Click on the picture to see this Collection!! on the picture to see this Collection!! Name: Richard Gifford (Anton Phibes) Location: Ohio Click here for his latest update!

1- What is it that you collect?
I primarily collect Universal and other Classic Movie Monster Memorabilia, they are my one true collecting "love", if you will. As you can see from the photos, however, I have varied interests. My second collection consists of what I call "everything else"; Comic Book Heroes, Classic Science Fiction or Horror T.V., Star Trek, Star Wars and Cartoons. All of my Movie Monster Memorabilai is original, no reissues except for the Calendar Masks (which are actually better than the originals.)

2- What was it that brought you to collecting? And what is that keeps you going?
What brought me into collecting in the realm of Movie Monsters was my Father, and my Grandmother (his Mom) before him. My grandmother grew up on the films of Lon Chaney Sr., Bela Lugosi, and Boris Karloff. She grew up, got married and forgot about the monster films she watched. When the "Monster Boom" of the 1960's took off, my dad then became interested in the Classic Monsters as well as the Hammer and Vincent Price pictures of the day. This rekindled my grandmother's memories slightly, and she began to buy my dad some of the early Aurora Monster kits, and other memorabilia that was flooding the market. My dad kept buying those kits as often as they were released and re-released, as well as purchasing every issue of "Famous Monsters of Filmland" magazine that he could lay his hands on well into his 20's. My parents married when they were quite young, my pops being only 17 years older than me. When I got old enough, I became his "Monster Movie buddy" (since my mom was far too cowardly to view monster movies on any type of a regular basis...sorry mom, but you never should have admitted the Wolfman scared you.) Together we would watch the late night creature feature programs like "Bob Wilkins", "Dr. Creep", "The Cool Ghoul" and others. I would watch in awe as he built and painted the Aurora Monsters as they were reissued. When any new Monster items came out, he was at the store buying them up for me (us) before I even knew anything new was out there. As far as the Comic and other aspects go, when I got to the ripe old age of 13 I discovered comics and have been enslaved to them ever since. My mother always dressed me in Batman or Superman shirts when I was a child, and I loved the old 60's Spiderman cartoons, Megos were constantly under the tree each Christmas...and then there was The Challenge of the Superfriends with the Legion of Doom!!

3- When did you start collecting?
As long as I have been able to request my parents buy my first item.

4- Why (what you collect) example:Batman, Star Wars, Transformers, etc…?
The Monsters of old struck a nerve with me and I learned alot from them. For one thing, they were the first films to ever convey to me a variety of different emotions. My dad used the Monsters to teach me lessons I would use in my life as an adult. From The Hunchback of Notre Dame I learned that its not whats on the outside that counts, & when someone is less fortunate than you, don't treat them badly. When I watched the Wolfman, I learned that all of us have personal issues. Like Larry Talbot, we all try to be as good as we can...but lying just underneath the surface lies the Wolfman, or beast of human nature. I learned that most of the monsters were just really misunderstood guys who wanted friends and a good spouse. Basic human needs. The actors who played in those roles had a great ability that is sorely lacking in most of today's films. They would rely on creating pathos or using pantomime. I love those old films, and like to have a bit of good old fashioned escapism to run off to every now and again. That's the reason why I collect. Its good old fashioned escapism, and it helps me to always seem like I am still a kid. None of us are immortal, but with the things we were interested in as children around us as adults...we can still be kids.

5- When did you start displaying them?
Right after I got married and got my own place. My wife is very supportive of my hobbies...even though she cannot fathom them. She has actually helped me track down alot of things that have gone into the collection. Her wedding gift to me was an Aurora Bride of Frankenstein Model kit (original issue, with box and instructions.)

6- How do you get your inspiration to organize and display your collection?
Straight from my head. I have always had a "dream" of having a room of goodies displayed like a museum.

7- Do you have a favorite character(s) you collect?
The Wolfman, Phantom and Dracula are probably my favorites in the realm of Monsters. Batman, Superman, Spiderman are my favorites in the realm of comics.

8- Which item in your collection would you say is your absolute favorite and why?
The signed items in which I actually wrote to the celebrities in question, and got the signed items in return. Vincent Price, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee signed photos. Especially Price. I wrote to him off and on the last four years he was alive. He was a really great guy who would do anything within the realm of reason for his fans.

9- Which item was the most difficult to obtain? And which one is your prized possession?
Its a tie between four items. The Signed album pages of Lon Chaney Sr., Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff. They were all hard to obtain because of all of the fakes out there. I had to wait until people that I knew had authentic specimens were forced to sell, or search for a truly reputable UACC dealer. This took years..literally. The statement "Let the Buyer Beware" is truest when dealing in the realm of autographs.

10- What is the oldest item you own? and the one with the most value?
Lon Chaney Sr.'s Signature on a "Social" card. It's worth about $900-$1,000.

11- What inspires you to purchase an item to add to your collection?
Quality. There are so many quality items being produced. Sideshow Toy has really hooked me with their Monsters. Bowen Designs Marvel product and DC Direct's Figure lines are magnificent as well. If it looks like the actor or the captures the spirit of the hero...I am going to own it.

12- Customizing figures and statues has become very big, have you ever purchased a custom figure or statue and have you ever tried making one?
Since building and painting kits is right up that alley, I could probably get into it more, but I have only done a few customs..mostly just for my sons.

13- What do you think of the custom Craze?
I think its cool. Where else can you find folks putting out figures of Isaac Christians?

14- Where do you make most of your purchases from? ebay seems to be a favorite with collectors these days, are you an ebayholic?
Ebay is the devil. Just kidding. I have bought quite a bit of toys from Ebay, but I like online toy stores. Saves me gas, saves me time, and I like getting items in the mail. It's like Christmas.

15- Is your collection insured?
Working on that even as we speak.

16- What is missing from your collection that you hope to one day acquire?
I have acquired my "Holy Grails", if you will. But I would like to find a few little oddities in nice shape. The AHI Monster figures, a nice Henry Hull signed album page.

17- What is the usual reaction when people see your collection?
They say I am an eccentric. I thought you had to be rich to be called eccentric. A few friends of mine collect also. They get similar reactions.

18- Do you attend conventions for some of your purchases? could you tell us about that?
I go to the Wonderfest in Louisville, KY. every now and again.

19- Most collectors today go on what they call a toy run, do you participate in that as well? And what are your favorite spots? Do you have a routine?
We go to the Toy Stores for the boys every week. If I find something while we are there its a bonus. No toy runs for me per se, though.

20- How do you decide what to take out of the package and what stays sealed?
What I have space to display. Space is the only thing that keeps me from just opening everything.

21- At what stage do you think your collection will be at 10 years from now, do you think you would have grown tired of it?
It will be bigger. Hopefully my kids will have a bigger interest. Not a chance I will ever grow tired of it.

22- What advice would you give someone who just started a collection?
Buy quality over quantity, and keep your stuff.