In 1998 I was working for The Player magazine traveling around the country selling ads and setting up distribution. I have no idea why but I began pocketing $1 chips, matchbooks, pens and paper memorabilia from every casino I visited. Before too long I had a drawer full. I was living in Ocean City, NJ and saw an ad for a casino memorabilia show at the Ocean City Music Pier. I decided to attend and found a bunch of people who did the same thing. The show was promoted by Bob Mera who had a store in the Ocean One Mall in Atlantic City. One of the first tables I visited was Jim Episale who had a booth full of casino stuff,and I mean FULL! And I vividly remember seeing a bunch of people trading chips and casino stuff for same. It was so awesome I joined the club before I left the show. The rest is history!