Geppi's Entertainment Museum

At Geppi’s Entertainment Museum in Baltimore, a good time was had by all, and by “all” I am referring to my friend, Steve, and me, who were the only visitors at 5:00 p.m. (just one hour before close) on a Thursday night (game night for the O’s). As the hostess handed us our pamphlets, badges, and Treasure Hunt tickets, she said, “It’s all yours,” a light-hearted crack at the attendance. We explored the “A Story in Four Colors” exhibit first, as suggested, which featured comics from as far back as the late 1800s. In all honesty, I have never had much of an appreciation for comics, but a quote by Will Eisner, who, as I discovered upon further research, has been called the “Godfather of American Comics” (http://lambiek.net/artists/e/eisner.htm), brought things into perspective for me: “In the beginning, God made comics, and we drew on the walls of caves trying to tell everybody how we captured a mastodon that afternoon.” Just seconds later, Steve exclaimed, “The first Superman comic ever!” and I approached with genuine interest.

Naturally, since this was a class assignment, I searched for the answers to the suggested questions first. “Are there objects you think are controversial?” (Yes—the Sassofras Jones ventriloquist dummy (circa 1860s) from the “Pioneer Spirit” room, for its painted black face, disproportionately large nose, and bright red lips.) I soon found myself, however, more intrigued by Steve’s reactions and those of the few other guests. Steve spent the majority of the hour entranced by the Treasure Hunt. “Of course, Dino! He can’t ride on Bamm-Bamm!” he scoffed jokingly at the computer in reference to a question about some Fred Flintstone battery-powered top. He was interested in the toys, but more so concerned with successfully completing the game so that he could win the prize at the end.

There were also two women walking around together. One was obviously a veteran of the museum and had returned with a friend this time so that they could reminisce together. In one of the rooms, she nearly trampled me as she rushed to the glass case that held a BOB-A-LOOP toy, meanwhile yelling to her friend to join her. She looked up at me and said, “I’m sorry, this is just really exciting for us.” At that point, it was clear to me that Geppi’s Entertainment Museum was not created for my generation’s enjoyment. Sure, I recognized a few things that have since been recreated—Underdog, Fantastic Four, and Little Orphan Annie—but Steve and I were, in general, out-of-the-loop (pun intended).