Not far far away—This Star Wars toys mega-collection can be seen right here in KC
A long time ago, in a garage far, far away…Jarrod Roll found some dusty toys and turned them into an art exhibit that has traveled across the country.
Well, that’s a very rough summary of what you would expect to see at the National Museum of Toys & Miniatures in Kansas City if you stop by to see the exhibit of Roll’s collection of vintage Star Wars toys. These are the original Kenner Corporation action figures and toys based on the initial Star Wars movies of the 70s and 80s.
Roll began collecting his complete set of the original toys in 1978, nearly a year after the premiere of Star Wars finally hit his small town of Hartford, Wisconsin. To give you an idea of how popular the movie was, domestically it garnered over $1.2 Billion in the box office throughout its run at the theaters–and that was in the 70s.
Roll was instantly hooked on all things Star Wars, but especially the toys and action figures. “Not all kids connect with toys. Like, I had friends growing up who were not an ‘action figure kid’ like I was. I loved them. I loved the miniature representation of this amazing story I saw on film,” Roll said.
Roll’s collection continued to grow as he got older, even as the popularity of Star Wars ebbed and flowed. The collection was easier to amass when there was no new Star Wars movie, but as creator George Lucas began to create more movies, the popularity caused the cost of the vintage toys to increase.
Roll, at the time a “broke college student,” sort of put his collecting on hold, until one day he came across a buy-sell-trade magazine with some familiar looking toys for sale.
“I’m looking and all of a sudden like I’m seeing toys from my childhood. I’m seeing the Millennium Falcon from 1979 that I had still had for sale for 80 bucks. And so this tips off something in my brain that my childhood toys now have some sort of financial value,” said Roll.
Luckily, Roll’s parents kept all his toys in a box in their garage. Though it was collecting some dust, it was largely in great condition. But instead of piecing out his collection, Roll decided he needed to make sure the collection was complete.
Completing the collection took years and jumping through hoops of imposter toys, damaged toys, trading of other toys, all to complete his collection that is now featured at the National Museum for Toys & Miniatures on the UMKC campus in Kansas City.
“This exhibit just sparks so much love and nostalgia for all generations,” said Cole Braun, the development associate with the museum. “Jarrod approached the museum about displaying the collection because it was in our wheelhouse.”
Featuring classic scenes such as the “cantina scene” and the scene when Luke and Leia are cornered by stormtroopers, to classic vehicles such as the Millennium Falcon and the AT-AT, complete with a dangling Luke Skywalker, the force is strong to go see this exhibit while it’s still in Kansas City.
“The Nostalgia Awakens: Retro Kenner Star Wars Action Figure Toys” is on display at the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures through January 26. The museum is located at 5235 Oak Street in Kansas City. There is an admission fee. Tickets can be purchased at the museum or on the museum’s website.
Along with the display, the museum is hosting a series of talks by local Star Wars mega-collector Duncan Jenkins on August 21 and September 18.
