Help, I have work to do! This is bringing me out of the shadows. Just to add to my last post. My theory, after collecting and dealing in popular culture for 30 years now...we collect what gives us that special something from around the time we were 8 to 16 or so. I don't see many people collecting from their pre-verbal stage or what they remember from their 30s.
When a wave of collectors ages out, and the material no longer has a new audience...that's it! Howdy Doody, Hopalong Cassidy, Humphry Bogart, are aging out. When I started in this crazy business cast iron toys, early Hollywood, Buster Brown were the rage. I don't see too much new blood in these and many other areas. Let's give some respect to the young collectors and the interest that they have in areas that are a part of their lives. What people choose to collect and the way they collect it varies from personality to personality. Some collectors need to have everything on a subject and organize it like a librarian, others want to fill the top shelf in the kitchen with lunch boxes, when the shelf is full they are done. Some collectors are sloppy, some are neat, some are compulsive (must collect before I pay the mortgage) and some are casual (that's nice, but not today). Why people collect can be very private, everyone can't afford to step up to the plate and buy what they want. I have always been thankful that I don't sell food to families not able to afford it. I have never felt guilty when asked if I could sell something for $100 instead of $200 because, "Hey, give me a break, I can't afford it". Sorry, it's only a movie poster. Also, If you can't understand why something from the 70s is a fortune and another from the 30s is not, remember those laws of supply and demand. They always apply. Wanting a poster from one childhood can make it more valuable than wanting one from someone elses childhood. Ken Farrell Now in deep at Just Kids Nostalgia -----Original Message----- From: jbirddouglass <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Sent: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 12:51 pm Subject: Re: [MOPO] Why I Don't Post Ken,? First of all, thank you for not lurking. An excellent post.. Other lurkers...if you do not participate, we will never get to know you, and that's an sad thing. There are far too few of us in this hobby as it is, and I like networking. with the other lunatics who share my addiction. I know there's a fear thing with some of you after seeing some of the flame wars on MOPO. While there may be the occasional person who might disagree with you on something,, screw 'em; they don't have to die in your bed, right? ( I recently had a minor disagreement with someone privately on this list. By corresponding and working through the little bitch fest we had, we actually got to know one another better, and I now have another contact in the hobby.My life is now slightly richer because of some very civil friction.)By lurking, you rob us of your experience and expertise, so don't be stingy!? Back to Ken...you hit on an interesting point. The stuff that becomes highly collectible for each generation changes with the culture, but one thing remains the same; the most prized items seem to be stuff that was considered worthless junk in its time to everyone but the kids who experienced them. For me, it was movie posters, Mars Attacks! cards, and MAD magazine. For my son, it was baseball cards and Garbage Pail Kids; he buys and sells both regularly on Ebay. Pre-fabricated collectibles like Beanie Babies are sitting in warehouses; you cannot manufacture magic.? I guess no one can predict what will be The Next Big Thing but as long as people pine for those special moments in their childhoods, there will be "vintage" collectibles..? Greg Douglass? Gerri Farrell wrote:? > Hello,? >? > I am known though my collecting business, Just Kids Nostalgia. I read > MOPO most of the time but I never put my two cents in...why? I am not > that comfortable with having my words and thoughts posted for all to > see. I am "shy" on facebook and rarely send conversational email.? >? > Is there anything wrong with "lurking"? I don't judge or complain > about members opinions. As far as using MOPO for advertising...I have > no problem with it.? >? > I think that the MOPO input in general ranges from informative to > interesting to a waste of time and it adds greatly to the hobby of > collecting movie posters. >? > But as long as I am here, this is my pet peave with some collectors > and some of the society in general. What's with the attitude of "these > kids today"?. Back in my day...the movies were better, the music was > better, the toys were more fun to play with, you could get on the > subway for a nickel (15 cents in my day), everything was made better > and lasted longer and we were all always happy.? >? > Get over it...things change, but most remain the same. There were > always great movies, art and music, but most of it was always bad. I > am not sure if those cool Buck Rogers rings that came in the mail in > the 30s were better than Burger King toys were to my kids. Are metal > toys better than plastic ones? I don't think so. To the wide eyes of > an eight year old, most "toys" are pretty cool.? >? > We all know technology is changing everything. Do you really think > that Howdy Doody was more important to a generation than Mario > Brothers or World of Warcft? What kind of memories will we have about > the early days of the internet (we are still in the middle of the > early days). Do you remember that wonderful sound of dial up and > $3.00 an hour to surf the net at a speed that would make us all scream > for a 14 year old to fix it?? >? > Things changed when the railroad came through. They are still > changing. People always suffer when there is change, look at the Bates > Motel? >? > Let's not forget the wars and poverty that never end. It would be nice > if they are only history to the next generation.? >? > OK, I went on and on...this is why I never post. I really want to > delete this instead of sending it...Oh, what the heck!? >? > Ken Farrell? > Just Kids? >? > ------------------------------------------------------------------------? > Wanna slim down for summer? Go to America Takes it Off > <http://www.aolhealth.com/diet/weight-loss-program/?ncid=emlcntusheal00000001> > > to learn how.? > Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com? >? > ___________________________________________________________________? >? > How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List? >? > Send a message addressed to: [email protected]? >? > In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L? >? > The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.? >? ? Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [email protected] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
