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About Duane Beckett

I'm a guy in my mid-40s who grew up on classic films, TV shows, and music, back when entertainment felt simpler, and that love never left me. I’m a pop culture enthusiast who follows entertainment news closely, and still gets a kick out of a great trailer drop or a familiar theme song. I’m also a serious collector, from antiques to oddities, and the kind of memorabilia that makes people stop and stare. I’m a full-on fan-boy for Star Wars, Marvel, and plenty more. I’m tech-savvy but nostalgic on purpose, always looking for the stories and items that feel like a little time capsule. I still love the culture, still watch, still read, but can’t shake the concern about where it all seems to be heading.

washington dc / forgotten military disasters
Explore five forgotten military disasters from early American history, from St. Clair’s Defeat to the burning of Washington, D.C.
military men walking / strange military jobs
World War II had some strange military jobs, from pigeon handlers and smoke operators to playwrights and crystal grinders.
alcohol bottles lined up / prohibition-era inventions
Explore five strange Prohibition-era inventions Americans used to hide alcohol, from cane flasks to secret Victrola cabinets.
soldiers walking on pavement / deception tricks Allied forces used
Deception tricks Allied forces used in World War 2 include fake tanks, radio chatter, silent raids, and bugged mansions to…
opened book pages / first-edition sci-fi books from the 1960s
Explore five valuable first-edition sci-fi books from the 1960s, including Dune, Philip K. Dick classics, and collector values.
judges gavel / bizarre medieval trial methods
Discover five bizarre medieval trial methods, from hot iron to trial by cake, and how people once used them to…
astronaut figurines / 1960s space race toys
Explore five 1960s Space Race toys that became collectibles, from Major Matt Mason to Apollo 11 Snoopy and G.I. Joe.
gold bars and silver coins / missing wild west treasures
Explore five missing Wild West treasures, from outlaw loot to buried gold, and why these American legends still draw searchers.
Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina / gilded age mansions
Explore five haunted Gilded Age mansions with dark histories, chilling backstories, and ghost stories that still unsettle visitors.
board game pieces and dice / 1980s fantasy board games
From Dark Tower to HeroQuest, these 1980s fantasy board games still draw collectors looking for complete, playable copies.
Kugelpanzer, the German “Ball Tank” / strange world war ii military vehicles
Explore five strange World War II military vehicles, from ball tanks to rolling mines and giant German prototypes.
us soldier with gun / bizarre world war ii devices
Fake feet, itching powder, exploding rats, curved barrels, and glove guns are just some of the bizarre World War II…
r2d2 and c3po toys in sand / 1970s star wars toys
These affordable 1970s Star Wars toys are perfect entry-level picks for collectors, as they’re often available well below rare-item prices.
black and white photo of bunker / creepy cold war bunkers
Explore five creepy Cold War bunkers built for doomsday, from hidden resorts to spy stations and secret military tunnels.
assortment of vegetables / strange Civil War foods
Civil War soldiers had to eat several strange Civil War foods when supplies ran low, including fake coffee, wormy hardtack,…
nintendo 64 console and controllers / forgotten nintendo 64 games
These forgotten Nintendo 64 games were easy to miss at launch, but collectors now chase their boxes, manuals, and rare…
prohibition barrel / prohibition-era stories
These shocking Prohibition-era stories include poisoned liquor, Congress bootleggers, Rum Row, Walgreens whiskey, and hidden treasure.
underground bunker / finds in world war ii bunkers
Discover four unbelievable finds in World War II bunkers, from stolen masterpieces and crown jewels to Göring’s hidden wine cellar.
variety of board games / 1970s war board games
These 1970s war board games became collector favorites, from Squad Leader to Tobruk, with gameplay notes and prices today.
vintage books on bookshelf / vintage sci-fi paperbacks
Explore five budget-friendly vintage sci-fi paperbacks collectors can still hunt down without spending a fortune, if the condition is right.
line of tanks and soldiers / wartime military technologies
Explore five wartime military technologies that began as accidents, from superglue and duct tape to radar and frequency hopping.
american revolution drawing / unsung heroes of the american revolution
Meet six unsung heroes of the American Revolution who helped shape independence through ideas, money, protest, and courage.
statues about the great depression / surprising facts about the great depression
Explore five surprising facts about the Great Depression, from Capone’s soup kitchen to bank failures, movies, Monopoly, and family struggles.
dc action figures / valuable action figures
These 1960s and 1970s valuable action figures, from G.I. Joe to Mego heroes, can still surprise collectors with strong values…