This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Ancient Secrets of the Universal City

I found just what I wasn't looking for with success.

I’ll let you in on one of my secrets for finding treasure. It may seem a little strange, but you first have to blank your mind. There is so much eye pollution (read: distractions) at these sales that it’s a wonder you can concentrate at all.

Mind gone completely blank? Good. Decide what you want to find. Whatever you collect, whatever it is you want (gold, diamonds, treasure, trash etc.) picture that in your mind. Are you following this? Good. Here comes the secret: Go look for what you’ve imagined, but do it like you’re looking for it as though it was lost in your own house. Turn things upside down, look in and around, up and down, look everywhere for it. Ask for help, get other people searching for it, and don’t stop until you’ve found it or something else that catches your eye.   

I promise, if you approach each sale in this manner, you will find something good. It sounds absurd, but think about how absurd the “store” is you are shopping in. This isn’t a national chain or even the shop on the corner. This is someone’s best attempt to organize the clutter in their (or someone else’s) life. Absurdity abounds.  

Proof of this method is the subject of today’s post. While hunting through an Estate sale in Ridgefield I had to deal with a variety of odds and ends. All were worth looking at, but I had arrived on the last day of the sale at the last hour. There were toys from my childhood that I paused on briefly, but didn’t like the condition of them.  

Finally, I decided to blank my mind and think about what I wanted: Old paper. Finding the den/office, I began rifling through stationery, maps, and receipts, careful to put back as I found it. In the 3rd batch of papers, there it was, a 1967 Universal Studios tour pamphlet. I didn’t know I would find this but I’m glad I did.  

Take a look at the images above: As a collectible, the combination of movie, TV and theme park memorabilia makes this a valuable piece. Me? I like the dated references to shows that were relegated to reruns when I was growing up, the maps, which point to attractions that are long gone, and the campy look overall.  

For the rest of the story and more pictures from inside the pamphlet, click here.  

Greg Van Antwerp is a Brookfield resident and blogger, who can be found on the weekends in search of a good “dig” or a good story.  You can read more about his adventures by visiting his blog: www.videomartyr.blogspot.com
  

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?