In the late 80’s, while wandering around a thrift store, I found a couple of board games I had as a kid. I loved all the artwork on the old 50’s and 60’s toys and within a couple of years had a sizable collection and started doing research on the artists and designers of these treasures. I guess the amount of toys and stories I had about them was impressive enough to get a call from the National Enquirer. After our interview, they gave me a nearly full-page spread.
Soon, I started getting a lot of coverage as one of the authorities of a new trend of hot collectible – Board Games. After I co-authored Spin Again, Board Games from the 50’s and 60’s with Fred Schaefer, even more interviews came along.
I had an open invitation to anyone who wanted to stop by my place and see the collection. People from all over would visit and hang out at my house to talk about toys and re-live their childhood in the gameroom.
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved the Ripley’s Believe It or Not books. Sometimes I would have friends over from grade school, turn on creepy music and read excerpts from them. Forty years later a friend came up to me and said he just saw me in one of the Ripley’s books. Now, I couldn’t believe it!
