Showing posts with label The Coliseum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Coliseum. Show all posts
Monday, March 4, 2013
Florida Book Fair: A collector finds what he wants
Here's a word from bookseller Ken Hebenstreit of Royal Oak, Michigan, one of the rare book dealers you'll meet at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, March 8-10, 2013 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair is the southeast's oldest and largest antiquarian book fair. It features more than 115 dealers in books, maps, photographs, prints, ephemera and autographs. You can find rare books, collectible books and out-of-print books at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. BUY TICKETS ONLINE | GET MORE INFORMATION
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Book fair: Flappers at The Coliseum!
What a delight to see a return of flappers to The Coliseum! The '20s-era dance venue has been home to the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair for years but those exuberant young women were long gone. But on Friday, booksellers Cynthia Gibson and Sunday Steinkirchner brought them back — if only for a little while. The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair runs March 9-11, 2012 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Book Fair: Save a buck on admission
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Book Fair: Treasures We're Bringing
Bookseller Boe Rushing reveals one of the special items he'll be bringing to the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. Look for items other dealers plan to have at the book fair under this series Treasures We're Bringing.
The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair runs March 9-11, 2012 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. The book fair is the largest of its kind in the southeastern United States. More than 115 dealers in rare books, antiquarian books, antique maps, vintage photographs and more will exhibit at the book fair. | Music by Kevin MacLeod: Night Cave
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Book Fair: Robb Versandi on sharing information
Bookseller Robb Versandi says one of the extraordinary things about the book fair is the amount of information dealers willingly share with one another and with their customers.
The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair runs March 9-11, 2012 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. The book fair is the largest of its kind in the southeastern United States. More than 115 dealers in rare books, antiquarian books, antique maps, vintage photographs and more will exhibit at the book fair. | Music by Kevin MacLeod: Night Cave
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Book Fair: Boe Rushing on loving books
Bookseller Boe Rushing says that anyone who loves books ought to come to the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair to see the amazing selection. They may see books they'll never see again in their lifetime.
The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair runs March 9-11, 2012 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. The book fair is the largest of its kind in the southeastern United States. More than 115 dealers in rare books, antiquarian books, antique maps, vintage photographs and more will exhibit at the book fair. | Music by Kevin MacLeod: Night Cave
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Book Fair: Treasures We're Bringing
Bookseller David Brown shows a copy of Ernest Hemingway's Green Hills of Africa, one of the special volumes he'll be bringing to the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair. Look for special items other dealers will be bringing to the book fair.
The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair runs March 9-11, 2012 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. The book fair is the largest of its kind in the southeastern United States. More than 115 dealers in rare books, antiquarian books, antique maps, vintage photographs and more will exhibit at the book fair. | Music by Kevin MacLeod: Night Cave
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Book Fair: George Spiero on young book lovers
Bookseller George Spiero discusses the people in their 20s he enjoys seeing at the book fair. He's not worried about Kindle, iPad and Nook. Dealers will find an audience for traditional books for a long time to come, he says.
The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair runs March 9-11, 2012 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. The book fair is the largest of its kind in the southeastern United States. More than 115 dealers in rare books, antiquarian books, antique maps, vintage photographs and more will exhibit at the book fair. | Music by Kevin MacLeod: Night Cave
The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair runs March 9-11, 2012 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. The book fair is the largest of its kind in the southeastern United States. More than 115 dealers in rare books, antiquarian books, antique maps, vintage photographs and more will exhibit at the book fair. | Music by Kevin MacLeod: Night Cave
Monday, February 20, 2012
Book Fair: Robb Versandi on prices
Bookseller Robb Versandi says book enthusiasts on a budget need not worry. There are plenty of bargains at the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair.
The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair runs March 9-11, 2012 at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. The book fair is the largest of its kind in the southeastern United States. More than 115 dealers in rare books, antiquarian books, antique maps, vintage photographs and more will exhibit at the book fair. | Music by Kevin MacLeod: Night Cave
Monday, February 28, 2011
30 years of Book Fairs: Like a family reunion
The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair celebrates its 30th anniversary in March. Vivian Moore was one of a small cadre of booksellers who put together the first book fair at the University of Tampa. She shared some of her recollections.
By Vivian Moore
The first show was somewhat stressful and tiring. And yet, it was very exciting and lots of fun! We did not have a show manager for the first span of years as we were trying to minimize our expenses so that the show would be economically viable.
Therefore, Mike Slicker (owner of Lighthouse Books, ABAA), who I believe was the creator of the FABA and the book fair, took the bull by the horns and became our show manager, a position he held for many years.
The responsibility of putting together the show in those days fell on just a few dealers: Mike, myself and my ex, Jim Shelton. That first year we did everything ourselves including the rental and assembling of the tables, chairs, tablecloths and the laying out of the booths.
I can remember we ordered and picked up 20 to 30 unassembled bookcases (2 feet by 6 feet) as one was included in the price of each booth. We started to put them together early in the morning at one of the ballrooms at the University of Tampa, where the show was held those early years. It was going smoothly until we started finding that some of the bookcases had flaws. They would not fit together properly. Oh no, small panic. So, we now had to employ a saw and other tools to make these adjustments to get the bookcases to fit together.
During this time, our small group of “managers” acted as porters, assisting the dealers in moving their inventory into their booths. We also passed out materials such as bags & tag sealers for them, etc. Helping the dealers haul their books to their booths, I was always impressed with how many boxes dealers could pack in a vehicle. If any of the dealers needed anything extra for their booth or had any problems, we would assist them as well. Now, remember, our core group members were also exhibitors at the fair, which meant that we were also trying to get our own booths setup before the show began.
Of course, everything always takes you longer than you planned. Opening time was quickly approaching and there were still things to do. We barely got the last bookcase built for the exhibitors before the doors opened. As the show commenced, our booth still wasn't totally unpacked or arranged. And, we had not yet changed out of our work clothes. I'm sure there were a few small things that were overlooked by the dealers but they really liked the show and our hospitality, and it was a success!
I think we had about 24 to 30 dealers with most of them from Florida and a few from out of state. After the show, we had to lug those built bookcases to our shop for either storage, use, and/or sell. I believe we used those type of bookcases for a few years, then we went into the fold-up kind that were smaller and lighter in weight with no assembly. Later on, we discontinued those and now offer rental display showcases direct through a company.
After about 15-plus years without a show manager, it’s nice to have one now, and I’m sure Mike will agree, though I know he’s always worked closely with the manager especially more so early on. And, of course, now all we have to do is set up our booth, which is great since each year we are getting older.
The book fair has grown over the years from the original 25 to 30 to around 115-plus dealers from all over the country. We have always had a long list of dealers waiting to get a booth for the show as our exhibitors are a hardcore group as many return year after year.
I believe that what draws the dealers to the show is the Florida sunshine, the old Coliseum in St. Petersburg, which makes a perfect setting and our warm southern hospitality. The shows are like a family reunion of dealers and customers who have become old and lifelong friends.
I’m glad to have taken part in all 30 years of this show. It has been a worthwhile part of my life and I have many memories of great times. I hope it will continue into the future as far as we can see.
The 30th Annual Florida Antiquarian Book Fair runs from Friday, March 11 through Sunday, March 13.
By Vivian Moore
The first show was somewhat stressful and tiring. And yet, it was very exciting and lots of fun! We did not have a show manager for the first span of years as we were trying to minimize our expenses so that the show would be economically viable.
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| Vivian Moore operated Hyde Park Book Shop |
The responsibility of putting together the show in those days fell on just a few dealers: Mike, myself and my ex, Jim Shelton. That first year we did everything ourselves including the rental and assembling of the tables, chairs, tablecloths and the laying out of the booths.
I can remember we ordered and picked up 20 to 30 unassembled bookcases (2 feet by 6 feet) as one was included in the price of each booth. We started to put them together early in the morning at one of the ballrooms at the University of Tampa, where the show was held those early years. It was going smoothly until we started finding that some of the bookcases had flaws. They would not fit together properly. Oh no, small panic. So, we now had to employ a saw and other tools to make these adjustments to get the bookcases to fit together.
During this time, our small group of “managers” acted as porters, assisting the dealers in moving their inventory into their booths. We also passed out materials such as bags & tag sealers for them, etc. Helping the dealers haul their books to their booths, I was always impressed with how many boxes dealers could pack in a vehicle. If any of the dealers needed anything extra for their booth or had any problems, we would assist them as well. Now, remember, our core group members were also exhibitors at the fair, which meant that we were also trying to get our own booths setup before the show began.
Of course, everything always takes you longer than you planned. Opening time was quickly approaching and there were still things to do. We barely got the last bookcase built for the exhibitors before the doors opened. As the show commenced, our booth still wasn't totally unpacked or arranged. And, we had not yet changed out of our work clothes. I'm sure there were a few small things that were overlooked by the dealers but they really liked the show and our hospitality, and it was a success!
I think we had about 24 to 30 dealers with most of them from Florida and a few from out of state. After the show, we had to lug those built bookcases to our shop for either storage, use, and/or sell. I believe we used those type of bookcases for a few years, then we went into the fold-up kind that were smaller and lighter in weight with no assembly. Later on, we discontinued those and now offer rental display showcases direct through a company.
After about 15-plus years without a show manager, it’s nice to have one now, and I’m sure Mike will agree, though I know he’s always worked closely with the manager especially more so early on. And, of course, now all we have to do is set up our booth, which is great since each year we are getting older.
The book fair has grown over the years from the original 25 to 30 to around 115-plus dealers from all over the country. We have always had a long list of dealers waiting to get a booth for the show as our exhibitors are a hardcore group as many return year after year.
I believe that what draws the dealers to the show is the Florida sunshine, the old Coliseum in St. Petersburg, which makes a perfect setting and our warm southern hospitality. The shows are like a family reunion of dealers and customers who have become old and lifelong friends.
I’m glad to have taken part in all 30 years of this show. It has been a worthwhile part of my life and I have many memories of great times. I hope it will continue into the future as far as we can see.
The 30th Annual Florida Antiquarian Book Fair runs from Friday, March 11 through Sunday, March 13.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
A perfect setting for the Book Fair
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| The site of the Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, The Coliseum was featured in the 1985 movie Cocoon. |
The Coliseum was built during the Roaring Twenties as a ballroom. It was the Jazz Age, and young flappers just wanted to have fun; amid the ballyhoo and trumpery of the real estate boom, the American idols of the times like crooner Rudy Vallee set hearts aflutter with their boyish good looks and their melodious voices.
St. Petersburg residents consider it a treasure, and rightly so. With its polished oak floors and graceful arches, the venue, no longer used exclusively as a dance hall, still excites those who enter its doors. It evokes a time past when jazz and swing were in the air and big names like Paul Whiteman and Harry James brought their big bands to the Sunshine City.
The city of St. Petersburg bought the building in 1989 and made extensive renovations, including a large refinishing project completed just last year. It is considered one of the Bay area's most unique facilities, hosting trade shows, dances, banquets, and, of course, the annual Florida Antiquarian Book Fair.
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