We have arrived at that special time of the year, an annual tradition now, when we make two trips to Wheeling, West Virginia, two weeks apart for two very cool toy shows.
Last week I posted the epic MEGO Meet photo essay here in PopCult. MEGO Meet was an incredible collection of toy lovers, gathered at The Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum to celebrate the iconic 1970s action figures made by MEGO Corp. I even posted a music video of the event last Sunday.
The Kruger Street toy and Train Museum
This week we do it all over again to celebrate Marx Toys, at one time the biggest toy company in the world, collectors of this company’s decades of cool toys meet once a year in Wheeling, not far from the Glen Dale, West Virginia Marx toy factory, to buy, sell, trade and talk all things Marx. The Louis Marx Toy Company was the source of Johnny West, Big Wheel, Rock ’em Sock ’em Robots, Green Army Men, The Great Garloo and thousands of other classic toys.
Your PopCulteer will be heading back Wheelingward this Friday, with an entourage of Charleston’s top toy aficianados, and you can expect tons of photos of the event next week in this space.
The schedule of events at Kruger Street:
Friday, June 20, 2014
9:00 AM: Registration Desk Opens / Table holders may unload and setup.
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM: Convention attendees only swap meet.
12:00 Noon: Group Photo!! Don’t miss out on being a part of the group. The picture will be taken in front of the museum with the entire gang. (photos will be available for purchase shortly after.)
3:00 PM: Workshop TBA
6:00 PM: An evening “get together”! Not an organized “banquet” mind you, so each will be responsible for their own food/beverage costs. But a great chance to kick back and have an evening of fun with fellow Marx collectors! More details to come.
Saturday, June 21, 2014
8:00 AM to 9 AM: table holders can load and unpack.
9:00 AM to 3 PM: All Marx Swap Meet, museum building (this session will also be open to all museum visitors).
11:00 AM: Workshop – Unusual or rare Marx display and discussion – bring along your favorite Marx toy or train to show off to fellow collectors! Some rather interesting items have been showing up at these sessions!
1:00 PM: Workshop: Bill Felege. A former Girard Marx plant employee who worked in the R&D Room as an artist/ toy designer from 1968-1972.
2:30 PM: Workshop: TBA
3:00 to 5:00 PM: Pack up of tables, final tours of museum.
At the same time, The Marx Toy Museum, located in Moundsville, a mere 12 miles away, will be holding complimentary Marx Toy events, so that folks who attend the convention can drive back and forth between the two locations for a serious case of Marx Toy Overload. Check out the graphic for details on the Marx Toy Museum events.
You can take a look at PopCult’s coverage of previous Marx Toy Conventions HERE and HERE, and check out an epic five-part photo essay of the Marx Toy Museum HERE. You can find a photographic tour of The Kruger Street Toy and Train Museum HERE.
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