UPDATED: My Nominee for the "First Great Comic Collector" 12 12

[jimbo_7071]

6 hours ago, Tri-ColorBrian said:

Well, I figured it out.  His real name is Mildred...

Well, I was going bet my (wooden) nickel on Ira Wasserman, but come to think of it, did Marty ever say that he was a he? And how do we know that he didn't use a pseudonym in the contest? Maybe Marty Mann is actually his real name!

[LearnedHand]

On 3/15/2020 at 8:46 PM, 40sJohn said:

I just stumbled onto this thread while doing a search for Bangzoom's original thread and was thoroughly captivated by this story and how it was revealed post by post.

@sfcityduck well done on this work. 

One note, the story of Ernie Gerber ripping off the mom doesn't surprise me after listening to Jay Maybruck's interview with V. Zurzolo many years ago.  While he gave the comic world an incredible resource with the guides, Gerber seems to have been a really crappy person. 

 

This isn't the thread to be discussing Gerber, but my own negative experience with him made me want to go see him for a face-to-face "visit."  I was in high school, had a P/T job that paid peanuts, but spent all of it to order 200 Super GA mylars and boards.  He sent me 100 "modern" bags (so, of no use), no boards, and a spray can straight outta Batman's utility belt that was (from memory) some sort of anti-acid spray.  I called and explained the mix-up to him.  His entire response was "let me put you through to someone who cares, Mr. Tone" and hung up the phone on me.  I've rarely heard anyone say anything positive about his personality, and have sometimes wondered if his Gerber scarcity index reflects scarcity, or the reticence of the collectors he knew to want to actually get involved with him for his Photo-Journal project.  Discussion for another day...

 

@sfcityduck This is an AMAZING thread - thanks so much for not only starting it, but taking so much of your time to provide the detail.  In my opinion, this type of thread enriches all of us.

When I saw the first post, I immediately thought of Edgar Church, but then rejected, as he wasn't, to my mind, a true collector.  I always had the sense that he bought comic books more as source material, and maybe had a hoarder mentality or a touch of OCD.  Blasphemy?  Probably, but I don't know too much about him.  

I then thought of Leonard Brown.  Richard subsequently posted about LB and can speak more thoroughly on LB.  I mean, many of us know about LB from around the time he decided to amass books to make a business go of it.  But I believe he would have been a child in the 1940s too, and presumably, he had a love for comic books well before he came on the scene as a businessman?  And, LB was constantly looking for upgrades and kept a personal collection, so we know he had a love for the books.  Finally, it's my understanding that he was the proprietor of the first store - with a store front on a main street - devoted solely to comic books/art in the US.  This is certainly a milestone in advancing the hobby.    

Finally, there was a kid (approx 12 years old) on an episode of To Tell the Truth who, from memory, had a huge collection (thousands of books).  He's not a contender for "first" as I believe that episode dates to the 1950s; but it just goes to show the level of collecting well before the advent of the 1960s hobby movement more formally began.  

 

Edited March 18, 2020 by LearnedHand

[sfcityduck]

On 3/18/2020 at 5:16 AM, LearnedHand said:

 

   

Finally, there was a kid (approx 12 years old) on an episode of To Tell the Truth who, from memory, had a huge collection (thousands of books).  He's not a contender for "first" as I believe that episode dates to the 1950s; but it just goes to show the level of collecting well before the advent of the 1960s hobby movement more formally began.  

 

That was Bill Placzek in 1965.

Wigransky was older than Richard and Len, and he is notable for the profile he acheived in the late 1940s.  Len Brown is a legend of the late 1950s and 1960s.  He and Richard were ahead of their time.  But Wigransky was even further ahead.

Edited June 30, 2020 by sfcityduck

[N e r V]

On 3/18/2020 at 5:16 AM, LearnedHand said:

 

This isn't the thread to be discussing Gerber, but my own negative experience with him made me want to go see him for a face-to-face "visit."  I was in high school, had a P/T job that paid peanuts, but spent all of it to order 200 Super GA mylars and boards.  He sent me 100 "modern" bags (so, of no use), no boards, and a spray can straight outta Batman's utility belt that was (from memory) some sort of anti-acid spray.  I called and explained the mix-up to him.  His entire response was "let me put you through to someone who cares, Mr. Tone" and hung up the phone on me.  I've rarely heard anyone say anything positive about his personality, and have sometimes wondered if his Gerber scarcity index reflects scarcity, or the reticence of the collectors he knew to want to actually get involved with him for his Photo-Journal project.  Discussion for another day...

 

@sfcityduck This is an AMAZING thread - thanks so much for not only starting it, but taking so much of your time to provide the detail.  In my opinion, this type of thread enriches all of us.

When I saw the first post, I immediately thought of Edgar Church, but then rejected, as he wasn't, to my mind, a true collector.  I always had the sense that he bought comic books more as source material, and maybe had a hoarder mentality or a touch of OCD.  Blasphemy?  Probably, but I don't know too much about him.  

I then thought of Leonard Brown.  Richard subsequently posted about LB and can speak more thoroughly on LB.  I mean, many of us know about LB from around the time he decided to amass books to make a business go of it.  But I believe he would have been a child in the 1940s too, and presumably, he had a love for comic books well before he came on the scene as a businessman?  And, LB was constantly looking for upgrades and kept a personal collection, so we know he had a love for the books.  Finally, it's my understanding that he was the proprietor of the first store - with a store front on a main street - devoted solely to comic books/art in the US.  This is certainly a milestone in advancing the hobby.    

Finally, there was a kid (approx 12 years old) on an episode of To Tell the Truth who, from memory, had a huge collection (thousands of books).  He's not a contender for "first" as I believe that episode dates to the 1950s; but it just goes to show the level of collecting well before the advent of the 1960s hobby movement more formally began.  

 

 

1 hour ago, sfcityduck said:

That was Bill Placzek in 1965.

Wigransky was older than Richard and Len, and he is notable for the profile he acheived in the late 1940s.  Len Brown is a legend of the late 1950s and 1960s.  He and Richard were ahead of their time.  But Wigransky was even further ahead.

 

 

[N e r V]

San Bernardino Sun, Volume 19, 16 May 1965
 

Trade 3 Supermans for a Batman?

By DENNIS P. LEAVY CHICAGO (UPI) - At 15, Bill Placzek is one of the nation's most distinguished collectors. A college professor acknowledges Bill's collection as outstanding. Bill himself figures it's worth $40,000. But it won't really be complete until he gets his hands on a 1939 "Batman No. 1" -with a cover on it. Bill is only a freshman in high school, but in the esoteric but growing world of comic book collectors he is a super collector. He's got more of them 27,000 - than any one else. Bill modestly recognizes one

true rival, just as Batman might have a good word to say for Superman. His peer is Billy Joe White, a 35-year-old Columbia, Mo., fireman and Batman specialist who keeps 10,000 comic books in a concrete blockhouse in his backyard. "I'm the biggest comic book collector, but Billy Joe has a more valuable collection," Bill says. The dean, in an academic sense, of Bill, Billy Joe and their fellow collectors is Jerry Bails, professor of natural sciences at Wayne State University in Detroit and founder of the Academy of Comic Book Fans and Collectors. Prof. Bails counts 2,000

members, including many, from England and South America. Most of them are collectors, he said, but Placzek and White "are just about tops." Bill built his collection on an allowance of $6 a week. "Somp buy two for a nickel and I sell those I don't want for higher prices," he says. He figures six comics in his collection are worth more than $1,000 alone and he reaches the overall $40,000 evaluation on the basis of the going market rate. Bill's father, a service station operator, built an attic library for the collection and his mother made him a Captain Marvel shirt to wear to meetings of the Comic Col

lectors, of Chicago (CCC). Prued editions in Bill's Library include Famous Funnies No. 1, published in 1934 and starring Mutt and Jeff and Buck Rogers; the only known copy of Whiz No. 1, the first comic in which Captain Marvel appeared; and three copies of Superman No. 1. Bill said there's not much interest among collectors in most Walt Disney comics, but early Donald Ducks and Uncle Scrooges "are hard cash sellers." Collectors generally go for "super heroes" books, he said. These paragons include Superman, Captain Marvel, Batman, Wonder Woman, Dr. Fate, the Green Lantern, Spectre, Starman, Sandman,

Johnny Thunder, the Atom and Flash Gordon. Today's comics often pair off a couple of the old heroes against a common foe, Bill said. "For example, now it's Dr. Fate and Starman against the evil slugs on Planet Y." The one item Bill would like most is Batman No. 1, complete with cover. "I've got this but without the cover," he said. Comics today "aren't as good as they used to be," Bill

believes. "There is considerable republishing of the old ones, but the art work varies considerably." As for syrupy true confession type comics, says Bill, no one, but no one, collects them "unless there's some girl doing it."

 

 

[Tri-Color Brian]

 

On 6/30/2020 at 3:34 PM, N e r V said:

San Bernardino Sun, Volume 19, 16 May 1965
 

 

As for syrupy true confession type comics, says Bill, no one, but no one, collects them "unless there's some girl doing it."

 

 

Yeah, I'll probably never be able to sell my "syrupy true confession type comics"...

[sfcityduck]

On 1/24/2022 at 9:53 PM, Tri-ColorBrian said:

 

Yeah, I'll probably never be able to sell my "syrupy true confession type comics"...

I can't believe you revived this thread!  I was PMing something about this thread tonight.  Coincidence?

Anyway, I'm in the market for True Life Confessions 21-27 with exception of 23.  PM me.  LoL!

[Tri-Color Brian]

On 1/24/2022 at 11:55 PM, sfcityduck said:

I can't believe you revived this thread!  I was PMing something about this thread tonight.  Coincidence?

Anyway, I'm in the market for True Life Confessions 21-27 with exception of 23.  PM me.  LoL!

I revived it because you drew my attention to it again by reacting tonite to something I said the first time I read it.  So I started reading it again, and decided to make that joke comment so it would get dragged back to the first page.  And sorry, I don't have any True Life Confessions...only one True Life Secrets...and I'm sure you can guess which one that is...

Edited January 25, 2022 by Tri-ColorBrian

[sfcityduck]

On 1/24/2022 at 11:39 PM, Tri-ColorBrian said:

I revived it because you drew my attention to it again by liking something I said the first time I read it.  So I started reading it again, and decided to make that joke comment so it would get dragged back to the first page.  and sorry, I don't have any True Life Confessions...only one True Life Secrets...

TLS is what I meant.  Sleepy..  

yeah I was rereading it too.  Gave likes that I should have given long ago.

[Tri-Color Brian]

On 1/25/2022 at 12:46 AM, sfcityduck said:

TLS is what I meant.  Sleepy..  

yeah I was rereading it too.  Gave likes that I should have given long ago.

And my copy is....wait for it....#23.  WINNER! 

 

[The Black Hand ®]

Any West Coasters remember Barry Bauman from Oakland and his Bat Cave in the 60's?

[Peter G]

Great thread !

[Robot Man]

On 1/25/2022 at 8:57 AM, The Black Hand ® said:

Any West Coasters remember Barry Bauman from Oakland and his Bat Cave in the 60's?

Is that the guy who lost his collection (of many San Francisco books) to a fire in the Oakland hills?

[The Black Hand ®]

On 1/25/2022 at 11:01 AM, Robot Man said:

Is that the guy who lost his collection (of many San Francisco books) to a fire in the Oakland hills?

No, I think that was Teddy Dang. Barry got rid of all his books and died in an accident.

[Tri-Color Brian]

On 1/25/2022 at 9:57 AM, The Black Hand ® said:

Any West Coasters remember Barry Bauman from Oakland and his Bat Cave in the 60's?

I don't remember meeting him, but evidently I did and gave him a "want list" in 1966.  Here's the card he sent to tell me what he had...I didn't buy the comics from him because I didn't have that much money back then. 

[The Black Hand ®]

On 1/25/2022 at 11:45 AM, Tri-ColorBrian said:

I don't remember meeting him, but evidently I did and gave him a "want list" in 1966.  Here's the card he sent to tell me what he had...I didn't buy the comics from him because I didn't have that much money back then. 

I used to hang out at his house and leaf through his comics. Tons of GA. It's great that you kept that card.

[N e r V]

On 1/24/2022 at 9:53 PM, Tri-ColorBrian said:

 

Yeah, I'll probably never be able to sell my "syrupy true confession type comics"...

It’s not really that surprising as to his remark on romance comics though. In the 1980’s when I was putting together Matt Baker books 99.9% of the dealers didn’t know who he was or cared. Even into the 1990’s romance and for that matter a whole lot of PCH was super cheap. I remember when a few titles like Mysterious Adventures finally got some notice in the 80’s when people were starting to discover there was more to life in horror outside of EC Comics.

[N e r V]

On 1/25/2022 at 11:45 AM, Tri-ColorBrian said:

I don't remember meeting him, but evidently I did and gave him a "want list" in 1966.  Here's the card he sent to tell me what he had...I didn't buy the comics from him because I didn't have that much money back then. 

Let me guess where your money went to in the 1960’s…lol 

 

[Tri-Color Brian]

On 1/25/2022 at 4:34 PM, N e r V said:

Let me guess where your money went to in the 1960’s…lol 

 

No...not pot.  My dad was a cop.  OK, guess...Here's a clue for you...

$1

$1

$3

$7

$7

 

Edited January 26, 2022 by Tri-ColorBrian

[pemart1966]

Anyone know whether Bill Placzek is still with us?  Last that I could find was that in 2008 he was a retired math teacher.

What ever happened to his monstrous collection?