What happened to Theo Holstein? 1 1

[MrBedrock]

11 minutes ago, GreatCaesarsGhost said:

The impression I get is that he is singlehandedly responsible for keeping the investors at bay for another 10 years.  One look at his ad sent people back to stamps

This reasoning implies that those of us who continued collecting comics during this time period were somehow attracted to Theo's manly physique.

[batman_fan]

38 minutes ago, MrBedrock said:

This reasoning implies that those of us who continued collecting comics during this time period were somehow attracted to Theo's manly physique.

guilty !  That Theo was just so dreamy 

[Cobbledclam]

Not that there's anything wrong with that....🐝🐿🍿

[Cobbledclam]

[lou_fine]

1 hour ago, MrBedrock said:

1 hour ago, GreatCaesarsGhost said:

The impression I get is that he is singlehandedly responsible for keeping the investors at bay for another 10 years.  One look at his ad sent people back to stamps

This reasoning implies that those of us who continued collecting comics during this time period were somehow attracted to Theo's manly physique.

Come on, you guys.................don't you know that a picture is worth a thousand words, especially in this particular case here:    

 

BTW:  After giving it serious consideration, I've now changed my mind after all these years and will now happily pay those prices for all of the books he has listed in his ad here.  

[N e r V]

In all seriousness to the topic I do think the point of the ad was self promotion that was trying to say “hey guys I’m really cool and a big time player in collecting”. You can almost picture him offering you a joint or bong load while you looked at his high end books. That’s how I looked at in 1976 although I was a surfer by then with shoulder length hair wearing Hang Ten t-shirts so his “look” with the hairy chest in speedo and the 70’s porno style mustache wasn’t my thing. Lol

The fact that the ad impressed me back then and others it seems is pretty cool and it certainly brought back memories of that bicentennial year to me.

We’ve seen a number of collectors/dealers in the years since with their own self promotions and Theo did seem to understand comics would become very big like his prices seemed to indicate in years later.

I never met him but sure as hell would pay him if I ever do to sign one of my 1976 Overstreet guides. Really how many comic book dealer ads ever make that much of an impression to you as his did...???

[N e r V]

3 hours ago, MrBedrock said:

This reasoning implies that those of us who continued collecting comics during this time period were somehow attracted to Theo's manly physique.

I always pictured your tastes being more to the Village People in 1976 for manly attractions....

[pemart1966]

1 hour ago, N e r V said:

 

Interesting that the ad references "strict mint" for buying but no mention of grade on the books being sold.

Red Raven and Tough Kid Squad each more expensive than Superman #1 or Captain America #1?  

Edited August 6, 2020 by pemart1966

[MrBedrock]

15 hours ago, N e r V said:

I always pictured your tastes being more to the Village People in 1976 for manly attractions....

Assless chaps

[N e r V]

14 hours ago, pemart1966 said:

Interesting that the ad references "strict mint" for buying but no mention of grade on the books being sold.

Red Raven and Tough Kid Squad each more expensive than Superman #1 or Captain America #1?  

It certainly was strange even in 1976 for what he thought was correct for pricing. In fairness though 1976 was little like today. Few knew or cared about books like Suspense #3, All Winners #1 was popular and All Select #1 was not, my first Marvel Mystery comic I owned was #46 and it was NOT in any way considered special, Single Series #20 could be mentioned in the same breath as Action comics #1 and I believe in a few years Marvel Comics #1 not Action #1 would be considered the most valuable comic book. When I used the term mirror universe there was probably more that was different in the 1970’s than there is the same today. Things have certainly changed in collecting...

[N e r V]

7 minutes ago, MrBedrock said:

Assless chaps

Just poking fun at ya’...I’m sure you’re more in line for this...

 

[Hamlet]

9 minutes ago, MrBedrock said:

Assless chaps

That's redundant.  Chaps are by definition assless.

[MrBedrock]

6 minutes ago, Hamlet said:

16 minutes ago, MrBedrock said:

Assless chaps

That's redundant.  Chaps are by definition assless.

You gonna argue with a Texan from Texas about chaps?

[N e r V]

25 minutes ago, Hamlet said:

That's redundant.  Chaps are by definition assless.

 

17 minutes ago, MrBedrock said:

You gonna argue with a Texan from Texas about chaps?

[circumstances]

42 minutes ago, Hamlet said:

That's redundant.  Chaps are by definition assless.

I tell people this all the time.

[Hamlet]

1 hour ago, MrBedrock said:

You gonna argue with a Texan from Texas about chaps?

Am I wrong?  Are there non-assless chaps I'm not aware of? 

 

[MrBedrock]

Just now, Hamlet said:

1 hour ago, MrBedrock said:

You gonna argue with a Texan from Texas about chaps?

Am I wrong?  Are there non-assless chaps I'm not aware of? 

I really have no idea. I was just trying to establish who the chaps expert was around here. I guess it ain't me.

[Hamlet]

35 minutes ago, circumstances said:

I tell people this all the time.

It's like "safe haven" or "very unique".

 

[Jayman]

2 hours ago, MrBedrock said:

You gonna argue with a Texan from Texas about chaps?

 

[Cobbledclam]

On 8/5/2020 at 1:28 PM, Cat-Man_America said:

I know either personally or through reputation folks being discussed from the 1970’s comic convention scene.  I met Chuck Rozanski before he’d acquired the Church collection, back when he travelled with Bob Wayne and myself to a Houstoncon in the early 70’s.  There wasn’t much room in Bob’s car.  I guess Chuck drew the short straw since he got the back seat ...which amounted to the floorboard with the luggage we’d brought.  

As for Theo Holstein, I’ve had several phone discussions with him about collecting, encapsulation of comics and investment, but can’t recall ever having met him face to face.  Indeed, he seems eccentric, but I’ve negotiated with him a couple of times on key pieces of art through mutual friend Mitchell Mehdy.  My impression is that Theo is shrewd and a tough negotiator when maximizing profit.  That said, my experience in dealing with him was entirely reasonable.  Based on his reputation, other’s mileage obviously varies.

The thing with the Overstreet Ad that a lot of folks may be missing comes across to me as an attempt at self-deprecating humor that’s a bit subtler than just mocking Burt Reynold’s notorious nude pose.  His speedo ad may be a throwback to the old Charles Atlas weight lifter ads on the back of comics in the ‘40s and ‘50s.  Looking at it from that angle it makes a lot more sense as comic parody.  Still, from a business standpoint, I just can’t imagine collectors of that era lining up to buy and sell comics from the guy posed in that ad. 

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During the last 30 years mostly 90's I had a few personal encounters and dealings with Theo in person at shows and his office and I've never anything bad to report other than my caving and accepting less than I had hoped during the course of certain transactions. Alas that was weakness on my part.

He was knowledgeable, upfront and shrewd, not giving an inch when dealing for the most part

. Concerning self deprecating, NO....My sense with every encounter in person was that he worshipped himself like no other could. Egocentric, vane and eccentric. Those are not bad qualities in a person per se, and what wit and humor ever displayed was coy and sly to the point of the self illiciting narcissistic nature or as some might call an inside joke. 

There was no contempt or derision on his part just a seemingly stoic self-idolatry. Pretty much no one needed or needs to tell him how wonderful and beautiful he is. He already knows. Once again not a negative, just an observation on my part.

And since we're on the subject of  men in their underwear or lack thereof, I'm going to go with he's more of the Jim Palmer type than Charles Atlas.

🙈😱😊🤡🎅🏽