Monday, November 19, 2007

Orange County Swapmeet

orange county swapmeetAn anonymous OCThen reader submits a memory about going to the Orange County Swapmeet...

Does anyone remember the Orange County Marketplace in Costa Mesa? (The OC fair grounds) In the late 80's my parents would take me and my sisters to the swapmeet and we'd shop there all day. I don't think we ever got to finish walking the entire swapmeet. I used to save my allowances for weeks because I knew I would find lots of things there and wanted to be ready when I did. My favorite part about going to this swapmeet was the Old Fashion Ice Cream Bars. Yumm! 1/2 almonds and the other 1/2 chocolate sprinkles.
The Orange County Swapmeet was a place our family visited a lot during the late 1970's. We had relocated to Santa Ana in 1978, coming up from San Diego. The swapmeet was where my folks would find stuff for the house.

Back then, most of the vendors were still folks trying to get rid of junk in their garages. They'd lay out everything out, and we'd pick through it.

Many times we'd find something old that someone was selling, and which triggered a fond memory of something else years ago. My step-dad would talk to the seller about it, and they'd share some memories together and some laughs. That's part of what going to the swapmeet was about, to peruse all this old stuff that you don't see anymore, and maybe find something valuable.

Now it's all different. The vendors are all businesses who find the swapmeet a cheap way to market their inventory. It's not much different than going to a shopping mall, except you have to pay to get in, and you don't get elevator music or air-conditioning.

The last time I went to the Orange County Swapmeet was in September 2001; I bought one of those Thomas Kinkade "knock off" paintings that they make in China to hang above my fireplace.

I understand these days the OC Swapmeet has become more like a fair, with lots more entertainment, rides, shows, karaoke contests. And I guess for that matter, it's almost like going to an amusement park. For what it is, I guess that's great. I still remember the old swapmeets where you could take a stroll down memory lane.

16 comments:

  1. I have 2 things to say about the OC Swap meet: shiny ski glasses and skateboard parts. I begged to go to the swap meet to look for these 2 items every week, even when I had no money or didn't need anything.

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  2. Remember it well! I used to sell there for awhile. Indian jewelry that I used to make. I would bring my friend Terry along, We would go the evening before and park our car in the long line. Then lock it up, head for, I think it was called Corona Lanes? A bowling alley on Harbor. We would bowel all night long and of course drink beer, then as it got light head back to the car. I remember getting some pretty weird look from the shoppers at 6 in the mourning. they would say, "isn't it a little early to be drinking? and we would say "nope, a little late actually!!
    Stan Chamnes

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  3. I remember the OC Swapmeet. My last visits were in the 80s, at that time it seemed that once you walked half way through the vendors you saw nearly everything being sold. Many of the vendors were selling the same goods. There was one vendor that I remember well, he was an old oriental man that sold a vegetable chopper. This man would draw quite a crowd with his lively demonstration.

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  4. I remember when they started carrying plastic coat hangers, those were all the rage. Going and picking out your 10 or 12 (can't remember how many they sold for a buck) in your favorite color.

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  5. hey! the asian guy selling knives was "chop chop"! no kiddin, that's what he called himself! he was hilarious! good show, lively, lots of cut up produce! dude shoulda cooked, he woulda made a lotta money! the chinese food at the marketplace sucked then! those were some times. bought my india style print parachute pants there in '91. (oops did i say that out loud?)

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  6. Wow! that is the best memory of the orange county swap meet! The Chop chop man! How funny is this web site, i love it!

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  7. I have been trying to track down the chop chop guy for a while. there is NOTHING on the internet about him. Anyone have any leads?

    "Back and forth, back and forth! Keep on going back and forth!"

    "New York! L.A.! Back and forth, back and forth!"

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    1. WOW, I was thinking of his this week. I have been on my hands and knees cleaning grout with a grout brush. Back and forth. It made me start saying back and forth back and forth keep going back and forth. NY to LA back and forth. Of course I then thought of Mr chop chop. I too have been looking for him on the internet. Hoped I would find a youtube video. I have not lived in Orange County since 72 but would always go to the swap meet when I would go see my parents and family. Last time I was there was 2 years ago. Brings back such fond memories starting as a teenager. I doubt Mr Chop Chop is alive today.

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  8. I was told several years ago that the "Chop Chop Man" died of a heart attack.

    By the way, there used to be a vendor who sold tools. He had the largest inventory of tools at the OC Marketplace. He's now located in Las Vegas at the "Fantastik" swapmeet on Decatur and Oakey. I just happened to see him by chance.

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  9. The Chop-Chop man!!! I loved him. To this day if someone talks about having to go back and forth somewhere his chant rings in my head. If shared the "back-n-forth, back-n-forth, keep on going back and forth" (done with accent, of course) with many people. Even without ever witnessing him in person, people find it catchy and endearing. He's been immortalized.

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  10. There is a band from Costa Mesa with the guys in their late 30's that sing a song about the "Chop Chop Man" from the OC swap meet. The bands name is "Dead End Road", the song is "Chop Chop Man" of course. Check them out at www.deadendroad.net or on Facebook under dead end road band. The song has been around for many years now. They perform at the OC Fair each year and do the song. It's great.

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  11. Here's a video of Dead End Road playing Chop Chop Man at the OC Fair last year:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkz1_ZC2uE8

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  12. Does anyone remember the guy with the monkey who would shake your hand for a quarter? I loved going to the marketplace in the nineties just to see the monkey. What ever happened to them?

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    1. I forgot about that but I do!

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  13. I remember going to the OC Swap Meet in 1991/92. I remember there were a lot of people selling Mexican ponchos, CDs, I think juicers? (the juicing craze had begun), books, baggy beach pants (which were hideous but popular at that time)...I remember I bought a laminated poster of L.A. from outer space. Fun times. :-)

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  14. My boyfriend though I was crazy when I told him about the Chop Chop man & sang his song. Thanks for helping me relive the memories!!

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