A Couple of Book Dealers

Gene Hollingsworth & Mac McMann with Gene's wife, Kay

1960s - photo probably by Phyllis McMann

These guys were a couple of characters.

Gene ran a book service out of his house in Manhattan Beach, California. Inside it was cool and had that good book smell. Outside it was sunny-bright and had that good beach smell.

Gene also played the horses. In a way, he couldn't lose.

Sometimes Gene Won Big at the track. He often spent his winnings on more books, bolstering the value of his inventory. When Gene lost at the track, he erased the pencil-written prices inside his books. He raised prices to balance out his loss, spreading the increase judiciously over a wide swatch of inventory.

Mac owned and ran Old Oregon Bookstore in Portland, Oregon. He didn't play the horses but sometimes Mac did Win Big on his books. Once in the 1950s he bought a book at The Salvation Army for pennies that was worth thousands. A Portland newspaper, "The Oregonian" I think, ran a dramatic story on the episode. Found Treasure: Astute Bookman makes Killing on Shabby Book, or some such headline.

Mac and Gene had already been friends for a long time when this photograph was taken. They entertained one another, and all around, with great book stories.

Frank Scioscia at Old Oregon Bookstore

July 1979 - unknown photographer

Here Frank Scioscia is visiting his old friend, Mac McMann at Mac's bookstore, The Old Oregon, in Portland Oregon.

Old Oregon Bookstore - Preston McMann

Mac McMann opened the Old Oregon Bookstore in 1959 in Portland, Oregon.  The store had the good look of those great old stores.  There was a big section of square paned windows in front.  You could see through to the dark shelves inside.

     Mac's wife, Phyllis, often joined him in the store.

     Mac got into houses and bought fine book collections.  He browsed other shops and Salvation Army book tables.  Soon after Old Oregon opened, Mac found something incredible at a table.  It looked like nothing and it was priced to match.  Mac knew its real worth.  He bought it for pennies and sold it for thousands.  The Oregonian newspaper carried a story. It was big news.

     In those days, book dealing was a knowledge-intensive profession.  A book dealer survived and prospered on what he knew.  McMann survived and prospered for decades.

     Preston "Mac" McMann and Frank Scioscia were part of the lively book community in Portland after WWII, but the two of them were special friends.  The men continued their book friendship after Frank moved to California.  Their families intermingled for life.

     The photos show a post card from Mac to Frank.