RIP: The Atlantique City show

[base_ball]

How good was the Atlantique City antiques and collectibles show back in the day?

While traipsing through the aisles – probably in the early 90s – I stopped by Josh Evans’s booth. “You see this?” he said, pointing to large glass display case filled with sports collectibles of the Carlton Hendricks variety. “Everything in there is from the show.”

In its relatively short life (it started in 1986) Atlantique City became the de facto “National” for the world of antiques, especially the collectibles side of the business. The show was particularly strong in the areas of toys and jewelry, but every single genre of stuff was well represented at the massive event. What did I get there? Oh, a Dizzy Dean pocket watch, a Jackie Robinson doll, dozens of baseball board games and advertising pieces....I can't even remember some. Of course the seismic shift created by the Internet is chiefly responsible for the death of the show, which was announced last week. But frankly, I somehow feel that if the show were being run by anyone else but F&W Media (parent company of -- ta-dah! -- Krause Publications) it would still be very much alive. How sad.

[ibuysportsephemera]

I found some very nice items at these shows.

My best purchase was a 1961 Yankees Yearbook and the program (both in mint condition) for 10/1/61 (Maris 61st homer) for $50.

[Leon]

I don't know the exact reason for it's demise, but it's not unlike any other business I guess, if you don't make money eventually you stop doing it. I never went to this show but it sounds like it was a good one...

[RichardSimon]

Going to that show was like going to the Smithsonian. Even if you did not collect anything the show was a great display of Americana. Sad to see its demise.

[JamesGallo]

It's funny I sent up at that show for about 10 years from the 90's on. They slowly started to lose dealers and once that happened I knew the show was dead. Last time I went I talked to a dealer that had never missed a show since 1986 and he said he was done, when that happened I knew the show was also done.

I am not sure anyone could have kept that show going, they did try several things over the last years but it was so big and so expensive that I just think it was too much.

Anyway I loved the show back when and it was great for buying and selling. I have a lot of memories with friends at that show.

Times change I guess but there certainly aren't many shows around and I don't know of any show that had the wide range of quality stuff that AC did.

James G