Battlestar Galactica Costume & Prop Museum
 Sharing your fandom before the Internet was a tough go. Sure, there were fan conventions or newsletters to keep the fires burning, but the Internet facilitated a bold new world of shared interests.
The Web connected fans of tv shows, bands, and movies, but many of those ties end up fraying over time. However, folks like Chris Pappas demonstrate the tight bond between fans and their obession. Chris started his site about the original "Battlestar Galactica" back in 1995. Over a decade later, it's still going strong and Chris's interest in the sci-fi show hasn't flagged. We caught up with the prolific collector to get his thoughts on the Web and "Battlestar"... Hey Chris, when did you first get on the Internet? What was it like back then? It was back in the early 90's. Most of my activity was on the Compuserve message boards. When more and more web sites started coming online, it was amazing to find entire web pages dedicated to a particular subject. It was like finding a specialty magazine for whatever subject you could think of. I think the average user had a 2400 baud modem back then. When did the Battlestar site go up? The first version of my site went up as part of Mark Heiman's Battlestar Galactica site at carleton.edu in mid-1995. What was the initial inspiration behind the site? The inspiration was to bring some of my collection online, to provide the best visual reference for Battlestar Galactica available, and to get in contact contact other fans, especially collectors. Were you a huge fan of the show in the late '70s? What about the show captured your interest? I've been a Galactica fan since the show first aired in 1978. There were two aspects that drew my attention to the show. The first was the Warrior's costume, expertly made by costume designer Jean-Pierre Dorléac. The ensemble was, and is, so unique and disconnected from modern fashion that it holds up well today, nearly thirty years later. The other aspect was Galactica's presentation of the concept of "life here began out there." From the site, we gather you collect Battlestar memorabilia. How big is your personal collection? Yes, I collect artifacts associated with the production of the show. In addition to the props and costumes, I also have a large collection of photos and production material, scripts, and documents. Around 2002, I reorganized my collection because I simply had too much. I decided which costumes were important to me and I sold or traded the rest. Do you make the replicas for sale on your site? What was the first replica you created? Yes, I make the props in the replica section of my site. The first replica I created was back in 1980 for an eighth grade science project I did on lasers. To augment the project, I made a replica of the Galactica Laser from wood and metal with a working flash. How much time do you put into the site these days? How has that varied since you launched the site? I'm putting in more time lately than I have in recent years. I always have major updates in mind, but I never seem to find the time for them. I've made it a point to add a new item to the costume or prop section every couple of weeks or so. Even if I can’t roll out a major update, at least site visitors can look forward to something new from time to time. Plenty of fan sites have come and gone since 1995. What drives you to keep going? I like the show and I enjoy organizing the data and presenting web pages. The site is also a tool to foster communication with other collectors and fans. Of course, we must ask your feelings on the current incarnation of BSG... I like the Sci-Fi Channel's version of Galactica, but not because I recognize it as having anything to do with the original Galactica. It's an entertaining show that just happens to have the same title and character names as the Galactica of the seventies. I just watch it casually with no intention of collecting or pursuing any of the other things I find pleasure in regarding the original Galactica. I don't think there’s anything to compare. They’re two different types of show with two different central stories. And, finally, what occupies your time these days? I'm working on building a large scale replica of the interior of the Viper fighter cockpit from the series. It's a pretty complex undertaking which includes sourcing vintage parts and materials as well as tracking down visual materials to ensure an authentic replica. I'd also like to put up a section on my site calling on fans or production personnel that may have unique photos, documents, or other materials to come forward with these forgotten items that they may have had stored away for years. Thanks, Chris! Your unwavering fandom is truly impressive!
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