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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 1984)
Page 2BAThe BattalionTThursday, February 16, 1984 Devout collectors tell their stories United Press International DUBLIN, N.H. — Charles Jordan has two homes — one for his family and the other for his collections. It’s only logical. Jordan is edi tor of Collectibles Illustrated, a Dublin-based national mag azine devoted to the mania of collecting. Ever since they launched the magazine three years ago, he and associate publisher Peter Sykas have been asking people, “What do you collect?” Many who answer the ques tion then go into a fascinating tale of their childhood or the far-flung journeys they have taken in search of the perfect addition to their collection. There was the man in West Hartford, Conn., who collects television sets. He spent years looking for the first commercial BOB BROWN UNIVERSAL TRAVEL COMPLETE, DEPENDABLE DOMESTIC AND WORLDWIDE TRAVEL • Airline Reservations • Hotel/Motel Accomodations • Travel Counsel • Rental Car Reservations • Tours • Charter Flights • FREE Ticket Delivery • Agency is fully computerized* 410 S. Texas/ Lobby of the Ramada Inn/College Station TV, the one displayed at the 1939 World’s Fair. “He’s always been one step behind it. Finally it wound up in Saudi Arabia. He had it shipped to Kennedy Airport. When it came off the plane, they smashed it. This guy, it was like the end of his life,” Jordan said in an interview. Then, there was the circus enthusiast from the Hartford, Conn., area, who had one of the best collections in his field. Jordan wondered if the man had anything connected with a famed Ringling Brothers bear. “He had the bear itself. It was in his living room, stuffed. It’s like a holy relic,” Jordan said. A man in Holyoke, Mass., collects Houdini memorabilia. He gathered other collectors and held a seance to try to recall the spirit of Houdini. Still another, in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., has a house stuffed with railroad items. “You had this feeling a train was going to crash through the wall,” Jordan said. “I asked his wife, ‘What is this like?’ I was trying to sympathize with her. But she said, T collect railroad china.’” Jordan and Sykas have found people who collect almost ev- thi erything, including bathroom fixtures, sugar packets, laundry soap boxes — even vacuum cleaners. . Sykas believes people collect ! for two reasons: Nostalgia and greed. “Greed being you buy it for a nickel and sell it for a quarter. Or you buy something for $1 and sell it for $25,000,” Sykas said. One doll brought $39,000, they said. A Franklin Roosevelt Jordan and Sykas have found people who col lect almost everything, including bathroom fixtures, sugar pack ets, laundry soap boxes — cleaners. even vacuum FLU TREATMENT IS HERE A study using the new drug Ribavirin is going on at the Beutel Health Center If you have Flu Symptoms • Fever • Muscle Aches • Chills • Sore Throat Come to the Health Center within the first 24 hours of illness and ask for the Flu Doctor (day or night—Flu Fighters don’t sleep) H0—CH- HO OH ribavirin You may win a paid vacation (about $112.00) in the Health Center Dr. John Quarles 845-1313 button from 1920, when he was still young and healthy, sold for $30,000. An old turn-of-the- century Honus Wagner baseball card sold for $27,000. Baseball cards used to be sold in cigarette packs, Jordan said. The Pittsburgh baseball player was anti-smoking and threat ened to sue if the cigarette com pany didn’t remove the cards. Those that remained became collectors’ items. Ken’s Automotive ro a 0) tr o < 0) 0) a. E o o 421 S. Main — Bryan 822-2823 "A Complete Automotive Q Service Center” g Tune-Ups ^ D , "i- Clutches ‘Brakes ig. (D Front End Parts Replacement 1 Standard Transmission c Repairs o GM Computer Testing 30 All American Cars Datsun-Honda Toyota OPEN SATURDAYS 10% Discount with Student I.D. on parts (Master Card 8. VISA Accepted) □ut dF this ULIorld Rnniversaru Savings Attention Earthlings! Inspector Fubar D. Robot, also known as the Cosmic Comedian, has arrived at Post Oak Mall from the planet Cragzot. Fubar’s timely visit comes during Post Oak Mall’s Anniversary Celeb rations this Wednesday thru Saturday. • Fubar will be passing out Post Oak Mall Gift Certificates. BIRTHDAY PARTY • Friday have cake & punch with us from 6:30 to 7:30 before the MissTexas A&M Sneak Preview Talent Show. Saturday it's a fashion Show at 3:00 p.m. Co-hosted by Fubar PDstoakmau. Open 10-9 Mon.-Sat. Hwy. 30 at 6 Bypass College Station “Who in 1902 would have thought of saving that card, or the first Superman comic book for that matter?” Jordan said. “Everything that has ever been produced, someone has col lected it.” People usually start collecting as children, he said. “They collect Maxfield Par rish prints because their family had them or they like Moxie bottles because they drank Moxie as a kid. A very large number get into collecting be cause they’re trying to recap ture their youth,” Jordan said. He himself started seriously collecting at age 12 when he ac quired a box of old post cards. “There was a card dated 1902 with a note on the back that just said, ‘Your girdle is here,”’ he said. He was hooked. Jordan thought he was the only one who collected Hardy Boys books — until he discov ered a club with more than 500 members who collect children’s books. At least 300 clubs in the United States are devoted to va rious types of collecting, he said. Even President Reagan col lects. The former Western movie actor is partial to spurs, saddles, blankets and old West ern prints. Sykas said 20 percent of the people he meets claim they don’t collect anything. He de scribed a fishermen he met in the Northwest who swore he didn’t have a collection. “Then he said, ‘Well, I’ve got a locker up in Alaska.’ About 25 years earlier he had started col lecting glass balls on the beach, floats that Japanese people use (in fishing). Then he found some in cork and pine. “Every time he would find them he would throw them in this locker. He has a collection of floats that just won’t quit,” Sy kas said. Baseball cards hit with collector $ Sui United Press International IOLA, Wis. — Bob Lemke is 35 and still collecting the baseball cards he first trea sured as a child. T’m paid to play in getting [ my hobby,” said Lemke, who is editor of Baseball Cards magazine, a publication de voted to the collecting, selling and trading of the small card board picture cards. He also is publisher of Sports Collec tors Digest whicn deals with all kinds of sports memorabi lia. ories have to do with bast: cards,” he said. “I havet older brothers and we lected cards and Bravesmt! orabilia through the ffl I’ve maintained that inteit all along and fairly serioa since 1974.” Lemke estimates be 10,000 cards in hiscollea which he says really much considering some lectors have 50,0 Much of his collection isj tered on the 1950s, Braves enjoyed much sum “Collecting follows major league baseball,” he said. “Wherever there is now or has been major league base ball, the more collecting there is. Wisconsin has a great base ball history and for some rea son the Milwaukee Braves have a huge national follow ing.” “I collect cards from I 1880s to the 1980s, don’t collect somethin] because it’s cardboard has a player’s picture! said. “I collect what he peals to me in my ownir ories of the game.” How big collecting? is baseball card “I would say there are 50,000 serious collectors,” Lemke said. “By that I mean someone who is serious enough to subscribe to a pub lication or buy a price guide. In terms of those with a rela tive interest, I’d say we’re talking 250,000 people.” In a clear plastic frame! his desk Lemke has the If cards of George Crowe Danny O’Connell. Neiili has ever been confused will Hall-of-Famer, but they two of Lemke’s favorites. “When I was six yeanoi got my first pair of gl and that was about the Crowe became one of theft United NEW Y( cans rea |60-and pecially and-weai need pre At lea; think so, months, eral Elec electroni in stores prices of |60, resf Reseai an issue volved, s director grams fo York d( new mod shuts off 30 secon or left i plate dot It aisc ically in 1 is left in i said con Connors GE’s Iron is d in 10 to in either K ed o ert ny’s mat garment A lifelong resident of Wis consin, he grew up as an avid Milwaukee Braves fan who loved collecting cards. “Some of my earliest mem- big-leaguers to wear then Lemke said. “0’Conneii card was one I could nett get in 1957. My sistergotoi but she wouldn’t trade “I finally got one, so it keep it where I can see it he United Maclaine modeled rol after Mitchell’s late wife United Press International DALLAS — Shirley MacLaine, a certain contender for best ac tress when the Academy Award nominations come out today, says she based her acclaimed performance in “Terms of En dearment” on the eccentricities of the late Martha Mitchell The actress, who will be 50 years old this April 24, is riding a huge new wave of popularity PAn i nZ ' 'Y PASTAS _ 'S FI L FE Lzi. 1H IT AM- 4- pM nortowcycXes Tr\u_\n5-*3 oDD $1.00 since she co-starred last)« the popular comedy with Debra Winger and She said when she" the script James Brooks from Texan Larry McM novel, the character of j 1 Creenway brought to t three days she had spentinS York with Mitchell, the fl- Nixon administration general John Mitchell. “She (Mitchell) was veryf 1 ! manding, self-involved, hospitable, warm and ultiitf sions on fragile,” MacLaine said.“It oughly enjoyed her and slit me, too. So when script somehow Martha M ell flashed in my mind." She told Brooks, who*] also direct the movie, “1 Martha Mitchell in my sciousness. Is this what you ! in mind when you wroteili One wc be a gooc keep your mouth sin Anothe the way t< mother, comes to raise the g No om two worm life Fair ; males froi suburbs. That a be seen a survival had come agreed. B good ide: said. The M sored by t Marymou :e. Part Law,” “A Gets a W My Daugi “The Met “The lion,” saic stitute di five adul “describe son or d With Brooks’ enthusn certain consent, MacLaine saidsk Iquired: f gan to manifest those aspai' jaw. Martha Mitchell that 1 Aurora would really like. MSC Cafeteria Now Better Than Ever. You Will Be Pleased V These Carefully Prepared and Taste Tempting F Each Daily Special Only $2.39 PlusTai “Open Daily” Dining: 11 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. — 4:00 P.M. to 7: MONDAY EVENING SPECIAL Salisoury Steak with Mushroom Gravy Whipped Potatoes Your Choice of One Vegetable Roll or. 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