Boggle Heads and Beer Mugs

I'm not sure whether I'm just jealous or simply disappointed. Our recent trip to Las Vegas included a stop at the renowned pawnshop that's the basis for the television series, "Pawn Stars." I've seen the shop there many times even before the show began. Every time I passed it on the walk from the strip to the downtown area, it caught my eye. On the way back to the hotel with my wallet emptier than the walk downtown, I considered stopping into the shop to see if I had anything of value to garner a few extra dollars for the slots.

The "pre-television show" days of the pawnshop brought in people hunting for a bargain or hoping to make a few dollars from a precious item, at least until payday. Today, it is one of the destinations to visit when going to Las Vegas. According to one of the security personnel, the shop traffic went from 100-150 a day to approximately 3,000 visitors a day. Most of the visitors were simply curious and if they bought anything, it wasn't the antique gold ring behind the counter but a refrigerator magnet or other memento of the shop.

The shop is located in an area lacking the glitz and glamour of the strip or downtown Freemont Street. In fact, it's the area where I picked up the pace significantly until I made it to the brightly lit neon section of the Strip. I've always felt comfortable walking in Vegas. My comfort came from the fact that the Mafia originally had a foothold in Vegas and they weren't going to let anything happen to their money machines, the tourists. Mobsters can't be everywhere all the time, so this area of Las Vegas Blvd was the place to test my power walking speed.

The outside of the shop is simple and the parking lot is small, much smaller than it seems on television. The customer area of the store is a shotgun design with a long straight walk down the middle. To the north side of that is the business area where the final transactions take place. You can snap pictures of anything in the store, except that area. It makes sense. If you were desperate for money and didn't want the family to know you pawned Great Aunt Helen's necklace, you'd be reluctant to do business in a spot with flashing cameras.

While the counter contained jewelry and pawned items, the side walls and center had a collection of bobble heads, sweatshirts, pictures, refrigerator magnets and beer mugs with the "Pawn Star" logo or pictures of the cast. You could purchase an "I love Chumlee" t-shirt, a bobble head of the "Old Man," Rick on a beer mug or a refrigerator magnet with the photo of "Big Hoss," Corey, Rick's son. I really don't love any of the characters but if just one of five daily visitors did, the profit from these items had to be enormous.

Frankly, I was disgusted. Partially because I hate bobble heads. Those bouncing heads on plastic bodies repulse me. Partially because I really wanted more than just another tourist trap. Mostly because I was jealous. I want my own television show accenting my business. It might be a little slow at first as the camera pans down the basement steps into the recesses of my computer room.

Sure, people would gag at the trash that accumulated on the desk and the piles of dead cigarette butts next to the coffee cups, but they would fall in love with my staff. Jessee, my irrepressible critic that gripes continuously has the personality of the "Old Man" on "Pawn Stars." He should because he's close to twenty and that's old for a cat.

They'd laugh at my inept helper Rocky (whose personality is similar to Chumlee on speed) as he attempts to type along with me creating havoc where he goes. Just like Chumlee, he does his best but even the cat's best isn't good enough for the world of writing. I wouldn't make bobble heads of my helpers but I might add a few refrigerator magnets and t-shirts for sale.

Yes, I am jealous and a little disappointed. I'm not certain what I wanted to see at the Gold and Silver Pawnshop but I didn't find it on this visit. I also didn't buy any items.

Rick pitched his idea for many months before he found a taker, now it's paying off in big dividends. I just want the same. So, if anyone wants to create a television reality show about a 62 year old writer who lives in the winter with a bathrobe atop her clothes for warmth and writes in a basement with two cats as her companions, I'm volunteering.