The Spector Club A History

By Dave Smith

Dave Schmidt, owner of All American Comics and Collectibles, has spent decades navigating the shifting tides of the comic book industry. From the frantic speculation of the 1980s boom to today’s multi-billion-dollar multimedia landscape, Schmidt has seen the hobby transform from the ground up. We caught up with him to discuss his retail roots, local comic history, and the future of collecting.

The 1980s Comic Boom & The Spector Club

Schmidt’s introduction to the regional dealer community began at the historic Spector Club shows.

“My first time attending the Spector Club show was when it was being held at the Kolping House venue at 4035 Keokuk in the mid to late 1980’s,” Dave recalls. He also notes that he caught the tail end of an earlier era just before that, remembering that he “attended a show in Cahokia in the early 80’s which may have been the Spector Show when it was in transition before it went to the Kolping House.”

Before the internet, these regional shows were pure electricity, driven by a massive speculation boom. “I remember vividly the comic boom of the 80’s and the line of people waiting to come in to pick up the latest hot book or the variety of Golden Age and Silver Age books in the room,” Dave says.

It was also a tight-knit community of dealer pioneers. “I remember Bruce Mohrhard, Mike McFadden, Tony Gladdish and many of the other dealers that are unfortunately no longer with us,” Dave says. “It was a great atmosphere with a lot of energy, but I do remember loading in up the stairs being difficult.”

From Vinyl to Variant Covers

Dave’s path to becoming a full-time dealer started out of pure retail necessity.

“My beginnings as a dealer came almost as a necessity after opening my store Main Street Music in the small town of Columbia, IL,” Dave explains. “I learned quickly that having a diverse selection of products was the key to success and since I had a background as a comic collector, I added comics to my record store.”

This instinct to diversify completely transformed his trajectory. “Eventually I added games and memorabilia to my inventory and here I am today with 2 thriving stores in the region,” he says.

Collectors vs. Investors: Do We Need Both?

Today, third-party grading and online auction apps have caused plenty of debates among fans over market trends.

“That’s a tough question to really answer,” Dave says. “Each comic shop has its own identity and footprint that I really only see what my shop does. That being said, I do believe that your question itself is part of the answer.”

Instead of picking a side between purists and financiers, Dave views them as two halves of the same coin.

“Collecting and investing are both separate and integral parts of the business,” Dave explains. “You can be a collector and not care if the books you have increase in value (although I think we all hope they do), or you can collect books in a manner that maximizes profit like an investment. Neither way is right or wrong, but I think that we need both types to keep the industry going.”

At the End of the Day, It’s All About the Story

Even with changing trends, Dave believes the future of the medium rests on basic artistic merit.

“At the core of the comic world though, has to be good writing and good art,” Dave says. “Tell me a good story that I can visually enjoy, and you have a buyer.”

As long as creators deliver great stories, local shops will survive. Dave’s journey shows that while technology shifts, the bond between a great narrative and a fan remains untouched.

Visit Dave Schmidt at All American Collectibles / Mo’s Comics located at 3268 Watson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63139.