Long before the conveniences of on-line shopping and auction websites, Twin Peaks fans of the early 1990s turned to Michigan-based Bruce Phillips to find wonderful and strange collectibles from David Lynch and Mark Frost’s groundbreaking series and feature film. I remember spending countless hours wishing to own everything listed in Bruce’s printed paper catalogs. As an archivist today, his “Twin Peaks Collectables” catalogs are the stuff of dreams as they contain a listing of merchandise, media and other items from the early days of the show. I recently acquired a very early catalog from Bruce that was most likely printed in fall 1992.
WHO IS BRUCE PHILLIPS?
Michigan-based collector Bruce Phillips is also known as “The Twin Peaks Guy.” He’s been collecting, trading and selling memorabilia related to the television series and feature film for more than three decades. A few years ago, I profiled him for an article on Twin Peaks Blog that was a companion story to one written by Andy Hageman for 25YL.com. Both articles detail how Bruce got involved with collecting and they showcased several of his treasures.
You can still find Bruce online today as he has numerous Twin Peaks items for sale via Ebay at brucew412.
TWIN PEAKS COLLECTABLES CATALOG FROM FALL 1992 | COVER
In the early 1990s, three things kept me connected to the town of Twin Peaks – Craig Miller and John Thorne’s “Wrapped in Plastic” magazine, reruns of the show’s first two seasons on Bravo TV and Bruce Phillips’ printed “Twin Peaks Collectables” catalog. He chose the British spelling of “Collectables” which is also spelled as “Collectibles.” Either word is interchangeable. Today, I would call these things priceless treasures.
The cover of Bruce’s catalog featured a black and white image of Special Agent Dale Cooper speaking into his mini-tape recorder. A nearby speech bubble contains Cooper’s message to Diane:
“Diane: Take a note. I just received Bruce Phillips’ “Twin Peaks Collectables List.” DAMN! Where does he get all this good stuff? Strange how many of the items disappear… never to be seen again!”
Bruce made his mail order catalogs by hand, cutting and pasting images without the use of desktop publishing software.
“Since I already had ads running in various magazines and Wrapped in Plastic to obtain things, I decided to create a mail order catalog and include this with my ads which really was the only way to reach out to Twin Peaks fans again, no internet; everything had to be done by mail,” explained Bruce in his profile article from 2020. “I had to go through boxes and boxes of things I’d purchased, categorize them, and determine a price to sell them at based on my costs.”
To get this catalog, fans needed to send their names and mailing addresses in a self-addressed business letter envelope marked “Twin Peaks” along with two stamps. International requests required sending two international mail coupons obtained from local post offices.
He updated the catalog and mailed it out several times a year but “always before Christmas for those wanting to purchase items for gifts.” His mailing list grew to about 6,000 interested fans (WE’RE A WHOLE DAMN TOWN!).
This particular “Twin Peaks Collectables” catalog contained a paper insert advertisement for both Bruce’s catalog and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me which was released on home video on January 6, 1993. This advertisement, along with some additional ads in the catalog, is why I believe this issue was published sometime in fall 1992.
TWIN PEAKS COLLECTABLES CATALOG FROM FALL 1992 | PAGE 1
Bruce offered an introduction on the first page of the catalog:
“I am a Twin Peaks (TP) fan and collector and have put out this list to make contact with fellow Twin Peaks fans, trade for Twin Peaks items and make items available to other fans, and to help pay for my own Twin Peaks collection. I would rather trade for Twin Peaks items than sell. Quantities and supplies are limited as most of these items are no longer available. Prices depend on whether I obtain them at wholesale, retail, trade, or premium. Shipping of items from overseas can be more expensive than the actual item. When I can reorder items I am out of, I will always backorder unless you request not to. To order, send trade list or money order to Bruce Phillips, 46702 Camelia Dr., Canton, MI 48187. Shipping charges please add $2 per magazine or book, $3 per card set, mug, or video up to a maximum of $6. (Foreign orders please double shipping charges). If you want further updates, please send a business sized SASE. (NOTE: IP = Twin Peaks; FWWM = Fire Walk With Me).”
The first 19 items listed contain a greatest hits of well known Twin Peaks merchandise including books, StarPics Trading Card (which he was out of stock at the time), magazines and official song books.
TWIN PEAKS COLLECTABLES CATALOG FROM FALL 1992 | PAGE 2
The second page contains more magazines, books, film posters and even the Japanese laserdisc of Twin Peaks Visual Soundtrack. It’s truly amazing to see this curated list as I now have so many items that I only once dreamed of owning.
TWIN PEAKS COLLECTABLES CATALOG FROM FALL 1992 | PAGE 3
The third page contains a call out to memorabilia from the first Twin Peaks Fan Festival held in mid-August 1992 in Snoqualmie Valley, Washington along with a mention of the first issue of “Wrapped in Plastic.” I was, however, most excited to find an advertisement for the home video release of Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me which would be available starting January 6, 1993.
Bruce also put out a call for a handful of items he was seeking including the following:
I am always looking for more TP items, things I do not have and more of the things I do have to make sure I don’t run out. If you have extra TP items, 1 would be interested in trading or buying. If you know of items not on my list but do not have extras, please let me know about them so I can hunt for them myself. Following are items 1 am particularly looking for:
- French T-Shirt movie
- ABC & Worldvision press photos
- Promo material and promo CDs
- Advance poster Fire Walk With Me, all black
- Trading cards in wax pack, not set
- Promo trading cards and t-shirt by Star Pics
- Promo video cassette with black tape inside
- Props from TV series or movie
- Video clips – NBC Love, Lies, & Murder; NBC Aug. 9 summer Olympics closing ceremonies; ABC Anything But Love TP spoof; Kimmy Robertson Hires commercial; Lynch commercials; Baywatch original pilot.
It’s unclear if the StarPics trading card t-shirt Al Strobel is wearing in this early 1990s photo with Bruce is the same one he mentions as number 6 on his list. Either way, I would love to find it as well.
TWIN PEAKS COLLECTABLES CATALOG FROM FALL 1992 | PAGES 4-7
In addition to merchandise, Bruce offered an extensive collection of video clips. I can’t stress enough how important this list is to a researcher like me. He helped document and collect clips that may never be seen again.
On page 5, Bruce included two graphics from a collection of stickers created for the Japanese market. I wrote about this set in this Twin Peaks Blog article.
In the days long before YouTube, Bruce’s video clips collection was the only way to see rare items like the WOWOW Japanese marathon content.
He also had clips and footage from the first Twin Peaks Fan Festival where Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me had its North American premiere at the North Bend Theatre on August 16, 1992.
I’m grateful for Bruce’s work on creating these printed catalogs so long ago. He didn’t know it at the time but they have become such an important part of the work I do for Twin Peaks Blog. If you ever purchased anything from Bruce, I’d love to hear your story either in the comments below or at TheTwinPeaksBlog@gmail.com
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