October 15, 1999
Greetings Accumulators!
Autumn is demonstrating a decidely strong grip on New York City, with
blustery winds and lower temperatures. If you're coming to the Chelsea
Antiques Building today, for the live broadcast of "Treasures In Your
Home", wear those woolies!
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF YEAH, BUT WHO GETS ALL THAT COOL MEMORABILIA?
About one third of Planet Hollywood's 32 outlets are about to go bye-bye.
The remaining twenty or so restaurants will get upgraded menus according to
PH executives. The theme restaurant chain, bankrolled by the likes of
Arnold Schwartzenegger, Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone, has filed for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization after losing 244 million dollars in
1998 and being dropped last summer by the New York Stock Exchange. Life can
be tough when the celeb crowd moves on to the next flavor of the month.
NOT ANOTHER COW STORY! DEPARTMENT
This one has nothing to do with Chicago. Computer manufacturer Gateway is
recalling about one-million foam rubber toy cows, given away with the
purchase of a computer by Gateway stores from September, 1997 through last
month. Some were also sold for about four dollars each, and they are named
"Stress Cow", because they are meant to help you relieve stress by
squeezing them. It seems that some folks are so stressed out that
squeezing them isn't enough to relieve their anxiety. Small pieces of these
toys can tear away and pose a choking hazard for young children. The
bovines in question are white with black spots (duh!) and have the
trademark "Gateway" in green on their backs. If you have one of these
menacing moo-moos, and you haven't yet chewed it to bits, and your dog
hasn't eaten it, take it back to the Gateway store and exchange it. For
information, call Gateway at (877)206-4889 or visit their wenbsite at
Gateway.com.
JOLTIN' JOE FOR SALE
Ralph Perullo of New Jersey, major Joe DiMaggio fan and now a North
Carolina businessman, bought millions of dollars worth of Joe D.
memorabilia last June. Some of it was hawked at baseball shows all summer,
and some is going on the Internet auction block. Perullo says he will be
selling baseballs, bats, trading cards and lithographs on eBay from October
20th through the 29th. Other items will go on an Internet auction in Japan
later this year. Watch out for baseballs signed in a shaky hand by
DiMaggio on his deathbed, apparently as a favor to a trusted and greedy
friend, who allegedly sold them to Perullo shortly after Joltin' Joe's death.
TELL YOUR KIDS WHAT THEY WANT FOR CHRISTMAS
K-B Toys has just issued its annual Hot Holiday Toy List (somehow I suspect
the list has a strong connection to what K-B happens to have in stock).
Here are the top ten items on the list:
1. Pokemon (surprise!)
2. Furbies and Furby Babies
3. Hot Wheels
4. Ooglies
5. Barbie
6. Interactive Yoda
7. Wrestling figures and accessories
8. Family games
9. Tech Decks
10. "Toy Story II" merchandise
Barbie at No.5? Guess K-B didn't survey many girls.
REPRO ALERT
Well, sort of. Lately I'm seeing a great many Barbie doll reissues. It's
important to examine the trademark dates on the derriere of the doll to
determine whether it's a really old one or a nineties version.
Okay, Accumulators, I'm on roller skates today. Much to do. Meet me at the
Chelsea Antiques Building today at 4PM Eastern. Too busy? I'll be in the
Treasures In your Home chat room at http://www.treasuresinyourhome.com on
Sunday at 12 noon Eastern for the live webcast from Atlantique City. Come
yak with us. Next weekend Artie and I will be in Chesapeake, VA and I will
be attempting to send you the first newsletter ever from the laptop in my
hotel room. Have a great week, Accumulators. Happy hunting!
Best,
Judith
© 1999 Judith Katz-Schwartz. All rights reserved.
Antiques and Collectibles Newsletter #103
U.S. Library of Congress
ISSN 1520-4464
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