Tom Lynch

The golden arches invade the Lakeshore Room of the Wyndham Hotel. But it's not Big Macs and Quarter-Pounders that are in the spotlight--it's the toys that have supplemented the meals from over the years. And it's not just the toys--it's the people who collect and sell them. The McDonald's Collectors Convention hit the Chicago suburbs like a roller-coaster ride through the history of kids' marketing.

"We've had a pretty good turnout," says Nancy, as she works the door and collects the four-dollar admission fee. She is flanked by noticeably bored teenagers who wear McDonald's-embroidered clothing and have volunteered their time to help out. Nearly thirty tables reside inside the room, all covered in fast-food memorabilia. The room is a convention of worship. "Considering that it's Palm Sunday, a lot of people have come out this afternoon," says Nancy.

"I've been doing this for ten years," says Dave Tuttle, a collector and vendor, as he packs up his crate of vintage McDonald's buttons. "I have anything you could ever want." Though most of his collection includes recent promotions, some buttons sport slogans like "ATARI--I found it at McDonald's," "Try The New McRib" (complete with a picture of a cute pink pig), and "McDonald's Cares For The Environment."

"You must be able to find something you can't live without," says Tom, an elderly vendor, as he fiddles with a '91 Chicago Bulls Championship plastic cup. It's only fifty cents, and he has multiples. But the Magic Johnson "I Eat At McDonald's" cup is one-of-a-kind at this convention, and kept behind the table to avoid thievery. He hounds a child spectator. "Are you looking for anything special? I have all the Inspector Gadget toys. Are you interested in mugs? I packed them away already, but I'll pull them out if you want to see them."

Another vendor, across from Tom, lures them in with Star Wars items. A child picks up a Death Star spinner in which, after a button is pressed hard, the ball spins to unveil what's underneath. The child, a boy who actually looks a lot like Luke Skywalker, places the toy back in its box. "If you're gonna pick it up, at least play with it," the vendor says, half-joking but very nearly irritated. He grabs the Death Star and makes it spin, until it falls apart. "I think I broke it," he says to the child, who's now halfway to his mother. "Death to the Death Star," the vendor adds. No sale.

(2004-04-09)

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