Before movie props were treated like museum artifacts, most of them were discarded, forgotten, or lost. The world of prop collecting didn’t exist — until collectors, archivists, and dealers quietly began saving pieces of film history one object at a time.
In this revealing episode of Cinema Relics Investigates, Dan Lanigan sits down with Stephen Lane, founder of Propstore, for one of the most candid conversations ever captured about the modern movie-prop market.
Dan and Stephen have known each other for nearly 30 years, dating back to the earliest days when Propstore was little more than a computer in a spare bedroom. In this conversation, they pull back the curtain on how the business of prop collecting evolved, how trust is built (and tested), and how one company came to have an undeniable influence on the global collectibles market.
The discussion moves beyond surface-level stories and touches on money, power, friendship, authentication, responsibility, and legacy — subjects rarely addressed openly in this world. It also explores how Stephen’s work shaped not only the prop market itself, but Dan’s own journey as a collector and archivist.
This is not a sales pitch. It’s not a highlight reel. It’s an honest look at how this world really works, told by two people who helped build it.
Props. Power. History. Cinema Relics Investigates.
