Reminiscing...Spring Garden, Willow Grove, Ocean City, Fort Washington, Reading Shows

[tedzan]

Bob Schmierer and Ted Taylor (show promoters) started the Philly Show BB card show on Sept 27, 1975 at Spring Garden College (Philadelphia suburb).
This one day show generated a lot of interest. Oct 1-2, 1976 they repeated it and their featured guest at this show was hobby pioneer George Moll. Who
was the major force behind all the Bowman Gum Company sports & non-sports cards (Play Ball's, Bowman BB & FB, and non-sports sets like the famous
1939 Horrors of War cards). In addition, Bob and Ted produced B/W 49-card series, which they referred to as the "1947 set". Examples shown here.......




The 1976 show was a great success, so they repeated it in the Fall of 1977. This time they expanded their 1947 BB card series by adding 64 more cards.

By 1978, Bob & Ted realized they needed a larger facility. They re-located the Philly Show to the George Washington Convention Center in Willow Grove.






I have an endless amount of stories I can share with everyone on this forum about my tremendous experiences at the Willow Grove Show (March 1981
to December 1992)....Fort Washington Show (1993 -2006)....Reading Show (2007 - 2008). But, for now I'll relate this story to you......

Circa 1986.....four of us were in my room at the GW Motor Lodge, prior to the show on Friday afternoon. Bill Mastro was shopping around a "sharp" (the
operative adjective) T206 Wagner. If I recall Bill wanted $25,000 for it. We all took a close look at it and told Bill "too expensive". That same card is now
the PSA 8 "Gretzky Wagner".
Why didn't the 4 of us pool our funds and purchase this Wagner from Bill ? ?
You explain it...I cannot not !



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Please feel free to share with us here your Philly Show memories dating back to the original Spring Garden College days....or, the Willow Grove shows
or, the Ocean City shows, or the Ft. Washington shows....or, the Reading shows.

Looking forward to reading your responses.


TED Z

T206 Reference
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[Rhotchkiss]

Ted, I don't know if it is the same George Washington Motor Lodge, but every year in high school, my school (Bullis) was invited to the Christmas city wrestling tournament in Bethlehem, PA - some of the best wrestling in the country in the late 80's and early 90's - and we would always stay at a George Wahington Motor Lodge and it looked just like that. That pic brings back memories of sleepless and starving nights thinking about food, weigh ins, and the kids I had to wrestle the next day (often ranked top 25 in country). And then we would hit Midway diner truck stop (????) on way home and pig out.

Thanks for the pic (and the flash back).

[tedzan]

Hi Ryan

There were quite a number of George Washington Motor Lodges along major hi-ways in Pennsy. For example, along the TPKE
there was one at Neshaminy, Willow Grove, King of Prussia and Northeast Extension Interchanges.

And, several in the Lehigh Valley area. All of them basically were constructed the same.


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[BearBailey]

I was a proud member of EPSC from 1989-1993 then I went away to college, and only got to go sporadically. I Started going to the shows with my Dad in 1988. Some of my favorite memories were when it rained and would come through the roof so the small isles got smaller. I remember getting great advice from Joseph Del Grippo one of the few dealers who would always spend time with kids. Buying a Pete Rose rookie from Brian Kaplan and his wife convinced him to give me a deal since I was a kid, and then paying in all 5, 10 &20 from mowing grass. My Dads favorite thing was going to an Italian restaurant called Dori’s(I think) where the elderly waiter called us both boys great food close to the motor lodge.
Took my boys for the first time last year, this show will always be my favorite.

[hangman62]

Boston Sea Party

I remember that place !

[moeson]

I remember some great in-show auctions where the dealers were too busy with customers to leave the table and bid. I also recall the fire marshals restricting admission at Willow Grove due to overcrowding.

[spec]

Throughout the 80s and early 90s I'd take the train down from Boston for the Friday preview, using your fine SEPTA commuter rail to get from 30th Street Station to Willow Grove, then hiking a mile or so to reach the George Washington Lodge. After filling my acquisitions box with goodies, I'd retrace my route, riding the Night Owl back to Boston for an early morning arrival and a nap before I had to be at work Saturday afternoon. Made the trek a couple of times to Fort Washington, but the last time returned with only one card, so abandoned the ritual. I met a lot of hobby legends there, including Tom Reid, who was quite a character as I'm sure you remember. We'd talk union politics as much as cards.
B.ob Ri.ch.ardson

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by spec

Throughout the 80s and early 90s I'd take the train down from Boston for the Friday preview, using your fine SEPTA commuter rail to get from 30th Street Station to Willow Grove, then hiking a mile or so to reach the George Washington Lodge. After filling my acquisitions box with goodies, I'd retrace my route, riding the Night Owl back to Boston for an early morning arrival and a nap before I had to be at work Saturday afternoon. Made the trek a couple of times to Fort Washington, but the last time returned with only one card, so abandoned the ritual. I met a lot of hobby legends there, including Tom Reid, who was quite a character as I'm sure you remember. We'd talk union politics as much as cards.
B.ob Ri.ch.ardson

Hi Bob

Great story......especially your trip from Boston > Philadelphia > Willow Grove or Ft. Washington Shows.
I did the reverse to get to Boston and New Hampshire Shows from my NJ (or Philly) homes.

Indeed, Tom Reid was quite a character. Back in the 1980's (when I lived in Toms River, NJ), Tom would
occasionally be down visiting relatives. Tom would drop by my home and go thru my "esoteric" stuff (he
had all the regular issue sportscards and non-sports cards in the hobby)

I miss Tom very much. He had more BB card and BB card dealer story's than most anyone in this hobby.
And, he was very shrewd in our "cash/trade" deals. I never got the better of him on any of them.



TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[tedzan]

Diagram of the showroom at the George Washington Convention Center (161 dealer tables). A scan of the
dealer's list will be forthcoming for anyone interested in who was "wheeling-n-dealing" here in the 1980's.






Everyone's favorite dining place was the Boston Sea Party, which was a short walk from the Show. You selected from 3 piers of food.
The 1st pier offered some really great appetizers (including huge Alaskan King Crab claws). In the 2nd pier were a variety of seafood.
And, the 3rd pier had an amazing selection of desserts.

Just up the road (US Route 611) is a great German-American Restaurant....OTTO's. And 4 miles north was the Warrington Inn, where
you could get some really delicious Steaks, Chops, or Italian cuisine.


Hey Leon......You would have really enjoyed the Boston Sea Party.


TED Z

T206 Reference
.