I don't know who is correct, but if you click on the events tab at the top of the page it states that the show stared on Tuesday and ended on Friday.
Each show has different rules, and actually the rules are hard to enforce. Just two guys and their wives running everything.
I did not go to the first one, but I was at the second one. These were the days where everyone paid the same amount and when you pulled in they gave you enough room to park your truck and plenty of room to display your items. Remember, this was back in 1989, and they had not invented tables yet, so everything was laying on the ground. I wish I had started taking pictures of the early shows, but I do have pictures on my website that go back to around 2002.
http://petrolianacollectibles.com/picture%20album.htmIt may take me while, but I do have a few pictures taken around 1990 at Iowa. Will post them when I find them.
Back in the early 1990s it seemed to be more fun and less getting there early enough to get some rare globe or sign.
I think it is an asset to have that overflow parking lot available, there just isn't enough street spots available. I believe they do allow you to drive in and pick up items. If I am wrong, how about telling the vendors to hold the items and drive in after 6:00 p.m. Nobody is going to tell you, you can't do that then.
As an editor for CTO I have always favored that show. Again I attended the second one they had and have followed them to a number of motels. As someone above said, the Embassy Suites is really set up for this type of show, but at any show there is always a parking problem. Unless they held this show at the Iowa State Fairgrounds (and you drove back and fourth to a motel) there isn't a place in Des Moines that could accommodate this size of a show.
Jack Sim
