in the case and people can enjoy them too."
And it's working. Young and old flock to the museum to see one of its most popular collections - the Star Wars memorabilia exhibit.
Now Powell hopes the museum's exhibition inspires other to fall in love with the films and start collections all their own.
"You have to collect it for the enjoyment of yourself," he said. "Not for investment. Don't try to get them all. Find a niche that pleases you, that interested you. It's all about the fun. I still to this day have a blast with it."
You can see the Star War collection at the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission is $5 for everyone ages five and older. Kids under five, and members enter for free.
-----
Terra Hall can be reached at terra.hall@kshb.com.
You can also follow her on Twitter.
