GIjOE collector, Tearle Ashby, is shown setting up his F-15 Strike Eagle cockpit diorama for a public display in the New York State Military History Museum, Saratoga Springs, NY. (Photo: US Army)
The unique museum display will feature figures from Tearle’s collection both in and out of the box, set up in realistic settings and poses. (Photo: US Army)
We receive a lot of emails here at The Joe Report, but when a U.S. Army colonel wrote in recently, we sat up extra straight and paid very close attention—yes, SIR! Col. Rich Goldenberg, the Public Affairs Officer for the Joint Forces HQ – New York National Guard of the Albany, New York area, wrote in to tell us about a new GIjOE exhibit currently on display at the New York State Military History Museum. We’re always thrilled to hear such news, and affirmed we would help pass it on to the rest of the GIjOE community. According to the Colonel…
“Our New York State Military History Museum has added a rotating exhibit of GIjOE from a local collector here in upstate New York. Many thanks to Tearle Ashby from Ballston Spa for lending his collection, his time and many of his Mint-in-Box items now opened and on display in Saratoga Springs. This is actually the second time that Tearle has provided his collection for public display. During the holiday season of 2004, it was first shown to the public to great reviews. Thought that readers of the Joe Report might be interested!”
Ashby’s vintage GIjOEs on display in the museum. Lookin’ sharp! (US Army)
According to an advance press notice from readMedia, the exhibit is titled, “Toys and Tanks” and is intended as a temporary holiday display, officially opened to the public on Tuesday, Dec. 11 (yesterday). The notice went on to say…
“The display will be a two-part exhibit featuring rare and vintage 1960s and 1970s GIjOE figures and accessories from collector Tearle Ashby’s extensive collection and military model dioramas of New York National Guard units which fought in World War II from the exhaustively researched collection of retired New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Paul Fanning. Both are Malta residents. The GIjOE section of the exhibit will include a video of period GIjOE commercials. A rare 1944 newsreel of the 27th Division in the Pacific will also be part of the exhibit.”
NYS Military Museum curator Courtney Burns assists Ashby with the arrangement of his collection. (Photo: US Army)
Ashby’s Tom Hanks figure has been set up and is ready for his closeup in the well-lit museum exhibit. (Photo: US Army)
Ashby poses his figures inside a B-17 gunner diorama. (Photo: US Army)
Bottom line: If you’re a GIjOE fan or collector and live anywhere on the East Coast, this sounds like a great road trip the whole family would enjoy. Hop in your car, go see a great Joe collection and help support the U.S. Army National Guard’s outreach efforts in that part of the country. If you’d like to learn more about Tearle Ashly, the Poststar wrote a terrific interview article about him HERE. Congratulations, Tearle. Best of luck with the exhibit. And thanks again for the intel, Colonel. Go, JOE! Go, ARMY!
