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Mamma mia!
I'm hunting on behalf
of my biggest client ever -- Gene Simmons.
I've been collecting all this for 40 years.
I sent for you because I thought you were special.
JORDAN: And now I'm gonna have to stay focused...
Oh, wait. You got lunch boxes.
[ As Fat Albert ] Hey, hey, hey!
...or else I'm toast.
I need something like this really badly.
How much is it actually worth?
I'm gonna give you $60.
That's a tough piece to get.
You may be the wrong guy.
I'm not the wrong guy.
I'm Jordan Hembrough.
For over 25 years, toys have been my life.
Found something I want.
My mission is to explore the country...
Do you know how much I can get for this?
...finding fortunes buried in your toy chests,
at flea markets, auctions, and mega conventions.
I just touched a $17,000 toy?
-- Captions by VITAC --
JORDAN: They call me the Toy Hunter.
Closed Captions provided by Scripps Networks, LLC.
Today, I'm taking you to a flea market.
JORDAN: I don't know, Steve.
I just can't see anything that I want at a flea market.
No, but you don't understand. Flea markets are where it's at.
You're shoulder-to-shoulder with competition.
Steve is always talking about flea markets.
If I find something that's really cool,
man, I'm on top of it.
I don't think they're really that big of a deal.
I mean, every now and then, you will find something,
but they are definitely hit-or-miss.
I think you're crazy.
This is Jordan. Can I help you?
SIMMONS: Hi, Jordan. It's Gene Simmons calling.
Huh?
Gene Simmons from KISS. Gene Simmons.
JORDAN: Gene Simmons -- "The Demon," the bassist...
I was born onstage, and I'm gonna die onstage.
JORDAN: ...the international businessman behind KISS.
Let me tell you about the business that is KISS.
All right. It's an honor.
SIMMONS: You're the collector guy
that gets obscure stuff, right?
I am the collector guy.
I'm actually looking for a few pieces
that I don't have that might wow me.
Okay, well, let me see.
Is there anything in particular you're looking for,
or do you have any kind of budget in mind?
I'd like you to surprise me.
I can do that. I can definitely surprise you.
Surprise Gene Simmons?
The guy practically invented merchandising.
What I'm gonna do is text you some specifics,
Thank you, Gene.
Oh, my God.
I can't believe it!
How'd he get your number?
[ Laughing ] I don't know how he got my number.
I guess he's Gene Simmons.
I guess he can get anyone's number.
He probably was sitting in his office going,
"Get me Jordan Hembrough," and, like...
JORDAN: Man, I do not carry
a lot of KISS merchandise in my inventory,
but Gene Simmons would be my biggest client ever,
so I got to find some KISS stuff, stat.
Hang on.
Wait a minute.
He wants this stuff before he leaves for his concert,
and he leaves in three days.
There's a good chance, at the flea market,
we may come out with something really good.
All right. I'll take a chance.
Ahh! Flea market, here we come.
Hello.
Welcome to my world now.
I've been going to flea markets for years.
It's a perfect place to go picking
for pop culture and tons of toys.
You got to be quick to the draw
because everybody's trying to get a good deal.
What do I owe the pleasure of this visit?
How you doing?
MIKE: This particular show, I come every month.
There's a lot of deals to be found here.
It's always unpredictable.
I got Disney pins, DVDs, new stuff, old stuff.
STEVE: He just doesn't focus on one thing.
Steve didn't tell me the flea market would have stuff like this.
Mike is bound to have KISS stuff I'm looking for,
but it's gonna be hard for me to stay focused,
because I've got to look through all this other great stuff first.
Here's a sleeper.
Planet of the Apes Action Stallion by Mego.
That's the riding one, right?
This one works, too, doesn't it?
This one does work, yeah.
I'm happy this 1970s toy still works, because it's pretty cool.
Kids would place the Action Stallion in a playset,
strap in an ape, and let the remote make it come alive.
It was a great accessory
that helped the toy line capture the magic of the movie.
It had -- what -- three sequels?
"Planet of the Apes,"
"Beneath the Planet of the Apes,"
"Escape from Planet of the Apes."
How many sequels?
"Conquest" and then "Battle."
A lot of monkey business going on.
[ Laughter ]
That was so corny, I didn't even want to say it.
JORDAN: When I think of "Planet of the Apes,"
I think makeup.
Makeup artist John Chambers actually studied
the facial expressions of apes at the L.A. Zoo
while designing the prosthetics the actors used in the film.
These guys really got into character.
It took them so long to get into makeup
that when they'd actually go on lunch break,
they'd all, like, have their makeup on.
And they all started breaking off
into little groups together -- all the actors --
but the chimpanzees would all go and eat with the chimpanzees.
The gorillas would all go eat --
Yeah.
They just turned around, like, "Hey, we're all gorillas here."
Jordan tends to get a little excited
when he finds a toy that he likes.
"Look at all the chimpanzees over there."
But we don't have any time to waste, unless it's KISS,
so I got to keep him moving.
Tell me, what do you think this is worth?
If you want to do $325, I'm content with that.
Good one.
JORDAN: Ah, you got to be kidding me.
[ Laughs ] Mamma mia!
You've got a Vespa at your booth.
Made by National in the early '60s.
You do not see vintage Vespa pedal cars that often.
I got to have it.
[ Horn squeaks ]
This is like the premier mode of European transportation.
You drive a Vespa, you're cool, man.
Vespas are Italian scooters that hit the streets in the 1940s.
They're colorful, cost-effective,
and have been popular with trendsetters,
like the Black Eyed Peas, ever since.
What do you got to get on something like this?
I'll tell you what -- You come up with $1,000, you can have it.
You take a check?
Yeah. I'll take your check.
Okay.
Grazie.
I've got two great finds here,
but now I've got to focus on the mission at hand -- KISS.
Show me the KISS. Show me the KISS.
Aha! Steve, I think I see something KISS.
Are these yours?
That's one of the little things I have hidden everywhere.
It's KISS underwear. 1998.
Are you from the 1920s?
It's just like ***. It's a little more delicate.
In the 1970s, screen-printed underwear
exploded in popularity with children.
Underoos was a line of graphic tops and bottoms
that transformed children
into their favorite comic-book characters.
Since then, underwear apparel has branched out
into movies, TV shows, and even rock bands such as KISS.
I've got a better chance of hooking Gene
with a wide range of collectibles.
And since I haven't seen these in a while,
there's a chance he hasn't, either.
What do you got to get on these?
$30 for the four.
Thank you. Ow.
I got to hand it to Steve.
This flea market is overflowing
with toys and pop-culture memorabilia.
I'll get you.
But I got to stay focused on KISS.
Doug Greenwald.
DOUG: My name is Douglas Greenwald.
I bring my son to the flea market.
Harry and I make great business partners.
You do the show with your dad?
So much fun.
I like to collect anything --
Mad magazine, Mad books.
Really?
What's the best thing on your table
that I have to look at today?
Around this section?
Okay. Let me take a look around.
Fat Albert.
[ As Fat Albert ] Hey, hey, hey! Brush your teeth!
[ Normal voice ] Oh, wait. You got lunch boxes.
Lunch boxes. I didn't know you had these.
I love lunch boxes. I have a couple hundred at home.
That's a lot of lunch.
I enjoy my lunch.
[ Laughs ]
This is the Gomer Pyle lunch box --
Aladdin Industries, 1966.
This is vintage.
STEVE: Jim Nabors was a great guy.
Well, he started on "The Andy Griffith Show."
He was a mechanic.
And then he went off to join the military.
"Gomer Pyle" was like a spin-off of "The Andy Griffith Show."
Gomer Pyle belonged to a prestigious list
of TV characters that got their own successful spin-offs.
He's up there with Frasier from "Cheers,"
Mork from "Happy Days", and more recent stars
like Stephen Colbert from "The Daily Show."
Even though it's not KISS,
lunch boxes are great pieces of pop-culture memorabilia,
and they're guaranteed sales.
$70 it is.
Thanks, private.
Thank you. Thank you.
This lunch box is awesome,
but I can't leave here with just KISS underwear.
I got to find more KISS stuff.
STEVE: Jordan, check it out -- some more KISS.
This is the KISS View-Master reel from the 1970s.
This is exactly what I need for Gene.
I have to have this.
Hi. Yeah?
I was looking at this.
I want to buy this.
I got, like, a really, really important client --
And I have an important View-Master collection.
I'm asking $50 for it.
Wait. Wait. Wait. I'm gonna pay more than him.
I just bought it for $50.
Hey, toy fans, check out travelchannel.com
for the latest in my toy tricks and tips.
JORDAN: Steve and I are in Wayne, New Jersey,
scouring the flea markets for some rare KISS pieces
for Gene Simmons,
and I think this View-Master reel
may be just what I'm looking for,
but I think I got some competition.
Hey, I'm Jordan.
I don't mean to give you a hard time.
No, no, no. I don't, either.
I mean, I go crazy for View-Master.
I got, like, a really, really important client.
Listen. I have a large collection of View-Master.
No, but I'm --
In 1979, View-Master was at its height,
and they were producing all kind of packets
on different various -- everything.
I have 50,000 reels, but I don't have this sealed.
You know, normally, I wouldn't dream
of taking a toy away from someone this passionate,
but for a client as big as Gene Simmons,
I'm taking the gloves off.
How much are you asking on the View-Master?
Sold.
Wait. Wait. Wait.
I would give $60 for it. I would give $60.
No, no, no. You said $50. I'm gonna give you $60.
I go $75.
We'll give you $100.
Sheldon, I'm sorry.
I just really, really need it for a guy.
I'll tell you what. If I find one sealed, I'll call you.
I'll give you $75. You find one for me.
No, no, no. We're good.
Can I have a hug?
Okay. Now I feel better. Now I feel better.
Nice meeting you. Bye-bye, Sheldon.
[ Sighs ]
Steve wasn't kidding about the competition at these flea markets.
I got to tell you -- I haven't fought this hard for a toy
since I was on the playground.
There is definitely more to this flea market than I thought,
but I got to keep pushing
to find something that's gonna impress Gene.
What are you guys interested in today?
You got any other KISS stuff?
Actually, we do. We have a very large KISS comic.
JORDAN: Come on!
Biggest KISS comic in the world.
It's in the "Guinness Book of World Records."
STEVE: What'd I tell you? What'd I tell you?
You know how big the coffee table has to be that you put this on?
Anything that KISS does, they do it big.
This thing is unique,
and if Gene doesn't have it already, he's gonna want it.
What are you looking on this?
I'll do it for $100.
All right. Enjoy.
This is the one. I just know it.
And with that, it's closing time at the Wayne toy show.
At Mike's, Steve picked up
the Planet of the Apes Action Stallion for $325,
and it should trot off for $500.
And I got the vintage Vespa pedal car for 1,000 bucks.
And after a tune-up, I'll put her out for a cool 2 grand.
At Doug's, I got the Gomer Pyle lunch box for 70 bucks.
And with a matching thermos -- shazam --
I'll sell it for $250.
And surprisingly,
I got three very different KISS collectibles for 230 bucks.
I paid a little more than I wanted to on all of them,
but for a rock-'n'-roll god like Gene Simmons,
I just had to take some risks.
I just hope I didn't get anything that he already has.
[ Ringing ]
SIMMONS: Hi. It's Gene Simmons.
Hey, Gene. Jordan. How are you?
I'm fine, thank you.
I got you a larger-than-life comic book
from Platinum Studios.
I have those.
When we do the comic books,
we get every single page of original art.
This comic book was in the "Guinness Book of World Records."
It was my white whale.
Look what else I found.
Jordan, I can't talk to you right now. Bye.
[ Dial tone ]
[ Sighs ] He's got the comic.
I only have one day left. I've got to make it count.
Yeah.
Me and Steve have finally found a collector out on Long Island,
and she may have the goods.
Now, she's a rock-'n'-roll mom,
so I am praying she has something for Gene Simmons.
Oh, hello.
Hi. I'm Blake.
Hey, kid.
Mom's in the basement.
Oh, here we go. We're going down the hatch.
You're used to it.
Jordan!
I'm Vicky.
Being a rock-'n'-roll goddess in the '80s, I had a ball.
So through my collecting, it brings me back.
You know, I want to save up
for my son Blake's future and college.
All right, rock-'n'-roll mom,
there's supposed to be some KISS stuff here,
so let's see it.
How long you been collecting KISS?
I would say 1997.
This is promising, but it's just not rare enough.
Let me keep digging.
[ Steve laughs ]
"That's no moon!" Never mind.
Michael Jackson.
I was a Michael Jackson crazy fan.
STEVE: Did I miss the memo
that Michael Jackson is the fifth member of KISS?
A vintage belt.
Buttons were, like, huge back in the '80s.
They made millions of these.
They made buttons out of everything
back in the 1970s and '80s.
But since that time,
music companies have moved way, way past that.
They are doing everything now
from Lady Gaga cookies to One Direction headphones.
Michael Jackson memorabilia
is as timeless and prevalent as his music,
and I'm sure I will have no problem
selling these collectibles to some lucky fan.
You know, I normally buy toys, but I don't know -- $20.
We'll through in the belt for $25.
Yeah. $25. I'm gonna shake on it. There you go.
This is my last chance to find something for Gene,
and I am running out of boxes.
STEVE: These are nice. I like these.
Little too new for me.
Tiffany Taylor. I got to take a pass.
All right. Nothing in there.
I got this feeling she's holding out on me.
What's in that box?
Um, that's just for my friend.
It says "KISS" on it.
It's just a very rare toy, but it's already his.
Can I see it?
No?
No.
Yes.
Yes.
Can I please see it?
You can see it.
I'm getting a lot of money for that.
JORDAN: I'm hanging with Vicky,
a rock-'n'-roll mom in Long Island,
and I'm searching for toys for the one and only Gene Simmons.
And I think I may have just found the perfect piece for him.
This is the AHI remote-controlled KISS van.
It was done in 1978.
It's an incredibly, incredibly rare toy.
This is the radio-controlled van.
Radio-controlled runs on, like, radio waves through the air.
Remote-controlled is tethered. That's when you have the cord.
And then there's sonic-controlled,
which goes by, like, a clicking sound -- like an old TV set.
This van hearkens back to the early days of KISS,
and it's this type of hard-to-find piece
I bet Gene is looking for.
I've got a client.
He's very important to my business,
and I really want to keep him.
I want to keep my friend, too, though.
Can I ask you what he's giving you on it?
He's giving me $700.
Having to match $700 is tough,
but I'm out of time,
and finding a van like this in the box is extremely rare.
There's a chance Gene doesn't have this,
and that's a risk I'm just willing to take.
I'd probably go up to $900.
Well, how much is it actually worth?
They're worth about $1,600.
Oh, my gosh.
How about $1,000?
$1,100?
Next time I'm in town,
I'll buy your friend dinner -- and you and Blake.
Okay.
Yes.
Yes. $1,100.
You're welcome.
[ Chuckles ]
[ Smooches ] Nice.
Vicky's rock-'n'-roll past
might have just given me a bright rock-'n'-roll future.
I got a series of Michael Jackson buttons for $25,
and I hope to sell the entire set for $40.
And I got the radio-controlled KISS van for $1,100.
If this doesn't impress Gene, I don't know what will.
I paid a little more than I wanted to for these KISS items,
but if Gene likes what I got, it'll all be worth it.
And if he doesn't, I'm gonna be taking a big loss here.
So, here I am in L.A. I'm going to see Gene Simmons.
And this is the biggest meeting of my life.
I've spent close to $1,500 on KISS stuff
that Gene may or may not already have.
But you know what? I am staying positive.
And I'm walking out of here with Gene Simmons as my new client.
This house is, like, bigger than the whole town I grew up in.
[ Knock on door ]
It's like a cathedral.
Yeah?
Gene? Jordan.
SIMMONS: I'm Gene Simmons.
I'm that weird-looking guy with the long tongue.
I'll walk with you so you don't get lost.
Nice ***.
Thank you very, very much. I've been working out.
JORDAN: I can't believe this! This is Gene Simmons!
He's been a cultural icon since the 1970s.
This is incredible.
And I'm about to see the thousands of pieces
of memorabilia he has to prove it.
This is so cool!
Are you [bleep] kidding me?!
Settle down. Don't get excited.
SIMMONS: I've been collecting all this for 40 years.
As soon as we started, we started doing t-shirts,
belt buckles, anything you could imagine.
There's about 2,800 licensed products here.
And the fans love it. I mean, look at this.
Hello Kitty. Look at that -- The Demon.
These are the prototypes.
This was given to me by the king's guard -- Romania.
That'll take off somebody's head.
All right. Do I look like you?
It's good to be me.
The fans gobbled them up. They still do.
It's bigger now than ever.
Nice! I feel tall.
Yeah?
...you kick your feet up high,
and then you come down like that.
Go way down. Little further back.
Little fur-- No. Not that far.
Ah! I think I just pulled something, Gene!
[ Laughs ] Ah, that's great.
Yeah, why don't you get out of that?
'Cause I want to see what you brought me.
All right. Moment of truth.
I've kept you in suspense enough.
You know what it is? I just -- I like talking to you, man.
It's just -- You know why?
I don't know when you're gonna have me out again.
All right. All right. All right. All right.
So, the first thing we got is -- Are you familiar with these?
Yeah, yeah. I got this.
I've got the full set.
This is just a special thing, and then there was another one
I know.
Oh, man. Strike one.
I got you. I got you. Hang on, my man.
Look, look, look, look, look.
These -- still in the package.
I looked at them. I didn't find them.
I've got these. I've got an entire box.
Oh [bleep] You may be the wrong guy.
I'm not the wrong guy.
I sent for you because I thought were special.
Got your own TV show and stuff,
I got you. I got you.
I'm not the wrong guy.
I'm not the wrong guy.
And this is how I'm gonna prove to you I'm not the wrong guy.
Oh, this is -- this -- this -- this -- this --
Oh, boy. This is mint condition.
Now, I didn't see one of those around.
Let me just check to make sure it's real.
Yeah, it sure is.
You didn't have one of these in your case.
This is really what you were looking for.
I remember -- 1978, we were in New York City,
and KISS was just climbing into the stratosphere --
before all this --
and the first few things that we got,
we just couldn't believe it.
Is this something you're interested in?
No, I'm just drooling because you're here.
$1,600.
And I promise the next time you need something really rare,
I'll be the only guy you need to call.
I'm thinking there's something better
than this 1,600-buck thing that you have in your mind.
Yeah.
You know what? Stay here. I'll bring it in.
JORDAN: Did I do something wrong?
Where are you?
I'm here.
[ Laughs ] Are you serious?
Come on over.
Yeah!
Can you write, "To my friend Jordan"?
Oh.
You passed with flying colors.
You delivered the goods. That's what I asked for.
So you did good. You did good.
So I'm gonna give you this.
You can put it up in your store.
And then hopefully you call on me again.
I would like that.
Even though Gene didn't buy any of the KISS stuff I brought,
I have to look at this as a long-term investment.
I'm coming out of this trip with a major rock-star client,
and there's no telling where this relationship will lead
somewhere down the line.
Plus, I'm coming home
with a signed gold record from Gene Simmons.
And experiences like this are priceless.
You know what I'm interested in?
The prototypes --
One of a kind.
One of a kind of me.
Then we've got a conversation. Does that sound good?
It's a deal.
You're a powerful and attractive man.
Thank you. Thank you. You've got very soft hands.
Okay. Thank you.
I got a gold record!
JORDAN: Today was a good day.
I love you, Gene!
Do you have a toy that you think should be featured on our show?
Go to "Toy Hunter" at travelchannel.com
to submit your toy today.
You never know. We might take the hunt to you.