Collecting Culture Podcast

It’s the holidays, which often means spending time with family — and maybe growing a collection or two at the same time! So, for this month’s episode, Andrew and I got together with our parents to talk collecting. Our dad, who is an extreme collector of many things, shares some stunning poetry broadsides. Our mom tells us about some of her funky and fantastical wearable art jewelry. Andy talks about his screenprint poster collection, and I explain my love of bags and purses.

Since 2010 Doc Mack has been the operator of Galloping Ghost Arcade, an old school arcade in Brookfield, Illinois, outside of Chicago. It’s the world’s largest public arcade game collection. Doc grew up on fighting games and developed an interest in martial arts, game design and arcade electronics restoration. Since then he has helped open new arcades, legitimize professional gaming through high score verification and is currently working on bringing the next generation of fighting game, Dark Presence, to arcade floors from his own Galloping Ghost studios.

Earlier this month, we released episode 10, “The Mysteries of Old Letters,” which was an interview with collector Hallie Bahn, who collects letters written roughly between 1900 and 1960. We thought some of these letters—particularly the juicy love letters—were worth hearing in full, so we asked two actors to interpret them dramatically through voiceovers. Enjoy!

Earlier this month, we released episode 10, “The Mysteries of Old Letters,” which was an interview with collector Hallie Bahn, who collects letters written roughly between 1900 and 1960. We thought some of these letters—particularly the juicy love letters—were worth hearing in full, so we asked two actors to interpret them dramatically through voiceovers. Enjoy!

Hallie Bahn collects old letters, and she has more than 200 individual missives in her collection. Oftentimes, she has a packet of letters that are all from the same person: the mother of a soldier in World War I; a housewife writing to her husband who’s a traveling salesman. Hallie enjoys the enigmatic quality of these letters. She tries to piece together the lives of the letter writers, and, as an artist, she uses their stories as inspiration for her stop-motion animations.

Keep an eye out for our bonus episode, coming October 15, in which two actors will read from some of the letters.

Hallie Bahn collects old letters, and she has more than 200 individual missives in her collection. Oftentimes, she has a packet of letters that are all from the same person: the mother of a soldier in World War I; a housewife writing to her husband who’s a traveling salesman. Hallie enjoys the enigmatic quality of these letters. She tries to piece together the lives of the letter writers, and, as an artist, she uses their stories as inspiration for her stop-motion animations.

Keep an eye out for our bonus episode, coming October 15, in which two actors will read from some of the letters.

As a graduate student in the ‘90s, Stephanie Lake became friends with the legendary fashion designer Bonnie Cashin, who is known as “the mother of American sportswear.” Stephanie wrote her dissertation on Cashin’s legacy, and, along the way, they formed a close friendship. When Cashin died in 2000, Stephanie ended up with her entire fashion archive, as well as many of her personal belongings. Stephanie is the author of the monograph “Bonnie Cashin: Chic is Where You Find It” and has her own jewelry company, Stephanie Lake Design. We talked to her about Cashin’s impact, what it’s like to own a historic fashion archive, and how Cashin has influenced her jewelry designs.

As a graduate student in the ‘90s, Stephanie Lake became friends with the legendary fashion designer Bonnie Cashin, who is known as “the mother of American sportswear.” Stephanie wrote her dissertation on Cashin’s legacy, and, along the way, they formed a close friendship. When Cashin died in 2000, Stephanie ended up with her entire fashion archive, as well as many of her personal belongings. Stephanie is the author of the monograph “Bonnie Cashin: Chic is Where You Find It” and has her own jewelry company, Stephanie Lake Design. We talked to her about Cashin’s impact, what it’s like to own a historic fashion archive, and how Cashin has influenced her jewelry designs.

Monty Smith is a musician and a rail fan. His fascination with trains started at 14 months old! He collects many different types of trains, and his primary medium for design and exhibition has become LEGO trains. He maintains a blog of his collection and creations at MontysLegoTrains.Net.

Monty Smith is a musician and a rail fan. His fascination with trains started at 14 months old! He collects many different types of trains, and his primary medium for design and exhibition has become LEGO trains. He maintains a blog of his collection and creations at MontysLegoTrains.Net.