LOCAL GUY GOES JEDI
Matt Keller has a severe case of Jeditis.
He was struck with the condition at age 9, when he first saw “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.”
Since then Keller, 37, has built a collection of “Star Wars” toys worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. He owns every “Star Wars” action figure ever made in every variance – several dozens in doubles, a few dozen in sextuples, about 500 of which are sealed in the original packaging from the late 1970s.
Some of Keller’s prized acquisitions include a life-size Anakin mannequin from “Episode I” (which sells for about $5,000 on eBay), a prototype Jawa action figure with a plastic cape (up to $1,500 on eBay, $5,000 unopened) and the highly coveted goofed Topps trading card of C-3PO with an erection ($500 on eBay). Keller has spent as much as $1,500 in one month for collectibles on eBay.
“To other people it’s a worthless bunch of plastic,” said Keller, a state corrections officer. “For me, it’s priceless.”
The mere mention of lightsabers, Wookies or Stormtroopers and Keller’s eyes get as big as the twin suns of Tatooine.
“I remember walking into Safeway and seeing the toys when I was a boy. I was hooked. I said, ‘Mom I want Chewbacca. I’ll be the best kid, I promise,’ ” Keller said. “I went home and made a spaceship out of a shoebox with a bed and everything. Chewie was stylin’ and profilin’. He had it going on.”
Keller has argued with church pastors about the parallels between The Force and Christianity. Santa continues to drop “Star Wars” toys in his stocking. Keller camped out days in advance to be first in line for the theatrical releases of “Episode I” and “Episode II” in Spokane. He plans to do the same for “Episode III” this weekend at the Spokane Valley Mall.
“For me, this is like Christmas,” Keller said.
The basement vault of Keller’s home is filled with memorabilia – rare cups, soda cans and cereal boxes. He hopes to expand soon from 400 to 1,500 square feet of space to display his treasures. Next he’ll begin collecting autographs from the movies’ actors.
Keller said it’s a healthy hobby that doesn’t cross the line of becoming an odd obsession.
“I’ve met some people that are out there like Pluto,” Keller said. “I don’t dress up like Princess Leia and start talking Wookie.”