An interesting brush with Lucas Film

In 2005 Buddy Finethy and I started the Great Atlanta Toy Show to fill the void of a general Toy show in this market. Our second show was to be a Sci Fi themed extravaganza that coincided with the latest Star Wars saga "Revenge of the Sith". The show included close to 100 tables of Star Wars, Star Trek and Sci Fi toys, costumed members of the 501st clad in Stormtroopers outfits as well as a very convincing Darth Vader aka "Vader Painter" with Lego as a sponsor and members of a local improv group Dad's Garage http://www.dadsgarage.com/

doing a Star Wars themed skit - the whole show was a lot of fun.

An added bonus was that Methane studios http://www.methanestudios.com/posters01.html

(responsible for plenty of great concert posters) did our show poster with a light saber wielding Darth Vader having just decapitated some iconic toys (a bearded GI Joe Adventurer, Big Boy and a Troll). Limited to only 100 signed posters, members of the studio team sold this and many other creations at the show. We were fortunate to have been given a handful for future use.

Later that year while promoting JOKESTER & THWAK magazine, The Great Atlanta Toy Show and JOElanta http://www.joelanta.org/

at Dragon Con we were selling a variety of old show posters including this one. Some months later a mutual friend happened to be at a lecture held by Steve Sansweet (Director of Content Management and Fan Relations at Lucas Film) where he was discussing the many uses of copyrighted images and how he often alerts the Lucas Film lawyers about some of these items. In the same sentence he mentioned how every now and then he'd come across a very cool use of a character and how he just purchased a Toy show poster at Dragon Con! http://www.dragoncon.org/

Imagine our surprise that we had sold him that poster. Glad they decided not to sue us - Thanks Steve ! : )

JOElanta 2009 show MAY 17th

We are getting very excited about the 9th annual JOElanta GI JOE , Action figure and General Toy Show that is rapidly approaching. The buzz is out check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCmZpkBeO7o on utube as well as go directly to www.joelanta.com to find out more info about the show.

Also check out a look back at JOElanta http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYHVPtM6S4w&feature=related

and Jack Wash's Film Festival winner "Plastic Chef" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydwM1HtyOWQ

Saturday night is gonna be great for all those with Commander's packages as there'll be a ton going on. We'll kick things off with registration at 3pm in the lobby of the MARRIOTT Century Center at 2000 Century Center Blvd NE, Atlanta Ga 30345, next we'll have a "Meet and Greet" followed by Trivia. Next is our world famous JOElanta Film Festival, a couple of presentations and then a Dealers preview room!!!! Stay up late to room trade and watch the parachute drop!

Sunday we'll kick the show off at 9am for Commanders and all others at 10am. Remember this is a Family friendly show- 1st 100 kids get a free toy, any Scouts or anyone in uniform will get in for free. Check out the 501st STAR WARS Storm Troopers in full gear! Our Diorama experts Steve Bugg and Mike Gardner will be on hand to unveil their latest creation - a tribute to "War of The Worlds" with a 16" robot! Here's last year's Diorama "Killer Mine at Bloody Canyon" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPHpWbx9Eek The show will have 120 tables packed with all types of toys, the Iron Joe competition (where teams will compete to build a Diorama within one hr), custom figure and vehicle contest hosted by "Tanker", tons of door prizes and fun for everyone.

We are very excited to be working towards our goal of opening "The Cody Lane Toy & Diorama Museum" right here in Atlanta.

Hope to see you all at this years show. Doors open at 10 am Sunday 17th! Bring the family, dig up your old toys and bring them to be appraised by our experts.

'

Jedi Jam

This picture was taken at The GREAT ATLANTA TOY SHOW in 2005. Even though we had been doing JOElanta GI Joe & Action Figure show for 5 years at the time it was our 2nd regular toy show. Our 1st being in Jan of that year with an Antiques Roadshow type theme patrons were encouraged to bring in their old toys and have them appraised by experts in different fields. It was a huge success and everyone had a great time.

The Jedi Jam was a STAR WARS themed show with tons of sci fi related toys as well as Storm Troopers from the 501st in attendance and of course Vader Painter, here seen about to crush a poor lowly toy show promoter. HaHha!

Incidentally we are gearing up for the 9th Annual JOElanta taking place the 16th & 17th of MAY at the Marriot off of I-85 (2000 Century Center Blvd Ne, Atlanta, Ga 30345). There'll be 120 tables packed full of all types of toys and action figures as well as comics and magazines. Check out http://www.joelanta.com/ for more info.