This one is probably a long shot, but did any of y’all ever go to the Capitol Records Swap Meet back in the 70s?
It took place one early Sunday each month (although by the late 70s it got push back to 10pm the Saturday before) in the parking lot of the Hollywood Capitol Records Tower. If it involved music, even peripherally, you could probably find it at the Swap Meet. Dr. Demento used to shop there regularly. I was in the USAF at the time and went on a regular basis with my then girlfriend (Sally Van Op Dorp, whatever happen to you?) looking for Beatles bootlegs, comedy albums and tapes and other curiosities. It was an experience I will never forget, but I am wondering if any of you have had this same experience?
I thought this thread might die on the vine, except…I just got a message from Sally Van Opdorp herself! We haven’t contacted each other since I left the U.S.A.F. back in 1980. We still have a lot of the same interests.
How about that!
Lest gasp bump, because I was just doing a current Google Earth Pro look-see of the area, going up Hollywood, checking out North Ivar where the USO used to be, finding movie houses I used to frequent (I saw Animal House at the Egyptian!), and there it stood-The Record Tower! I remember those late Saturday nights back in the 70’s, where Sally and I would grab a hot dog from the local crowded eatery and go through all the booths that temporarily set up shop. All those giant record posters, all the bootlegs, all the radio giveaways…what an adventure!
I know this was a year ago but did she find your post through a search?
I did a Facebook search and a recent entry of hers popped up. We have chatted a few times and she definitely remembers our time together at the Swap.
I never heard of those swap meets, and I’d have been too young and far away to attend, but they sound awesome. I don’t know if I’d have had the patience to go through bin after bin of records to find the few hidden gems.