I met James in 1998 I was at USC and as a young man I got a table at his Burbank show and sold my first few soft goods customs. Through his generosity and network met lots of great vendors and friends. He is a generous man had a lovely wife 🙏🏾he raised awesome kids too. James had at one point a legit Batmobile from 1966 in his garage and in his attic he had a full 12” battle diorama. He would invite all the vendors over after the shows for BBQ as well. One day I kid you not he had a Flagg set up w 100s of shipwrecks cutters etc. and like 5 night boomers complete. He said “$50 it’s yours” I couldn’t buy at the time but I totally kicked myself afterwards for not doing it. He’s a fountain of information on Joes he even gave me a mash Dio set, a bunch of clothed Bible figures w cassette tapes. Dudes the real deal 🪖
Thanks for the interview. He was the main guru in the hobby when I started collecting as a teenager in the 90s. I'm glad to see someone recognizing that.
I’ve always been a GI Joe fan since I was very little but I have to say in my 40s the community and especially at these shows and conventions the dealers and everyone in general are so welcoming and friendly. It’s impossible to walk out of one of these events with no new friends. I’m so glad my favorite toy line has grown into what it is. Thanks HCC for being such an important part of that for me.
This show started AFTER I lived in Kentucky. Always felt like they were just waiting for me to leave LOL. Nice to see how the show is coming along. I certainly see a few familiar faces walking around.
James DeSimone is a pillar of the GI Joe community! If you didn't know him or Encompass him back in the day in one form or another then you weren't an OG! He's what brought together all of my GI Joe fans in my area! I used to go to his shows in Queens New York to the day he just stopped having them. He was flying in from California every single time just for the day I'll never forget that! He is most definitely one of the Godfathers of GI Joe!!
Enjoyed meeting HCC great seeing him and an excellent Con for us Joe Fans in Kentucky. I came away with a Gi Joe Falcon Glider! You never know what’s around the next corner!
Thanks for sharing HCC, for me when I first started going to toy fairs here in Australia in middle 90s the show were full vintage toys from 70s and back. However the joe community back the guys who collected joe 1:6 Scale would look down unpon you If you ask about ARAH stuff. The plus side was that you could pick up ARAH stuff extremely cheap because they never saw it as something collective. But now days if you can find ARAH joe stuff it’s reflects the prices of today and some of those 1:6 Scale joe collectors who look down on us have changed there view in the line. It’s interesting how times has changed but lived video HCC just wished we get convention like that here
I use to talk to James all the time back in the day regarding joe's and always loved his piss & vinegar New York attitude while we would talk joe, this footage right here on UA-cam is a very mellow humble James and I am glad to see him again. I will always remember what he told me about the toy Gijoe and collecting and I quote: Gijoe was meant to be played with and boxes were meant to roll down hills with.
NO WAY !!! Dammit , I was born and raised in Lexington KY now residing in Mt. Vernon right outside Berea and if I had known I would have tried to get there ! Not sure how far Shepherdsville is from me though . EDIT: Looked it up and it was 2 hours away . Man , I wish I knew about it !!!
Come visit Ottawa. You'd love the War Museum. The main floor is littered with tanks. First time I visited, I was like Po from Kung Fu Panda. Also, they got Hitler's limousine. No joke, it's his actual Mercedes stretch convertible. You can almost feel the evil radiating off of it. I'm really enjoying the channel, man. Stay strong. S #NationalFilmBoardofChinada
Hi. I’ve seen a few Ripper and Torch figures over the years that had green waists. Do you know if they were made in green or if the blue fades over time? Thanks!
Wish I would’ve went, I went to the summer show last year. Great interview with an amazing collector. I hope to get him on my livestream.
He doesn’t pull punches.
I met James in 1998 I was at USC and as a young man I got a table at his Burbank show and sold my first few soft goods customs. Through his generosity and network met lots of great vendors and friends. He is a generous man had a lovely wife 🙏🏾he raised awesome kids too. James had at one point a legit Batmobile from 1966 in his garage and in his attic he had a full 12” battle diorama. He would invite all the vendors over after the shows for BBQ as well. One day I kid you not he had a Flagg set up w 100s of shipwrecks cutters etc. and like 5 night boomers complete. He said “$50 it’s yours” I couldn’t buy at the time but I totally kicked myself afterwards for not doing it. He’s a fountain of information on Joes he even gave me a mash Dio set, a bunch of clothed Bible figures w cassette tapes. Dudes the real deal 🪖
Someday I will go to
Thanks for the interview. He was the main guru in the hobby when I started collecting as a teenager in the 90s. I'm glad to see someone recognizing that.
BEST ADVICE EVER!
I’ve always been a GI Joe fan since I was very little but I have to say in my 40s the community and especially at these shows and conventions the dealers and everyone in general are so welcoming and friendly. It’s impossible to walk out of one of these events with no new friends. I’m so glad my favorite toy line has grown into what it is. Thanks HCC for being such an important part of that for me.
That's really super
This show started AFTER I lived in Kentucky. Always felt like they were just waiting for me to leave LOL.
Nice to see how the show is coming along. I certainly see a few familiar faces walking around.
Cool. I continue to be impressed by Hoodie’s ability, to walk, film, and play the piano at the same time.
James DeSimone is a pillar of the GI Joe community! If you didn't know him or Encompass him back in the day in one form or another then you weren't an OG! He's what brought together all of my GI Joe fans in my area! I used to go to his shows in Queens New York to the day he just stopped having them. He was flying in from California every single time just for the day I'll never forget that! He is most definitely one of the Godfathers of GI Joe!!
Enjoyed meeting HCC great seeing him and an excellent Con for us Joe Fans in Kentucky. I came away with a Gi Joe Falcon Glider! You never know what’s around the next corner!
His collector's guide is a great tool for finding and identifying weapons and accessories.
The one year I don’t go and HCC788 was there!
Yeah I couldn’t go to a place like that……there is way too much stuff there that I want…….it’s pure torture!
Thanks for sharing HCC, for me when I first started going to toy fairs here in Australia in middle 90s the show were full vintage toys from 70s and back.
However the joe community back the guys who collected joe 1:6 Scale would look down unpon you If you ask about ARAH stuff. The plus side was that you could pick up ARAH stuff extremely cheap because they never saw it as something collective.
But now days if you can find ARAH joe stuff it’s reflects the prices of today and some of those 1:6 Scale joe collectors who look down on us have changed there view in the line. It’s interesting how times has changed but lived video HCC just wished we get convention like that here
Thanks for posting. Looks like a fun show. Lots of great stuff but didn't seem too crowded.
Que geniaaal!!!🎉❤🎉
Looks like a good time man. Hope you enjoyed it.
Wish i could have went. Would have loved to shake your hand and say hi!
Lovely video.
cool video. lot of stuff.
I missed James' shows. he had a few in the NorthEast, but closed up shop in the mid-2000's
I love the fact that I have the "old man hand gestures". I feel that is a badge of courage that is well earned and deserved!!!
If you're going to buy something only buy vintage
😎👍
Nice. I went there too
I use to talk to James all the time back in the day regarding joe's and always loved his piss & vinegar New York attitude while we would talk joe, this footage right here on UA-cam is a very mellow humble James and I am glad to see him again. I will always remember what he told me about the toy Gijoe and collecting and I quote: Gijoe was meant to be played with and boxes were meant to roll down hills with.
Very cool. Thanks for the tour, HCC
I've never seen so many gray beards in one video.
NO WAY !!! Dammit , I was born and raised in Lexington KY now residing in Mt. Vernon right outside Berea and if I had known I would have tried to get there ! Not sure how far Shepherdsville is from me though . EDIT: Looked it up and it was 2 hours away . Man , I wish I knew about it !!!
Come visit Ottawa. You'd love the War Museum. The main floor is littered with tanks. First time I visited, I was like Po from Kung Fu Panda.
Also, they got Hitler's limousine. No joke, it's his actual Mercedes stretch convertible. You can almost feel the evil radiating off of it.
I'm really enjoying the channel, man.
Stay strong.
S
#NationalFilmBoardofChinada
He said KY
Love that Funskool Police "VAMP", how much did you get that for if you don't mind me asking?
Hi. I’ve seen a few Ripper and Torch figures over the years that had green waists. Do you know if they were made in green or if the blue fades over time? Thanks!
Who's the artist booth right at 8:00 minutes in the video? Would like to find them and get a couple of their drawings he had.
Is he still married
the hasbro he is talking about is gone,they are all in their 70s or 80s by now nobody actually knows or care about gi joe in hasbro today.