First, let us say on behalf of the Rusty Family, "Thanks", to all who visit and will visit The Rusty Chandelier. Without you we would all still be a bunch of hoarders. But with your support, we are able to let go of some things and share cool stuff we create or find along the way. In return, we make a few dollars to continue this vicious cycle of creating and finding unique stuff to fill the building.
We are brothers, Blaine and John Robert Carpenter, better known at The Rusty as "The Boys". Many stories have been told from all walks of life about the things that have inspired each to do what they do, but as Mikey, the leader and wisest of Goonies once said, "This is our time". Everything in our lives have inspired us to do what we do and brought us to be part of The Rusty Family. We see our space as a drive down Memory Street and hope that you see the same. So let us share with you some of those inspirations that brought us here and maybe you too will remember for a moment what has brought you to where you are.
Our Papaw would hook up his trailer to the truck and slowly drive through the community while we jumped off and picked up litter and in that litter was aluminum cans that we saved and got money to buy more Baseball Cards and Wrestling Magazines from TG&Y and County Market. We also worked for our Papaw in his chicken houses and made a few bucks to shop at the flea markets with our parents, buy a Slap Bracelet or pay the extra $2.00 for Speed Skates at Sunshine Skating Rink. There was nothing like hearing Huey Lewis singing Power of Love while skating around and around sporting a Mullet or Rat Tail.
As children, we visited Ropers Rocking Country a few times, which at the time was actually Showbiz Pizza. Going there, Pep's Point or Cloverleaf Mall or Hattiesburg in general was like a vacation. A "Real" vacation was somewhere cool like Fun Time USA in Biloxi or Marine Life in Gulfport. We are from Ellisville, so Laurel was our go to place for shopping and entertainment. We made frequent visits to places like Gibson's, Aladdin's Castle, Taco Casa, and the dollar theater in Downtown.
There were some movies and TV shows that also inspired us. Some movies on VHS include all Arnold Schwartznegger and Sylvester Stallone movies (especially Over The Top), The Burbs, The Goonies, The Karate Kid, Police Academy, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Big, UHF, Earnest Goes To Camp, and of course the real and only Batman starring Michael Keaton. Then there was T.V. shows like WWF's Saturday Night Main Event, Mama's Family, Family Ties, ALF, Smurfs, Full House, Step By Step, Saved By The Bell, Hogan's Family, Quantum Leap, Hee Haw, and WWF's Superstars of Wrestling where amatuers were put in the ring with the big names to be mauled and embarrassed every time. That is when you could not convince us that wrestling was fake. One infomercial done by a local celebrity was also inspiring when he would do the Leadco Shuffle. That was after Saturday Morning Cartoons on Channel 7, the only channel we had back then unless we were at Mamaw and Papaw’s house who had that funny turn dial changer box that controlled the rabbit ear antenna on top of the wood console TV. Do you the remember the Rainbow Screen after the last and until the first TV program each day? Some other inspirations were 3 Wheelers, Go Carts with no Roll Bars, striped Girbaud Shorts from Tom & Calico Cat, lunchroom pizza, Vanilla Ice, Rad Caps from Wendy’s, Funky Sunglasses from Pizza Hut, the original Nintendo, U.S.A. Basketball Dream Team, Dixie National Rodeo, McGruff the Crime Dog, swimming in cow troughs, tight rolled Jeans, Cassettes, Bean Bags, He-Man, and the freedom of having no Home or Cell Phone.
You may be thinking, “What in the world does any of this have to do with what we are doing at The Rusty Chandelier?” For us, it has everything to do with what we are doing. It is our experience in life that we look back on and see these things that were cool and fun in their own time. Today we buy, sell, and collect the same things we had back then and they are called Vintage. If the Lord is willing, we will say the same about the things of today years from now. Our hope is that you will find joy in seeing the things that each member of The Rusty Family brings to the place. So take your time, look around, enjoy your visit, and you just might find that special something you cannot live without.
