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6SmokeSignalsHIGHNOONChuckStormesdoingshowstobeexhaustinganddecidedinsteadtojumpintorentingspaceatantiquemallsthroughouttheNorthwest.HehadmallspacesinIdahoWashingtonandOregonandburnedthroughseveraltrucksoverthenextseveralyearsmanagingandworkinghisbusinesses.Butthatwasntenough.Healsohadthisideatocreateacatalogofhiscollectionthathewouldsend4timesayeartohiscustomers.NowbeforetheeaseofcomputersheandKarlaandhisdaughterwouldpainstakinglytakephotosofeverythingwiththeirPolaroidtypethecopyuppastethephotosdownXeroxthecopiespayhisdaughter1foreachstampshelickedandmailedthemofftheoldfashionedway.Thishadahugeimpactonhisalreadythrivingbusiness.NowbetweencatalogsandantiquemallsthroughouttheNorthwestyouwouldntthinkCharliehadmuchsparetimeforanythingelsebutthenagainyouhavetoknowCharlie.In1990IstartedworkingwithphotographerDavidStoecklein.TogetherCharlieandDavecreatedandpublishedamagnificent228-pagefull-colordocumentarybookentitledCowboyGearAPhotographicPortrayaloftheEarlyCowboysandTheirEquipment.TodateCharlieestimatesover20000copieshavebeensold.Thiswasanamazingprojecttoworkonherecalls.Wewereonlocationforseveralmonthsshootingrealcowboysusingmyantiquetackgear.Itwasmyjobtomakesurethisantiquegearheldtogetherwhichwasntalwayseasyplustryingtogettheserealcowboystobedelicatewiththetack.IntheendwecapturedthetruecowboysthatsettledtheWestintrueform.Thisbookisstillbeingpublishedatrulyrichandbeautifuljourneybackintime.OkaynowwhatWelltheresmore.Sonowitsabout2000andantiquemallsarentdoingthebusinesstheyusedtoandCharlieisatanantiqueshowinIdahoandhekeepshearingtheotherdealerswhisperingeBay.Idheardofitbutdidntreallywanttogetinvolved.ButIcamebackanddippedmytoeintheeBaywaterjusttogetitwet.UhmwellIquicklysawthatmyPayPalaccountwasbecomingquiteactive.SoIputmoreupforsaleandsoldmoreandmoreandmore.OnceIrealizedwhatthiswasreallyaboutmyopportunitytogetoffthewildroadandtakethingsdownanotchwasapparent.CharliedoveintoeBaybigtimeandnowifyougoontoeBayandsearchforletrbuckyouwillbelinkedtoCharliespagewhereheisnotedasatopeBaysellerwith1millionsoldsincehedippedhistoeinthewater.Andthatswhereheisnow.HesrelaxingabitmoreenjoyinghisfamilystillcollectingandsellingfuriouslybutnowfromthecomfortofhislovelyhomeinWashington.HehadtoadmitattheendhesevennowgottentowherehecanbuytakephotosandpostitoneBayrightfromhisphone.Headmitshecantbelievethisolcowboycandothisbuthesdoingitandlovesit.AsfortheHighNoonAntiqueShowsCharliewasattheveryfirstoneandwasafixtureforthenext20years.OneclosingfunnystoryherecallswastheveryfirstHighNoonShowandAuction.HeremembersitwasheldinasmallhotelinPhoenix.HehadflowninandwaswaitingforacaboutsidetheairportwhenhesawLindaandJosephfranticonthecurbwithluggagecontainingalloftheauctionitemsstrewneverywhereasthecarthatwasscheduledtopickthemuphadnevershownup.Welliteventuallyshowedupandtheyallgotthroughthefirstshowandauctiontogetherbutitwasabitcrampedhesayswithasmile.OkayoneverylaststoryhehadtosharewasyeartwoofHighNoon.TheyhadmovedittoahotelinScottsdalecalledtheSafari.Imsureitsbeendemolishedbynow.IremembermywifeandIwereinourroomthefirstnightanditstartedtopourrain.Thehotelroofbegantoleakandwatercamepouringthroughontoourbed.ThenextyeartheymovedittoMesaandthenitbecametherealdealandstillistoday.ThankyouCharlieforsharingyourstoryofbeingacowboyandcowboytraderfromtheroadtothemallstotheinternetwithallthemilesin-between.SHOWDEALERSPOTLIGHTcontinued