Back in the days of Movie Collectors World in the mid-eighties through the early nineties, I had the pleasure of going quite a bit of business with Moe, usually selling him groups of posters I had listed in MCW along with other inventory as well. I never met him in person, but probably talked to him on the phone a hundred or more times. Moe was one of the nicest guys I've ever met in the hobby. After all these years, I can still hear his voice in my mind...a completely unique, deep and friendly voice. If he paid with a check, obviously the check was signed "Richard Akers", but he was always "Moe" to me and I'm sure that was the case with all of the other collectors and dealer who did business with him. A lot of dealers and collectors have come and gone in this hobby over the past 25 or 30 years, but Moe was truly one of the good guys. After eBay took over the movie poster scene, I lost contact with him (as I have with other collectors and dealers as well). But after all this time, I still feel fortunate to have crossed paths with this kind and gracious man who was such a wonderful addition to our hobby... R.I.P. Moe. Thanks for the memories... Rick In a message dated 5/21/2012 3:53:29 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, brucehershen...@gmail.com writes:
Tribute to a collector/dealer: In memory of Richard Akers of Moe's Movie Madness (1935-2012) It is with great sadness that we report the passing of longtime collector/dealer Richard Akers of Moe's Movie Madness who passed away Saturday, May 5th. His family was kind enough to provide us with a biography of Mr. Akers as follows: "Richard "Moe" Akers was born in Pomona, CA, but grew up in Kansas and Oklahoma. When graduating from high school, he was offered a scholarship to the Pasadena Playhouse in California, but he was also offered a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers! He signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers and stayed with the team for 4 years (if he had instead gone to California and become famous as an actor, he might have ended up selling movie posters with his picture on them!). As a father to 6 children, he moved his family to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia from Los Angeles, and he was involved with sales/construction for a large part of his life. He got the nickname "Moe" when he and friends did things that made them seem like "The 3 Stooges". Fittingly, he opened "Moe's Country Trading Post" and became an antique dealer in 1977. In 1988, he developed an interest in movie posters because he thought the graphics of the old original movie posters were so terrific. Moe attended Bruce's first auction at Christies in 1990 and he realized that his interest in these posters might be profitable, so he soon discontinued the antique business and began selling movie posters through "Movie Collector's World" magazine and going to the movie memorabilia shows. He decided on the name "Moe's Movie Madness", and he set up a fabulous showroom of 5,000 sq. ft. of movie posters and movie memorabilia. As the hobby evolved, he learned how to use the computer and began selling posters online. He was always fair and honest with all customers, and he will be missed by many." This is Bruce. I remember well at my first Christie's auction when a man (accompanied by a lovely lady!) came up to me at the previews of the posters on display, and he told me how great he thought these were, and how he had been selling some himself. He introduced himself, and over the next years he would buy from my sales lists, and I would see his many ads in MCW, and sometimes I would buy from him as well. He was always a pleasure to talk to on the phone (I so miss those pre-Internet days when I actually talked to everyone on the phone!) and I was glad to see that he adapted to changing times, selling online like I did. I was so sad to get the news that he is gone, but I am glad that he lived a long and eventful life. He was a great ambassador for our hobby, and he will be missed. -- Bruce Hershenson and the other 26 members of the eMoviePoster.com team P.O. Box 874 West Plains, MO 65775 Phone: 417-256-9616 (hours: Mon-Fri 9 to 5 except from 12 to 1 when we take lunch) _our site_ (http://www.emovieposter.com/) _our auctions_ (http://www.emovieposter.com/agallery/all.html) (http://www.emovieposter.com/unused/signature/20111028Frankensteinemployeegroupphotosignature.jpg) Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: lists...@listserv.american.edu In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content. Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: lists...@listserv.american.edu In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.