Chicago Show Celebrities... (3 Viewers)

[mikemiller1955]

I made my first Chicago Show this year...

and yes...

it's is as big as all these guys claim it is...

I have attended the West Coaster...
Hackensack...
the Black Hawk Dallas Show...
and of course the Kings X Texas Toy Soldier Show as it is close to my home...

I have been on this forum for 8 years now and would like to do a different theme thread about the show and the hobby...

I have made a lot of friends on the Treefrog forum and also through purchasing from dealer's shops and Ebay...

having spoken to them for years but never knowing what they looked like...

I got the chance to meet a lot of them this week and am going to post pictures of them...

I thought maybe some of the forum members might like to see what the manufacturers...
dealers...
fellow collectors...
and Treefroggers look like...

so here are a few pics...

I'm gonna start with "The King"...

Andy Neilson...co-owner with Laura of King and Country...

Andy's picture has been on this forum many times before...

but here is...

in his natural habitat with a beer in his hand...^&grin...^&grin...^&grin

his room and hallway displays were awesome as ever and I will post displays on another thread...

Andy is always engaging and extremely passionate about promoting this hobby...

 

[mikemiller1955]

this is Chris Munroe (spelling?) with Andy...

he's been around for more than quite a while and is extremely talented...

if you're a collector...

chances are you have something he sculpted...painted or built on your shelf...

Andy and Chris are doing something very special next week...

a huge project...

but I will let Andy tell you about it instead of spoiling his surprise...

 

[mikemiller1955]

another King...

Brad...(Jazzeum)...

had the pleasure to meet Brad...
who everyone knows on the Forum...
he is closing in fast on 1 million posts...
always helpful in researching and identifying figures for fellow collectors...
he seemed to have purchases in his hands every time I saw him...

Konrad...(Kogu)...

whom I sincerely enjoyed meeting...
my Greman translator...^&grin...^&grin...^&grin...
he has done me some huge favors in the past in translating lost packages in Germany...
he was a total pleasure to drink with...

Pat Wade...(Wadepat)...

what a nice guy...
extremely friendly and engaging...
I hung out with him a lot in the drinking/smoking area...

Pat is a moderator on the forum...

my impression of his posts when he has to tone us down a bit...

"My dear gentle friends"...............................^&grin...^&grin...^&grin....

ooops...picture follows I forgot to attach it....

 

[mikemiller1955]

Korad...Pat...Brad...

 

[mikemiller1955]

Richard Walker...

and daughter...


formerly of William Britain...

the new owner of Del Prado...

the absolute perfect guy for the job...

this man has been a staple of the industry for years and has plans of taking Del Prado to new levels...

 

[mikemiller1955]

Larry and Wendy Simons...

my good friends that own and operate March Through Times...

Larry has helped my from the beginning and is great to work with...

he visits a lot of the Civil War re-enactment venues and also has his own line of Civil War figures that are quite nice...

 

[mikemiller1955]

Mike and Myszka...

owners and operators of Sierra Toy Soldiers in Los Gatos California...

every show I go to...
they seem to be there working hard...

 

[mikemiller1955]

John owner and operator of Marxman out of New York...

everybody knows and loves this guy...

he's a riot...

always smiling and joking...

I don't think anyone does as many shows as him...

ooops...sorry...forgot to upload pic again...

 

[mikemiller1955]

John from Marxman...

 

[mestell]

Looks like you had a great time Mike . . . . . I am so disappointed that I couldn't make it as planned.
Mike

 

[mikemiller1955]

Brian Deitz...(Deitz on the forum)...

from Chicago...

I first met Brian in San Antonio...

so he will travel to get his fix...^&grin...

very personable...funny and friendly...

I apologize for not remembering the names of everyone else...

 

[mikemiller1955]

if Andy is "The King"...

and Laura is "The Queen"...

then Amber is the Princess...(Kings X Tot Soldiers on the forum)...

Amber Maria Conchita Alonso De La Suerta Garcia...^&grin...^&grin...^&grin...

it's really just Amber Garcia...

I throw in all the extra names when I talk to her just to rib her...

this is the sweetest girl ever...

Amber is the manager of K&C's Kings X in San Antonio...

always smiling...
always friendly...
one of the reasons I like to go Kings X...
a real asset to the company...

 

[mikemiller1955]

Ken and Erica Osen...

Ken and Erica are huge names in the toy world industry...

they are founders and operators of Hudson & Allen Studio...

some of the best production scenics in the business and Ken is notorious for his research in reproduction accuracy on his projects...

Ken is currently the general manager and creative director of William Britain...

while Erica has taken over Hudson & Allen Studios...

I bought a nice building in Chicago from them the other day and absolutely love it...

Erica also produces what I consider the best grass mat in the industry...

I own 3 of them...^&grin...for real...

 

[mikemiller1955]

Looks like you had a great time Mike . . . . . I am so disappointed that I couldn't make it as planned.
Mike

Mike...

we have been phone friends for years and share a lot of the same passions...

not just collectibles...

but cooking...^&grin...

you always have something good in the oven...

really was looking forward to meeting you...

but maybe another time...

I hope...

and yea...

the show was really fun...

 

[wwiibuff]

Thanks for posting this Mike. I'm sure a lot of people will appreciate your photos.

Although I have met a few of people you've shown here, it's nice to put a "face with a name" for the ones I haven't met. I wish I could have made it to Chicago, but there's always next year I guess. I hope I might see you again in San Antone next year.

 

[mikemiller1955]

Thanks for posting this Mike. I'm sure a lot of people will appreciate your photos.

Although I have met a few of people you've shown here, it's nice to put a "face with a name" for the ones I haven't met. I wish I could have made it to Chicago, but there's always next year I guess. I hope I might see you again in San Antone next year.

definitely!!!

yea Duke...

missed you in San Antonio last year...

I know it's a big drive for you and hope I do see you next year...

it's a great family destination besides the show...

 

[mikemiller1955]

Mr. Tom Dubel...(tdubel on the forum)...

this guy probably owns or has sold every figure ever made...^&grin...

his basement is probably as stocked as some shows...

Toms a staple at the shows...

I first met him at the West Coaster...

he's always helpful on the forum identifying obscure figures and is a big Steeler's fan...

Tom...bad news on Big Ben...I feel your pain...my Cowboys have been decimated with injuries...

I saw the Rams pyro technics crew tried to set him on fire in the pre game antics before they finally got his left knee...

 

[bradleyl30]

I really appreciate this thread. Thanks for doing it!

 

[GICOP]

Great idea for a thread Michael :salute::

All the best

Martyn

 

[jazzeum]

Konrad...Pat...Brad...

I've been outed! {eek3}

Great seeing Mike again (we met years ago at Hackensack).