Brief Summary
This episode of The Sirens of Audio features Aaron Challenger from Aaron's Collectibles, discussing his lifelong passion for collecting Doctor Who memorabilia and how it evolved into a business. The conversation explores various aspects of collecting, including the psychology behind it, the impact of COVID-19 on the collectibles market, and the differences between collecting classic and new series items. They also discuss the potential discovery of missing Doctor Who episodes from a deceased estate and the challenges of preserving and archiving such materials. Additionally, Aaron shares insights into the world of Doctor Who vinyl records, highlighting rare and unique finds.
- Aaron Challenger's lifelong passion for collecting Doctor Who memorabilia and how it evolved into a business.
- Discussion of the psychology behind collecting, the impact of COVID-19 on the collectibles market.
- Potential discovery of missing Doctor Who episodes from a deceased estate and the challenges of preserving and archiving such materials.
Introduction
The hosts introduce Caroline Ford's appearance on the Doctor Who TV series and upcoming appearances in Australia. They then introduce Aaron Challenger from Aaron's Collectibles in Melbourne, setting the stage for a discussion about Doctor Who fandom and collectibles.
Aaron's Early Fandom and Collecting
Aaron shares that he has been collecting Doctor Who since birth, with a John Pertwee "Who's Your Friend" Radio Times cover from 1973 being among his first items. He recounts his early collecting habits, such as keeping toy boxes in good condition. His Doctor Who fandom intensified in 1983 when Peter Davison visited Australia, leading him to amass a large collection.
Collecting Experiences and the Start of a Store
Aaron shares images of his childhood collection and a newspaper article about him as a young collector. He recalls buying a rare Doctor Who record for a dollar and swapping a Robbie the Robot toy for a Tricky Action Dalek. Supplementing his $5 monthly pocket money by finding items at op shops and markets, he eventually started dealing collectibles to fund his Doctor Who collecting.
From Collector to Shop Owner
Aaron describes how his collecting hobby gradually evolved into a business. He shares photos of his childhood bedroom and later spare rooms filled with collectibles. He recounts working at a record store for 10 years, which provided him with business experience. Eventually, he opened Aaron's Collectibles, emphasizing community engagement and offering discounts to fan club members.
The Collectibles Market and Doctor Who's Popularity
Aaron discusses the popularity of different franchises in his store, noting that Doctor Who is the biggest seller, followed by Transformers and Star Wars. He observes how fandoms and collectibles go through peaks and troughs, with classic Doctor Who items being more in demand than new series merchandise. He attributes this to the anticipation surrounding new series releases and the impact of showrunner choices on merchandise sales.
Why Do We Collect?
The discussion shifts to the psychology of collecting, with Phillip suggesting it may be related to the male brain and a need for completion. Aaron notes that collecting tends to be male-dominated, with women often ceasing to collect after maturing. He suggests men may collect to hold onto their childhood and that nostalgia plays a significant role.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Collecting
The conversation explores how COVID-19 lockdowns influenced collecting habits, with increased interest in classic Star Wars, Pokémon cards, and classic Doctor Who. Aaron notes that while Star Wars prices have dropped, Doctor Who and Pokémon prices have remained high. He also discusses how some collectors overpriced items during the pandemic and are now struggling to sell them at inflated prices.
Classic vs. New Series Doctor Who
Aaron emphasizes that classic Doctor Who merchandise outsells new series items by a significant margin. He attributes this to the anticipation surrounding new series releases and the impact of showrunner choices on merchandise sales. He suggests that waiting too long to release merchandise can diminish its appeal.
Nostalgia and Big Finish Audio Dramas
The hosts discuss their personal collecting habits, with Dwayne expressing FOMO and Phillip focusing on Blu-rays and nostalgia. They discuss Big Finish audio dramas, noting that physical CDs are preferred by older fans but downloads are becoming more common. Aaron shares his early experiences with Doctor Who audios and his disappointment with some releases.
Early Doctor Who Memories and Audio Experiences
Aaron recounts his early memories of Doctor Who, including being terrified by the Peter Cushing Dalek movie. He also remembers watching the TV series in black and white and being scared by certain scenes. He recalls listening to Doctor Who audios, such as Genesis of the Daleks, and his disappointment with Slipback.
Big Finish and Deceased Estates
Aaron discusses acquiring a large collection of Big Finish audio dramas from a deceased estate and selling them at reasonable prices in his shop. He notes that Big Finish audios are highly sought after due to their scarcity in the Australian secondary market. He also mentions the different logos on Big Finish releases and the distribution of Big Finish products in Australia.
Missing Episodes and Deceased Estates
Aaron recounts his experience of going through a deceased estate and discovering a vast collection of recorded television programs, including potential missing Doctor Who episodes. He laments that most of the tapes were destroyed before he could assess them. However, some tapes were salvaged and sent to the BBC for examination.
The Bureaucracy of Archiving and the Fate of the Collection
Aaron describes the challenges of saving the collection, including dealing with bureaucracy and time constraints. He contacted the Australian National Archive and various universities, eventually finding a home for the collection at Brisbane University. He notes that the university plans to archive the material and release highlights online.
Lost Opportunities and the Secretive World of Collectors
Aaron reflects on the lost opportunity to save more of the collection and the secretive nature of some collectors. He shares stories of hoarders and collectors who keep their collections hidden from the public. He also recounts an incident where a music collector destroyed a rare record to ensure he had the only copy in the world.
The Importance of Preserving Cultural Heritage
Aaron emphasizes the importance of preserving cultural heritage and the need for public awareness about not throwing out valuable items in deceased estates. He shares his efforts to educate garbage disposal services and his frustration with the National Archive's lack of interest in acquiring a unique vinyl collection from the ABC.
Doctor Who Vinyl Records
Aaron discusses his collection of Doctor Who vinyl records, highlighting rare and unique finds. He shares the story of his first exposure to the Doctor Who theme and the different versions of the theme that have been released over the years. He also discusses the various pressings and promotional versions of the theme, including the Australian and New Zealand releases.
The Evolution of the Doctor Who Theme
Aaron explores the evolution of the Doctor Who theme, noting the addition of a TARDIS dematerialization effect in the stereo version. He also discusses the different versions of the theme used throughout the show's history. He highlights the Eric Winston version of the theme as the first official piece of Doctor Who merchandise.
Novelty Doctor Who Tracks and Merchandise
Aaron shares some novelty Doctor Who tracks, including the BBC band Dalek Record and Fraser Hines' song. He notes that the BBC band Dalek Record was banned due to Morse code spelling out "SOS the Daleks are invading". He also discusses the rarity of certain novelty tracks and the "Who is the Doctor?" CD, which compiles many of these songs.
Favorite Doctor Who Merchandise
The hosts discuss their favorite pieces of Doctor Who merchandise. Phillip struggles to choose a favorite, while Aaron shares a TV Tornado comic with a Patrick Troughton cover and pieces of original costumes from Doctor Who episodes.
Sci-Fi Zone YouTube Channel and Aaron's Collectibles
Aaron promotes his Sci-Fi Zone YouTube channel, where he and Dags review new sci-fi releases. He also promotes his shop, Aaron's Collectibles, offering a 25% discount to listeners who mention the podcast. He emphasizes his commitment to fan clubs and interstate visitors.
![How Doctor Who's Missing Episodes Came Back [Part 1]](https://wm-img.halpindev.com/p-briefread_c-10_b-10/urlb/aHR0cDovL2ltZy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbS92aS9TdzhqRmo1dTVDcy9ocWRlZmF1bHQuanBn.jpg)
