Phil DiMarios Parsippany NJ Toy Con 2014 by Joseph Kramar On June 27 & 28, 2014 Phil DiMario put on a great convention at the Parsippany NJ PAL building. There were some interesting guests representing a fascinating range of aspects in our pop culture history. I spoke with Al Levine about the early days of comic conventions, the book stores that sold comic books and the early days of pop culture. I interviewed the folks who brought back the Captain Action toy line and Steve Savino who many will remember from his appearances on the Toy Hunter TV show on the Travel Chanel and I spoke extensively about the childhood toys & non sport cards based on Star Trek, Munsters, Monkees Marvel Super Heroes, Batman & 60s TV. Steve and Al both remember there were coin and comic shows at the New York and Chicago airports in the 1960s. Steve and the host Jordan Hembrough knew each other since childhood. Jordan likes to bring Steve on the show at times where Steves expertise enhances the history and understanding of various categories of rare toys and collectibles. I have also recently conferred with historians, promoters, publishers: Howard Rogofsky, Tony Carbonaro, Allen Rosenberg, David Spurlock and Jim Steranko on convention history and the legendary old book stores which sold comics, pulps and old magazines. Allen Rosenberg who runs a convention at Hawthorn High School in NJ to help fund their art program shared a great anecdote of meeting Jim Steranko at a 1967 NY comic convention. Jim sat down beside him and looked through Allens stack of comics with him. When Jim got to Spyman he told Allen he wrote that story. Allen said if Jim had not sat down on the floor with him looking through the comics just like another collector he would have been too intimidated by Jim to talk with him so casually. In my interviews and articles with Jim I refer to him as a Renaissance visionary because he is always so far beyond by his evolved perspective a stagnant medium. Rogofsky who I interviewed a few years back is a pioneer of collector pricing in comics, movie magazines and pop culture. His catalog is internationally known and he has sold nostalgia to the film stars. Howard remembered a NY comic show at an old union hall back in 1961. I have been conferring with these gentlemen for years on the history of all aspects of pop culture. I have met with Steve Savino quite a few times before at Phils monthly first Sunday Wayne NJ Toy and Collectible Show. Steve and I really went back to the old days when he was one of my last interviews at Parsippany Saturday night. He was the one who suggested I speak with Al Levine about convention history. Al and I chatted earlier at his table where he was set up in one of the huge PAL dealers rooms. Al even remembered selling newspaper inserts on Houdini to Steranko. He asked me to give Jim his regards which I did when I got back to my computer. Jim who is also a magician and escape artist collects Houdini articles. I have recently conducted perhaps the longest most in depth interview with him and always have a few more insightful queries into obscure facts regarding this genius who is always top billing “Guest of Honor” when I see him at the major events. I interview other folks who worked at Marvel or in film or the music industry regarding books & major projects Im working on. In 1990 I pioneered My own events where I was the first to mix the genera of shows which I called Comics Cards Records TV & Movie Expos. As a promoter I know how much work goes into these events. Phil did an awesome job in Parsippany. Another great interview I conducted at this show beside Steve, Al & 3 great comic artists was the son of Pulp Art legend John Fleming Gould, 1906-1996. Gould attended the Pratt institute and worked on Astounding Stories, The Spider, G8 & his Battle Aces as well as the Saturday Evening Post, Redbook and for General Electric as well as on fine art. Phil had an eclectic mix of guests & genera also & l believe he pioneered this type of show including toys & collectibles. It seems like Ive known him well over 20 years with his monthly Wayne NJ show. Joseph Kramar Artist, journalist, historian, producer, promoter
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 23:55:51 +0000
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