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Newsstand Memories

(edit: This wire rack is probably in a comic store since I just noticed the older bagged comics at the top of photo.)

This newsstand photo from November 1971 brings back fond memories of my first neighborhood newsstand that had an almost identical wire comics rack display. Comics and other magazines were displayed on wire racks on the left and back walls. The porn magazines were in the front but were covered over by another padlocked wire rack so you had to get a clerk to unlock to get access. I snuck a few peeks at the covers of the magazines but they did not hold my interest since I was too young to understand. On the right side was the candy, cigarette and smoke shop and in the back was a small 3 seat barbershop. The dimly lit newsstand was unusual since it had no door front since it was open long hours and was only locked by a flexible metal gate.

Sometimes my dad would buy a newspaper here and I could get a comic. I actually bought one of the comics displayed on this rack and you know what it was? It was Western Kid #2. Of all the cool books I could I have gotten shown here, I chose a Western containing reprints! I was a casual reader and again I was too young to know any better. Things would change as a few years later when many of my classmates were talking about a new store that opened up, a real comic book store that had back issues. And here is where my comics education started by talking with other comic book enthusiasts and going to the comic book store two or more times per week. I became pretty obsessed with comics for a time and sometimes felt enthralled at the sight of so many comics as seemingly depicted by this kid in the photo. (All Hail to Mr Miracle and kneel before the greatness of Jack Kirby!) What else do you think looks good on the rack? Since the store was between school and home, I walked by the store to take a peek to see what was new and I always dropped off my schoolbooks at home first before heading back to the store. There was no need to go to the newsstand any more and it lasted many more years until the building was torn down. After the comic book store opened, the newsstand still sold comics but I don’t think many were sold. The comic book store was named Comics & Comix.

On 12/29/2023 at 10:30 AM, Darwination said:

Some nice pb pics in a newsstand thread elsewhere on the forum:
 

 

If you were interested in the other Avon paperback rack, here is a closeup pic.

Bob's Spa in Jamaica Plain Massachusetts in 1952

Before large supermarket chains, most people shopped at grocery or variety stores. Disposable periodicals such as newspapers, magazines and comics were sold along with groceries. Bob’s Spa was a variety store that was operated by the Ristuccia family for over 90 years in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood in Boston Massachusetts. The patriarch of Bob’s Spa was Bartholomew Ristuccia who was born in 1891 from the village of Malfa on the island of Salina off the coast of Sicily. He emigrated to Sydney Australia in 1908 to join a cousin who owned a fruit store. After learning the fruit business he joined other cousins who owned a fruit store in Jamaica Plain in 1910. In 1912 Bartholomew who had taken the name Bob, partnered with his cousins in a new fruit store at 128 South St and later bought out his cousins and renamed the store as “Bob’s Spa”. Batholomew married Rosalina Caravalio and had 4 kids, John, Robert, Rose and Mary all of whom, along with their spouses, at one time or another worked in the store. Over the years, the fruit store expanded in size and offerings to become a fully stocked grocery store, sandwich shop, fountain, newsstand and cigar store. The store thrived in a growing neighborhood where a gas company facility, streetcar maintenance yard, new housing developments and schools were located nearby. The store was also a popular gathering place and had many loyal customers due to Bob’s extension of credit for purchases. The family sold the business in 2001 and after several changes in ownership, the location is now the Happy Market & Spirits grocery store.

Bob's Spa pictures

Bob's Spa in Jamaica Plain history

pictures:
1. exterior of Bob’s Spa 3/22/52
2. Bob (in glasses) with family in store 40th anniversary 3/22/52
3. free cake for kids for 40th anniversary 3/22/52
4. exterior of Bob’s Spa 12/20/52 note Xmas trees for sale
5. store interior with Christmas cards, cookie selection on shelves 12/20/52
6. sandwich shop area, Johnny Ristuccia 12/20/52
7. fountain area, Bob Ristuccia forefront, magazine rack in back 12/20/52
8. fountain area & magazine rack 12/20/52
9. packed shelves: cookies, bread, donuts, soda, deli meats & canned goods 12/20/52
10. magazine racks with books, magazines & comics 12/20/52
11. closeup of comics variety: humor, crime, western, war, sci-fi, romance & horror (Little Lulu, Roy Rogers, Peter Pan, Porky Pig, Tonto, United States Marines, New Funnies, Space Cadet, Little Iodine, Mickey Mouse, Mystery in Space, Rudolph, Jughead, Suspense, Straight Arrow, Real Clue Crime, Zane Grey, Battle Stories, Racket Squad, Love Romances, Witches Tales, Durango Kid, Wings) 12/20/52
12. closeup of paperbacks 12/20/52
13. present day exterior of location now Happy Market & Spirits

 
Newsreel footage from a New York Creation Con from the 1970s that some of you might have seen before. “Yesterday’s trash is today’s masterpiece”.

$7000 for Motion Pictures Funnies Weekly 1
$1500 for Marvel Mystery #5

More Fun 52 & 53 priced at $2500 for the pair. Listen to the funny exchange between a collector and dealer where the guy asked why dealer turned down an offer for More Fun 52.
Dealer: I was offered 900 for the More Fun 52 but I turned him down.
Collector: Why’d you turn him down? That’s a pretty good price.
Dealer: I didn’t want to break ‘em up. It’s a set.
Collector: That’s $2000 above guide and books aren’t even mint!
Same guy later pointing toward the More Fun 52 & 53: You know I’ve been looking for these a long time…
If you want the books badly enough, you have to pay the price!
Try saying “your books are way over guide and they are not even mint” to any dealer nowadays when you are interested in his books and see how they respond.

https://sendvid.com/yq3fnyqe

sorry I couldn't figure how to embed video...some tips?

These ads were in Billboard magazine dated 3/14/42 & 3/21/42 respectively.

Buy hundreds or thousands of old books.

Action 45, Superman 15 and More Fun 76 seem to be pretty good deals at 2-3 cents each but who wants Mickey Finn?

On 12/16/2022 at 4:46 PM, RareHighGrade said:

This one intrigues me.  Was Captain America so popular by only the second issue of the title that children were already buying and dressing up in his costume, complete with shield?

David Armstrong wears a homemade Captain America costume as he reads a Golden Age issue of Captain America Comics 2 during a 1960s convention. This photo saw print at least as early as Monsters and Heroes #5 (July 1969).
In 2013 board member MrBedrock, who knows Mr Armstrong, said "He is still very involved in comics and collecting. He was the final president of the old American Assoc. of Comic Collectors. He has avidly interviewed and filmed as many of the living early creators as possible with the hopes of eventually doing a documentary. He has 100s of hours of film compiled. He is still a huge fan. And while he is in great shape, sadly the Cap suit doesn't fit any longer."

On 11/10/2022 at 11:26 AM, Ryan. said:

This is still my favorite Frazetta book.

Could this copy be in the 1950s photo?

We have dealt with Covid for a couple of years and currently dealing with Monkey pox. Recently New York governor Kathy Hochul issued a state of emergency for polio, a viral threat that has reemerged. Poliovirus was found in sewage samples from 4 counties in the NY metropolitan area and in the city itself. Polio has flu-like symptoms, is easily spread orally and can lead to permanent paralysis. Polio is fatal to 2-10% of the people suffering from paralysis because the muscles used to breathe are immobilized.

Major polio epidemics occurred in the early to mid 20th century and primarily afflicted young children. Polio was one of the most feared diseases of the developed world since polio could hit without warning and required long quarantine periods. It was impossible to tell who would get the disease and who would be spared. There is no cure for polio but the iron lung was developed in the 1920s to aid breathing for polio patients. In 1952 the worst polio epidemic in US history heightened parents fears of the disease and focused public awareness on the need for a vaccine. Jonas Salk developed the first polio vaccine that was licensed in 1955 and a few years later Albert Sabin developed a second polio vaccine. It is notable how people’s attitudes toward vaccinations for deadly and debilitating diseases have changed over time.

President Franklin Roosevelt who was paralyzed from the waist down from polio helped found the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (now known as the March of Dimes) in 1938 that raised money for rehabilitation for polio victims and was instrumental in funding the development of polio vaccines. Many comics were promoting support for the March of Dimes by displaying logos or including public service ads. DC promoted the March of Dimes by giving color postcards of Wonder Woman, Superman or Batman & Robin for a donation.

1. A kid with polio in an iron lung reading a comic.

2. A kid with polio getting a pair of corrective shoes and comics in an Iowa hospital in 1951.

3. A kid with polio looking at his western comics.

4. These kids were given comics to read while waiting for their polio shots in Delaware on July 6 1954.

5. Capt Marvel 43 with Fight Infantile Paralysis logo.

6. Star Spangled 54 with Join March of Dimes logo.

7. Action 142 with March of Dimes logo.

8. Superman promotion for March of Dimes in Detective 85.

9. Superman polio card front/back.

10. Wonder Woman promotion for March of Dimes in Sensation 15.

11. Wonder Woman polio card front/back.

12. Batman & Robin promotion for March of Dimes in Detective 97.

13. Batman & Robin polio card front/back.

14. A public service ad for polio prevention in a 1953 Mighty Mouse comic.