In 2019, the Los Angeles Paperback Collectors Show celebrates its fortieth straight year, now at its new venue at the Glendale Civic Auditorium.
For its first two years, 1980-81, founder Tom Lesser ran the show from his home in Chatsworth, attracting dealers, fellow collectors and enthusiasts.
From early on, the show included the able participation of Rose Idlet and Tony Scibella of Black Ace Books.
Burbank Golden Mall Pavillion
It was expanded to the old Golden Mall in Burbank for the next four years. This location was within a small pavillion at the end of the mall.
Robert Bloch - Burbank - 1983
The show included collectors and dealers trading books, and guest authors signing books. The Burbank location was near book and movie collectible stores that added to the appeal.
Harlan Ellison - AE & Lydia Van Vogt - Van Nuys - 1987
In 1987, the show was held at the Holiday Inn on Roscoe, near the 405 in Van Nuys, before the show settled into the Mission Hills Inn, where it would remain through 2013.
The show has grown in popularity every year, attracting dealers and participants from throughout the country and around the world.
Ray Bradbury - Mission Hills - 2002
An important attraction of the show has been its exciting roster of guest authors and artists: over the years it has included such notables as Robert Bloch (18 years), A. E. Van Vogt , Ray Bradbury, Poul Anderson, and Fredrik Pohl (all for over 10 years), and William F. Nolan (probably the show's champ, with over 33 years of appearances).
This year the show will feature approximately fifty guests who will be available to sign their work and meet the attendees.
As the show has grown, so too has its group of organizers and contributors.
This year's show could not have happened without the continuing dedication and energy of Tom Lesser and Rose Idlet, and also John King Tarpinian, Jim Pepper, Lisa Kingsley, and Bob Speray.
The show's characteristic poster images were originally devised and designed by the late Glenn Souza starting in the early 1990s and continued by him through 2007, when he handed on his legacy to Tony Gleeson shortly before his passing.