PopCult Rudy Panucci on Pop Culture

A Quick Look At The 2017 Marx Toy Convention

Last weekend saw Marx Toy collectors from around the world converge in Wheeling, West Virginia for the 19th annual Marx Toy convention at Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum. A wonderful time was had by all and today we’re just going to bring you a few photos of the fun. Later this week we’ll have our video coverage of this great show ready, but until then, here’s a mini-photo essay to hold you over.

At right you see the group photo, where a fraction of the folks in attendance gathered to have their picture taken on the steps up to the second floor of the museum. Friday was a bit of a rainy day, and the inside photos tend to attract a smaller crowd. Of note is that, directly in front of your PopCulteer is Dave Roth, a prominent collector who always seems to hook me up with rare figures for my Johnny West collection.  Trust me. I’m pointing him out for a reason.

Later in the week we’ll bring you photos and video from the Francis Turner collection sale at the former site of the Marx Toy Museum, but for now we’re staying in Kruger Street. Apologies for the small number of photos, but we’re still ironing out technical bugs here at PopCult, and we concentrated more on video this year.

Without any further ado, here’s the first taste of the 2017 Marx Toy Convention…

The reason we mentioned Dave Roth was that this is his creation, a Medicine Wagon we first saw at JoeLanta/ToyLanta in March. This quickly sold for $450, which was a bargain.
The reason we mentioned Dave Roth was that this is his creation, a Medicine Wagon we first saw at JoeLanta/ToyLanta in March. This quickly sold for $450, which was a bargain.
On the lfet you see our buddy, James Wozniak, who's responsible for bringing many freshly-made Marx toys into this country from Mexico. Check out his website.
On the left you see our buddy, James Wozniak, who’s responsible for bringing many freshly-made Marx toys into this country from Mexico. Check out his website.
Tom Heaton, author of the Marx Action Figure Encyclopedia and several subsequent modules with extra information unleashed his latest module, with a detailed look at the early Johnny West and related figures from 1965 to 1968. You can order your copy here.
Tom Heaton, author of the Marx Action Figure Encyclopedia and several subsequent modules with extra information unleashed his latest module, with a detailed look at the early Johnny West and related figures from 1965 to 1968. You can contact Tom to order your copy here.

A stray shot of Buck Maas' table with some of Terry Ryder's wares in the picture, too. Buck does amazing work, recasting entire bodies and also making new copies of the heads produced by the legendary Noah Coop. It was great to finally meet him in person this year. And it's always great to see Terry Ryder, too. She made out like a bandit at the Turner sale.
A stray shot of Buck Maas’ table with some of Terry Ryder’s wares in the picture, too. Buck does amazing work, recasting entire bodies and also making new copies of the heads produced by the legendary Noah Coop. It was great to finally meet him in person this year. And it’s always great to see Terry Ryder, too. She made out like a bandit at the Turner sale.
Tophe Rodhe and master customizer Andrew McGready, along with some of Andrew's wares. Later this year I will be picking Andrew's brain for advice as I jump back into customizing for a series of posts that you can read here in PopCult.
John Tarillion (left) and master customizer Andrew McGready (center), along with some of Andrew’s wares. Later this year I will be picking Andrew’s brain for advice as I jump back into customizing for a series of posts that you can read here in PopCult.
The crew from Big Bill's Custom Cowboys
The crew from Big Bill’s Custom Cowboys
A playset sale table that caught my eye.
A playset sale table that caught my eye.
Toph Rodhe and Mike Rodhe show off Mike's custom flocking work on Johnny West figures.
Toph Rodhe and Mike Rodhe show off Mike’s custom flocking work on Johnny West figures.
Another dealer. You'll see much more in the video.
Another dealer. You’ll see much more in the video.

That is all for today. Your PopCulteer is jumping right into work on a couple of videos from last weekend, and we’ll see how quickly I can get those edited uploaded and posted for your enjoyment.