If the props Warren native John Zabrucky designed actually could do the things they do in the movies, the 500 pieces he donated could be teleported from southern California to Warren.

Instead, it will take many semi-trailer trucks to haul the collection cross-country.

The first two trucks arrived Thursday and Friday; two more are scheduled to arrive Monday and several more will be coming over the next few months as the Trumbull County Historical Society works toward creating a science fiction museum to house the collection.

“This is amazing, surreal,” TCHS Executive Director Meghan Reed said as she helped unload the first truck. “Just seeing this gets us revved up for the work we have to do, researching items and getting things organized. It makes me excited to get the museum moving. It’s go time.”

Zabrucky, a 1965 Warren G. Harding High School graduate, signed a deed of gift form in April donating hundreds of props his company, Modern Props, created between 1977 and 2019 for such films as “Men in Black,” “Ghostbusters,” “RoboCop,” “Total Recall” and various “Star Trek” franchises.

A group that included Reed, TCHS Education and Outreach coordinator Ryan MacLennan, TCHS board President Jackie Shannon and Jim Fogarty, owner of Two Ticks & the Dog Productions, traveled to California for a whirlwind visit July 30 to Aug. 2 to meet Zabrucky in person, see the collection firsthand and make shipping arrangements.

“The trip confirmed how rich and exciting the collection is,” Reed said. “Most beneficial for me was meeting John in person and hearing him talk and understanding what Modern Props meant to him.”

Shannon added, “It’s real now. Before it was, ‘We’re going to do this; it’s going to come here.’ Now, after seeing it and looking at it and talking to John, this is real. This is something that’s going to happen, and I’m even more excited than I was before.”

ATTRACTING INVESTORS

Fogarty was hired to shoot footage inside Modern Props’ warehouse in the San Fernando Valley and interview Zabrucky at his home in the Pacific Palisades.

The footage will serve several purposes. The first will be to create a “sizzle reel” to attract investors.

“A lot of capital improvements need to be made to the building, and we want to drum up some hype to sell it so people will want to be a part of it,” Fogarty said.

The footage also will be featured in the completed museum.

“The longest of all of them will be the story of John Zabrucky and Modern Props,” Fogarty said. “I think it’s important for visitors of the museum to learn about this guy and the impressive things he did and how he helped shape the future of popular culture.”

Now that a portion of the collection is here, TCHS plans to do pop-up events to raise awareness and money as it works to purchase the building at 410 Main Ave. SW, Warren, for the museum and start the extensive renovations that will be required.

Until that building is ready, the collection will be stored in a secure, undisclosed warehouse.

“We hope to have 80 percent of the collection here by the end of the month,” Reed said.

FIRST LOOK

One of the first chances to get a peek at a few pieces will be Aug. 30 and 31. The Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber Foundation will bring Zabrucky to Warren later this month, hosting a big-ticket fundraiser Aug. 30 at a private venue, with the chamber splitting the proceeds with the historical society.

The following morning is a breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at Eastwood Event Centre in Niles, where Zabrucky will be presented with an award. The cost is $40 for chamber members and $50 for nonmembers. Registration is available online at business.regionalchamber.com/events.

Foundation President Mike McGiffin said he wanted to get the chamber involved as soon as he heard about the proposed museum.

“He’s a hometown guy, one of us, who just did this wonderful work, all behind the scenes, not getting the recognition he should,” McGiffin said. “But his art is speaking for itself. Across the movie industry, everybody knows his work … This is the coolest thing I’ve seen in the last decade.”

Fogarty echoed a similar sentiment after recording an interview with him.

“John is an amazing artist; and I think John was disappointed that he’ll be remembered as a prop guy,” Fogarty said. “John wants to be remembered as an artist, but what he’s done with Modern Props, his art has reached tens of millions of people.

“Think of all the work he’s created. The devices he’s created have been enjoyed by more people than have ever seen a Banksy installation. A ton of people have seen John’s work. They just don’t know he created it.”