New York State Military Museum Marks 50 Years of G.I. Joe

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G.I. Joe collector Tearle Ashby sets up part of his collection at the New York State Military Museum.

SARATOGA SPRING , NY (01/23/2014)(readMedia)-- G.I. Joe, the classic military action figure, turns 50 this year and the New York State Military Museum marks that anniversary on Saturday Feb. 8.

G.I. Joe collections from throughout the Capital Region are invited to display some of their figures at the museum and Tearle Ashby, a Balston Spa G.I. Joe collector, will speak about the history of the G.I, Joe at 1 p.m.

G.I. Joe came on the market in 1964 when Hasbro introduced the 12-inch "action figure" for boys. The G.I. Joe has been on and off the shelves in different forms since then and has morphed from a kid's toy to a collectible for adults.

Ashby has a collection of more than 1,000 of the military action figures and some of them are currently on display at the museum in the Toys and Tanks exhibit. Among the items on display at the museum is a one-of-a-kind G.I. Joe modeled on actor Tom Hanks, who portrayed an Army officer in the movie "Saving Private Ryan."