While Star Wars-related tickets may not come on a blister card, have 19 points of articulation, or come with a certificate of authenticity, many collectors are beginning to discover the unique appeal of these often discarded scraps of flimsy cardstock which at face value don't seem to offer much -- a title, venue, date, time, and perhaps the price of admission. But those five bits of information are also able to connect fans emotionally to the events themselves, whether it's viewing the saga's latest chapter for the first time, touring an exhibit of costumes and props, enjoying a symphony of Star Wars music, or attending a star-studded fan convention.
Information recorded on ticket stubs also documents some historical facts about the event -- what time of year it took place, how much it cost, how long it ran, and where it happened. For fans that enjoy exploring every historical nuance of the Star Wars phenomenon, these unassuming facts can be gold.
For new collectors, tickets bearing the Star Wars title in are still extremely affordable, since their appeal has not yet been widely recognized. This untapped area of Star Wars collecting has great potential to grow, as fans begin to get nostalgic about the events that have defined their Star Wars experiences over the years. In the case of theater admission tickets, small-town single-screen venues are quickly being replaced by megaplexes, lending some added historical interest to tickets bearing the names of those classic old movie houses.
But collecting Star Wars theatrical tickets is just the beginning. Star Wars has offered all sorts of extracurricular activities throughout the past -- countless conventions, scores of concerts, theme park rides, and museum exhibits around the world. Tickets to these events make fascinating mementos for fans to take away, and can also be conveniently displayed in frames or scrapbooks.
Recently, sports fans and rock-and-roll enthusiasts have started paying attention to the actual tickets purchased at specific games or concerts, since they represent a significant event in the career of a player or artist. With Star Wars firmly meshed into our social fabric, all events associated with it may become historically relevant to anyone studying the effects and influence of this iconic saga on modern culture.
Trading card collectors appear to be the forward thinkers in this relatively new hobby for Star Wars fans, which seems a natural extension to that veteran category of Star Wars collecting. Tickets, like trading cards, are traditionally small, printed on cardstock or paper, and feature a unique item of information, be it text or imagery. But tickets can appeal to other Star Wars collectors as well, such as those interested in theater-related paraphernalia or cast and crew items.
Probably the most sought after tickets in the realm of Star Wars collectibles are those issued exclusively to industry insiders, such as the press, or even better, the cast and crew of the movies themselves. Cast and crew screenings took place for each film in the saga, traditionally in and around San Francisco's Bay Area in the U.S. For the original trilogy's British crew members, screenings were typically held in London. Both command a premium on the collector's market, with the U.S. versions a bit more valuable than their British counterparts.
Unlike toys, statues, artwork, and other categories of collectibles that are popular with Star Wars fans, original tickets offer an affordable and fascinating way to discover the many exploits of everyone's favorite space saga. They pinpoint a moment in time, and are often the only tangible evidence one can take away from a memorable Star Wars experience. So next time you're asked to hand over your ticket, ask if you can get it back after the event is over -- it may be able to repay the price of your admission someday.
