Collector's Corner: Lapel Pins

From the vinyl loving, movie-obsessed mind that brought you Film on Vinyl comes Collector’s Corner. This column delves deeper into the world of movie-themed toys, posters, collectibles and other oddball memorabilia to feed your inner geek. Next up on the shelf: the world of lapel pins.

Throughout the years there have been a variety of different types of movie memorabilia: movie posters, action figures, play sets, Happy Meal toys, etc. And I’ve been happy to collect all of these treasures, but I can’t help but want something new. There’s only so many versions of a Batman figure that you can buy before collecting becomes mundane. That’s why I’m ecstatic that I found the humongous world of tiny lapel pins.

I’ve been lucky enough to work with a handful of companies that have captured the true essence of classic movies in petite packages. What seems like an ordinary lapel pin is in fact a very large labor of love. Something into which each of these insanely talented individuals have poured their sweat and tears. That is why I’m so excited to tell the world about these companies. They have burrowed their way into my heart, and I don’t see them going anywhere any time soon. Now, without further ado, I give you five juggernauts of the pin industry.

Two Ghouls Press

“Just a couple of ghouls hanging out, making art.” It is these words that adorn the home page of Two Ghouls Press’ website, and the statement seems quite true. According to their website, the story of Two Ghouls Press began all the way back in the high school days of Daniel Watkins and Elise Brunkel. These two kindred spirits quickly bonded and have never truly been apart since.

What I love the most about the work from these two is the sheer variety. They’ve covered everything from “Ace Ventura” to “X-Files” to “Hocus Pocus” — a personal favorite of mine. The quality of the pins is extremely sturdy and perfectly encapsulates the spirits of these films. I’ve had the chance to add a variety of these pins to my collection, but my favorite has to be "It's Alive." I’m a huge fan of “Young Frankenstein” and can’t help but laugh every time that the great Marty Feldman steals the spotlight. So, to have a totem of one of the film’s most iconic lines, “Abby, something. Abby Normal,” is nothing short of a dream. Daniel and Elise took one of the most iconic visuals from Mel Brooks’ classic and completely made it their own. Make sure to check out their shop and snatch up all of the pins that your wallet will allow!

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Pseudo Ludo

If I could only choose two words to describe Pam Bowman and Jorge “Monstro” Garcia and their company Pseudo Ludo, I’d be one sad writer because I need so many more to truly do them justice. I have been keeping an eye out on these two for a while, and I’ve never been less than amazed by the sheer detail that they put into each pin. What really sets these two’s pins apart from the competition is their packaging. They put just as much detail into their packaging as they do their pins, and even more amazing is the fact that Monstro and Bowman both create the packaging themselves.

A perfect example of these master crafters at work is “Bad Dream at 240,000 Inches.” This piece is a marvelous homage to one of the most iconic “Twilight Zone” episodes, “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.” This handmade, wooden pin is a beautiful bust of the episode's gremlin in all of its classic ridiculousness. The detail in the face is absolutely breathtaking and the addition of silver fuzz adds a unique level of intricacy. As you can see in the picture below, the tiny pin box showcases Shatner’s panic-stricken character sitting by the plane window, and acting as a lock for the curtain cover. And then as you pull the flap back, the creature is revealed. This piece perfectly recreates the true essence of what made Rod Serling's work so great. This piece seems simple at first viewing, but soon reveals a much deeper layer upon second glance.

I highly recommend throwing all of your dollars to these two delightful individuals because if you think this pin is amazing, you haven't seen anything yet. Don't hesitate to check out their work on their website.

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Negamidas

Negamidas is the brainchild of the husband-and-wife team of Johnny and Gilly. These two boast a deep, all-encompassing love for all things pop culture, and they make good on this claim. This company is still quite young — hitting the streets in 2015 with its “Teen Wolf” pin — but it isn’t stopping them from becoming one of the premier pin companies. This dynamic duo has covered everything from “Pete and Pete” to “The Monster Squad,” and there is absolutely no sign of them slowing down.

It’s quite impossible for me to pick my favorite pin from Negamidas. I’ve fallen in love with every pin I’ve touched. Each one oozes a deep passion for many of the same movies that I love, and I can’t help but become entranced. So, with a gun to my head, I’ve picked a duo of pins that represent one of my all-time favorite films, “Ghostbusters.” Johnny and Gilly put a lot of work into their ghost traps. Not only do they offer three different variants to the ghost trap, but they recently debuted a stunning proton pack. This two-inch pin is intricately detailed and carries an essence of nostalgia with it. Any ghost-head or pin fanatic would be ecstatic to add these two pieces to their collection. For these pins and more, check out Negamidas’ website.

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Ragamuffpins

Ragamuffpins is the epitome of the old saying, "When one door closes, another one opens." This family-owned business was started by Joseph and JessAdore, and what began out of necessity blossomed into something quite special. What I like most about this pair is its unique style to pin design. They have covered films such as: “Coraline,” “ParaNorman,” “Scream” and “Beauty and the Beast,” and each time they’ve added their unique touch to the characters.

Of all the pins under the Ragamuffpins banner, my favorite is the “Coraline” pin. Neil Gaiman’s macabre fairy tale introduced the world to one of the bravest little girls in the world of fiction and explored the duality the lives in each of us — a duality that shows strongest in Ragamuffpins’ pin. Coraline is front and center on the pin with her "other" self just below. With a mere twist of the pin you can transport yourself into the other world, and then right back to reality. The best part is that this pin is only the beginning. Joseph and JessAdore have a wide variety of pins available on their website.

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Creepy Company

Creepy Company may have started off with some phenomenal pins, but this company has become so much more. With the addition of a variety of collectibles ranging from shirts and patches to stickers and box sets, Creepy Company has evolved to a living, breathing brand. Creepy Company is quite the powerhouse, churning out hit product after hit product. What made me fall in love with this company was its pure passion for cinema, more specifically horror, and its insane attention to the tiniest detail. They’ve pushed the limits of these tiny canvases by adding movement, 3D effects, and even scratch-and-sniff.

With all of this in mind, no pin holds a candle to its “Beware the Moon” pin. This is largely due to my insane love for John Landis’ landmark film, “An American Werewolf in London.” This pin has an insane amount of detail in such a small space yet never feels overloaded. What’s even more impressive about this pin is the choice of using David from one of his fever-induced dreams. It would have been extremely easy to pick a more recognizable moment from the film, but with the help of remarkable artist Ghoulish Gary, these horror enthusiasts took a risk and created something beautiful. Make sure you check out their website. But buyer beware, you're in for a scare.

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That’s all from this collector’s collection for now. Until next time, may your boxes be forever sealed and your posters perfectly rolled.