Before movie props were treated like museum artifacts, most of them were discarded, forgotten, or lost. The world of prop collecting didn’t exist — until collectors, archivists, and dealers quietly began saving pieces of film history one object at a time.
In this revealing episode of Cinema Relics Investigates, Dan Lanigan sits down with Stephen Lane, founder of Propstore, for one of the most candid conversations ever captured about the modern movie-prop market.
Dan and Stephen have known each other for nearly 30 years, dating back to the earliest days when Propstore was little more than a computer in a spare bedroom. In this conversation, they pull back the curtain on how the business of prop collecting evolved, how trust is built (and tested), and how one company came to have an undeniable influence on the global collectibles market.
The discussion moves beyond surface-level stories and touches on money, power, friendship, authentication, responsibility, and legacy — subjects rarely addressed openly in this world. It also explores how Stephen’s work shaped not only the prop market itself, but Dan’s own journey as a collector and archivist.
This is not a sales pitch. It’s not a highlight reel. It’s an honest look at how this world really works, told by two people who helped build it.
Props. Power. History. Cinema Relics Investigates.
Chapters
00:00 - Croiser le fer 00:39 - Feeding My Addiction 02:07 - The Origin Story of Stephen Lane 03:37 - Carnival Barker 05:12 - Toy Dealer 06:08 - Rebel Blaster Enlightenment 09:55 - A Prop Store 11:19 - Loosing the Millennium Falcon (Chairs) 11:58 - Letting Go 13:14 - Temporary Custodian 14:04 - Stuart Freeborn Lode 16:20 - White Whale and Killer Robots 16:49 - Challenges of Prop Collecting 19:00 - Certificate of Authenticity 21:08 - Faking A Screen Match 23:01 - Calling Out The Forgeries 27:33 - Huge Sales 28:17 - New Discoveries Waiting To Be Made 29:13 - So What Does It All Mean? Join us for this ongoing adventure as we reveal the truth behind the props we love! If you’re a movie buff, collector, or just love behind-the-scenes Hollywood history, you won’t want to miss this.
⚡ Subscribe now & hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode! 🔹 What You Can Expect: ✅ A rare, up-close look at iconic movie props & costumes 🎭 ✅ Expert analysis from historians, VFX artists & collectors 🔬 ✅ Never-before-seen details & secrets behind Hollywood’s most treasured artifacts 🎞️
