Comic Books After Dark With Your Host—Beau Smith

by Beau Smith

REMINDER: Please note that the late 1960s was a much different world than the one we live in today.

The following phone conversation transpired between me and my Grandmother in 1967 when I was in the 7^th grade:

My Grandmother: “Beau, what do you want for your birthday?”

Me: “A subscription to Playboy Magazine”.

My Grandmother: …..Pause…..

Me: “Granny, you still there?”

My Grandmother: “Yes…a subscription to Playboy? That’s what you really want?”

Me: “Oh, Yeah. Mom and Dad won’t let me have a BB Gun, they think I’ll shoot Mitch and Gig (My Younger brothers)…a lot.”

My Grandmother: “Well, we don’t want that, it wouldn’t be safe. Okay, I’ll order you a subscription then. Don’t take them to school or church.”

Me: “Okay. Thanks, Granny, I won’t. (Lie)

That was pretty much the conversation. And my mom and dad were right, I would’ve shot my little brothers a lot with the BB gun. Years later, in college, I did get a BB gun, and I did shoot my brothers with it…a lot. Parents know everything.

I Read The Articles….I Promise!

So, from 1967 through 1983, my Granny got me a subscription to Playboy Magazine every year on my birthday. I treated those issues like my comic books; I took care of them, had them organized, and proceeded to wallpaper my bedroom with the centerfolds, as well as the ceiling. Ask any of my buddies, I had the coolest room ever – comic books, all the latest records, tons of ball cards, and years worth of Playboy Magazine.

After a few years, it became the norm. My friend’s parents all knew, and really didn’t notice any deviant behavior out of any of us, no one at school ever said anything to my knowledge, it just became the norm. I have to say, my intentions with the magazine at first was purely for physical discovery, but after a bit, it became mental as well, mental in the fact I really did read the articles, reviews , interviews and commentaries. I learned more about politics and world news than I ever did from the local newspaper or TV. Of course when writing school papers, I lied and said I referenced my findings from more socially accepted sources. I was no fool. Keep your good thing under the radar.

Let’s take a pause here for a second, another reminder, 1967….it was a different time. It really was.

Daredevil #115 How Did I Miss This In The 70’s??

Okay, back to the point. I have to say, once in Junior High, high school and especially college, my social life was quite active. Girls, sports, activities that I won’t mention here, even though the statute of limitations is on my side, I’ll just keep any possible criminal perceptions at a minimum. I didn’t buy as many comic books in the 1970s. I was too busy with other things. Once the early 1980s rolled around, I was married, had a child, a regular job and the time to rediscover comic books. I still had my childhood collection of comics dating back to 1958 though 1969, some smatterings of comics from the ‘70s, but not many. So I began to recollect comic books. By this time, there were actual comic book stores. Growing up, I never thought that day would ever come. I was elated. I also discovered Westfield Comics. So I was able to not only shop brick and mortar stores, but mail order as well. It was great…..to a point. There was almost a decade of comic books that I kinda missed out on.

One day, in casual conversation at work, a co-worker told me that he had been downtown and saw there was a used book store in Huntington, West Virginia (my hometown) and he saw where they had some “old comic books” when he happened by there. Needless to say, I checked it out and he was more than right.

Fantastic Four #5. I Bought It For A Dime!

Star Used Book Store was the name of the establishment. Small, hole in the wall place in historic Huntington. They sold mainly used paperbacks, the rage with housewives at that time, and people dumping their dead relative’s junk. There were a few hardbacks, and then they had a load of magazines and comic books. I bought a few comics, mainly from the ‘70s, and a few choice books from the ‘60s like Avengers #5, Amazing Spider-Man #7, and Fantastic Four #5. Almost all the comic books were priced at 5 cents to a dime. If it was a quarter annual or special sized comic, then it was 15 cents. Each comic had a rubber stamped imprint near the book’s indica that read: Star Used Book Store and their address. Beside that , in ball point pen, was the price. It was like stealing. I bought as many as I could.

I became a regular customer, got to know the very nice lady that ran the place. She noticed that I would buy almost every new batch of comics that she brought in. I noticed that she sold a TON of Playboy and other “Men’s Magazines” in the section corded off in the back where only full grown, semi-creepy men and younger guys would wander. You have to remember, I had more Playboy Magazines than she did, so this was of no interest to a suave continental like myself. One day when I was looking through the pile of used comics, she told me that she was getting in a huge collection of old comic books on Friday from a local person and wanted to know if I wanted to buy all of them before she put them out. I said I was interested and then asked her if she took trades. She thought I meant comics and told me that she was trying to sell comics, not get more, so I told her that I wasn’t talking about comics, I was talking about almost two decades of mint Playboy Magazines. She said bring them in and we would make some sort of deal.

Adventure Comics #450. Jim Aparo Greatness For A Dime!

I did. My collection of Playboys, even without the centerfolds were like gold to her. She knew she could sell those as fast as she could set them on the shelves. I brought my collection in, took the massive collection of comics she had just bought, and I still had a huge amount of store credit on top of that. She was so happy, and I had just filled in a decade of missing comics as well as key Silver Age books. It truly was a red letter day for me.

After a year or so, Star Book Store went out of business. Waldenbooks, and other mall types of stores were spreading. She was getting less and less stock for her store. I will say that the Playboys I traded her went fast and she made a nice little profit from them before the closing of the doors. I brought The Star Book Store their last Hurrah!.

Thank You Barbi Benton and Hugh Hefner!

So this week, with the passing of 91 year old Hugh Hefner, I just want to say thank you to him on many different levels. Because of him, many different, enjoyable worlds were opened up for me. You can insert all your snarky, “This sounds funny to me” lines in here, but it’s the truth…”Hef” broadened my horizons…he also helped me collect comic books.

I’m in his debt.

Rest In Peace, Hugh Hefner. You did me a great favor.

Beau Smith

www.flyingfistranch.com

@BeauSmithRanch