Category: Happenings

Event coverage from yesterday, today & tomorrow – The fanfare through our eyes.

Join Rancho Obi-Wan for a party, a convention, an exhibit, or an outing. Photos and videos from past Star Wars Celebrations, Rancho Obi-Wan Galas and more. As we prepare for future events we will bring you along on the journey. As we find photos from events past we’ll be sure to share.
 
 

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Rancho Obi-Wan at Star Wars Celebration Japan

Rancho Obi-Wan was excited to be at Star Wars Celebration Japan! We had so much fun at our booth meeting fans from all over the world who came to celebrate all things Star Wars!

We had a small display of Japanese Star Wars Collectibles and handmade crafts, but utilized most of our space for attendees to sit and create their own Star Wars sketch cards!

About 350 sketch cards were completed by guests of all ages and were displayed at our booth for all the enjoy!

We had fourteen volunteers that assisted with the booth and we couldn’t have done it without them.   Many fans had never heard of Rancho Obi-Wan, so it was a great opportunity to introduce them to our museum.  We also had visits from faithful fans who stopped by to say hello!

Friday evening the Lucasfilm Celebration Live Film crew stopped by and interviewed our volunteer lead (and wife of Duncan Jenkins!)  Anne Jenkins was interviewed about our booth and what we had to offer. It was another opportunity to highlight the beautiful sketch cards that had already been done at our booth and promote our plans for The SAGA Museum!

Rancho Obi-Wan at Star Wars Celebration Japan

On Saturday of Celebration Japan, ROW board members and The Saga Museum founding collectors Gus Lopez and Duncan Jenkins gave a presentation at the Fan Stage titled “Inspiring and Serving the Community Through Star Wars Memorabilia.”  The panel allowed Gus and Duncan to reach a new audience regarding our plans to create a permanent public museum, The Saga Museum of Star Wars Memorabilia, and our desire to bring inspiration to all who visit it.  The quickest way to impart our vision was to show the short video about the genesis of our project.  Duncan and Gus could tell the audience was excited about the possibilities when they eagerly applauded at its conclusion.  They then proceeded to share our goals, progress, and hopes of inspiring and serving the community with the combination of our collections.  Having our memorabilia serve a higher purpose is the core of this endeavor.  At the conclusion, there were many thoughtful questions and it was obvious our project had gained many new supporters who were eager to see the museum and its programs come to fruition. It was exciting to see that even half a world away, the universal appeal of the galaxy far, far away and its collectibles was strong indeed!

Rancho Obi-Wan at Star Wars Celebration Japan

Special Thanks to Duncan and Anne Jenkins for providing photos and recap!

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Visit Rancho Obi-Wan Booth and See Saga Museum Member Panels at Star Wars Celebration Japan!

If you’re attending Star Wars Celebration, be sure to visit the Rancho Obi-Wan booth and see Saga Museum member panels at Star Wars Celebration Japan!

Visit the Rancho Obi-Wan booth to draw your own Star Wars Sketch Card and see select items from our collection, and collections of The Saga Museum collector’s Duncan Jenkins and Gus Lopez.

Gus Lopez will be a presenter for  the Star Wars Coins and Medallions Panel Friday, April 18th, 12:30pm–1:30pm on the Collector’s Stage.

Duncan Jenkins will be part of the The Colorful World of Vintage Keshigomu (Rubber Erasers) Panel Saturday, April 19th, 12:30pm–1:30pm on the Collector’s Stage.   *See Keshigomu sneak peek now!

Visit Rancho Obi-Wan booth and see Saga Museum member panels at Star Wars Celebration Japan!

Duncan Jenkins and Gus Lopez will be presenting the  Inspiring and Serving the Community Through Star Wars Memorabilia Panel Saturday, April 19th, 2:30pm–3:30pm on the Fan Stage.  This panel is about The Saga Museum of Star Wars Memorabilia Initiative of Rancho Obi-Wan and will cover the history and background on the five extraordinary collections that will be part of the Saga Museum, and feature a glimpse of the incredible Star Wars items and stories that will be unveiled to the public.

Duncan Jenkins will be a presenter for the Star Wars Around the House Panel on Sunday, April 20th 1:00pm–2:00pm on the Collector’s Stage.  This fun panel will cover household and kitchen products from a galaxy far, far away!

Bonus! Gus Lopez will be hosting all the panels at the Collector’s Stage at Star Wars Celebration Japan!

We hope everyone has a wonderful time celebrating Star Wars together at Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025!

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The Colorful World of Keshigomu Star Wars Characters and Vehicles

Let’s take a look at the colorful world of Keshigomu Star Wars Characters and Vehicles first released from Japan in 1978!

Keshigomu means “rubber eraser” and they have been a very popular area of collecting in Japan since the 1970s.  There are countless lines from almost every imaginable franchise.  So, it’s no wonder that there were multiple series keshi (as the word is usually shortened colloquially) of Star Wars characters and vehicles when the film was first released in Japan in 1978. 

We will only discuss one series now, but later installments will deal with the others.  If you can’t wait that long, there is still time to book a flight an attend Star Wars Celebration Japan in Tokyo where I will be on a panel entitled “The Colorful World of Keshigomu” on April 19 from 12:30 to 1pm.  Also, the Rancho Obi-Wan booth at Celebration Japan will showcase some of these interesting and fun collectibles so stop by to see them.

People (especially kids) love loopholes in the rules and that, I have been told, is the impetuous for the rise in popularity of Keshigomu.  An obvious rule is you can’t bring toys to school.  But what if you were only bringing an eraser to class?  No problem.  What if that eraser just happened to look like your favorite cartoon character or a starship?  Now you’ve managed to fight the system and have a fun way to escape the tedium of preparing for the rest of your life.  Don’t be fooled that any actual erasing took place with these toys [err..] legitimate school supplies.

Keshi are inexpensive and can be purchased in many ways from capsule machines (what we would call gumball machines) to kiosks and even premiums in food promotions.  The first line we will discuss is from a company called Maruka Toy Company.  These small size erasers (not toys) were sold in 50-piece bags.  I don’t know about you but I don’t think I have used up 50 erasers in my entire life.  These bags were filled with random Star Wars vehicles and characters roughly an inch and a half tall in a rainbow of colors.  Each color was available in opaque and translucent.  So, you can see that completing a full set can be quite a challenge.  And we all know collectors like a challenge.  The small Maruka series consists of the Millennium Falcon, Landspeeder, X-Wing, Y-Wing, TIE Fighter, the Escape Pod (looking more like a Soyuz Capsule), and the intrepid droid duo C-3PO & R2-D2 providing the only actual characters in the bags.

The Colorful World of Keshigomu Star Wars Characters and Vehicles

If a 50-piece bag wasn’t in a young kid’s budget or they were a budding gambler, they could instead choose to purchase the keshi in sealed paper bags that each contained five random erasers (not toys) from the line.  Interestingly, it seems that a Star Destroyer was available only in these blind bags.  In addition to the five colorful vehicles or droids, there was a piece of paper letting the buyer know if they were a winner or loser.  If they were a loser, all the young student could do was hang their head in shame and exit the store.  But if they were a winner they were treated to a free exclusive keshi of either Darth Vader or R2-D2 (slightly different than the plain Artoo found in regular packs).  Four different images can be found on the paper blind bags: Darth Vader or the Droids (shown here) plus the Space Battle photo and the Japanese version of the Hildebrandt art.

The Colorful World of Keshigomu Star Wars Characters and Vehicles

You might think surely that is enough keshi for one movie, but, as they say in Japan “Au contraire mon frère.”  This is just the beginning.  But you will have to wait patiently for the next installment.

As a postscript, when Gus Lopez and I wrote our eponymous price guide “Gus and Duncan’s Comprehensive Guide to Star Wars Collectibles”, we listed the 50-piece bag of the small Maruka keshi in the Toy chapter.  But don’t tell any Japanese teachers or the jig will be up and the loophole will be closed.

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Thanks to all for your support in Seattle!

Rancho Obi-Wan would like to thank the following folks for their help with and support of our recent fundraiser at The Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle. It takes so many people to produce an event like this, we hope we haven’t forgotten anyone! The event raised $49,369.06, and when doubled by a generous match from Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz, the total became $98,738.12! Funds raised are used for insurance, utilities, wildland fire defensible space, professional services, maintenance on the buildings, and protection and preservation of the collection.

This allows us to continue to use the collection to inspire–thank you for joining us in our mission! Your generosity makes it all possible.

Thank you to all our Attendees and Absentee Bidders–we love visiting with you!

Rancho Obi-Wan Board Members
Steve Sansweet
Anne Neumann
Gus Lopez
Duncan Jenkins
Rich Smolen
Michael Wistock
Dan Norgan
Pete Vilmur
Lisa Stevens

The Saga Museum Leadership Team
Steve Sansweet
Anne Neumann
Gus Lopez
Duncan Jenkins
Rich Smolen
Michael Wistock
Lisa Stevens
Vic Wertz

Host
Mark Daniel

Key Art Design
Curt Hanks

emroosh Productions
Mark Rusciano

 

 

 
Sponsors
Creative Fundraising Advisors
Hallmark
Joel & Debra Luker
Propstore
Skywalker Vineyards
Tony Clemens & Silvia Clemens

Patrons
Alex Cohn
Chad Giacomozzi
Daniel Uthman
Gail DeGiulio
George Lai
Kendall Gelner
Chickaphant
Nilmini Klur
Peter Arcuri
Warzers
William Magalio
Anonymous Donors

Guitar Exhibit
Gus Lopez
Steve Sansweet
Lisa Stevens
Vic Wertz
Jim Gibbons

Auction Donors
Amy Sjoberg
Brad Cook for ColinCantwell.com
Britt Lightning
Charmaine Cuddie
Curt Hanks
Duncan Jenkins
Funko
Gus Lopez
Hallmark
Jerry VanderStelt
JM Cellars
Jim Gibbons
Jody Plank
Lisa Stevens
Mark Raats
Michael O’Shields
Po Zu
Propstore
Russell Walks
San Francisco Giants Baseball Club
Spencer Brinkerhoff III
Stan Stice for Ralph McQuarrie Archives
Steve Sansweet
Surrell Restaurant
The Herbfarm Restaurant
Toby Todd
Tom Johnson for Skywalker Vineyards
Tom Spina Designs
Vic Wertz
Walt Crowley


Volunteers
Beto Lopez
Joseph Pedersen
Sarah Silverman-Pucci
Kevin Lam
Luke Yates
Paul Hoeffer
David Pucci
Mercedes Santaella-Lam
Tony Damata
Amy Sjoberg
Jim Gibbons
Mark Rusciano
Susan Rogers
Thomas Stewart
Michal Stewart
Curt Hanks
Anne Jenkins
Red Dodge Wistock
Lorena Gies
Devonna Dickey
Kim Buckley
Laura Roberts
Daniel Roberts
Jenny Morales
Tony Clemens
Silvia Clemens
Dwayne Smith
David Buckley
Yannik Morales
Aileen Sweeney


Friday Collection Tour Hosts
Gus Lopez & Pam Green
Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz

Wine Tasting & Charcuterie
Earl Bergquist
Anne Neumann
Lorena Gies
Michal Stewart
Duncan Jenkins
Anne Jenkins
Jim Gibbons

Skywalker Ranch wine donated by Scott Magerfleisch
in loving memory of Melissa Magerfleisch

Drivers
Tom Stewart
Jim Gibbons

Publicity
Consetta Parker
David Perry & Assoc.

Creative Fundraising Advisors
Joanne Curry
Nico Gervasoni
Paul Johnson

Cinema Relics
The Saga Museum video
Dan Lanigan
Jason Henry
Jason Baffa
Carson Oyler

MoPOP Staff
Elisabeth Fleming-Prot
Ed Maloney
Mae Salizon
Stephanie Lansbery
Jacob McMurray
Briana Van Over

The Big Drive
Anne Neumann
Lorena Gies
Susan Rogers
Anastasia Lipske
Dwayne Smith

Emotional Support Humans
Tracy Kelly
Victoria Webb
Joanie Neumann
Pam Green
Bob Canning
Anne Jenkins
Red Wistock
Temple Smolen
Garet Jones

Photo Booth
Coachella Party

The Ballad of Rancho Obi-Wan
a parody of “The Ballad of Gilligan’s Isle”
in loving memory of Stewart Levy & Jerry Treiber

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Take a look at a few of the galactic Star Wars auction items for the Rancho Obi-Wan fundraiser Oct. 5th!

Take a look at a few of the galactic Star Wars auction items for the Rancho Obi-Wan fundraiser Oct. 5th in Seattle at The Museum of Pop Culture.  Can’t attend the fundraiser, but want to be able to bid and support Rancho Obi-Wan? We’re excited to now offer absentee bidder privileges for event auction items with ANY Patronage donation!

Live and silent auction items added daily including a custom Star Wars guitar, art pieces, rare memorabilia, vintage collectibles, props and prototypes!

 

 

 

All funds/donations go toward maintaining and preserving the thousands of items in the museum and history of Star Wars. (Insurance, building upkeep etc)- We want to make sure that future generations can enjoy the collection and be inspired as so many have since 1977. Thank you for your support!

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Fundraiser at Seattle’s MoPOP Set to Be a Galactic Event!

Rancho Obi-Wan’s Saturday October 5 Fundraiser at Seattle’s MoPOP
Set to Be a Galactic Event for Star Wars Fans

World’s Largest Collection of Star Wars Memorabilia
Set to Make Major Announcement at Event
Featuring Auction of Rare and Sought After Items

Acclaimed Comic, Influencer and “Super Fan” Mark Daniel to Emcee

12 September 2024 – San Francisco / Seattle: “A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…..” Actually, not far away, and coming up on Saturday, October 5, fans of the Star Wars universe are gearing up for an out-of-this-world experience as the acclaimed nonprofit Rancho Obi-Wan home to the world’s largest Star Wars memorabilia collection as confirmed by Guinness World Records, hosts a special fundraiser at Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP). This rare one-night-only event includes food, drink, an exhibit of “Star Wars Inspired Guitars” and of course, opportunities to buy and bid at auction on rare Star Wars collectibles.  Special guest emcee for the evening is noted Star Wars Super Fan and online influencer Mark Daniel.  At the end of the evening, Rancho Obi-Wan will be making a major announcement about the future of the collection.

“The Force is strong with this event, and strong with our legions of fans from the light and dark side who support our mission,” said Steve Sansweet, who founded the nonprofit Rancho Obi-Wan in 2011. “Our mission is to inspire people by showcasing the collection and promoting a warm, joyous, inclusive environment for a fun, authentic fan experience, Rancho Obi-Wan presents collectibles and works of art, including fan-made pieces, to inspire others to be imaginative, creative, seek information and learn new crafts.”

The highly anticipated October 5 event at MoPOP marks a significant milestone—the first fundraiser held outside the museum’s Petaluma, California base.  Located just north of San Francisco, thousands of people have experienced the collection, which now comprises a fan base from 59 countries.

“Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture is the perfect spot for this event,” Sansweet continued. “Their collection which includes significant sci-fi elements is sure to delight our attendees. Plus, where else can you take a monorail to a party.”

The evening promises to be a true celebration of Star Wars fandom, with a variety of immersive experiences planned. Attendees will be treated to passed appetizers, a grazing bar, and a dessert bar, all while mingling among iconic Star Wars props and costumes in MoPOP’s extensive galleries. The event will also feature a special exhibit from Rancho Obi-Wan, showcasing Star Wars-themed guitars that are sure to strike a chord with fans of all ages.

“Rancho Obi-Wan is more than just a collection: It’s a celebration of the creativity and passion that Star Wars has inspired in millions of fans worldwide,” said special guest emcee Daniel, the energetic and beloved host of Star Wars Celebration events. “I’m thrilled to be part of an event that brings this incredible community together.”

The evening’s program includes both a live and silent auction, offering attendees the chance to take home rare and unique Star Wars collectibles. Sansweet emphasized the importance of this event in preserving the museum’s vast collection.

“Rancho Obi-Wan is a testament to the enduring legacy of Star Wars, and this fundraiser is crucial in helping us continue to share that legacy with fans for generations to come,” he said.  “This collection is, truly, a global treasure of galactic proportions.

Among the items being auctioned off are special “Rancho Obi-Wan Star Wars Experiences” such as: exclusive tours of private Star Wars collections, including those belonging to Rancho Obi-Wan’s Vice President, Gus Lopez, as well as longtime Star Wars collectors
Rancho Obi-Wan board member, Lisa Stevens, and Vic Wertz. These tours, paired with a Skywalker Vineyards wine tasting, offer a rare glimpse into the personal treasures of some of the most dedicated Star Wars collectors in the world. Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) known for its dedication to pop culture, provides the perfect venue for this galactic gathering.

“Our museum is dedicated to providing immersive experiences that inspire and connect diverse communities, which made hosting Rancho Obi-Wan’s fundraiser at MoPOP a natural fit,” said Jacob McMurray, MoPOP Chief Collections + Exhibitions Officer.  “We’re honored to partner with Rancho Obi-Wan on an evening showcasing the beloved Star Wars franchise and to raise money for an important cause.”

As guests explore the galleries and participate in the evening’s events, they will also have the opportunity to take photos with costumed Star Wars characters, ensuring that every moment of the evening is filled with memories to last a lifetime.

Tickets for the fundraiser are priced at $350, with a special rate of $300 for Rancho Obi-Wan members. For those looking to enhance their experience, add-on tickets for the exclusive collection tours are available for $550. All proceeds from the event will support Rancho Obi-Wan’s mission to preserve and share the world’s most comprehensive Star Wars collection. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit  https://ranchoobiwan.org/fundraiser2024/

media contact:   
DP&A, Inc: David Perry / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

 

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Tickets On Sale NOW for Rancho Obi-Wan Fundraiser in Seattle!


Join us for an evening
to benefit Rancho Obi-Wan!

Fundraiser for Rancho Obi-Wan
Saturday, October 5, 2024
6pm–10pm
Museum of Pop Culture
325 5th Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109

Purchase Tickets, Merchandise,
Sponsorships, and Patronage NOW!


 

 
We invite you to join us for our first Fundraiser since 2018–and our first ever fundraiser outside Rancho Obi-Wan in Petaluma, CA! Your support enables us to preserve this very special collection for you and generations to come.
 

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Sweet Pick’n Vintage Market Spring Fundraiser!

Come see us at Sweet Pick’n Vintage Market in Petaluma on Sunday, March 24th, for our first fundraiser of the Spring!

We will be selling duplicate Star Wars toys from our collection and much more.

 Sweet Pick’n is a unique marketplace for vintage collectors of all kinds and will feature over 50 vendors. 

We are excited to be part of this event in our local community and invite you to join us.

Sweet Pick’n Vintage Market

Veterans Memorial Hall

1094 Petaluma Blvd South

Petaluma, California

9am-4pm

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Collection of Star Wars Prints from Rancho Obi-Wan are featured at Petaluma Arts Center

Petaluma Arts Center exhibit with Steve Sansweet and the curator Lisa Demetrios.

A collection of Star Wars prints from Rancho Obi-Wan are featured at the Petaluma Arts Center. The Petaluma Collects exhibition displays what members of our local community collect.  Our founder, Steve Sansweet, was invited to be part of this exhibit. We are excited to share Steve’s story of collecting with everyone!

A collection of Star Wars prints from Rancho Obi-Wan, and entire Petaluma Collects exhibition, can be viewed at the Petaluma Arts Center now through March 11, 2023.

 

Steve Sansweet at Petaluma Arts Center with the curator Lisa Demetrios. Petaluma Arts Center exhibit with Steve Sansweet and the curator Lisa Demetrios. Petaluma Collects Exhibit Steve Sansweet featured at Petaluma Collects Exhibit

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A Visit to Creature Features!

Steve Sansweet with Creature Features

I got an invitation to visit Creature Features and share Rancho Obi-Wan with the denizens of one of the longest-running media enterprises in the San Francisco Bay area—and nationwide. Originally shown on local TV stations from the 1960s to the 1980s, Creature Features is now online, showing an often-cheesy cult Sci-Fi or Horror movie every week.  

The real treat of shows like this (I grew up in Philadelphia watching Shock Theater with host Zacherle covered in shoe-polish makeup) is watching the hosts interrupt the movies with remarks dripping with sarcasm or puns. The latest version of Creature Features is hosted by former heavy metal musician Vincent Van Dahl from the “haunted and historic Poulter Manor in Bodega Bay, California.”

Steve Sansweet with Creature Features

 

Vincent is joined every week by his very peculiar housemate Tangella and his loyal valet Mr. Livingston. But we got an unusual request. Could Tangella visit Rancho in advance to record a quick walk-through, which would be shown during the course of the movie? Of course we said yes!

You can watch her four-minute escapade here!

When I arrived at “Poulter Manor” I was escorted into a large and creepy room, and was greeted by Vincent, Tangella and Mr. Livingston. Everyone was very friendly and the movie screening on that show was a 1979 Italian psychotic nightmare called Star Odyssey, a dreadful attempt to recreate some of the thrills of Star Wars. About all I can remember are a pair of  lovey-dovey male and female duck-faced metallic robots. Oh. There were also cardboard laser swords covered with fluorescent paint.

 

In between the movie bits, which Vincent had great delight making fun of, we chatted about Rancho and other world-shaking issues. You can watch the movie and our chat!

After we recorded the show, I had more of a look around “Poulter Manor” (see the assorted oddities, portrait gallery and pipe organ photos below!) Then we all settled in for a tasty Italian dinner and great conversation.

Now I’ve got to see if I can convince a friendly R2-D2 Builder to create a duck-faced cyborg!

Steve Sansweet is owner and Executive Chairman of Rancho Obi-Wan, former Head of Fan Relations at Lucasfilm and contributor to StarWars.com, and previously the longest-running Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal in Los Angeles.

 

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