THE TEXAS SHOW 2009

"Virginia Francis Webb Shahan, age 93, entered into rest June 23, 2009, at
her residence in Brackettville, Texas. She was born February 15, 1916 in
Del Rio, Texas. She was a long time pioneer rancher, along with husband "Happy" Shahan and their family."

BRACKETTVILLE, TEXAS "WAYNEAMO" ON THE LEFT * JUDGE ROY BEAN'S PLACE, LANGTRY, TEXAS

( WE LEARNED ON THIS TRIP THAT THE JOHN WAYNE ALAMO IS REFERRED TO BY THE LOCALS AS "THE WAYNEAMO"!? )

Gary Beadel

Dear Nick & Deanna,

I just read your “After the Battle” Show report and wrote to say how happy all of us at Kings X and King & Country are for the success of this great event!

Maximum effort gets maximum results. For the record, Kings X had their best-ever weekend during the show!!!

The Menger Hotel is a fantastic venue and I’m so pleased you are already booked in for next year.

Talking of which I hope to attend next year’s show in person.

In the meantime… on behalf of Laura, Helen, myself and the entire Kings X and K&C team in both S.A. and H.K.

Very Well Done!

Your old pal,

Andy Neilson

King & Country, HK

Nick and Deanna,

We had a wonderful time at the show as "first timers". We actually did more business than we have had in years past in Chicago or Indiana. You were right, people came to spend. As I told you, it was our son's birthday and also near the anniversary of their marriage which happened at the Menger June 2008, so we had lots to celebrate. We appreciate all you did to make the show a success. The room was beautiful and we had lots of room at our table which was REALLY NICE. Also, I believe we made life-long friends with the Thompsons. We definitely want to make this an annual event and will want at least one more table next year. If we could be by the Thompsons again, that would be great as well. I've attached a few pictures for you of us, the Thompsons and Jim and the Duke! Best regards and thanks again for all your hard work. Any frustrations you had were invisible to us and the public. It was certainly a successful show and much appreciated by us.

Sheri and Merrill Morris

Moline, IL

TEXAS SHOW REVIEW - 2009

The Texas Show on the last week of May was again a well-organized event that attracted plenty of dealers and buyers. Based on reports on the Yahoo Marx Group message board, sellers did a brisk business.

TSSD had their New Indians for sale (and hopes of a complete Custer set by OTSN), and Barzso was selling his New "Guns of the Alamo" Cannon Accessory Set and its blockhouse over-the-gate entrance to its Daniel Boone fort.

I was especially interested in seeing Cunnyngham Collectibles of Indiana (a new manufacturer which hopes to have its first "ACW-CSA" TSSD-compatible figures available by OTSN); the Historic Toy Soldier Shoppe of New Jersey (which had several vintage metal women figures suitable for wild west town scenes); and the Jericho Toy Soldier Studio (whose painting skills turn BMC teepees and other wild west accessories into things of beauty).

I appreciated the convenient location in the famous Menger Hotel, established in 1859. Besides providing a pleasant and historic place for the show, the Menger is super convenient to the Alamo and related sites, the Riverwalk, the downtown mall, movie theaters, and numerous great restaurants. Nearby hotels are accessible by Riverwalk boats. And the weather was mercifully much less humid than last year!

My only disappointment was that vintage Marx items were few and far between, as a couple of major dealers that attended last year had complications getting to the event this year. "The Marx-Man" from New York had his vehicle go down somewhere in Pennsylvania, and could not have made it by Saturday; he had Pre-Paid for 8 tables. Rick Eber of New York, who had attended the 2 previous shows, had a conflict of scheduling.

I can only guarantee you that they missed out on at least $200 of my money!

ERIC JOHNS

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Nick,

Thanks for mentioning me to Norm. Sent him an Email today. Both Pat & myself had a wonderful time at the toy show. First one I ever was on selling side. If all goes well, we will be at the next one. Want same spot, same setup. Will keep in touch.

Thanks again Al & Pat

CIBILO, TEXAS

THE MODEL WAS PURCHASED BY MUSICIAN PHIL COLLINS, AND IT IS ON DISPLAY AT "THE HISTORY SHOP" NEAR THE "NORTH WALL" AREA OF THE ALAMO

ED BORRIS, CHICAGO - AND DICK WOOD, TORONTO - ADMIRE THE "COLLECTORS SHOWCASE" EXHIBIT WITH OWNER BRIAN LEVY.

EARLY TEXAS ARTIFACTS DISPLAY FROM JIM BOWIE ( Mike Waters ), ROCKY AND JIM AT THE HISTORY SHOP.

MARTIN FROM KING'S X, LAURA McALLISTER JOHNSON FROM KING'S X / KING & COUNTRY, AND JOAN SMITH, KING'S X - DURING THE FRIDAY EVENING "LAUNCH" PARTY PRESENTED BY KING'S X.

FOR THE MOST PART - THESE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN BY DEANNA DURING DEALER SET-UP ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND SATURDAY MORNING

BILL FROM "BMC"; NICK - TSSD; THOMAS - MANUFACTURER, HONG KONG; DEANNA - TSSD; ANITA, THOMAS' WIFE

DEALER SET-UP WITH HELP FROM ED BORRIS "THE ROGUE'S GALLERY" ON THE RIVER WALK

HAROLD SCOTT ODDEN, ANITA & THOMAS LEUNG, RON & MARYANNE BARZSO, THOMAS VIDA, BEAU & STEPHANIE CUNNYNGHAM, BILL McMASTER, DICK WOOD, NICK & DEANNA

MARK OF "BUILD-A-RAMA" WITH "HELPERS" THE MORRIS & THOMPSON TABLES SAM HUCKLEBERRY

BRIAN LEVY OF COLLECTORS SHOWCASE, MANUFACTURER FROM AUSTIN, TX. WITH CARLOS CODINA, L.A.

ED GANNON & SON TRENTON, DEALERS FROM THE DALLAS AREA - ERIC JOHNS FROM SOCAL

MARYANNE BARZSO AL GILLEN, DEALER, CIBILO, TEXAS ROBERT NELSON, DEALER, TEXAS

DICK WOOD, TORONTO, CANADA WITH ED BORRIS, ILLINOIS - BY THE HOBBY BUNKER BOOTH

SANDY & MARK FROM BUILD-A-RAMA WITH RON B., THE YOUNGEST BUILD-A-RAMA HELPER, AND THE BUILD-A-RAMA BOOTH WITH "THE FAM"

BEAU & STEPHANIE OF "CUNNYNGHAM COLLECTIBLES" RON BARZSO'S "GUNS OF THE ALAMO"

DR. WINDERS IS THE HEAD CURATOR OF THE ALAMO, AND WE THANK HIM FOR HIS HELP WITH THE SHOW!

WE CANNOT THANK ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS ENOUGH FOR HELPING TO MAKE THIS SHOW THE BEST WE HAVE EVER HAD!

DEALERS, MANUFACTURERS, COLLECTORS & ATTENDEES, OUR HONG KONG BUSINESS PARTNERS BILL & THOMAS, ALL THE REENACTORS FROM THE ROMAN LEGION TO WWII GERMANS.

THOMAS VIDA, GREAT FRIEND, FOR FLYING IN FROM THE BAY AREA JUST TO HELP US WITH THE SHOW!

HECTOR SOLIS - AN AMAZING JOB FOR US, WITH THE ROOM SET-UP, TABLES, SOUND & LIGHT, AND MUCH MORE!

MARCIA - HOTEL MANAGER, DOREEN - FRONT OFFICE, HELEN, LIZ, MARK, JUSTIN, SO MANY - ALL WONDERFUL PEOPLE - FROM ADMIN TO SECURITY!

WHAT A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER AMERICA. VERY PROFESSIONAL IN THEIR CONDUCT, TABLE SET-UPs, AND EAGERNESS TO HELP ONE ANOTHER.

THANKS TO "THE DALLAS GROUP" OF GARY BEADEL, ED GANNON AND COMPTON CREEL FOR EVERYTHING!

SAME GOES FOR "THE ILLINOIS GROUP" INCLUDING MIKE KUTNICK, ED BORRIS AND THE MORRIS's!

HATS OFF TO BILL MURPHY OF HOBBY BUNKER, DRIVING FROM BOSTON TO TEXAS, BY HIMSELF, AND DOING THE SHOW!

EVERYONE SEEMED TO HAVE A GREAT TIME, GREAT SALES, AND I MOSTLY SAW BIG SMILES BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON. PUT ANOTHER WAY, ALL SAID THEY WOULD RETURN FOR THE 4th ANNUAL!

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ATTENDED AS COLLECTORS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND TEXAS. THANKS TO DICK WOOD FROM CANADA FOR MAKING IT 3 IN A ROW, AND BEING A GOOD FRIEND!

HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN VISITED THIS SHOW, AT LEAST DOUBLING OUR PREVIOUS ATTENDANCE.

AND LAST - BUT ACTUALLY FIRST FOR ALL HER HARD WORK, HELP AND UNDERSTANDING THIS WHOLE TOY SOLDIER GIG

EVERYTHING WENT SO WELL - THAT AFTER MY 12 HOURS OF SLEEP LAST NIGHT, I WILL BE MEETING WITH THE MENGER HOTEL TOMORROW TO PLAN ANOTHER SHOW DATE FOR NEXT YEAR.

WHILE WE GOT A GREAT ROOM RATE, THE DOWNTOWN HOTELS ARE VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE IF YOU USE HOTEL "VALET" PARKING.

( AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, MANY OF THE DOWNTOWN HOTELS CHARGE $ 25.00 A DAY FOR PARKING )

IF YOU PLAN TO STAY AT THE MENGER, AND HAVE A CAR, WE WILL SOON POST ADDITIONAL PARKING FACILITIES THAT ARE CLOSE BY AND LESS EXPENSIVE.

THIS WOULD INCLUDE THE RIVERCENTER MALL PARKING GARAGE WHICH IS ADJACENT TO THE HOTEL, "MACY's" PARKING LOT, AND DOZENS OF CITY PARKING LOTS RINGING THE HOTEL.

THERE IS A PARKING LOT JUST PAST THE MARRIOTT RESIDENCE INN, ACROSS FROM THE FIRE STATION

WE CANNOT PUT THE SHOW ON WITHOUT PAYING FOR THE VENUE, INSURANCE, TABLES, ADVERTISING AND SUCH.

WILL BE ATTENDING THE SHOW, TALKING LIVING HISTORY, AND DISPLAYING ARTIFACTS FROM "MIGRATING TO TEXAS".

GUNS, KNIVES, PACKS, CANTEENS - EVERYTHING THE EARLY TEXANS CARRIED AS THEY MOVED TO THE NEW TERRITORY.

BUILD-A-RAMA ( Arizona ) PAINTED ACCESSORIES, BRUNTONS' BARRACKS ( Arizona )OLD & NEW METAL, TSSD ( San Diego ) NEW PLASTIC, BARZSO PLAYSETS INC ( Chicago )PLAYSETS, FIGURES & ACCESSORIES, KINGS X / KING & COUNTRY ( San Antonio / Hong Kong ) PAINTED METAL, ARNOLD ROLAK ( Houston ) OLD & NEW METAL, FORESTERS MINIATURES ( Las Vegas ) ITEMS FROM "THE NEW MARX" CO., GARY BEADEL COLLECTIBLES ( Dallas ) YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT GARY WILL SHOW UP WITH!!, COLLECTOR'S SHOWCASE ( Austin ) NEW METAL, ED GANNON'S COLLECTIBLES ( Dallas ) DIORAMA PIECES, HELMETS, MORE!, BMC TOYS ( New Jersey ) NEW PLASTIC, HOBBY BUNKER ( Boston ) "THE BUNKER" HAS IT ALL, MINI-DESIGNS ( Kentucky - vintage flats, rounds ), NORMAN JOPLIN - Author of Many Toy Soldier Books, Show Producer for the London Show, etc, MICHAEL KUTNICK CONVERSIONS & ED BORRIS, ( IL. ) PAINTED FIGURES & COLLECTIBLES PLUS "PLASTIC UNDERGROUND" FIGURES, ETC., RICK EBER ( New York ) Excellent Marx Collectibles, COMPTON CREEL ( Dallas ) Master Painter, JOHN REYNOLDS ( San Antonio ) and RUSS GANTOS ( Houston ) Vintage Playsets and Militaria, JONES COLLECTIBLES ( Boerne, Tx ) - MARX & VINTAGE PLASTIC, SHERI & MERRILL MORRIS ( Moline, IL ) - 29 Year Veterans of The Chicago Show! Selling Britains and Metal, "NEW PLASTIC FIGURE MANUFACTURER / DEALER" will have "Test Shots" of upcoming New Set!, AL GILLEN ( Cibilo, Tx ) COLLECTIBLE METAL FIGURES, DANIEL PENA ( Corpus Christi ) will have Old Military Books, Osprey Books, Prints, Uniforms, etc., THE MARXMAN ( New York ) They pretty much carry everything....., BRIAN SEALY ( Corpus Christi ) Old Britains, military magazines and misc...., "BLACKCAT MINIATURES" - HAROLD SCOTT ODDEN ( Oregon ) Manufacturer of Napoleonic Russian Infantry in Plastic & metal plus Metal French Line, Artillery, Command, etc., THOMAS VIDA ( Walnut Creek, CA ) SHOW STAFF MEMBER & VINTAGE MARX DEALER........TOY SOLDIERS OF TEXAS - ( ROBERT NELSON, TEXAS ) VINTAGE METAL & PLASTIC......"THE HISTORY SHOP" WITH "JIM BOWIE" ( San Antonio ) - Mike Waters, who portrays "Jim Bowie" at Official Alamo Ceremonies, will be present at the Show and have on display many Historical Artifacts from early Texas History......"THE HISTORY SHOP" now houses the Mark Lemon Alamo Model used in his Alamo Book Release last year....this model was purchased by Musician Phil Collins, but it remains at The History Shop, located on The Alamo North Wall area.

THEY WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME ALL VISITORS TO THE SHOW, AND THEY HAVE EXTENDED AN INVITATION TO ALL TO VISIT THEIR OUTSTANDING MUSEUM IN WACO.

WE WILL HAVE THEIR BROCHURES AT THE SHOW, AND YOU CAN ALSO VISIT THEM ONLINE AT:

TODAY, HUNDREDS OF FLYERS HAVE GONE OUT TO ABOUT 30 MILITARY MUSEUMS AND FORTS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS. PLUS SOME COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY HISTORY DEPARTMENTS, BOOKSTORES AND EVEN THE ALAMO EVENT COORDINATOR.

FLYERS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AT THE "INDY" SHOW ALL WEEKEND, BY SEVERAL DIFFERENT VENDORS AND COLLECTORS.

HAVE BEEN SENT - TO 16 WEEKLY / MONTHLY MAGAZINES AND PAPERS THAT CATER TO DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO, THE RIVER WALK AND THE LOCAL TOWNS & MILITARY. THE "WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND" PEOPLE.

THE HOBBY SHOPS IN ALL MAJOR TEXAS CITIES WILL RECEIVE SHOW FLYERS. FOLLOW-UP WITH THE MILITARY BASES & MUSEUMS.

PRESS RELEASES WILL BE FAXED TO THE LOCAL MEDIA AND TV STATIONS. FOX NEWS HAS COME OUT THE LAST TWO YEARS.

THIS IS ALL IN ADDITION TO THE MARKETING AND FLYERS THAT STARTED LAST SEPTEMBER IN CHICAGO, AND HAS BEEN ONGOING THROUGH THE WEST COASTER SHOW THIS PAST MARCH.

OUR MAGAZINE AD WILL SOON BE APPEARING FOR THE 3rd TIME IN "PLAYSET MAGAZINE", AND IS ALSO FEATURED IN THIS MONTH'S "TOY SOLDIER & MODEL FIGURE" MAGAZINE. AND IT HAS APPEARED IN "THE OLD TOY SOLDIER NEWSLETTER" AND "THE ALAMO SOCIETY" NEWSLETTER.

WE ARE ALSO REGISTERED ON THE FORT HOOD, TEXAS CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR MAY. FORT HOOD IS HOME TO 45,000 TROOPS, INCLUDING MY FRIENDS AT THE 1st CAVALRY DIVISION:

THE SHOW HAS BEEN LISTED ON THE INTERNET EVENT CALENDAR WITH THE SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS IN THE "MY SAN ANTONIO" WEEKEND EVENTS SECTION.

THE SHOW INFO SENT TO "THE WEEKENDER" SECTION OF THE SAN ANTONIO NEWSPAPER - THE EXPRESS-NEWS.

THE EVENT HAS BEEN LISTED ON THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S NEWSPAPER CALENDAR - THE AUSTIN-AMERICAN STATESMAN.

THE EVENT HAS BEEN LISTED ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON'S NEWSPAPER CALENDAR - THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE.

THE EVENT HAS BEEN LISTED IN THE DALLAS NEWSPAPER CALENDAR - THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS.

SENT FLYERS TO 30 ADDITIONAL MUSEUMS LOCATED DIRECTLY IN SAN ANTONIO, PLUS ALL THE MISSIONS, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE VISITORS CENTER, THE CONVENTION CENTER, THE 1st CAVALRY DIVISION MUSEUM, THE 1st CAVALRY DIVISION ASSOCIATION ( both in Texas ), AND EVEN THE RIVER WALK BARGE TOUR PEOPLE.

STILL TO COME WILL BE THE PRESS RELEASES TO THE TV STATIONS ( TWICE ), SOME OF THE HOTEL CONCIERGE SERVICES, AND MAYBE EVEN SOME R.O.T.C. GUYS.....

PRESS RELEASES FOR THE MAJOR TV NETWORKS IN SAN ANTONIO HAVE BEEN SENT THE SHOW INFO. FOX NEWS IN SAN ANTONIO HAS COVERED THE SHOW THE PAST TWO YEARS.

SHANNON REUSS, OWNER, "TREE FROG TREASURES" TOY SOLDIERS, HAS VERY KINDLY AND GENEROUSLY AGREED TO "PLUG" THE SHOW IN HER FORTHCOMING NEWSLETTER!

THE "RIO" MAGAZINE - THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE "PASEO DEL RIO" RIVER WALK ASSOCIATION HAS LISTED THE EVENT IN THE MAGAZINE.

LETTERS AND FLYERS TO THE SAN ANTONIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY, THE KING WILLIAM HISTORIC DISTRICT AND THE DAUGHTERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS.

PRESS RELEASE TO FOX NEWS AND PRIME TIME NEWPAPERS ( all Local neighborhood papers )

FLYERS TO DOWNTOWN HOTEL CONCIERAGE SERVICES, AND TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

LOCATED JUST NORTH OF THE ALAMO, I BELIEVE THE LOCATION OF THIS BUILDING MAY HAVE ORIGINALLY BEEN ON ALAMO COMPOUND GROUND.

IT NOW HOUSES THE MARK LEMON ALAMO MODEL THAT WAS USED IN HIS TERRIFIC NEW BOOK LAST YEAR.

THE MODEL OF THE ALAMO WAS PURCHASED BY MUSICIAN PHIL COLLINS, AND IT IS CURRENTLY ON DISPLAY - WITH A SOUND & LIGHT SHOW - AT "THE HISTORY SHOP".

THIS IS PART OF A SCHEDULED TOUR THAT INCLUDES THE EXCAVATION AROUND THE SHOP AREA, AND ARTICLES THAT WERE FOUND.

THE STORE ALSO HAS PERIOD BOOKS, MAPS AND OTHER ITEMS OF HISTORICAL INTEREST; SOME FOR SALE.

CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE AND CONTACT THEM DIRECT TO ARRANGE FOR YOUR TOUR DURING YOUR STAY IN SAN ANTONIO.

FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS, NICK & DeANNA SPONSORED AND PAID FOR A NICE "ICE BREAKER" DEALER PARTY AT "MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN" ALONG THE RIVER WALK BY THE HYATT. LAST YEAR'S BEVERAGES WERE COURTESY OF "KING'S X / KING & COUNTRY".

WITH THE SIZE OF THIS YEARS SHOW, AND PROBABLY 80+ "DEALER PERSONNEL" AND INVITED GUESTS, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THE TICKET. DON'T FORGET, WE SELL "PLASTIC" NOT "METAL"!!

SO, WHAT WE ARE "SUGGESTING" THIS YEAR TO ANY INTERESTED PERSONS, IS THAT WE ALL MEET FRIDAY EVENING AT THE MENGER'S "ROUGH RIDER BAR" DOWNSTAIRS, FOR WHATEVER DRINKS AND FOOD YOU MAY WANT TO PURCHASE.

THE BAR HAS A LOT OF HISTORY - THIS IS WHERE "TEDDY" STARTED UP "THE ROUGH RIDERS" DURING THE SPANISH - AMERICAN WAR.

EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT "MEMORIAL WEEKEND", THE DOWNTOWN AREA WILL STILL BE PACKED!

WE SUGGEST THAT YOU MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR DINNER WELL IN ADVANCE TO AVOID LONG LINES.

THERE ARE MANY EXCELLENT RESTAURANTS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, AND IF YOU HAVE A CAR, EVEN MORE SELECTIONS ARE NEARBY.

Title:	THE 3rd ANNUAL TOY SOLDIER SHOW - HISTORICAL MINIATURES
Start Date & Time:	Sat., May. 30, 09:30
Location:	THE HISTORIC MENGER HOTEL, DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO
Summary:	FORMER 1st CAV MEMBER INVITES YOU TO: THE 3rd ANNUAL TEXAS TOY SOLDIER SHOW - ALL MILITARY ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND. THE DATES ARE SATURDAY MAY 30 FROM 9:30am UNTIL 3:30pm; AND SUNDAY MAY 31 FROM 10:00am UNTIL 2:00pm. ONLY $ 5.00 PER FAMILY ADMISSION. CHILDREN, WIVES, GIRLFRIENDS ARE FREE. FREE BAGS OF TOY SOLDIERS FOR THE KIDS; GET THERE EARLY! THE HISTORIC MENGER HOTEL 204 ALAMO PLAZA SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78205 NEXT DOOR TO THE ALAMO, RIVER WALK AND RIVER CENTER MALL.
More Info:
Submitted by:	NICK VERSTEEG
Organization:	TOY SOLDIERS OF SAN DIEGO
Phone:	760-723-6583
Email:	tssd@sdsoldiers.com
Associated Website:	www.sdsoldiers.com