Long Island man collects vintage props

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - A dragon, a knight in shining armor and close to 4,000 other props are found inside a 2,300-square-foot warehouse in Ronkonkoma, Long Island. After 30 years teaching theater arts to high school students, John Shorter wasn't ready to fully retire.

There are vintage props for musicals like Grease and Annie. And even the rocket for Uncle Fester in the Addams Family.

He has an amazing array of hard-to-find items like dock pillars, a pirate's wheel and life-sized trunks. Rental prices range from $3 to more than $1,000.

Shorter says he loves going to estate sales and yard sales to find things that are really special.

Sabrina Post came down from Connecticut looking for specific props for her production of Anything Goes. The travel time? Well worth it for what she calls the fine details.

There are themes: free standing saloon doors and a cactus make a good addition for a western party.

A fake piano, horse and an old school gas station pump. How about that sarcophagus door you were looking for?

It goes without saying, even the bathroom is decked out in props, giving new meaning to the saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure."