What's your most egregious pop-culture purchase?

Sandy Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 04:47 PM EST

As far as actual money spent, this isn't much, but I've bought two items off ebay that were free promos so I've paid for something that didn't cost anything for the seller to get. One was the yellow promotional "Santa" hat that was handed out to promoted "The Simpsons" movie in NY and the other was the Playbill that was handed out during one of Duran Duran's concerts on Broadway. Paid $8 for the Simpsons hat and $10 for the Playbill. Part of me hates myself and the other part is geekily thrilled....

Jeff Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 08:52 PM EST

GT - The Batman / Shakespeare bust basically has an extension cord sticking out of the back - you plug one end into the wall, and plug your appliance into the other end. Flip back Bill's head and there's an On/Off switch there. I'm sure if you were electrically inclined, you could rewire a different type of switch/control.

Broadway Baby Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 03:59 PM EST

Scrubs that have "General Hospital" on the pocket. I got it in the early 80s at the height of Luke and Laura mania. It was the only thing on my Christmas list - so you can say I spent a lot in other merchandise (like legwarmers and rainbow suspenders) that otherwise would have been on my list.

Rob Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 03:55 PM EST

I have some particularly embarassing ebay purchases (band tshits, posters, etc) but my college boyfriend had a white button-up shirt that Tori Spelling wore in "The House of Yes" framed over his bed.

Stinky Pete Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 02:59 PM EST

But the coup de gras...I have Rick Allen's arm in a hyperbaric chamber, under glass display.

How do you think Def Leppard was able to pay for the extra studio time after "Hysteria" was delayed for over a year. DUH???

Stinky Pete Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 02:53 PM EST

I also have the headband that Ron Goldman was wearing that fateful night in 1994.

Stinky Pete Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 02:52 PM EST

I got my hands on a pair of bikini bottoms that Traci Lords wore in "Holly Does Hollywood". Discuss...

wg Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 02:44 PM EST

I once contemplated mortgaging my parents' house to try to bid on an Oscar up for auction. My parents didn't go for it. So probably the most expensive pop culture item I bought was one of James Marsters' costumes for about $450 or so. I loved him on Buffy. But I couldn't afford one of his Buffy costumes (they went for thousands). So I settled for an outfit he wore as a guest star on another show. LOL I sold another actor's costume I'd just bought a few weeks before to help pay for the James Marsters one. Sad. But true.

Myma Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 02:27 PM EST

Oh, gosh, a couple years ago there was a huge jazz auction at Lincoln center, and my husband and I really wanted to bid on Lionel Hampton's vibraphone. I think they wound up going for $40-50k. We would've just put them in the living room and played them now and then. But then we came to our senses, regretably in hind sight because it would've been a lot of fun. Who needs a new car? (or two)
Is that too high brow for pop culture?

arahsae Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 11:23 AM EST

Kathleen, I already did it. It was well worth the cost. "It's showtime, Synergy!
"

GT Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 10:32 AM EST

Jeff, how well does that Batman Bust/switch thing work? I have wanted on for years, but I worry it might not be that great, and might only be good for turning on a lamp. I would much rather it do something cool like turn on my TV or perhaps a motor that moves a shelf to reveal a hidden room.

Kathleen Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 09:09 AM EST

Every day I fight the urge to blow $130-150 on the DVD sets of Jem cartoons. Every. Day.

Jeff Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 08:39 AM EST

Not terribly expensive, but I did plop down $300 for an authentic (replica) of the bronze (resin) Shakespeare bust whose head Bruce Wayne (Adam West) flipped back to reveal the switch that slides back the bookcase to access the Batpoles to the Batcave. And hey, I can even use it to switch a lamp on and off.

Auriana Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 08:38 AM EST

My weaknesses are anime cels and Star Wars stuff. My worst was probably an anime cel of Deedlit from Record of the Lodoss War which I purchased for $600. Didn't even think about it...just did it. Very bad. I love it though. I also once got in a bidding war on Ebay for the UK version of Enigma's Principles of Lust single. I lost at $65. :(

thwarted Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 08:26 AM EST

I haven't, but seriously considered flying out to LA a couple of years ago for Lisa Marie's yard sale just for the Tim Burton memorabilia. I've always sort of regretted not going.