A Visit to Collector's Crypt

Collector’s Crypt is a boutique shop in Dallas specializing in horror and sci-fi collectibles, memorabilia, paraphernalia, and… well, you just gotta see it, folks. It’s an amazing place. I discovered them only recently after attending the St. Patrick’s Slay Weekend event at Dark Hour Haunted House in Plano. They were a sponsor of that particular show, so Dark Hour graciously gave them some floor space to sell a few wares after the show and otherwise promote the store. Now it’s not like Dallas has a whole lot of shops like this; in fact, I cannot think of one other. So it piqued my interest. I noticed that they are located only a short distance across the river from where I currently work, so I decided to pop in on my next available lunch hour.

I was not disappointed. In fact, what I found there blew me away.

Collector’s Crypt is located not so much in a traditional storefront as in an older residential neighborhood. At first I thought I had the wrong place, but the shingle out front told me I had reached my proper destination. The building, or rather, the house — had the feel of some eccentric old grandma’s residence; or maybe closer to autumn, of a haunted house.

As I stepped in the door I was greeted by a gnarled old butler who took my hat and coat as my eyes adjusted to the dim light of what I slowly realized was a hall of dark wonders.

My eyes were immediately drawn to the centerpiece of the room, and maybe even the whole store — an exquisitely carved, two foot resin model of Dr. Channard, the Johnny-come-lately Cenobite from Hellraiser II who somehow managed to kick the collective asses of all the established monsters in the movie. The detail on the piece is just incredible. You can hardly help gawking at it. I was doing just that when one of the friendly proprietresses noticed me. She introduced herself and explained that the piece comes with two interchangeable heads (one having a more placid, and one a more exercised expression) and is of the highest craftsmanship. She also gave me a little walkthrough of the store. I felt comfortable enough to ask her if I could snap some pictures, and she graciously allowed it.

The place has a few stock items, but the vast majority of the inventory is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. The place is loaded with antiques, and even better — custom made models and other memorabilia crafted exclusively for the store. Some of their stuff you won’t find anywhere else!

Please do not visit the store and buy this beautiful etched plastic/plexiglass homage to Count Dracula. IT IS MINE. It belongs on my mantle next Halloween. I used some Photoshop chicanery to give it a spooky green coloring, but there’s actually a little red lamp at the bottom that lights up all the etched borders from below. In a dark room, this would look magnificent. But you’ll never know, ‘cause I’m going to buy it!

Collector’s Crypt has a large and varied inventory, from the gory to the fantastic. You can hardly move your eyes around without bumping them into a surprise or two, like the incredible selection of Godzilla merchandise on display.

That discovery really connected with me personally, because I recognized a few of those toys from the collection of an old childhood friend. I had not seen the like of them in thirty years. I remember visiting him at his Grandmother’s house and watching Godzilla movies thrown up on the kitchen pantry doors by an old reel-to-reel projector borrowed from his dad. I remember the tin film canisters with the names of the movies written on tape labels, and the old lace curtains in his grandmother’s dining room. Seeing this stuff gave me chills.

Every old doll is cursed. These were no spookier than the ones I remember in that old lady’s collection back in Zapata, TX. Her house was filled with the things. How did she ever fall asleep?

Looking for some posters, movie prints, or horror-themed art? This place has it all. In fact, I’m just now noticing that one of Frankenstein in profile. This is quality stuff, guys.

One thing I admire about Collector’s Crypt is that these guys have class. And they understand the roots of it all; the old Universal pantheon get the respect they deserve alongside modern greats like Freddy, Myers, and Pinhead. There’s a place for everybody under this roof. They even have a whole room devoted to the characters of Tim Burton. How’s that for weird?