Reflections on 30 years of the Philly Show

[oaks1912]

Rob.....One of the interesting facts is that there were "only" 28 tables at that first show, but you could probably remember where everyone's table was located and the dimensions of the room......... On the West Coast we had quarterly shows in Northern California, the Labor Day (& later Memorial Day) show in Southern California during the 1970's, and the annual Seattle show (which is still running and is the longest running annual show in the hobby). Although part of the hobby's "history" these are fondly remembered by those who attended them, and are the fodder of many stories considered 'urban myth' or 'hobby legend' to the generations that follow...It's amazing that the sign survived... I know of a few people who collect ephemera from the pre-1985 shows, but that has to be one of the coolest survivors...

[bh3443]

Hi Marc,
I enjoyed your post. Was it Bob Lee that ran the Labor Day show?
I got friendly with Randy Thyberg (was he related to Bob Lee?) in the 80's, as we were both young promoters with much in common.
My conversations with these fine gentlemen were always pleasant.
Randy promoted a nice event in Valley Forge at the Sheraton's Expo center with hundreds and hundreds of tables. I was in the front row and saw EVERYONE and EVERYTHING! The line-up of autograph signers was perhaps the greatest in the hobbys history. It was a huge show run 4-5 days around the 4th of July.
My best memory of the event was Sunday morning when Randy charged the media big money to cover the show. The place erupted in applause as Pete Rose walked in with Michael Bertolini!
I later went to my room and Whitey Ford was in the elevator with us.
It's hard to believe that Randy has been gone so long. He was always a class act and we shared some very good stories about life as young promoters.
Thanks for the posts, Marc.

[tedzan]

Great stuff Rob......thanks much for sharing the Spring Garden show sign and program with us.

Mark Macrae was a regular visitor to the Willow Grove show during the 1980's. We met at my table in March 1983. I was selling a 1949 Bowman
set, and Mark was a buyer. I recall, we agreed to me keeping the Phillies and Yankees cards; and, the rookie cards of Bob Lemon, Satchel Paige,
Preacher Roe, and Duke Snider (autographed). So, Mark purchased 200 (of the 240) cards in this set. Subsequently, I sold him 5 more 1949 sets.

This story of Mark and I is best summed up by quoting Claude Raines famous words to Humphrey Bogart in the final scene of Casablanca......
"I think Ricky, this is the start of a beautiful friendship"

One more comment on Mark....that day in March 1983, the snow was falling in Willow Grove, yet Mark was in his Summer shorts. He always wore
his short pants to the show, regardless of the weather.
As they say......You can take Mark out of California....but, you can't take that California style out of Mark.


Best regards,
Mark and Rob,

TED Z