by: -RoG-
It's been quite a while since I've been to a good yard sale or even the Melrose Trading Post, so when I recently found out that there was a giant flea market in Pasadena that had been running every month for over 40 years, I had to check it out for myself. The Rose Bowl Flea Market definitely lives up to the many claims that you really can't experience it all in just one day. Games, toys, furniture, art, antiques, clothes, vintage collectibles and more oddities than you can shake a stick at can all be found here. With over 2500 vendors, it was easily the largest flea market I had ever seen, and I figured you guys would like to see it too. So with that in mind, here's a big collection of photos from the March 2009 Rose Bowl Flea Market.
Parking in front of a scenic mountain backdrop... definitely a nice way to start off the day.
No football taking place here today. Today something far more important is going on. The exchange of bizarro goods!
I hadn't seen a two-dollar bill in ages, and when the ticket person gave us two crisp
ones
as change for our ticket payment, I knew we had come to the right place.
And so it begins...
Sadly, the remote control had nothing to do with this primate's face.
If it did, I probably would've bought it in a heartbeat.
Need to get in touch with your tribal side? They've gotcha covered.
General Arf R. McGruff?
Not content to join the lion in hunting down Barbie, T-Rex roamed off in search of tastier vittles.
I tried to lure this giant plastic E.T. statue away with Reese's Pieces candies, but it didn't work. Damnit.
Argh! If it wasn't a steep $50, this vintage Gremlins slumber tent would've been my new nightly resting space.
Some nice reproductions of old fruit box labels.
Oh yeah!
These were seriously some of the best shoes I'd ever seen and they were in perfect shape.
Unfortunately, I wear a size 12 and these were size 9. Daaaaaaaaaaaamnit!!!!
Having Glo Worm lying down next to Hulk Hogan just makes him seem
like
a big ol' teddy bear instead of a psychotic wrestling superstar, doesn't it?
Whether or not these are actual Ming Dynasty Chinese fighting gloves or just some reproductions remains to be seen,
but it wouldn't surprise me if these bad boys helped inspire the idea for Freddy Krueger's infamous razor glove.
They don't make 'em like this anymore.
Say buddy, do you collect handmade vintage nails from yesteryear? Boy oh boy, have I got the flea market booth for you!
Some kind of futuristic remote-controlled speed boat that wasn't very speedy on concrete.
I don't know what he's up to, but I fucking guarantee it's no good.
Greco-Roman wrestling or male rape? Is there really a difference?
A few somewhat eerie old circus lamps.
BALLS.
The Rose Bowl Flea Market... serving all your amateur dentist needs for over 40 years!
I've yet to see a real flea market without at least a few skulls for sale.
See what I mean?
Yes indeed, you too can own this footstool that was previously owned by Charlize Theron!
Or not. It could've been previously owned by this guy's uncle. Roll the dice and take your chances, bub.
There's still more to see from
the Rose Bowl Flea Market!
Click here to continue onward to page 2!
Reader Comments
those aren't intellivision games those are atari 2600 games unless the intellivision games are on the bottom, i couldn't tell what the bottom ones were
Also; I want that metal Silver Surfer sign, now!
Faster than a computer, deadlier than a lazer, its Pickleman!!!!
awesome.
They even have Pillsbury Doughboys, and the Charlie's Angels board game for sale there.
Even if the lamp doesn't look like any movie mask, it's definitely looking good.
Grats on the lamp, too, Rog! I *love* finding treasures like that when you least expect it. And too true about seeing the action figures in the cases. Those are the type of people you know are just going to whip out the price guide when you ask them how much, heh.
Check out Newfoundland some time, i'd gladly bring you around here, and there's a flea market here every sunday in a large mall where you can find anything
I haven't been to one in over 10 years....
It's understandable how those Intellivision boxes were confused with Atari 2600; they had the same games and boxes; I had both of those games in the picture on my 2600. I WANT THOSE PANTHER TABLES!
Also, that creature bust you claim looks familiar, looks an awful lot like a Sleestack from the Kroft Bros "Land of the Lost."
Because if I were you I would put it by my bed so I could fall asleep to the soothing demonic red serial killer light it povides.
Looks kind of like Pumpkinhead
It's understandable how those Intellivision boxes were confused with Atari 2600; they had the same games and boxes; I had both of those games in the picture on my 2600. I WANT THOSE PANTHER TABLES!
Also, that creature bust you claim looks familiar, looks an awful lot like a Sleestack from the Kroft Bros "Land of the Lost."
Interesting about Sleestack though, I don't think the head shape is quite the same as the Sleestack I know. Sleestack rules.
On a side note....SWORDS! ^_____^
...and why is Superman carrying Richard Pryor on that one book?
I saw that Adam-12 lunchbox at the thrift store once.
ARE YOU SERIOUS!? A SONIC POPSICLE!?
Okay, done spazzing.
and i brush my teeth with regularity
once in the morning and once at bedtime
and after each meal so my teeth will shine
you'll remember this saying if you rehearse
and you'll be like the masters of the universe
however, I realized it was just a bunch of family members who wrote "Happy Birthday" all over the box." - that just made my day - I am still laughing! Great flea market - I would love to visit it - but since I cannot, these pictures will have to do!
Oh, believe me I would. However, 3400 miles from Pasadena is not "remotely near" enough for me. Even the closest flea markets of a scale nearing this are at least a day away from here.
Also, right next to the wrestlin' Smokey, there was something which looked oddly like that Inspector Gadget figure I remember wanting as a kid. That brought back some memories.
Yeah, I noticed that, too, thought it was another Headroom pin till I recognized the Riddler outfit.
I'd love to go to a sale like this, were the prices pretty reasonable for the used MOTU figures? Saw quite a few there I was never able to pick up growing up (Ram Man, Hordak, Trap Jaw). Those masks looked great, too, and I'd love that Hook ad just to torment a friend of mine at work who refuses to see the movie cuz she insists "Peter Pan never grew up!" Also, now I gotta see if I can locate one of those lamps.
Look at how the selection has changed! From Grimace cup to Jason lamp!
I actually had that when I was younger. Some Tyco R/C vehicle that was able to go on land, water, and television, all without any scene transitions. Unfortunately, in my naive mind, I simply HAD to get it, only to learn that it takes five hours of charging to use it for 20 minutes, it really sucks in the water, and the concrete just really does a number on its...wheels? What do you call those things anyway? Corkscrews?
Would you call me a dork if I said this picture reminds me of Hank Hanegraaff?