Museum salutes joy of G.I. Joes

Denver Post ^ | March 17, 2005 | David Harsanyi

[aynrandy]

As boys, many of us played with dolls - or what we, in our masculine self-interest, referred to as "action figures."

But let's face it: They were dolls.

We also entertained ourselves with fake guns, plastic swords and other phony instruments of war - only rarely drawing real blood.

Perhaps it was a harbinger of my chicken-hawk warmongering, but I also was the proud owner of hundreds of those rigid green plastic army guys.

This army waged epic battles against the Russkies and assorted armies of the Soviet axis.

Guess what? I'm no Gen. Patton.

And the majority of my most belligerent fake-war compatriots have turned into weak-kneed, teetotaling pacifists who wouldn't let their overachieving kids engage in a pillow fight.

Let's face it: Nowadays it's significantly easier to obtain a real gun than a decent fake firearm. As a result, kids nationwide can't fake-shoot their friends.

So, you can imagine how keyed up I was to hear about the G.I. Joe special exhibit at the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys, 1880 Gaylord St.

The museum is housed in the Pierce- McAllister Cottage. Built in 1898, the house is a product of the Dutch Colonial Revival Movement - for those of you in the architectural know.

Hasbro has kept G.I. Joe, the ultimate action figure, on the market since 1964, with the exception of a couple of years between the death of the "vintage" Joe in 1976 and the introduction of the new "Real American Hero" in 1982.

Using G.I. Joes, the exhibit, put on by the Colorado 1/6 Collectors Club, re-creates war scenes from World War II, Vietnam and even Iraq, celebrating a popular toy's tenacious defense of democracy.

This exhibit irrefutably proves: One, there is an enthusiastic following for war toys. Two, in America, there is a club for everyone. Everyone. Three, grown-ups will come up with almost any excuse to play with their childhood toys.

Melanie Troutman, president of the museum and a serious grown-up, was kind enough to show me around.

The first thing that strikes you is the glaring contrast between, say, an antique 1880s German dollhouse's genteel turn- of-the-century figurines and a Scuba G.I. Joe diving for lost nuclear armaments.

"I think what we try to do is commemorate the veterans and set up battle scenes that are historically accurate and pay homage to the veterans," says Lanny Linenberger, a club member and an expert on G.I. Joe. "Or even modern-day soldiers. They do a lot for us and this country. In fact, we wouldn't have a country without them."

Troutman tells me the exhibit has been one of the most popular in recent memory, and its run has been extended until the end of April.

Even so, there was some mild turmoil early on at the G.I. Joe exhibit.

The pretend violence of one of the fake re-enactments - featuring some fake severed limbs of a fake action hero - so offended some real visitors that it had to be dismantled.

Now, in the entire exhibit, there's only one fake dead G.I. Joe, lying on the beach in Normandy. The setting is historically accurate - but the numbers aren't, and they weren't plastic action figures.

And the potential for more complaints is certainly present.

In "The French Town," an intricate and impressive display of a village cleansed of the Nazi invader, I spot - hold your breath - G.I Joe smoking a cigarette. "It's historically accurate," says Linenberger. "They used to say, 'Smoke 'em if you got 'em."'

I'm not even going to mention the Telly Savalas replica doll smoking a stogie.

I will say, however, that each scene is enhanced by historical scenery, military vehicles and buildings. Linenberger estimates the exhibit is worth $3,000.

So, as the brochure states, this is a "not-to-be-missed, comprehensive exhibit, not usually seen in museums." All for $5 for adults and $4 for kids.

I had fun. And if you can check your politically correct impulses at the door, you might too.

David Harsanyi's column appears Monday and Thursday. He can be reached at 303-820-1255 or dharsanyi@denverpost.com.

[The Red Baron]

I used to keep a shoebox full of my broken Joes. A little red model paint went a long way in making my "casualty" collection. Many was the day that my bedroom floor became a gruesome battlefield in the war against Cobra and it's terrorist armies.

Yo Joe!

[Cowman]

the death of the "vintage" Joe in 1976 Carter

and the introduction of the new "Real American Hero" in 1982 Reagan


Coincidence? I think not.


By the way, does anyone else find it interesting that the author's guide through the exhibit of war toys was named "Troutman?"

[Gefreiter]

Good eye, Cowman.

[roaddog727]

I have NEVER been accused of being "politically Correct!"

[Cowman]

But are you a real western imperialist warmongering racist bigot sexist homophobic icon of misogynistic domination and violence?

[CWW]

Okay, I confess -- I'm 43 and have 38 G.I. Joes. Gotta probelm with that? I don't!

[roaddog727]

Damn straight.

Nuke the whales

Club the Seals

Kill the trees

Eat tasty critters

Use LOTS of toilet paper