Two days before Michael Jackson’s public memorial ceremony at Staples Center, dealer Ray Lopez unveiled his vast private collection of memorabilia relating to the King of Pop at the Pasadena City College Flea Market. That was at the peak of Jacko hysteria but there was still plenty of hype the following weekend at the Rose Bowl so he once again brought out his 300+ items. ”I started collecting it around 20 years ago because I like his music,” said Lopez, who normally sells glassware and smalls. He decided that it was time to sell when he got news of his death. The Japanese shoppers were some of his biggest customers when it came to his Jacko Pepsi cans, posters, silver sequined gloves and dolls. He even offered a plastic Halloween mask, souvenir spoons, and a cardboard cutout from the singer’s “Bad” years. A framed poster and CD from Jackson’s Dangerous Tour (1992-93) walked on the edge for $75. Lopez was such a big fan that he made the trek all the way out to Neverland Ranch just to have lunch with his family in front of the Amusement Park. ”I never made it behind the gates,” he admitted. Lopez also stopped in Garey, Indiana at took a look at Jackson’s childhood home during one of his cross country RV trips.
