|
|
Reprinted from the Times Recorder, Zanesville, Ohio
Mary Anne Graham was interviewed by Gretchen Cook from the Times Reporter.
An M&M candyland Local woman has a growing candy collection
ZANESVILLE -- When you're greeted by Annie the dog at the Graham residence you know this is no ordinary house. Annie dons a brightly colored bandana decorated with M&M candies, and with a quick look to the left any visitor will notice the candy-coated kitchen. Then, Mary Anne Graham leads you down the stairs into her very own candyland. "It's an obsession," Graham said. "I'm nuts." Graham has her entire basement covered in M&M memorabilia and collectibles. Graham began her collection 15 years ago when she began receiving M&M "tube toppers" from her mother-in-law each holiday. When Graham began buying her husband, Tim, M&M dispensers her collection began to grow. "They are just so cute," she said. Her husband added, "I think it's great." Graham's collection is extensive. It covers two walls in glass cases and the remaining two walls, which are covered in M&M posters, are M&M figurines, candies and dispensers from Holland, Hong Kong, Germany and Singapore. "I don't even have a third of what's out there," Graham said. The M&M candy bags in European countries are filled with candies on one side and a toy on the other, she explained. Graham said that foreign countries receive the M&M dispensers in a variety of colors, instead of one standard color as they are issued in the United States. "The Internet took over," Graham said. Through the Internet she is able to find many rare and foreign pieces. Although prices can be high on the Web, Graham purchased the 2001 M&M dispenser from Wal-Mart for $10 and it was sold on the Internet for $70. Graham once traded and paid $20 for a M&M piece from Holland, and it was later sold on the Internet for $600. She can't decide on a favorite piece. "I just like them all," said Graham, who did admit she really likes her 1979 M&M clock, and a 1982 cookie jar that took her 10 years to find. Graham has even traveled to Las Vegas for M&M World, a store that features M&M collectibles. Graham will travel to Kentucky to attend the fourth annual M&M Convention June 7-8. "You meet a lot of fun people," Graham said. "I would like to meet some of the people in the Zanesville area that collect. I want to let them know about the convention." In her candy collection, Graham has a special release bag of caramel M&M's, plain M&M's from Japan and a bag of M&M's issued exclusively for a royal wedding in England. "They are worth more if you don't open them," she said. Among her collection, are boxes of M&M's from the White House under several different presidents. Graham even has the boxes of M&M's specially made for the Russian summit during Ronald Reagan's presidency. Graham makes most of her purchases during the holidays. This past Christmas Graham received a strange gift. Her husband purchased an M&M vending machine front for Mary Ann's collection. Each year when the M&M candy dispensers are released, one different colored dispenser is included in each shipment, and of course Graham has each of these in her collection. Additionally, Graham collects M&M store displays. "My dream is to get one of the big blue M&M dispensers," Graham said. One of Graham's most interesting pieces is a millennium time capsule that holds M&M candies. It was produced in gold but Graham has both a gold and silver one. Graham has a phone which features talking M&M characters. Even Graham's kitchen is decorated with the M&M kitchen collection. Graham belongs to Inner Circle, a club for M&M collectors, and this provides Graham the opportunity to receive test candy. Collecting runs in the Graham family. Tim collected pinball machines and juke boxes. The Graham's two sons aren't sure what to make of their mother's hobby. "They won't admit it but they think it's cool," Graham said. Although, she added they would not drive her car when she had her "M&M Nut" vanity plates.
| 
 |
