Good Guys and Heroes Gather Here.

I'll look forward to seeing you Sept. 2, 2012 when Hawkeye's opens at 605 Highlands Road, Franklin NC. The shop is 1/2 mile off 441 - next to Vito's Pizza, Sherwin Williams and Banners & Signs Fast.









Just an idea of our inventory, which I have acquired over a span of 60 years: A large portion of my antique comics are Silver and Bronze-Age Westerns - some of which are photo-style, but I also have many Ducks and Archie comics. There are many older varieties such as Richie Rich, Whitman Variants, and TV-inspired comics for Happy Days, Petticoat Junction, and The Beverly Hillbillies.
This Six Million Dollar Man comic is a good example of a TV-spinoff. In the late 70's, Lee Majors portrayed an American astronaut with bionic enhancements who became a pop-culture icon. The SMD-Man had super-strength and super-sight, accompanied by interesting sound effects.
Here at Hawkeye's you'll find autographed photos of Western movie heroes, antique books and magazines, unopened sports cards, sports memorabilia, and a good selection of auto-racing comics. One of my more interesting NASCAR comics is this one featuring Richard Petty. The illustrated car is #43, but the included holographic card shows car #9 - making this a unique "variant" or error comic.

My love of Westerns began when I was just a whippersnapping pre-teen in the 50's. Finding a No.1 Ralston Purina Tom Mix in Very Fine condition has been the highlight of my hobby so far. I've enjoyed attending several of Knoxville Tennessee's Western Film festivals as well as the western shows in Asheville, NC. It was a privilege to meet Rex Allen, Clayton Moore, Gene Evans,Don Red Barry, Dale Robertson, Harry (Dobie) Carey Jr., Tim McCoy,Dickie Jones, Gail Davis, George Montgomery, Harry Lauter, and many others IN PERSON.

Of course, I think the good guys like Tarzan, Silver Surfer, Green Lantern, Spiderman, Batman, and Superman are great too!

For those of you who prefer more realistic heroes, I have hardback biographies and this great 40's True comic that spotlights famous Americans of that time. Here at Hawkeye's, you'll find the good guys, heroes, and stars in one location.
If you're a history fan, you'll enjoy the vintage magazine section - which even includes early-1900s items. Life, McCall's, and Saturday Evening Post are some popular titles. If you love vintage photography, illustrations, and advertisements, then you've got to see Country Life in America, with its excellent turn-of-the-century autos, typewriters, and such.
You'll find here a good selection of Classics Illustrated comics (A Biography of Benjamin Franklin, Hamlet, The Food of the Gods, Wuthering Heights, and Macbeth - for example.) These are a good way to cultivate a love for reading in the less-than-motivated reader. Hawkeye's has something interesting for almost anyone.

Heroes Help Us Set Goals

If the concept of heroes interests you, investigate this blog: http://blog.richmond.edu/heroes/category/heroes-book/ written by authors of the book "Heroes: What They Do & Why We Need Them". You'll find insightful commentary and a spotlight on people society has held in high esteem. And as the authors (and their readers) have noted - a hero is in the eye of the beholder.
I believe my love of westerns originates with an early realization that I wanted to be a good guy too.

Super Vintage Movie and Sound Clips

For a great 50's Lone Ranger movie trailer, courtesy of Internet Archive, click this link http://www.archive.org/details/lone_rangere.org/details/lone_ranger and relive the excitement of the William Tell Overture!

Enjoy the same nostalgia and a bit of yodeling by listening to Roy Rogers sing Hi Ho Silver at http://www.archive.org/details/RoyRogers-01-29 and hear Tarzan's yodel-like call: http://www.archive.org/details/tarzan_620 but be prepared to turn down the volume.

It's wonderful to be able to find movie clips and audio through Internet Archive. Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy, Lash LaRue, John Wayne, and a lot of your other favorites are there too!

Complete with the "It's a bird, it's a plane..." intro is an old Superman clip at http://www.archive.org/details/StampDayForSUPERMAN. Modern-day technology has certainly changed the look of a flying superhero.

Great websites for James Arness and Clint Walker.

Hey, for great western memories and information, I have really enjoyed the James Arness and Clint Walker websites. They are: http://www.jamesarness.com/ and www.clintwalker.com. If you are a true western fan, you will appreciate the updates, the pictures, and the products they present. Saddle up for two great trips.

Moab Museum of Film and Western Heritage

Red Cliffs Lodge in Moab, Utah hosts this great museum I visited a year ago with my family. My profile picture was shot inside the museum. It was great to see all kinds of movie memorabilia and to see the beautiful landscape around the lodge, inside canyon walls and right beside the magnificent Colorado River. There was a corral, so it was just like visiting a dude ranch. We'd made previous arrangements and weren't even lodging there, but the staff kindly let us visit and we even had tea there. Visit http://www.redcliffslodge.com/ for more info. A stay there would be great for Western lovers, equestrians, paddlers and kayakers. My souvenir brochure says "Over 120 movies, and hundreds more TV series, specials, and commercials have been filmed in the Moab-Monument Valley area."

Nine big Western films were filmed on the lodge location. Inside the museum, it was interesting to learn about sets and filming.

Our family went to Moab to visit Arches National Park nearby, which is home to so much natural beauty - all kinds of rock formations carved by time, and wide-open panoramic landscapes. We learned about the museum along the way and it became one of the highlights of the trip. We also thoroughly enjoyed exploring Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point. In Canyonlands, we were just 100 yards away from a lightning strike - which added to all the excitement of being immersed in the wild.

Collectible Cards

More great names...







Autographed Autry #35: $100

Ken & Ichiro 36/50: $225

Barry (from Bowman): $175

Babe Ruth and Ryan Nolan ball cards.

These are in Premium Condition, so some are in toploaders for protection - which does cause a glare.
Still, I hope you can see their excellent quality.

If you're interested in purchasing, then I'll scan the back authentication for you.

Nolan 14/34: $750

Nolan 23/34: $750

Babe (of only 350 issued): $950

These are beauties.