Sad News - R.I.P. Richard Olson - Yellow Kid 6 6

[tb]

On 5/8/2023 at 11:23 AM, Robot Man said:

Rich and I were very different. We were on different political sides, I liked PCH and GGA and he liked Funny animals. He liked Superman and Capt. Marvel, I liked the darker Batman & The Spectre. In high school I played in a rock band and ran around with “hoods” and he was a jock. But we both agreed on our love of the medium and love of the “hunt”. The great equalizer.

I too held different political views from his. However, when he and I were alone, we would sometimes have conversations on highly divisive topics. Although I knew he disagreed fiercely, he would always listen respectfully and with interest to my side and neither of us ever got upset. Eventually, we'd just start talking about comics and art again. In my adult life, I've always made a particular effort to seek out friendships with people that I disagreed with politically and I felt a kinship with Rich in this respect. On rare occasions, as much as he hated it, he would even hint to me that he might have been wrong about something. For all the years that I knew him, he kept a laminated copy of the poem below in clear view beneath the glass surface of his desk. He told me that he had moved it there from his office at the university when he retired as a Professor:

"Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley.

I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

Edited May 8, 2023 by tb

[Robot Man]

On 5/7/2023 at 6:59 PM, 50YrsCollctngCmcs said:

Rich shared some very interesting stories about Malcolm Willits and Rick Durrell; suffice to say some better not told. One interesting story though is that Malcolm was apparently featured on a cable program (Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous perhaps) that showed off his house and collections. It would be really fascinating to get a copy of that show.

I don’t know how “rich” or “famous” he was, but this might be what you are talking about.

I don’t really know how truly close him and Rich actually were. I think he was a little envious of Leonard and Malcolm’s relationship. 

 

[ThothAmon]

Very sad to hear. My condolences to his family and friends. His platinum era collection must be massive. 

[Robot Man]

On 5/8/2023 at 1:05 PM, ThothAmon said:

Very sad to hear. My condolences to his family and friends. His platinum era collection must be massive. 

Yup. One of the best known. What is even more important is his collection of other platinum era “other stuff”. Toys, advertising, pinback buttons, original art and the like. So many one of a kind items. Rich really loved “the hunt” and never left any stone unturned in his quest. Ted Hake told me once that Rich was relentless. 

[Cat-Man_America]

Somehow managed to miss this thread over the weekend. 

Condolences to his family and all who knew him. 

[Telegan]

I never knew the man, but it's always nice to read good comments from others about people.  Sometimes that reflects almost as much on the type of person they were.  R.I.P., good sir.

[Telegan]

On 5/8/2023 at 11:45 AM, tb said:

I too held different political views from his. However, when he and I were alone, we would sometimes have conversations on highly divisive topics. Although I knew he disagreed fiercely, he would always listen respectfully and with interest to my side and neither of us ever got upset. Eventually, we'd just start talking about comics and art again. In my adult life, I've always made a particular effort to seek out friendships with people that I disagreed with politically and I felt a kinship with Rich in this respect. On rare occasions, as much as he hated it, he would even hint to me that he might have been wrong about something. For all the years that I knew him, he kept a laminated copy of the poem below in clear view beneath the glass surface of his desk. He told me that he had moved it there from his office at the university when he retired as a Professor:

"Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley.

I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

Oh wow.  I remember reading this poem in jr. high or high school, and I don't think any poem hit me as hard or made me think as much as this one.  I still think of it as an adult for various reasons.

[plady69]

If a man is known by the company he keeps, so also his character is reflected in the books he reads.”

— J. Oswald Sanders

[MattTheDuck]

[50YrsCollctngCmcs]

On 5/8/2023 at 12:38 AM, sfcityduck said:

Richard and I started corresponding a bit when I sold him a copy of FC456, which I gathered was his favorite book.  It was a census topping copy and he was concerned enough about the book that he offered to fly my wife and I to New Orleans so I could personally deliver the book and hang out with him at his house.  I regret turning down his offer but I was busy with cases.  

Richard was kind enough to share with me stories and information about his early days of collecting.  I am grateful for his generosity. In one of our exchanges he posted something I feel compelled to share:

-------------------------------------

Richard,

I am just curious if you bought, or know who bought, the Barks bound volume inscribed to Malcolm Willits.  I don't want to harass the owner or seek to buy it, but I am curious if it found a good home.  I know you love ducks, and that bound volume is, in my opinion, an important historical document that deserves to be owned by a true duck lover.  On the off chance you don't know what I'm referring to, this is a link.

https://comics.ha.com/itm/golden-age-1938-1955-/humor/dell-giant-comics-bound-volume-signed-by-carl-barks-dell-1949-51-/a/122049-11117.s?type=lotlink--bidnotice-tracked-dailystatus

Hope you are happy and healthy!  Stay safe.

Alec

—————————————

Alec,

I did not buy the volume, and neither of the two major duck collectors I talk with most frequently didn't buy it either.  However, I think the bidding was strong enough that it went to a collector who will treasure it.

Mal did write me in early 2020 and say that he had decided to stop going to doctors and taking his meds because he had had enough.  He died a few months later and I think of his handwritten letter to me as a sad but important piece of comic history.  Leonard Brown and I had a mail-order comic business.  When I didn't want to open a store with Leonard, he found Mal and they opened Collectors Book Store in 1964.  The three of us would have lunch together when I visited my parents at Christmas in Long Beach.  I visited Leonard for a week before he died, and Mal joined us one day and I treasure the picture Leonard's wife took of the three of us as it was the last time we were all together.  We liked to think that we were one of the driving forces in developing the rare comic business in Southern California.   

Now they have both died and I am 76 and when my time comes, it will mark the end of an important chapter in the history of our hobby.

Take Care,

Richard

I remember that auction and I think Rich and I corresponded about it because it was such a unique item and featured such wonderful Barks comics. I've no idea who won that auction but it is certainly a treasure!!

Edited May 9, 2023 by 50YrsCollctngCmcs

[50YrsCollctngCmcs]

On 5/9/2023 at 4:46 AM, Robot Man said:

I don’t know how “rich” or “famous” he was, but this might be what you are talking about.

I don’t really know how truly close him and Rich actually were. I think he was a little envious of Leonard and Malcolm’s relationship. 

 

That's the one. There is a classic image of Carl Barks standing in front of Malcolm's 1930's era Cadillac which may be the one pictured here in the video. Malcolm was the first collector to have been able to dig up Carl Barks' identity as I recall and have him come over to visit. Later there was also a famous visit with both Carl Barks and Floyd Gottfredson that was documented in a sales brochure for their paintings as I recall. I have a few of those somewhere. I believe Malcolm's house was off Orange Grove Boulevard in Pasadena; colloquially know as Millionaire's Row as that's who lived there back in the early 1900's. It's still a pretty swank area though the estates have now been converted to luxury townhome developments.

[sfcityduck]

On 5/9/2023 at 12:50 AM, 50YrsCollctngCmcs said:

Malcolm was the first collector to have been able to dig up Carl Barks' identity as I recall and have him come over to visit. Later there was also a famous visit with both Carl Barks and Floyd Gottfredson that was documented in a sales brochure for their paintings as I recall. I have a few of those somewhere. 

Willits was the first fan to ascertain Barks’ identity and get his contact info.  He was also the first fan to meet Barks in person. That bound volume was signed at that meeting at Barks’ house. It is a very cool  momento of the moment that Barks met his first fan in person - the one who had discovered him.  No longer would Barks labor in obscurity with his accomplishments unrecognized.  Barks was now on the road to recognition, fame and the validation of being recognized as a “Disney Legend.”  A great moment for comic fandom.

PS The first fans to talk to Barks, on the phone, were the Spicer brothers. Barks appreciated the fan contact and added a shout out to one of his stories:

Edited May 9, 2023 by sfcityduck

[Robot Man]

On 5/8/2023 at 7:27 PM, plady69 said:

If a man is known by the company he keeps, so also his character is reflected in the books he reads.”

— J. Oswald Sanders

Oh boy, I’m in trouble…

[sagii]

Very sad to hear this

Richard would send me the pins annually like others here as well. We would often PM about Looney tunes comics and cartoons. He had a great collection of the early period of the run. He would remark to me how (but that isn't the case any more as prices have risen) the comics seemed 'undervalued' given the longevity and iconic status of the characters.

My favorite Rich story. He once PM'd me a picture of a very early Dell Looney Tunes & Merrie Melodies Comics subscription card. He said it belonged to a friend, but thought i'd appreciate it, and could share the image on the Boards just don't name him as the source. I was floored and couldn't get the thing out of my head. I waited a few days and said to him, if his friend ever wanted to sell, let me know. He said he didn't think that would happen but would let him know, so i thanked him and let it be.

Fast forward years later after i acquired other LT&MM subscription cards, that one came back into mind. It seemed earlier than the ones i had (maybe the first?) and I  just had to have it after not seeing even one example ever having popped up on eBay in that time. 

I reached out to Richard again, asking about the friend and that card, He said it was so long ago, and could not recall that conversation unfortunately. I said it's fine, was just a long shot but appreciated his time. 

A little over a week later, a package from Richard arrived in the mail. I was expecting another one of his beautiful pins to add to my collection. I was stunned at what was inside. It will remain in the collection for the rest of my collecting days. There was a note, which i won't share here, but needless to say it was one of the few times i've ever shed a tear. 

I will never forget the knowledge and anecdotes you have shared with me over the years Richard .

Rest in Peace Yellow Kid 

Edited May 10, 2023 by sagii

[Flex Mentallo]

On 5/9/2023 at 4:22 PM, Robot Man said:

Oh boy, I’m in trouble…

You've been in trouble for decades young man!

 

And spit out that gum!

Edited May 9, 2023 by Flex Mentallo

[MusterMark]

On 5/8/2023 at 9:45 AM, tb said:

I too held different political views from his. However, when he and I were alone, we would sometimes have conversations on highly divisive topics. Although I knew he disagreed fiercely, he would always listen respectfully and with interest to my side and neither of us ever got upset. Eventually, we'd just start talking about comics and art again. In my adult life, I've always made a particular effort to seek out friendships with people that I disagreed with politically and I felt a kinship with Rich in this respect. On rare occasions, as much as he hated it, he would even hint to me that he might have been wrong about something. For all the years that I knew him, he kept a laminated copy of the poem below in clear view beneath the glass surface of his desk. He told me that he had moved it there from his office at the university when he retired as a Professor:

"Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley.

I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

That poem always makes me emotional.

Thank you for sharing it, especially in this context. 

 

[Sarg]

On 5/7/2023 at 8:58 PM, sfcityduck said:

And here's an interview of Richard that he sent me. Probably not a surprise to some here that I like comic history.  So I was grateful that Richard shared this material with me. I re-read these after reading this thread, it was nice to see the stories again and the posts above by others with more to share.  I didn't really know him well, but I'm grateful for his generosity.  He emailed me once: "If we ever get the chance to visit, I will tell you some amazing stories." I never did. I really am glad that others who knew him are sharing those stories and that some of them ended up being put  down on paper like the interview below. One of the last communications began with the statement "Comics have always been a part of my life, sometimes a large part, and I have been fortunate to be involved at just the right time."  Later the discussion turned to a particular issue of Uncle Scrooge in high grade, but hadn't found one for all his efforts. He stated:

The juxtaposition of the statement about how he'd been fortunate be involved at just the right time in the 1950s-1960s, and how it was still "just the right time" because great books (like, he hoped, a US 6) found back then would be coming to market is something I found touching. It was a mixture of optimism, delight, maybe a bit of melancholy, but mostly something I'd call wisdom.  My sympathies to his family and you folks here who knew him much better than me.

 

Great article. I especially enjoyed the insight that the older comic book collectors c.1960 valued the comic strip reprints more than superhero books, and even priced the Flash Gordon Feature Books higher than Superman #1. 

Edited May 9, 2023 by Sarg
typo

[50YrsCollctngCmcs]

On 5/10/2023 at 1:00 AM, sagii said:

Very sad to hear this

Richard would send me the pins annually like others here as well. We would often PM about Looney tunes comics and cartoons. He had a great collection of the early period of the run. He would remark to me how (but that isn't the case any more as prices have risen) the comics seemed 'undervalued' given the longevity and iconic status of the characters.

My favorite Rich story. He once PM'd me a picture of a very early Dell Looney Tunes & Merrie Melodies Comics subscription card. He said it belonged to a friend, but thought i'd appreciate it, and could share the image on the Boards just don't name him as the source. I was floored and couldn't get the thing out of my head. I waited a few days and said to him, if his friend ever wanted to sell, let me know. He said he didn't think that would happen but would let him know, so i thanked him and let it be.

Fast forward years later after i acquired other LT&MM subscription cards, that one came back into mind. It seemed earlier than the ones i had (maybe the first?) and I  just had to have it after not seeing even one example ever having popped up on eBay in that time. 

I reached out to Richard again, asking about the friend and that card, He said it was so long ago, and could not recall that conversation unfortunately. I said it's fine, was just a long shot but appreciated his time. 

A little over a week later, a package from Richard arrived in the mail. I was expecting another one of his beautiful pins to add to my collection. I was stunned at what was inside. It will remain in the collection for the rest of my collecting days. There was note, which i won't share here, but needless to say it one of the few times i've ever shed a tear. 

I will never forget the knowledge and anecdotes you have shared with me over the years Richard .

Rest in Peace Yellow Kid 

Rich and I were both big fans of the entire Dell comics line. Besides the Yellow Kid he was also a big fan of Little Orphan Annie and I would occasionally pick up a Dell comic or a reprint volume featuring her stories. Rich knew them all and would tell me which ones to look out for in the comic strip continuity. He was one of the few on the boards who appreciated my interest in all things Dell. We would even discuss the evolution of the Dell logo and Rich of course had every book featuring the obscure horse logo.

As for Looney Tunes Rich always told me that while Leonard's store had high grade copies of all the early Disney comics that he never could find high grade early issues of Looney Tunes. So it is likely they are much rarer than their contemporary Disney books. When I got the book below for a bargain price Rich was pleased and reminded me again how infrequently one sees these early issues. Looking at the book below I just realized we never discussed the "L&M comics" logo!!

[sagii]

On 5/9/2023 at 9:02 PM, 50YrsCollctngCmcs said:

Rich and I were both big fans of the entire Dell comics line. Besides the Yellow Kid he was also a big fan of Little Orphan Annie and I would occasionally pick up a Dell comic or a reprint volume featuring her stories. Rich knew them all and would tell me which ones to look out for in the comic strip continuity. He was one of the few on the boards who appreciated my interest in all things Dell. We would even discuss the evolution of the Dell logo and Rich of course had every book featuring the obscure horse logo.

As for Looney Tunes Rich always told me that while Leonard's store had high grade copies of all the early Disney comics that he never could find high grade early issues of Looney Tunes. So it is likely they are much rarer than their contemporary Disney books. When I got the book below for a bargain price Rich was pleased and reminded me again how infrequently one sees these early issues. Looking at the book below I just realized we never discussed the "L&M comics" logo!!

Great post!

I do recall him mentioning to me that he did think the early LTMM issues were rarer than their Disney contemporaries as well. I found that fascinating. But the early issues are 'timed' with Bugs' 'rising star' years, so it makes sense to me in that regard. 

I know that it's been discussed in a Thread sometime before (i believe) but i forget. Just what exactly is the 'L&M' logo? Early variant? Co publishing (like National/All American)?

(Not to derail Thread)

[sfcityduck]

On 5/9/2023 at 7:02 PM, sagii said:

(Not to derail Thread)

 You know, I believe that it is not derailing a thread about a person’s passing to discuss the passions and information he wanted to pass along.  It instead is evidence of a legacy.  
 

When I die nothing would make me happier than if some folks remembered some of my threads and thoughts and gave them some discussion.  I like to think I had something helpful, interesting or valuable to say. People die but it’s like a rock thrown ito a pond and the ripples that result. The hope is the ripples are noticed.

Edited May 10, 2023 by sfcityduck