Your Favorite Local Shows, Past and Present.

[x2drich2000]

It would be easy for me to say the George Washington Motor Lodge/Fort Washington show due to there size, but I'll go a little more low key. Growing up I always liked the shows at the Montgomery Mall, Village Mall, and of course the old Warrington Motor Lodge where I got my first old card, a 72 Clemente in action.

[philliesfan]

Hey Richard. Did you ever got to the Auctions at the Warrington Motor Lodge. I think it was R & B Auctions.

[x2drich2000]

Originally Posted by philliesfan

Hey Richard. Did you ever got to the Auctions at the Warrington Motor Lodge. I think it was R & B Auctions.

Not that I can remember. I was young. One of the reasons the show stood out to me is probably because the Warrington was owned by the family of one of my friends growing up.

[philliesfan]

I was a steady attendee of those R&B card auctions. Always picked up a lot of older cards and some T206 cards. A lot of fun back then.

[butchie_t]

Hard to say, no one comes to Colorado Springs. There was a local show last month. First in over 2 years. 95% new and game cards. There was a smattering of old cards (pre 80) and even less .0001% vintage.

Pretty much not gonna go back to that one. Denver, has them but it is not the easiest place to get to these days.

B. T.

[obiwan1129]

Seems like we did a thread like this or I happened to bring this one up in regards to a different type of conversation, but the VFW Hall in McHenry in the late 80's used to do a great small shows. Where I bought a lot of my 1969 Cubs team set. Not the greatest condition by my standards today, but man I had a lot of fun putting that set together the old school way. I have it in one of my binders to look at now and again.

[whitehse]

Originally Posted by obiwan1129

Seems like we did a thread like this or I happened to bring this one up in regards to a different type of conversation, but the VFW Hall in McHenry in the late 80's used to do a great small shows. Where I bought a lot of my 1969 Cubs team set. Not the greatest condition by my standards today, but man I had a lot of fun putting that set together the old school way. I have it in one of my binders to look at now and again.

Wait...what? You went to that show? That show was run by the Fox Valley Collectors which was run by myself as well as Doug and Corky. That WAS an awesome little show and I am so grateful for you to even remember it.

[CJinPA]

Originally Posted by x2drich2000

It would be easy for me to say the George Washington Motor Lodge/Fort Washington show due to there size, but I'll go a little more low-key. Growing up I always liked the shows at the Montgomery Mall, Village Mall, and of course the old Warrington Motor Lodge where I got my first old card, a 72 Clemente in action.

I remember going to the George Washington Motor Lodge as a teen with my uncle who got me into collecting in the 80's.... I still work in the area and like to reminisce (now a Thompson Acura dealership there).

The Robbinsville Show in NJ was always a great place to find tough cards ('73 Topps in decent shape).

Loved heading up to White Plains to the Gloria Rothstein shows - loved seeing tons of '52 Topps and plenty of Mantles those days.

My favorite card shop was going w/ that uncle to John Broggi's shop (JKJ Collectibles, I believe) - so many years ago.....

[philliesfan]

The George Washington Motor Lodge in Willow Grove for me. Bought my first T206 there from another attendee. It was a trimmed at top Mathewson for $16.00.
I do miss those days of almost no parking and having to follow people to their cars to get their parking spot........to the 75 people in line in front of you to get in.......to the inhale and suck in your gut to get to the next table......Oh the good old days.
Bob

[Yoda]

As a dealer living not too far away, I think the Willow Grove and Ft. Washington were my favorite shows.
The Gloria Rothstein shows were always fun and GR herself was a real piece of work.
Growing up there were no shows. Just us neighborhood kids trading under a shady tree.

[DHogan]

The card shows at Boston College High School in south Boston were amazing. I remember when Bill Russell first started signing autographs at $350.00 in the early 90's. That would have been my whole weekly pay check.

[spec]

I remember well that BC High show when Russell ended his policy of not signing autographs. Waiting outside for the show to open I got to chat with another autograph guest, Moose Skowron, who was a great guy.
No compendium of local shows would be complete without mention of the Bishop Guertin show in Nashua, NH, which was New England's semiannual show in the 70s and 80s. Bill Dod and his baseball team ran this show in the high school gym and cafeteria with tables manned by most of the region's leading collectors as well as dealers. The material that changed hands in Nashua still boggles my mind.
Bob Richardson

[jcmtiger]

Michigan had many shows in the 80’s & 90’. Plymouth was one of the best, also Dearborn, also Mall shows were popular. A lot of small shows at VFW & other halls. Miss those days. Joe

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by spec

I remember well that BC High show when Russell ended his policy of not signing autographs. Waiting outside for the show to open I got to chat with another autograph guest, Moose Skowron, who was a great guy.
No compendium of local shows would be complete without mention of the Bishop Guertin show in Nashua, NH, which was New England's semiannual show in the 70s and 80s. Bill Dod and his baseball team ran this show in the high school gym and cafeteria with tables manned by most of the region's leading collectors as well as dealers. The material that changed hands in Nashua still boggles my mind.
Bob Richardson

Bishop Guertin was a great show. You would have pretty much every hardcore collector from the Boston area make that drive up Rte 3. Being right off of the highway was a bonus. You would not only get some of the dealers who did the Greater Boston show there were also those who only did shows in NH and VT.

I liked the VFW show in Braintree. That was a fun Saturday show. I remember buying a beautiful 1950's 5x7 photo of football HOFer Bob Waterfield signed in fountain pen at one of those shows for $3.00.

Big Billy Hedin also ran some decent shows. I think he did the Mansfield show.

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by DHogan

The card shows at Boston College High School in south Boston were amazing. I remember when Bill Russell first started signing autographs at $350.00 in the early 90's. That would have been my whole weekly pay check.

Those were run by Bob Rose and his brother. I believe they were from Taunton. The show where Russell signed was his first ever show signing. They had a reunion of most of the 1956-57 Championship team. I had been corresponding with one of the members who had fallen off of the radar, Dixie "Dick" Hemric. I tracked him down in Indiana I believe. They had a private dinner that night at the hotel, Sheraton Braintree. I was invited. It was great to just sit there and listen to them talk about their lives. Russell was the only one who did not attend. One of the next shows had Jo Jo White. They forgot to send a car for him to get to the show so I drove him. Those shows ended when one of the Rose brother got cancer and passed away.

[DHogan]

Originally Posted by Michael B

Those were run by Bob Rose and his brother. I believe they were from Taunton. The show where Russell signed was his first ever show signing. They had a reunion of most of the 1956-57 Championship team. I had been corresponding with one of the members who had fallen off of the radar, Dixie "Dick" Hemric. I tracked him down in Indiana I believe. They had a private dinner that night at the hotel, Sheraton Braintree. I was invited. It was great to just sit there and listen to them talk about their lives. Russell was the only one who did not attend. One of the next shows had Jo Jo White. They forgot to send a car for him to get to the show so I drove him. Those shows ended when one of the Rose brother got cancer and passed away.

Thanks for the information Michael.