Back when I first entered comic book illustration I had the privilege of meeting Captain George Henderson and his wonderful store. My young eyes nearly hemorrhaged when I saw all the comics and movie posters he had. George became my and many others tutor and guru. He even published our first fan comic magazine. He even started the comic convention scene in Toronto and Hamilton with his TRIPLE FAN FARE, where I met for the first time, Stan Lee and his wife, Joan. I was even able to interview Joan Lee and someday I will put the interview online. It was the first time I saw real original Jack Kirby art. Come to think of it I even interviewed Roger Zelzany, a famous, award winning Science Fiction writer who taught me some great lessons about writing. It was a wonderful time. Part of the convention was the showing of classic old movies that I saw for the first time. Remember there were no videos back then so unless these movies showed up on television then we would never have seen them. We would have only been able to read about them in film publications. It was a great time and we all owe it to CAPATAIN GEORGE HENDERSON. Here is a video and radio interview that I found from the 1970's that you might enjoy.

Canada's first comic book store
Broadcast Date: May 20, 1970

George Henderson lived, ate and breathed comics - years before it would be popular to do so. A lifelong fan of superhero comics, old adventure strips and science fiction, in the 1960s he parlayed a dead-end writing career into a successful life as a bookseller and retailer. Established in downtown Toronto in 1967, Memory Lane Books became a mecca for generations of comic fans and is considered Canada's first comic book store. In this clip from 1970, Captain George discusses his then young store and the emergent hobby of comic collecting.

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

The Patriarch of Canadian comics
Broadcast Date: Oct. 21, 1972

Retailer and long time comic fan George Henderson discusses the history of the medium, the mentality of the modern comic Book collector and his childhood memory of buying Action Comics #1 – the world's first superhero comic.

CLICK HERE FOR RADIO INTERVIEW