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Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Our Mold-A-Rama Collection

Check out our new video.   Anna goes through our Mold-A-Rama collection.


The Carpetbagger

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Monday, January 19, 2015

The Henry Ford, America's Greatest Attraction

"The Henry Ford, America's Greatest Attraction".  That's the actual official name of this museum in Dearborn, MI.  This museum was founded by automotive pioneer and notorious anti-semite Henry Ford, and was initially his personal collection.  While I may not be a fan of Henry Ford the person, there is no denying that Henry Ford the museum is an amazing collection.  Take a look at me and Anna's trip through this remarkable attraction in the video at the bottom of the page.

There is an amazing collection of vehicles including this sweet Weinermobile.....


Another star attraction is the car that Kennedy was assassinated in.....


If it looks a little different then you remember, its because they built a bulletproof top on it.  While its obvious why this was done, what is shocking is that they continued using this vehicle after Kennedy was murdered.  Apparently, the assassination of a US president wasn't enough reason to stop using a perfectly good car, that doubles as a piece of evidence is the greatest unsolved murder case of all time.  Someone hosed it down and they used it until Nixon. 

They have other presidential cars as well, including Eisenhower's.  


This is special for me, because in my collection of vintage 35 MM slides I actually found a picture of this car with Eisenhower in it....


Of course possibly the most amazing vehicle is the bus that Rosa Parks was arrested in.....


You can actually go inside and sit in her seat.  Impressive how such an amazing piece of the Civil Rights battle is in a museum named after a notorious racist.  Heck, the National Civil Rights museum has to use a replica of the bus.  That being said, the Henry Ford does have an expansive section dedicated to Civil Rights.


Other noteworthy items include a death mask of Nicola Tesla.....


And the last breath of Thomas Edison, saved in a test tube......


Oh yeah, and this museum easily has the best collection of Mold-A-Ramas I have ever seen......


Which me and Anna were thrilled to add to our collection.....




The Carpetbagger

I love hearing from people please comment below.  Also, feel free to email me at jacobthecarpetbagger@gmail.com

Make sure you add me on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my Youtube Page where I regularly post videos. 

And I can't forget my Flickr Photostream, where all this got started.

Friday, January 16, 2015

The Lorraine Motel and the Vigil of Jacqueline Smith

It's Martin Luther King Jr. weekend in the United States.  What can I say about this man that hasn't been said already.  He is one of the greatest Heroes in all of the South as well as all of America.   I can't watch a speech of his without getting a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. While visiting Memphis, TN I knew that I had to visit the Lorraine Motel, where Doctor King was tragically shot dead.


The Lorraine Motel was an important landmark even before the tragic events the befell Dr. King.  In the segregated South it was one of the only upscale Motels in Memphis that catered to Black clientele.  

On April 4th, 1968 Dr. King was shot in the neck while standing in front of room 306.  The Lorraine Motel continued operation, but room 306 was left vacant ever since.  I wreath hangs in front of the room, marking the spot of Dr. King's death.


In 1988 the Lorraine Motel was closed down in order to convert it into the National Civil Rights Museum.   The last resident was one Jacqueline Smith, a housekeeper and long time resident, who barricaded herself in her room and had to be removed by law enforcement.  Despite being dragged from her room.  Jacqueline never really left.  Instead she set up camp on a street corner opposite the Museum, where she has sat for nearly 27 years.


Every day since she was evicted from the Motel she has help vigil for 21 hours a day calling for a boycott of the Civil Rights Museum.  She leaves only to find food and go to the bathroom.  All her possessions that are kept under a blue tarp.


Jacqueline believes that the facility should be used for helping the poor and needy, rather than a celebration of Dr. King's death.  She also believes that this traditionally black neighborhood has been gentrified to the point that it has driven away all the blacks and poor people and become a rich white neighborhood.

While I was there I was fascinated with Miss Smith and attempted to shoot video of myself talking to her.  She did not want to be video taped, which I found a little strange for someone who is trying to get their message out.  I was interested in talking to her about her beliefs, but honestly she acted very tired.  She handed me a xeroxed article on herself and often referred me to the handout when I asked her questions.  Honestly, I guess sitting in the same spot talking about the same thing for 27 years can make one weary, but I guess I just figured she would have a little more fire inside, given her unwavering dedication.  Honestly, she didn't see them enthusiastic about talking about herself.  She talked with me about the weather and even asked me if I had visited Graceland yet.  I asked her if she was ever harassed by the museum or authorities, which for some reason she was evasive about, simply stating "I'm still here."  I thanked her for her time and wished her luck.  Regardless of what her message is, I can appreciate this level of dedication.  As I walked away I noticed a Memphis Police Car hovering around her.


I do think that regardless of the incarnation that this site should be preserved in honor of Dr. King.  At the same time, celebrating Dr. King's life is indeed more important then focusing on his death.  Dr. King's talk of equality and justice should never be forgotten.

So let's wrap up this discussion Dr. King with a photo gallery of Wax MLKs from all the Wax Museums I have been to......






The Carpetbagger

I love hearing from people please comment below.  Also, feel free to email me at jacobthecarpetbagger@gmail.com

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Check out my Youtube Page where I regularly post videos. 

And I can't forget my Flickr Photostream, where all this got started.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Little Rock of Little Rock


Check out the Video!



The Carpetbagger

I love hearing from people please comment below.  Also, feel free to email me at jacobthecarpetbagger@gmail.com

Make sure you add me on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my Youtube Page where I regularly post videos. 

And I can't forget my Flickr Photostream, where all this got started.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Marvelous Marvin's Mechanical Museum

Wow!  I have been to one of the most amazing locations I have ever laid eyes on:  Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum.  At its heart Marvin's a museum of interactive amusement machines, some dating back to the 1950s.  While there are rows of pinball machines and ski ball, it would be unfair to call this an "arcade".  You do take a handful of quarters with you, but every machine is its own unique experience.  I think this picture sums things up well.


This is possibly one of the most overstimulating places on God's green earth.  New exhibits are shoved and wedged in front of old ones.   Machines are packed so close together they create claustrophobic catacombs.





















The rafters hang with carnival and movie posters.....





Intertwined amongst all these amazing interactive machines are other strange and random exhibits and artifacts.....















But perhaps the most remarkable artifact in all the museum is THIS.....


Shoved in a back corner is the freaking CARDIFF GIANT!  The Cardiff giant was a petrified giant man found in a field in New York.  The giant would travel the country and gain money.  P.T. Barnum set his eyes on owning the giant, but its owner refused to sell.  Barnum responded (as Barnum would) by creating his own Cardiff Giant and touring with it.  Eventually both were revealed in the media to be fakes.  The one you see here is not the original pulled out in the field, but rather Barnum's version.

Here is the man that is responsible for all this remarkable madness:  Marvin Yagoda.


And here is a picture of Marvin with Eminem.....


Marvin saw me taking pictures and asked me to please put them on facebook.  Which I certainly will.

Truly, the best way to take you guys on a trip through Marvin's is in video form.  Sit back and enjoy the ride.....





The Carpetbagger

I love hearing from people please comment below.  Also, feel free to email me at jacobthecarpetbagger@gmail.com

Make sure you add me on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my Youtube Page where I regularly post videos. 

And I can't forget my Flickr Photostream, where all this got started.