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For toy enthusiasts, it was almost like Christmas in June. The Marx Toy Museum in Erie began selling off much of its collection this weekend after permanently closing its doors two months ago.About 75 people had lined up by 10 a.m. Saturday for their chance to purchase toys like Penny the Poodle, the Great Garloo and the Green Machine—some of the hundreds of toys produced in Erie's Marx manufacturing plants from the early 1930s until 1975. "This is all a part of Erie's history," said museum co-founder Betty Portenier as shoppers swirled around her. The 8-year-old museum closed because of a lack of funding, volunteers and public support. About 1,000 people came through the museum each year. Despite offers of cash from philanthropists—and offers to display the collection from the Erie Manufacturers' Association and Erie County—the museum's board of directors decided to sell much of its inventory. Portenier said the proceeds will be used to pay the museum's bills, though she would not discuss how much is owed. Portenier and board member Judy Emling said the museum might someday reopen if enough funding can be acquired. Some collections remain in storage. "We need $50,000 at least," Emling said. "No museum can function well without a full-time director, and we need a paid director to keep going." Mark Starocci, 53, of Erie, had both nostalgia and investment in mind as he shopped for toys. His top prize included the Great Garloo, a green monster marked at $295. It sold for $17.98 in 1961. "I want to recapture things I once had," Starocci said. "I used to play with these toys. But I'll also keep it as a financial investment for the future."