Houston 24 Expo – Antique Bottle & Glass Show Early Admission

Left to Right: Alan DeMaison, “Balsam” Bill Granger, Alicia Booth-Wickman, Martin Van Zant, Addy Meyer, Edie Alucema, Elizabeth Meyer, Ferdinand Meyer, Bella Meyer (cuts the ribbon) Brad Dalton, Michael & Alice Seeliger, Craig Cassetta, Brandon DeWolfe, Kathie & Michael Craig. Missing: Andy Rapoza. Gina Pellegrini-Ott is taking the picture at Hotel ZaZa.

Ribbon Cutting for the Houston 24 National Antique Bottle and Glass Show & Sale – Early Admission, Friday, 02 August 2024, 12:50 to 5:00 pm, Hotel ZaZa

Finally, the time had come to start the long-awaited bottle show. At precisely 12:50 pm, Team Houston 24 was called to the Hotel ZaZa exterior entry drive, where we cut our ceremonial ribbon made specially for the occasion, signifying the start of the Houston 24 National Antique Bottle and Glass Show & Sale. Gina Pellegrini-Ott, part of our H24 team, took the photograph above. The only person missing is Andy Rapoza, who was off coordinating last-minute displays. Bella Meyer, youth coordinator, had the honor of holding the scissors and making the cut. We had to do the event outside as our showroom configuration did not allow enough space for our team to assemble.

At precisely 1:00 pm, dealers and displayers were allowed in, followed in short order by early admission. We were pleased with the crowd; there was lots of activity and action at dealer tables, display areas, and at the H24 Federation tables at Piano Man Lounge. This was ground zero for event staff conducting admissions, registration, membership, information, merchandise, exhibition book sales, raffles, Drake’s Plantation Bitters sales, display voting, Virtual Museum imaging, and youth activities.

We were very fortunate that Jeff Wichmann, with American Bottle Auctions, donated $5,000 to be used as raffle money. We had facsimile 100-dollar bill certificates made up with his likeness and had multiple drawings each hour all weekend long (see image above). You did not need to be present to win, as we posted the winning numbers for all to see. The money won was intended to be spent at the show at dealer tables, which would then be redeemed for cash at Federation tables—keeping the money in-house.

As expected, Drake’s sales were impressive. Raffle tickets for a second, sapphire, Drake’s Plantation Bitters, and two Jim Healy H24 commemorative jugs were also sold. All the hand-blown Drakes bottles were numbered, boxed, and came with an historically accurate reproduction label which purchasers could apply.

We initially planned to have the bottle show at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, but they could only support 100 dealer tables. Because of this, we shifted to Hotel ZaZa and used eight connected rooms to conduct our event. This was rather exciting, as you could explore and roam from space to space. The main Phantom Ballroom housed most of the dealers and was awash in natural light.

The most challenging part of Houston 24 was convincing the “as usual” dealers to come to Houston to fill our 150 tables. As it turned out, we had an eclectic group of major dealers who do not set up at typical shows, so this was refreshing. They brought out some incredible material for sale, as you can see by reading the comments and looking at the accompanying pictures.

All photographs are by Gina Pellegrini-Ott unless otherwise noted.

Lining up for Early Admission at Hotel ZaZa.

The merchandise side of the H24 FOHBC tables in Piano Man Lounge at Hotel ZaZa.

Houston 24 shirts this year were made by a top local shirtmaker. We still have some for sale.

Rick Carney with Sea Glass of Maine.

Tom Lines from Auburn, Alabama. FOHBC Southern Region Director.

Jon St. Clair from Austin, Texas. Displayer, dealer and Texas stoneware authority.

Jerry Forbes from Big Sur, California inspecting a bottle. Kenny Neatherlin on the left.

The one and only Don Keating from Rochester, New York.

Terry Gillis from Fort Payne, Alabama admires some colorful soda water bottles.

Early Admission folks getting a first look.

A group of dealers all wearing FOHBC denim apparel.

Barber bottles for sale at the Persick table.

One of the dealer rows inside the Phantom Ballroom.

Primarily figural bitters and a green calabash flask.

Inside the Phantom Ballroom at Hotel ZaZa. Plenty of natural light.

Inspecting one of the blue Drake’s Plantation Bitters. Left to right: Charlie Martin, Jr., Eric Schmetterling and Terry Gillis.

Treg Silkwood and Michael Craig from California. The glassblowers for the H24 Drake’s Plantation Bitters commemorative bottles.

Interesting and delicate antique lady’s purses.

Lou Pellegrini (left) and Kim Kokles consummating a deal.

Table-top wooden box of colorful poison bottles.

Incredible, rich blue Gothic pickle bottle.

Bella Meyer, youth coordinator, with colorful bottle grab bags.

Miles and miles of ACL soda bottles.

Gail and Andy Rapoza in front of the Sea Glass of Maine window art in the Phantom Ballroom.

Grayson DeWolfe at his dealer table.

James Bell up from Down Under set up in the Hemingway room.

Mike Henness from Ione, California.

Cute little Oriental Tooth Paste container from Manchester, England.

David and Bob Terry from Colorado, inspect a bottle.

Wheeling and dealing in the Hemingway room. Notice the H24 Radam’s Microbe Killer t-shirt.

Crowded House Auctions sets up Sunset Auction items in the Prefunction room. Left to right “Balsam” Bill Granger, Martin Van Zant and Carisa Kimmon.

Left: Father and son. Brandon & Grayson DeWolfe at their dealer tables.

Jay Kasper from Shiner, Texas stands tall at his dealer table.

Cool Postmaster tobacco tin next to a Drake’s Plantation Bitters figural cabin.

Raffle items on display at the H24 FOHBC tables in Piano Man Lounge. The sapphire blue Drake’s Plantation Bitters and two Jim Healy H24 commemorative jugs.