Wes Shank – the movie memorabilia collector and Blobfest regular known as “The Caretaker of The Blob” – has died unexpectedly at the age of 72, writes Anthony Hayes for the Baltimore Post-Examiner.

Shank was dedicated to the preservation of movie history. His huge collection of film memorabilia included a number of artifacts obtained from the director of The Blob. It was this 1958 movie filmed around Phoenixville, Downingtown, and Chester Springs that started his creative collection.

“I knew if I didn’t act, the Blob might get thrown out with the trash someday,” he said at the time.

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The Blob became his most outstanding achievement as a film historian. Thanks to his preservation efforts, future generations of both film students and fans can both see and touch one of the most disturbing cinema “monsters.”

“It’s amazing to bring the Blob to Blobfest, The Monster Bash, or the Nostalgia Convention, and watch people take a wide path around the display,“ Shank said of his treasure.

Read more about Wes Shank in the Baltimore Post-Examiner here.

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