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In the earthly realm of community enrichment, we must give props to Warren native John Zabrucky for bringing potential out-of-this-world star power to the Mahoning Valley.
Specifically, Zabrucky is donating about 500 priceless physical props from some of the biggest and most acclaimed science fiction movie and TV blockbusters from the past 45 years to our region for installation in a yet-to-be-created science fiction museum in Warren.
If all goes well, and we pray it shall, that museum will be open and bursting with thousands of pumped-up visitors in the not-too-distant future.
Sound like a futuristic pie-in-the-sky pipe dream? Not hardly. Given the enduring popularity of science fiction and of classic films in America, this prop stop could succeed beyond belief. How could it not? Americans love their pop culture.
It will be filled with major set properties used in such smash movies as "Blade Runner," "Escape from New York," "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," "Total Recall," "Back to the Future II," "Ghostbusters II," "Speed," "Independence Day," "Starship Troopers" and hit television series ranging from "24," "JAG" and "Bones" to most of the "Star Trek" spinoffs.
Zabrucky, who graduated from Warren G. Harding High School in 1965, grew up to be one of the most successful prop masters in the nation. His company, Modern Props, features some of the most recognizable, creative, innovative and adored stage and set staples in entertainment history. His close friend, Jerry Casale, a founder of the Akron-based punk band Devo, aptly described Zabrucky's business as "the Prada of prop companies."
Fortunately for the Valley, Zabrucky also has a sincere fondness for his hometown. It was in Warren where he developed a passion for science, science fiction and fantasy. It was to Warren where Zabrucky wanted to place his life's work of innovative creations on full display for all to see.
Enter Andy Gray, this newspaper's award-winning and longtime entertainment writer, who, too, gets props for making a game-changing connection. Once Gray learned of Zabrucky's wish to plant his unique collection smack dab in his hometown roots, Gray put the prop master in contact with Meghan Reed, executive director of the Trumbull County Historical Society.
The rest, as the cliche goes, is history.
Reed jumped on board immediately and within months had found a space for the sci-fi museum on Main Avenue Southwest. Earlier this month, Reed, TCHS board President Jackie Shannon, TCHS Education and Outreach Manager Ryan MacLennan, Gray and Jim Fogarty, owner of Two Ticks & the Dog productions, traveled to southern California, to oversee the transfer of props onto trucks, to meet with Zabrucky and to create videos of the transfer and interviews with the prop executive for attractions at and promotions of the local museum.
Many of the props already are here at an undisclosed location in the Warren area, where they will be stored until the museum is created for their permanent display.
Now, however, it is time to get down to earth and recognize the challenges that lie ahead before Zabrucky and Reed's vision can become a reality on Main Avenue. The biggest challenge clearly is raising sufficient funding to make the dream a reality. Reed estimates the cost in the millions, perhaps as high as $8 million.
The planned museum site sits at 410 Main Ave. SW, a four-story 120-year-old structure that last was home to the Artisan Cafe, which opened in 2014, and previously housed various vegetable produce wholesalers. It clearly will require a major overhaul.
The historical society must exhaust all possible sources of public and private funding to secure the building and the dream. Given that Reed has garnered about $2 million in grants during her tenure, we believe she will be more than up to that herculean task.
But she and the historical society can't do it alone. As the museum promises to become a destination attraction for visitors to Warren and the entireValley, full-throttle community engagment must be achieved.
Toward that end, we're pleased to see the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber has committed its full support in the venture. The Chamber's foundation will bring Zabrucky back to the Valley Aug. 30 for a private big-ticket fundraiser for the museum. The Chamber also will present Zabrucky a special award Aug. 31 at its annual Salute to Business at Eastwood Event Centre open to the public.
Other civic-minded groups and individuals are encouraged to follow the chamber's lead by making contributions or sponsoring fundraising events to help carry the project to the finish line. Arts, cultural and historical groups from throughout the Valley should rally around the project and commit to supporting it.
To be sure, however, failure cannot be an option. The props project brims with too many community assets and economic perks to ever let it slide into the abyss of fantasy land.