Calling all X-Philes

THE X FILES O P E N I N G WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS PROVIDED

In 1993, Bill Clinton was President, the internet was in its infancy, and the X-Files first aired on the Fox Television Network. The show ran for nine seasons, two revival seasons, and spawned two full-length movies. In it, FBI agents investigate unexplained cases known as the “X-Files”. Its unique combination of scientific thought and paranormal phenomena made television history. “It put Fox right on the map because it brought science fiction, horror and drama back to TV,” said Jim Thornton.

The X-Phile’s Collection Thornton is one of many X-File enthusiasts who have become known as an X-Phile. During the last 25 years, he has spent more than $100,000 amassing a huge collection of X-Files items and memorabilia. His collection contains commercial items, set props, and more than 200 pieces of wardrobe -worn on-screen, including a baseball cap from fan-favorite episode “Quagmire.” Worn by a bait shop owner, the red and white “Show us Your Bobbers” hat had a significant amount of screen time. “I was shocked when that became available and I just jumped on it. It’s one-of-a-kind, there are no more like it out there,” said Thorton. Another impressive find was an alien cryopod used in the 1998 X-Files movie “Fight the Future.” The 6ft. x 4ft. chamber, which opens only from the back, still has its special effects tubing and interior light system. “It’s neat when you see this stuff in real life because a lot of times it’s different than you imagine it will be when you see it on TV,” said Thornton.

We Want to Believe Each year, Thornton and his wife, Kelly Anthony, take the collection on the road to comic conventions. Now, they’re hoping to give it a permanent home in Saratoga County. “To share this with the public means a lot to me and has done a lot for me. I’m paying tribute to the stars and guest stars, the prop master, all the people behind the scenes and all the work that goes into the show. It has such a huge, rabid fan following, the collection really is for all of us,” said Thornton. Hoping to create an interactive X-Files Preservation Collection museum, some of the highlights would include a re-creation of character Fox Mulder’s office, computers (so visitors can play the Windows ’95 X-Files video games), and episodes of the show playing on multiple screens. “Saratoga could use more variety. Pop culture-wise there’s nothing here. People would come from all over to see this.”

The Truth is Out There Currently in the process of raising money to secure a space and pay expenses to open the museum, for every donation, a merchandise incentive is given, ranging from a public “thank you” to a mug, baseball cap, or t-shirt. For details, go to IndieGogo.com/projects/ the-x-files-preservation-collection. Currently, Thorton is more than halfway to his $8,000 goal.

To find out more, follow the X-Files Preservation Collection on Facebook by visiting https://www.facebook.com/groups/ JimsXFileCollection and on Twitter @jthornton999. S S