According to GEM associate curator and registrar, Andy Hershberger, vintage collec- tions date to the 18th century. “We have tons of comics, broadsides, toys and icons doubling as product advertisers. Countless heroes appear in American merchandising campaigns, and GEM features glasses, lunch boxes, dolls and more.”
“There is a room devoted to Baltimore heroes,” Hershberger continues, “including Cal Ripken, John Waters, Edgar Allan Poe, Ernie Tyler, Frank Zappa, Ken Closer and others. We have a very hot Pez collection, stellar artwork in the form of original movie posters, a Colorform exhibit pop- ping with the vinyl images and shapes that kids applied to shiny plastic, laminated boards.” He further notes that Time maga- zine named Colorform one of the top 100 toys of all time.
“Upcoming shows are The Hake’s
Americana of Collectibles Appraisal Fair on November 23 and a Milestones Exhibit highlighting African Americans in the Arts, which opens in December,”
adds
Hershberger. “The appraisal day gives col- lectors a chance to bring one artifact for review and get a fair market value. We have had some real
Antiques Roadshow moments in the past at this event.”
Geppi’s Entertainment Museum attracts groups small and large, each drawn by the fascination of a highly atypical backdrop for their meeting. Tourism, pharmaceutical, financial, medical and academic organiza- tions all have been captivated by GEM and the prospect of wrapping programs around the museum’s distinctive themes.
“One company held a Star Wars birthday party,” recalls Hershberger. “We dressed our third floor to resemble a set from the movie and attendees costumed as Princess Leia, Yoda, Ewok and other characters. There are numerous links with American movies, and meeting planners like this aspect. Another positive is how conversation can be generated when people see something representative of their youth. ‘Hey, I had that.’
‘I remember this toy.’ We hear it all
the time. Going back can be a great stimu- lus for moving forward,” he concludes.
The Franklin Institute, too, is a venue where themes abound. More than a Philadelphia
14 September October 2013
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