His Vintage Collection Was Stolen

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: A few years ago, a Long Island toy collector known as Large Everything in this room excites me. had a huge part of his collection stolen. Somebody broke into my storage unit. And man, did my heart sink to the bottom of my stomach. [00:00:12] Speaker 2: And since then, he's been rebuilding it piece by piece. Even then, I'm still kind of running out of room. Now, most people know him from his channel, Tats, Toons, and Toys. But outside of a few moments in those videos, nobody has seen this collection. [00:00:25] Speaker 1: I saved up money, I bought these, and it just brings you back to an easier, simpler time in life. [00:00:29] Speaker 2: So today, I'm taking you inside one of the most incredible Vintage Toy Collections ever rebuilt. [00:00:47] Speaker 1: Get the lights on. Holy. Not too shabby, huh? This place is insane. I gotta say, and like, not to sound like, full of myself, but like, everything in this room excites me. It really does. It's something, it's like my nostalgia cave. It just, being in this room just makes me so happy. It makes me, brings like, ease and like, relief. I love like, sitting in the room, like, at night or something. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Dude, I do that a lot of times. I'm done filming. I'll just literally just sit in here and just like, look around, and I'm like, this is worth it. [00:01:30] Speaker 2: Walking into this room, it was really hard to believe that so much of it had just been built from scratch over just two years. Ghostbusters and Ninja Turtles were always my favorite. That's where a lot of us start. I mean, Channel 6 News Van, this is incredible. You don't see that in box. [00:01:46] Speaker 1: No, but also, it's a clean box, too, man. This was the last line I was really pumped about getting. That was awesome. I got that card. Did I actually have a loose figure? Yeah, yeah, the Rock and Rolling Turtles. So, 100% complete mental card and 99% complete loose without just the Whitley White. And he is hard to find. I actually still have my actual office of Bochum and my Chad from my actual childhood. You know, if someone that knows about tomatoes, like, if you see a tomato with legs and arms, you know it's worth money. I paid like $130 for him, and the guy's a little bit of pink. My Super Looney Tunes, this is my favorite hat meal of all time. I vividly remember going with my father to, I think, a Mets game, and we stopped at McDonald's in Center Reach. I wanted to get the Superman Bunny, but I think I got the Batman Daffy Duck, and I was still super pumped about it. Like, the costumes just click right on. It was so cool. Nostalgia overload. Oh, man. Even, too, this Mario display is one of my favorite, but I didn't have these Happy Meals as a kid. My whole collection, maybe 5% of things in here are actually from my childhood. [00:02:37] Speaker 2: Honestly, 5% is a lot more than I have. This is the only toy I have remaining from my entire childhood. And actually, it's my cousin's. It's not even mine. [00:02:47] Speaker 1: Count Chalker might be one of my favorite pieces, for sure. The cereal box. Yep. This is awesome, because this was a banned version, because it has the star of David on. I don't know what it is, too, about that Count Chalker logo. It was so nostalgic to my childhood. It's just like... I mean, do these shirts actually exist somewhere? Because... I don't know. You think I could fit into that, though? I don't know. So, be real. What did you actually pay for this box? I think $400. Man, I don't want to be... What are we doing? I don't know, bro. What are we doing? It's crazy. It's crazy. It's crazy. [00:03:13] Speaker 2: Monster Turtles. Oh, my God. It's so good. [00:03:30] Speaker 1: But it wasn't something I collected as a kid. Like, I'm a RAF guy, but come on. This Invisible Mikey is so iconic, man. It's one of the coolest looking figures. Like, that see-through clear, like, gel. And this piece is so awesome. He goes for, like, $1,000 alone. [00:03:45] Speaker 2: That might be one of the cleanest collections of Universal Monster Turtles I've ever seen. Like, this is super nostalgic for me. Right. Everything about it. This Batcave. That's my Batcave. Oh, absolutely. [00:03:56] Speaker 1: This rock is just so legendary. I don't know what it is about this piece, but it's, like, my favorite piece from the Batcave. I mean, this is what I call my Keaton corner over here. Keaton is Batman. There is no other Batman. That is the Batman. Where does he get those wonderful toys? So, Turtles is, like, your first love. 100%. Well, it's, like, a tie between Ghostbusters and Turtles, but I think Turtles may take the cake for that. Who would have think to, like, put cookies in a coin bank? It's kind of random, but I like the fact that it's sealed and it's, and one's not, and they're both Leo. I remember this, seeing this kid, like, in elementary school. Kids, like, out during field day going outside, and they had this, like, one, and, like, I know it's pink, and, like, boys don't rock pink, but you know what? Real men rock pink. I think one is actually the best one. It's so vibrant, man. It's just, and it just screams 1990, bro. It's like, well, 1988, but still. So, no. I got the green one. They're not hard to find, but that Ghostbusters firehouse, even as, before I was a toy collector, I know I needed to have this at some point in my life box and just to have it to look at. My favorite place out of all time, hands down. That logo for Super Soaker Man, like, it's just, it does it for me. I'm on the hunt for that Super Soaker Man, though. That thing is so cool. Super Soaker Man, the robot with super soaker power. Just the packaging and the artwork, like, the mutations logo is everything, man. It's just, it's so cool. But I vividly remember having a really big love for these ones as a kid, for sure. [00:05:16] Speaker 2: What surprised me the most was how often our conversation drifted away from the toys and towards the art that sold them. [00:05:24] Speaker 1: You like carded. Yeah, I'm a carded guy. I mean, that's obvious. I'm a sucker for the card back artwork, man. You know what I mean? Just, like, the colors, the vibrancy, just, you know, everything about it. It's just, like, I don't know, I feel like it holds its value a little bit better. Were you paying attention to the card backs when you were young, that young? Or you kind of were, you got it, you ripped it open. Yeah, got it, ripped it open. Like, I really didn't appreciate the artwork until I just got older and became a better artist and became, like, more, like, seasoned in, like, graphic design as well. It can be really appealing to the eye, like, when it's laid out correctly and everything's placed evenly, you know what I mean? Do you think you care more about the figure or the card back? I'm going to say 50-50. The toy is awesome, I'm not going to be wrong, but, like, as a collector, like, you know, I'm not sitting there, like, playing with them. No. Or am I? Well, we play with it by, like, reorganizing. A hundred percent. It's just like, ah, look at that. This is me playing with my toys and just, like, just sitting there looking at them. It just makes you just feel good, you know what I mean? Like, I saved up money, I bought these, and it's just, like, it just brings you back to an easier, simpler time in life, you know? [00:06:20] Speaker 2: At this point, I understood how much all of this room meant to him. What I didn't realize was that almost all of this could have been gone just two years earlier. [00:06:30] Speaker 1: So, I've been in this room since May of 2024, but back in April 2024, I had a storage unit with all my collectibles in it. So, on the morning of April 7th, I pulled up to my storage unit to find my lock was broken. And, man, did my heart sink to the bottom of my stomach. Here's the broken lock from my storage unit. You can tell, it's all scratched up and beat up. This piece is now crooked, much harder to push. I had to bend it back. I opened up the storage gate and looked straight to the back and realized 52 of my carded Ninja Turtle figures were completely stolen. I'm talking $10,000 worth of turtles right out the window. Somebody broke into my storage unit. They stole all the Ninja Turtles. All of them. I was absolutely heartbroken. So, that very same day, I packed up all my stuff and got the hell out of that storage unit. There was no way I was waiting around for them to come back and steal even more stuff. And, you know, someone left a shotgun shell sitting on my floor right between everything. And about a month later, I found this place, and it's been pretty peaceful ever since. So, let's keep it that way. [00:07:40] Speaker 2: I don't know. After hearing that story, it's hard not to look at the entire collection differently because underneath all the shelves and the display cases, it's really just, like, the memories that everything in there is built on. And for most collectors, like myself, most of their strongest nostalgic memories come from being a kid around the holidays. [00:08:04] Speaker 1: Now, when the Easter Bunny would come to my house, I would usually get, like, a little toy with, obviously, some candy. And I really, really, really, really wanted Daryl. And it's weird, too. I'm a Crash Dubby snob. Like, I only like this run. Like, see how they have, like, just the basic, like, yellow and black checkers with, like, the one red. I wanted these so bad on Easter Sunday in 1991. I unfortunately did not get them. But I did get Peanut Butter Cups, so that was pretty cool, too. It's hard to deny that that is one of the best ones. Oh, I couldn't be with you more. This is the full 62 run. Tim Jacobus' artwork is, like, the moon, the grave. Like, this thing is just so awesome. Like, one of my goals is to meet Tim Jacobus eventually one day. You know, I got the mint on card Pogs. What are these toys? I think the batteries are dead here, but they make sound effects. It's just a 90s fever dream, and I'm all about it, man. I don't know what it is about the cereal, man, but it's just, and it's sealed, and it's, like, I would just love to just tear into this box. Honestly, it's probably still pretty good. Should we open it up and do it? No, I would be so upset about it. Start weeping. [00:09:03] Speaker 2: This video gets real weird. [00:09:05] Speaker 1: What do we got here? We got one, two, three, kid. My wife bought this for me for my 40th birthday, so that was definitely a pretty sweet 40th birthday present. The purple Razor Ramon with the gold chains. Yeah, nobody ever has the chains. No, it's so hard. Dude, that accessory alone is probably worth $120. Hey, yo. These are articulate. They move, like, they're smaller and more compact. They're easier to collect. LJN, they're dog toys, and they are weapons. Like, I mean, listen, I respect them for, like, where they hold in, like, the toy community and how many people love them and how valuable they are, but they're before my time. And like I said, they're just big, poseable dog toys. You know what I mean? [00:09:42] Speaker 2: Out of everything in this room, there was one thing that my eye just kept going back to. Hard to not notice what a lot of people consider one of the biggest grails in the toy world, [00:09:54] Speaker 1: which is the blank. Absolutely. But I'm a little bit upset with myself because I didn't pay attention to the eBay post. If you look a little closely, there's a little frosting on the arms, which I'm not the most thrilled with, but to say I have a mint on card, unpunched blank, I'm not really complaining, so I'm pretty happy about it. And I got it for a pretty decent deal. It wasn't that bad. So I got it, I think, for, like, $2,700. Actually, I spent more on this. I spent, I think, $2,400 on the turtle van. If I got all those other figures, like, I got to get the blank. And unfortunately, I think Dick Tracy's one of the most slept on 90s movies of all time. I mean, the colors, the cinematography in that movie, everything was phenomenal. Donna was a babe in that movie. But Donna now, not so much. She was like Jigsaw from the Saw movies. I'm the one to talk, though. I look like a fat Ninja Turtle. Where did you get this amazing, like, Count Chocula piece? Oh, that's, I definitely made that. You made this? I'm pretty pumped about that. Yeah, it's one of my favorite pieces, prints I've made up. You just have a ton of artwork in here. Yeah, this is not a print I made. I just found that off the Etsy, but it's just so cool looking. You got the, also, a few animation cells, right? Yeah, that's actually not an animation cell. That's actually a reproduction from this guy, Pizza Plasm. And I got this awesome piece from the goat, Froggy Flips. An actual first production of Spike the Bulldog, July 11th, 1941, from the MGM cartoon department. I was gifted that from Froggy Flips. That's iconic. Dude, it was, like, I literally had a lump in my throat when I got that. Like, you know, as a 2D animator, this thing is, like, cartoon history right there. And I'm so pumped to have it in my collection. It's not even funny. Oh, so you're doing animation? Yeah, I do 2D animation as well. My most notable piece is probably Partying Your Stomach from Jim Brewer. Hey, Stomach, what's up, man? You're also a tattoo artist. Mm-hmm. [00:11:36] Speaker ?: Yeah. [00:11:37] Speaker 1: And is that what you do for a living? Yes, I do. Okay, how long have you been tattooing? Tattooing now, professionally, for 18 years. All right, bro, you ready? [00:11:46] Speaker 2: Do you remember, like, one, it could even be music or toy or anything, that, like, inspired you to want to then create? Oh, and, like, you know what? Yeah, absolutely. Start drawing. [00:11:56] Speaker 1: And it's the Grateful Dead Steal Your Face logo. Oh, no. Both my uncles were good artists, and they were deadheads. And that Steal Your Face logo pretty much got me into, like, you know, I was in first grade drawing skulls and roses. Like, I was destined to tattoo, bro, let's be honest. I can tattoo these Ghostbusters or Ninja Turtles or Batman designs or anything that, like, and then just, like, having every aspect of, like, the nostalgia nerd in me, whether, like I said, whether it's toys or, like, pop culture, video games, like, anything that, like, reminds me of being a happier kid and happy adult, too. But it's being a simpler, happier time in my life, you know, so it all ties into it perfectly. I got a buddy of mine that wants me to do the Hasbro Macho Man Randy Savage. His first favorite Hasbro he ever got as a kid, he wants that tattooed on him. I'm like, you have to let me do that tattoo, bro. It's, like, it's inevitable. I'm going to do it. I did it for 14 years and owned a shop with a bunch of people, and I had the best crew ever, but it was just time for me to, like, just change stuff up. And I'm a lot more closer to home now, so it kind of works out better, so I have, like, a smaller solo studio, which is perfect. Is it nearby? Yeah, it's about, like, 15 minutes away. Will you go see it? Do you really want to go see the tattoo studio? I would love to, yeah. I think we can make this happen. Do you have any tattoos that are, like, toy pop culture related? So I got The Punisher, my man Frank Castle, then you got Alec Holland, a.k.a. Swamp Thing, my two favorite comic book characters. Show me that beautiful SpongeBob tattoo. Ooh, check it! My first year into tattooing. It still healed up pretty good, though, from 17 years old, probably. If you couldn't tattoo anymore, like, where would all that energy go? What would you be doing? Probably animation, but the thing is, like, the animation is such, like, I mean, like, tattooing, I'm so established at, you know, I have a really large clientele. Like, I would like to animate for a living. I mean, that'd be awesome, like, to fill the void. But, like, I gave up my life to tattooing, you know? I lost my job. I lost my girlfriend at the time. I lost my car at the time. Like, everything. Just to get a tattoo apprenticeship. And the original mentor kicked me to the curb. I taught myself how to tattoo. Saved my life, honestly. That's why I'm so thankful to be, you know. If you're good to tattooing, tattooing will be really good to you. A tattooer who collects toys or a toy collector who tattoos. The thrill of the hunt's awesome, but the thrill of also putting a tattoo on someone that's going to mark them for the rest of their life and them trusting me to do that. Like, that's a thrill in itself, too. So, and it's also, it's like a cool bonding moment. That's something, like, I put on something for you for the rest of your life that you're always going to have that. Like, unless you get it covered up or lasered, like, that's going to the grave with you. You know what I mean? So, it's like, it's like a bonding moment. [00:14:28] Speaker 2: The more time I spend with Large, the more it's obvious that he's not really just collecting the toys. He's collecting the art, the characters, the designs, all the things that have kind of made him who he's become. Which really makes me wonder why the 80s and 90s. Is that because it's a connection to your childhood? [00:14:47] Speaker 1: Or do you specifically also love the design of that era of toys? I think it's definitely both because, you know, like, I'm an 80s baby, but I'm a 90s kid. I grew up a little bit in the 80s. Like, the half, the last five years of the 80s, I was a baby. But, like, I still, like, you know, because even the Ghostbusters, that's, I think, 87, 88. And then, like, you know, but also I grew up really fond into, like, the early 90s turtles. Like, the undercover Don, like, that's probably my favorite turtle, which is probably the most wild thing to say since I'm a RAF guy. But I've always been so drawn to that. My main goal one day is to eventually get all the undercover turtles. But I don't have $25,000 just to blow on four undercover turtles carded. But I'm not going to drop a money I would pay on a house. Yeah, exactly. Look at these four cool turtles. [00:15:26] Speaker 2: And divorce. [00:15:27] Speaker 1: Yeah, and divorce. Stamp on the sign. [00:15:31] Speaker 2: And the collection may never be finished. But honestly, it's kind of the fun of it. [00:15:43] Speaker 1: I don't know. I'm just wondering where, oh, there's retro slack. [00:15:46] Speaker 2: If you enjoyed looking inside Large's amazing collection, you've got to check out his YouTube channel, Tats, Toons, and Toys. I have so much coming on this channel, the most I've ever had at one time. So subscribe and like, stay tuned, and we will see you out there. So how's the wife and kids doing? [00:16:06] Speaker 1: Everything going good? That's good. So I heard you're sober now.