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His movie props have been in ‘X-Men’ & ‘Austin Powers.’ Now he’s bringing sci-fi to Warren

By Kelcey Norris Mahoning Matters

Updated September 17, 2023 8:06 AM

Hollywood prop maker John Zabrucky donated the expansive inventory of Modern Props to be enjoyed by his community as a museum. Kelcey Norris Mahoning Matters

John Zabrucky traveled from his hometown in Warren across the country to create futuristic props and gadgets for some of the most well-known science fiction films since the 1970s.

The Kent State University graduate’s props have been featured on screen in X-Men, the Incredible Hulk, Austin Powers, Star Trek, Men in Black, Ghostbusters and more films and shows.

Now, he’s donated the expansive inventory of Modern Props, the company he co-founded, back to Warren to be enjoyed by his community.

According to Meghan Reed, director of Trumbull County Historical Society, her team is working on itemizing and researching around 500 pieces, nine truckloads of props of varying sizes and shapes to one day be housed as a science fiction museum.

Vision of Modern Props sci-fi museum

From chrome seats on Stark Trek, ray guns used to eradicate aliens in Men in Black, and props from Nickelodeon television show sets, this collection has something for everyone to gawk at.

According to Reed, Zabrucky wanted to store the props in one public space as an exhibit but wasn’t sure where would be best.

“Andy Gray, one of the reporters for the Tribune Chronicle, had done a story on him a few years ago, and they had kept up a relationship,” said Reed. “Zabrucky reached out and said, ‘I really want this to be back in Warren, if possible, since I’m from here.’ But he told me later, he said, ‘I honestly thought nobody would be interested.’”

Despite the designer’s doubts, Reed jumped at the opportunity and met with Zabrucky in Los Angeles to plan out the science fiction museum set to be built in Warren.

Everything has been transported by truck to Warren, including one major museum highlight, “the most important device in the universe.”

Meghan Reed showing a major highlight of the museum, “the most important device in the universe,” which was made by Modern Props and featured in 100 films and TV series, like Austin Powers and Star Trek. Kelcey Norris Mahoning Matters

It’s earned this title because it’s been featured in 100 films and TV series, like Austin Powers and Star Trek.

“He created these very much with the idea that he was designing for the future,” said Reed. “Props at the time in Hollywood were made for a movie and then they were just used up and thrown away. But John started this rental company, knowing that he was going to have these props be in a good enough working order where they could go from set to set to set. And today, some of them are like 50 years old and they’re still in extremely good condition. So much of the stuff you could put on a set today, and it would look great.”

Will the museum be open soon?

There are a few big tasks on Reed’s to-do list before the museum can open to the public.

“We’re in the very beginning phases now of researching the collection and also inventorying it into a trackable system internally for us, so that will take time,” she said. “We’re still in the process of buying the building that we want, and renovations are going to probably take a couple of years, so that is all coming down the pipeline. In addition to that, we’re hiring a professional exhibit design company to help create the actual installations that guests will walk through.”

Trumbull County Historical Society is planning a significant fundraiser to cover the costs of leasing a big enough building for the collection and remodeling to have interactive exhibits.

“Part museum, but also in some ways part science center,” Reed said. “We’re hoping to be a nationally accredited science fiction museum that has something everyone will enjoy. It’ll be community and family-friendly. You [will be able to] come in, touch, explore and learn. There are things that people thought were science fiction in the 70s, but some of those things came true and we can actually do them now.”