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It's My Story.
ebay link to Pez Outlaw Collectibles.
It's My Story.
Bryan told me that his favorite Pez Outlaw story was the Hooker in downtown Gyor that I ran from.
There were always tons of Hookers & I never, never never.
What I did do was I asked Mom to buy me a very big wedding ring.
 |
| To commemorate this trip in 1994 we made this Pez Outlaw Dispenser in 2022 |
30 years ago at the age of 43 I began the decade that will define my life.
McHooker's has to be one of most epic Adventures in the history of Pez Outlaw's 100ish trips to other countries buying pez dispensers.
McHooker's has to be one of most epic Adventures in the history of Pez Outlaw's 100ish trips to other countries buying pez dispensers.
Recently I've been made aware that this story is lacking in the drama n that I may not have painted the picture as clear as I might have.
So to set the scene. Picture the dead of night in a vast parking lot full of trucks. The McDonald's at the far end of the parking lot shining in the distance over a Carnival atmosphere of Prostitution.
The tension n mystery of people moving in the night, unaware of your surrounding.
Shadows going from place to place, like ghosts in the night.
Your experiences in life not keeping up with what your eyes think they are seeing.
This all occurred on Probably my 3rd or 4th trip to Europe buying pez out of almost 100.
About that number of 100 trips. I honestly have no idea how many time I went to Europe. I have only one marker and that is that at one point I was handed my receipt/bill of sale and told that it marked my 70th trip to Hungary. That was not my last trip to Hungary and it does not count Australia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Austria, Slovenia or France.
My son Joshua came to Europe with me buying Pez on my first 3 or 4 trips, McHooker was my first solo trip.
Josh was in college at the time, I needed to quit leaning on him and start doing this on my own.
The trip to Budapest was intended to be a quick trip of just a few days. In n out just to get more truck pez dispensers. As I said they sold out in just a few days, which shocked me. The rest of the pez dispensers I bought on my first meet with Gunther were hard to find but I had had them before from Canada. The pez trucks though were unknown at the time as they were exclusive to Hungary. They had been created at Pez Gyoroplaste when the old C class pez truck molds had been reused to start up the factory.
I flew in n out of the Budapest airport. On this trip Gunther sold me appox 3,000 of the C class truck Pez dispensers. Orange, yellow n pink cabs with black stem Pez dispensers. Man was this exciting, early days, a really rare Pez dispenser n they sold very fast. This was also the first time I stayed at the Raba. something Scott McWhinnie would have killed to know. I kept the Raba Hotel a closely guarded secret until well after my trips to Europe buying pez had ended.
I bagged the truck Pez dispensers, checked out of the hotel n drove from Gyor to the Budapest Airport. Turned my car in n went to the gate to check my bags. This is where things went horribly wrong.
This is where I credit determination as what saved the day. That n I have never yielded in the face of authority. You say I must, my first response is always, no I don't think I will. I will find a way. A lot of people have tried to break me in this life or tried to tell me who's boss, it never works. I will eat dirt first.
At check in Budapest airport I was greeted by a cold war throwback customs inspector. He wanted to see my bill of sale, though what I realized the next day was he really wanted a bribe. Problem was I never got a bill of sale from Gunther, again that whole gray area of business thingy. Boris says to me after a long conversation, " well just check in take your flight n your bags will follow later". Yeah right Boris I don't think so. Delta offered to rebook me tomorrow same time no extra cost. Great, got my car back, took my bags n drove back to the pez yellow house. Luckily Gunther was in Austria so I was able to talk an underling into writing me up a bill of sale for the Pez dispensers.
This is the actual Bill of Sale that this whole story is based on.
I found it hiding in plain sight, smack in the middle of a bunch of old papers I was looking through.
Not wanting to fool around with the hotel for just one night. Cost of room plus tips to get the duffel bags up n down from the room. I decided to just spend the night in the McDonalds parking lot, as I had noticed earlier that truckers used it. What I had not realized was that a lively trade went on all night also by prostitutes. I'm all for free enterprise but early in the morning a group of them n there pimp woke me up. Business for the night had died down n I think it was time for another type of business. Doors locked I was out of there n at the airport in record time to spend the rest of the night.
Next morning at check in n no Boris. I mean no customs guy at all. There I stood with a difficultly acquired bill of sale n nobody wanted to see it. I showed it to Delta n they could have cared less. On my way to the gate I spotted ole Boris watching me from around a corner wishing for the good old days. Boris, pimps, prostitutes n Mickey Ds. Just a quick trip in n out that I would never forget.
I never flew through Budapest airport again. My business had a steep learning curve, learn it n don't repeat it.
Prostitutes
Being from the Midwest, until I started traveling in the old Eastern block countries buying Pez dispensers. I had no experience with Prostitutes, let alone aggressive ones. My first exposure to this was Josh n my first trip into Hungary. At that time approximately 1994 there were nearly 3 miles of roadside stands along the main drag before you got to Gyor. These stands were open 24 hours selling clothing, stuffed animals, fruits, vegetables, pop, garden gnomes, just all kinds of stuff. The stands were frequented by travelers n long haul truckers. Before they cracked down it was also one of the main areas of prostitution n let me tell you it was not subtle. If you stopped n got out of your car you were approached by at least by 3 different women.
Later once the new freeway opened n killed the roadside stands, the girls moved to just outside city limits of Gyor on the main road. In the summer it got pretty interesting, thin material slacks that were more like black panty hoes, very tightly worn. Out n out flashing by lifting there tops as you drove by to get your attention. This was the case outside a lot of the bigger cities in the old eastern block countries we traveled in, in the early days of my travels. Not to mention nightly activities at Micky Ds on the highway to Budapest. There was also a Gypsy woman (Gypsies are looked down on by most Hungarians) that had a group of girls in downtown Gyor who always approached me on the way to Pizza Hut. Sometimes it was like running a gauntlet.
I never cheated on Kathy in any way shape or form. Though being male n not dead I did find it interesting. The single most interesting encounter was while walking to supper. I was approached by an absolute stunner of a woman. Who asked for a cigarette & invited me in the bar to buy her a drink. If ever I was truly tempted that was the time. Quickly though I heard Kathy's warnings in my head, how THINGS would shrivel n die if I did. I quickly gave n lit her cigarette, then almost ran to the restaurant. Besides I had strict rules about dealing with people on the streets in Europe, that was not to at all. To the point of if approached, actually telling one person to get away from me. Never robbed even though quite often I had almost $10,000.00 cash, in my trouser pockets. By keeping strictly to myself n protecting my personal space, I really never had any problems.
If added up I hand carried just under 1 million dollars cash during my trips to Europe buying pez n never lost a dime of it. 10yrs somewhere around 100 trips $10,000.00 cash per trip. Strange times indeed, especially today when that kind of money seems like Daddy Warbucks to me.
About driving around in Hungary.
I never learned any of the names of roads or addresses. Once I left the airport in Vienna I just knew where to go. To this day it would all be from memory, which highway east, where to get off. How to get to the middle man and the Raba. I have no idea what the names of any of the roads are, I just know how to get there.
One very strong memory of Hungary is driving through Movar (a town with a really long name that people who live there just call Movar) at night on my way to Gyor. The air was filled with the smell of coal burning to heat homes. The two lane road lit up by street lights. Houses n businesses all right next to the sidewalk, so much so that it seemed everything was crowding the street. Listening to a tape of Enigma as I drove. That first night is my most vivid memory of Hungary, it all had a very 1950s feel to it. The weather in Gyor is very much like the weather here in Michigan.
TAKE 47
On one trip Gunther Leitner sold me aprox 50 boxes of Silver glow Pez
dispensers. If I remember correct each box contained 24 carded Silver
glow Pez dispensers. At this point Josh n I were staying in
Austria so back to our hotel we went. At the Austria Hungary border the
Austrian guards required a bond on the 50 boxes of Pez dispensers to
be refunded when items were checked in at the airport. So we went back
to the hotel n down packed the 50 boxes of pez into 3 large boxes
of pez. When we got to the airport customs refused to refund my bond,
saying 3 boxes is not 50. Where are the other 47 boxes of pez? The
scene escalated till what the Delta airlines rep saw when he walked
into the room was. An American with a pony tail & long beard
screaming at officials. Two machine gun armed Austrian border guards
looking on at the ready n Josh petrified at the whole scene.
Delta walked in calmed everybody down, gave Josh a couple aspirin
& mediated the whole situation. I flew Delta Airlines from then
on, they never failed to stand up for me in any situation.
Below pics are from when I took delivery of the Silver glows in Hungary.
If you look carefully at the boxes the guy is handing me, you can see that its 3 boxes.
Gives you an idea of how small each of the50 boxes I bought was.
To be honest I can't be certain but I think each box contained 12 or 24 Silver Glows mint on card. Josh n I found 3 carded Silver Glows could take up the same space as 1 in what we called "Down Packing".
Dead AL
Dead AL was one of the biggest liars I ever bought pez dispensers from and that is saying a lot when you factor in German Andre. Though in the end he was a harmless n tragic figure. What will surprise you is I really liked this guy, he died of what I believe was a drug overdose of all things. I say of all things because Dead Al was the most accident prone guy I've ever known.
Dead Al once used a Skill saw on a wall while remodeling with no regard for what might be in the wall or where it might be located. Catastrophic and predictable results ensued to his arm. This is only one example of many. I knew Dead Al for a year or two n every time I talked to him he had another story involving an injury to some part of his body from an ill conceived endeavor.
I bought thousands of no foot Pez dispensers from Dead Al before he died and he always promised that this time it was everything. I can still hear his oath, "may god strike me dead if I'm Lying". He really said those words. It never was everything n God did strike him dead.
I heard the news of his death from a relative on my last call to his store.
I've told you that when I was young I abused drugs, which gives me an insight to read between the lines when people are cryptic in describing someones death. Add to that Dead Al mentioned his drug use.
All things said, I liked Dead AL, he was one of those characters that you meet once in a lifetime. Most people that repeatedly lie to you you end up disliking. Dead Al was different, his life was so tragic that you could not help feeling sorry for him.
If somehow part of the Pez Outlaw legacy is that Dead Al is remembered, I'd like that very much. Dead Al in a very odd way was a friend, characters like him should be remembered. To that end I'd like to ask the person working on the script of the Pez Outlaw movie, please include at least a mention of Dead Al.
Nobody is paying attention to me so I'm probably OK saying that.
To the powers that be, I'm going nuts out here waiting for news.
Total amount spent on 9,936 Pez dispensers bought from Dead Al was $32,667.00.
The 3 Stooges
On my first few trips to Europe (trips 1, 2 n 4) Joshua accompanied me. Then again later for my trip to Spain, I just couldn't do it without him. The reason is Joshua was in college at the time, so getting away for my adventures was a bit hard. After he graduated Josh was a broker for a while then he came to work for me n did a trip to Europe for me so I could stay home. After over 70 trips to Europe in 10 years I was getting kinda tired of it.
During those early trips with Josh a lot of European real-estate was covered. We drove all over in our little clown car. Here's the thing, in the USA you drive 2 hours usually your still in the same state, in Europe 2 hours n you are in another country. So we crossed a lot of borders.
The second thing about those first few trips in Europe was. Much as I had in Canada we did a lot of buying in stores retail as we traveled. Which could n did make all those border crossings interesting.
Somewhere in Eastern Europe Joshua n I drove up to a border crossing as we had many times before. As we pulled up to the booth, I swear to god these three eastern European border guards were in the booth hitting each other. Finally one stepped out and he was not happy with all the bags of pez dispensers. He made us dump them all out and show cash receipts. By the way these guys were carrying machine guns.
I noticed when bagging it all up that some of the Pez dispensers had vanished, but you usually don't argue with machine gun toting eastern European military. Austrian gun toting military ok, but not eastern European, especially not in 1994 only a few years after the wall came down. Old military habits and points of view die very hard. Anyway we were again on our way, though not before they said don't do this again. We did of course, but not ever again at that crossing.
After the first few trips I stopped buying in countries other than Hungary or Slovenia.
After Pez Outlaw, I intend to retire.
The reasons Pez Outlaw was targeted by Pez Corporation
My price guide is fun for beginners but if you want a real Pez Price Guide go here.
This all occurred on Probably my 3rd or 4th trip to Europe buying pez out of almost 100.
About that number of 100 trips. I honestly have no idea how many time I went to Europe. I have only one marker and that is that at one point I was handed my receipt/bill of sale and told that it marked my 70th trip to Hungary. That was not my last trip to Hungary and it does not count Australia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Austria, Slovenia or France.
My son Joshua came to Europe with me buying Pez on my first 3 or 4 trips, McHooker was my first solo trip.
Josh was in college at the time, I needed to quit leaning on him and start doing this on my own.
The trip to Budapest was intended to be a quick trip of just a few days. In n out just to get more truck pez dispensers. As I said they sold out in just a few days, which shocked me. The rest of the pez dispensers I bought on my first meet with Gunther were hard to find but I had had them before from Canada. The pez trucks though were unknown at the time as they were exclusive to Hungary. They had been created at Pez Gyoroplaste when the old C class pez truck molds had been reused to start up the factory.
I flew in n out of the Budapest airport. On this trip Gunther sold me appox 3,000 of the C class truck Pez dispensers. Orange, yellow n pink cabs with black stem Pez dispensers. Man was this exciting, early days, a really rare Pez dispenser n they sold very fast. This was also the first time I stayed at the Raba. something Scott McWhinnie would have killed to know. I kept the Raba Hotel a closely guarded secret until well after my trips to Europe buying pez had ended.
I bagged the truck Pez dispensers, checked out of the hotel n drove from Gyor to the Budapest Airport. Turned my car in n went to the gate to check my bags. This is where things went horribly wrong.
This is where I credit determination as what saved the day. That n I have never yielded in the face of authority. You say I must, my first response is always, no I don't think I will. I will find a way. A lot of people have tried to break me in this life or tried to tell me who's boss, it never works. I will eat dirt first.
At check in Budapest airport I was greeted by a cold war throwback customs inspector. He wanted to see my bill of sale, though what I realized the next day was he really wanted a bribe. Problem was I never got a bill of sale from Gunther, again that whole gray area of business thingy. Boris says to me after a long conversation, " well just check in take your flight n your bags will follow later". Yeah right Boris I don't think so. Delta offered to rebook me tomorrow same time no extra cost. Great, got my car back, took my bags n drove back to the pez yellow house. Luckily Gunther was in Austria so I was able to talk an underling into writing me up a bill of sale for the Pez dispensers.
This is the actual Bill of Sale that this whole story is based on.
Not wanting to fool around with the hotel for just one night. Cost of room plus tips to get the duffel bags up n down from the room. I decided to just spend the night in the McDonalds parking lot, as I had noticed earlier that truckers used it. What I had not realized was that a lively trade went on all night also by prostitutes. I'm all for free enterprise but early in the morning a group of them n there pimp woke me up. Business for the night had died down n I think it was time for another type of business. Doors locked I was out of there n at the airport in record time to spend the rest of the night.
Next morning at check in n no Boris. I mean no customs guy at all. There I stood with a difficultly acquired bill of sale n nobody wanted to see it. I showed it to Delta n they could have cared less. On my way to the gate I spotted ole Boris watching me from around a corner wishing for the good old days. Boris, pimps, prostitutes n Mickey Ds. Just a quick trip in n out that I would never forget.
I never flew through Budapest airport again. My business had a steep learning curve, learn it n don't repeat it.
Prostitutes
Being from the Midwest, until I started traveling in the old Eastern block countries buying Pez dispensers. I had no experience with Prostitutes, let alone aggressive ones. My first exposure to this was Josh n my first trip into Hungary. At that time approximately 1994 there were nearly 3 miles of roadside stands along the main drag before you got to Gyor. These stands were open 24 hours selling clothing, stuffed animals, fruits, vegetables, pop, garden gnomes, just all kinds of stuff. The stands were frequented by travelers n long haul truckers. Before they cracked down it was also one of the main areas of prostitution n let me tell you it was not subtle. If you stopped n got out of your car you were approached by at least by 3 different women.
Later once the new freeway opened n killed the roadside stands, the girls moved to just outside city limits of Gyor on the main road. In the summer it got pretty interesting, thin material slacks that were more like black panty hoes, very tightly worn. Out n out flashing by lifting there tops as you drove by to get your attention. This was the case outside a lot of the bigger cities in the old eastern block countries we traveled in, in the early days of my travels. Not to mention nightly activities at Micky Ds on the highway to Budapest. There was also a Gypsy woman (Gypsies are looked down on by most Hungarians) that had a group of girls in downtown Gyor who always approached me on the way to Pizza Hut. Sometimes it was like running a gauntlet.
I never cheated on Kathy in any way shape or form. Though being male n not dead I did find it interesting. The single most interesting encounter was while walking to supper. I was approached by an absolute stunner of a woman. Who asked for a cigarette & invited me in the bar to buy her a drink. If ever I was truly tempted that was the time. Quickly though I heard Kathy's warnings in my head, how THINGS would shrivel n die if I did. I quickly gave n lit her cigarette, then almost ran to the restaurant. Besides I had strict rules about dealing with people on the streets in Europe, that was not to at all. To the point of if approached, actually telling one person to get away from me. Never robbed even though quite often I had almost $10,000.00 cash, in my trouser pockets. By keeping strictly to myself n protecting my personal space, I really never had any problems.
If added up I hand carried just under 1 million dollars cash during my trips to Europe buying pez n never lost a dime of it. 10yrs somewhere around 100 trips $10,000.00 cash per trip. Strange times indeed, especially today when that kind of money seems like Daddy Warbucks to me.
About driving around in Hungary.
I never learned any of the names of roads or addresses. Once I left the airport in Vienna I just knew where to go. To this day it would all be from memory, which highway east, where to get off. How to get to the middle man and the Raba. I have no idea what the names of any of the roads are, I just know how to get there.
One very strong memory of Hungary is driving through Movar (a town with a really long name that people who live there just call Movar) at night on my way to Gyor. The air was filled with the smell of coal burning to heat homes. The two lane road lit up by street lights. Houses n businesses all right next to the sidewalk, so much so that it seemed everything was crowding the street. Listening to a tape of Enigma as I drove. That first night is my most vivid memory of Hungary, it all had a very 1950s feel to it. The weather in Gyor is very much like the weather here in Michigan.
TAKE 47
Below pics are from when I took delivery of the Silver glows in Hungary.
 | ||
| . |
Gives you an idea of how small each of the50 boxes I bought was.
To be honest I can't be certain but I think each box contained 12 or 24 Silver Glows mint on card. Josh n I found 3 carded Silver Glows could take up the same space as 1 in what we called "Down Packing".
Dead AL
Dead AL was one of the biggest liars I ever bought pez dispensers from and that is saying a lot when you factor in German Andre. Though in the end he was a harmless n tragic figure. What will surprise you is I really liked this guy, he died of what I believe was a drug overdose of all things. I say of all things because Dead Al was the most accident prone guy I've ever known.
Dead Al once used a Skill saw on a wall while remodeling with no regard for what might be in the wall or where it might be located. Catastrophic and predictable results ensued to his arm. This is only one example of many. I knew Dead Al for a year or two n every time I talked to him he had another story involving an injury to some part of his body from an ill conceived endeavor.
I bought thousands of no foot Pez dispensers from Dead Al before he died and he always promised that this time it was everything. I can still hear his oath, "may god strike me dead if I'm Lying". He really said those words. It never was everything n God did strike him dead.
I heard the news of his death from a relative on my last call to his store.
I've told you that when I was young I abused drugs, which gives me an insight to read between the lines when people are cryptic in describing someones death. Add to that Dead Al mentioned his drug use.
All things said, I liked Dead AL, he was one of those characters that you meet once in a lifetime. Most people that repeatedly lie to you you end up disliking. Dead Al was different, his life was so tragic that you could not help feeling sorry for him.
If somehow part of the Pez Outlaw legacy is that Dead Al is remembered, I'd like that very much. Dead Al in a very odd way was a friend, characters like him should be remembered. To that end I'd like to ask the person working on the script of the Pez Outlaw movie, please include at least a mention of Dead Al.
Nobody is paying attention to me so I'm probably OK saying that.
To the powers that be, I'm going nuts out here waiting for news.
Total amount spent on 9,936 Pez dispensers bought from Dead Al was $32,667.00.
The 3 Stooges
On my first few trips to Europe (trips 1, 2 n 4) Joshua accompanied me. Then again later for my trip to Spain, I just couldn't do it without him. The reason is Joshua was in college at the time, so getting away for my adventures was a bit hard. After he graduated Josh was a broker for a while then he came to work for me n did a trip to Europe for me so I could stay home. After over 70 trips to Europe in 10 years I was getting kinda tired of it.
During those early trips with Josh a lot of European real-estate was covered. We drove all over in our little clown car. Here's the thing, in the USA you drive 2 hours usually your still in the same state, in Europe 2 hours n you are in another country. So we crossed a lot of borders.
The second thing about those first few trips in Europe was. Much as I had in Canada we did a lot of buying in stores retail as we traveled. Which could n did make all those border crossings interesting.
Somewhere in Eastern Europe Joshua n I drove up to a border crossing as we had many times before. As we pulled up to the booth, I swear to god these three eastern European border guards were in the booth hitting each other. Finally one stepped out and he was not happy with all the bags of pez dispensers. He made us dump them all out and show cash receipts. By the way these guys were carrying machine guns.
I noticed when bagging it all up that some of the Pez dispensers had vanished, but you usually don't argue with machine gun toting eastern European military. Austrian gun toting military ok, but not eastern European, especially not in 1994 only a few years after the wall came down. Old military habits and points of view die very hard. Anyway we were again on our way, though not before they said don't do this again. We did of course, but not ever again at that crossing.
After the first few trips I stopped buying in countries other than Hungary or Slovenia.
After Pez Outlaw, I intend to retire.
The reasons Pez Outlaw was targeted by Pez Corporation
My price guide is fun for beginners but if you want a real Pez Price Guide go here.
PEZ - JOHN CANDY DISPENSERS
jjpezpal.com
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