July 13, 2001
Greetings Accumulators!
Now, don't tell me you're a triskadecaphobic. Friday the 13th is like any other Friday - the beginning of the weekend! Besides, nothing could be unluckier than the show we did a couple of weekends ago. The area in which the show was held had been hit with flash floods the weekend before. Every hotel in town was closed due to things like collapsed walls and no electricity. Then the weather forecast for the weelend of our show came out: more of the same. Torrential rains. Needless to say, we had plenty of spare time to schmooze with other dealers, make phone calls, do our nails. You get the idea. I did get visits from two fabulous Accumulators, though. The lovely Jenny and the darling Ashley both showed up - really brightened our day, too!
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF WHY DON'T YOU JUST GET OVER IT AND GO SUCK A BAT'S NECK?
The current Count Dracula has just lost his court battle to prevent a European distributor from marketing a sparkling wine called "Dracula" (red, of course - what else?). Ottomar Rodolphe Vlad Dracul Prince Kretzulesco (I'm not making this up. That's really his name. I think if I had his name, unlike my own easy-to-remember-easy-to-spell-easy to pronounce one, there'd be enough problems in my life already, and the last thing I'd be interested in would be sparkling red wine, which is, let's face it, a not-very-appealing liquid), of Germany (natch!), claims exclusive rights to the name "Dracula". Fortunately for all of us who have to watch CNN and may prefer to see stories in which we actually might be interested, a Munich judge nipped this one right in the bud. The Prince may be a descendent of Vlad The Impaler (you'd think he'd want to keep that information to himself, wouldn't you?), but it's a long stretch to give him the exclusive rights to the name of a fictional character based on the exploits of his sicko ancestor. So, once again, the world is safe for the marketing of what could turn out to be the greatest Halloween party gift of the year. This may not surprise or shock you at all: Prince Kretzulesco is an antiques dealer.
MISSING BLONDES DEPARTMENT
This one comes to us courtesy of Ron McCoy, Alert Accumulator and publisher of The Antiques and Collecting Newsletter, a far more serious periodical than this one. It seems that Texas cops are on the hunt for forty teeny tiny blondes with impossibly small waists, enormous bosoms, and permanently arched feet (ouch!). Yes, somewhere in Texas, there's a swarm of Barbies. They fell off a pickup truck, according to Reuters, when their owner, en route to a new apartment, wasn't looking. "They're still missing" said San Antonio Police Department spokesman Gabriel Trevino. Gabe is, apparently, a man of few words. Their owner, 21 year old Alyson Burkett, says they are all in mint condition and are in their original Mattel packaging. No word on whether the police are planning to search local shopping malls. Follow the trail of tiny shopping bags, fellas.
NOT SO HAPPY TRAILS
Last week the family of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans had to sell off a portion of the stars' estate to help pay an enormous estate tax bill. Rogers' heirs were forced to sell off the objects to keep their family museum afloat. They are looking to possibly move the museum from its present home in Victorville, California to someplace like Las Vegas, Nevada, where attendance is likely to be high and profitable. Their star attraction sis, of course, the stuffed remains of Roy's horse, Trigger.
Well, that's it for now, Accumulators. Artie and I are headed up to the country house to do some construction work and some shopping, too. Looks like this might be a great weekend for "saling". Hope it is for you. Happy hunting!
Best,
Judith
© 2001 Judith Katz-Schwartz. All rights reserved.
Antiques and Collectibles Newsletter #152
U.S. Library of Congress
ISSN 1520-4464
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