Collector: Paul Gambaccini saved money from his paper round to fund his love of comics
Radio and TV presenter Paul Gambaccini has been a familiar figure on TV and radio since he joined the BBC in the early 1970s. But his first job was as a paperboy, which was how he financed his comic book habit.
The Great Gambo tells Dan Moore he’s received all sorts of personal gifts over the years – including a set of bedsheets from Sir Paul McCartney.
The veteran broadcaster, 73, lives with husband Christopher Sherwood near London’s South Bank and has an apartment in New York.
What did your parents teach you about money?
They taught me nothing about money. But a school friend named Nancy said her father never bought anything he couldn’t afford and never went into debt because he’d lived through the Depression and seen the suffering it caused. I’ve never forgotten that. When you reach my age, you’ve been through economic ups and downs. They’re often beyond your control, and it’s best not to be in debt when one of these surprise downs comes along. So, thank you, Nancy.
What was your first job?
I was a paperboy in Connecticut. Most of my customers lived in a trailer park, but some were in fancy suburban homes. The biggest tippers were the people in the caravans. They had no money so whatever they had they shared. That was their ethic.
Working the paper route was how I financed my comic book habit. It was at the time when most of the superheroes that populate the films today were invented. I was fanatical about these characters, and wrote so many letters to the editor that they introduced a character named after me. This was Paul Gambi, tailor to the DC supervillains. The most recent appearance I’ve seen of him was in the latest Batman movie.
Have you ever been paid silly money?
Once I did a corn chip commercial for American television and I got $12,000 for ten minutes, which wasn’t bad.
Have you ever been given a gift from someone famous that you treasure?
I’ve been given nice, personal gifts, but none as extravagant as those that were passing hands after The Beatles album Sgt Pepper was released and albums started selling in eight-digit figures and the money rolled in. Back then, people were receiving race horses, that kind of thing. Well, I didn’t get a race horse – and I didn’t want a race horse. But, I was happy to get a set of bed sheets for my wedding in 2012, from Paul McCartney.
What was the best year of your financial life?
For some reason it was 2008, but I’m not sure why that was as nothing stands out. Once my career got going, I always made sure to have three balls in the air, so that if one job went down, then I’d still be earning enough to get by. So, I’d have Radio 1, 2 or 4, plus television, Classic FM and writing books.
What is the most expensive thing you bought for fun?
A publisher’s set of the original Mad comics. They belonged to William Gaines, of EC Comics, and he saved a dozen issues of every comic he ever published. When he was old, he sold them and I bought a set of the original 23 issues of Mad for $40,000.
I’ve since sold them at a profit. Once I’d had them for a few years there was nothing left to do but sell or eat them.
They’re too valuable to read, and anyway, the joy of collecting is greater than the joy of possessing.
Crazy price: Gambaccini bought a set of Mad comics for $40,000
What have been your best and worst money decisions?
I’ve never been interested in stocks and bonds. So, I’ve been blessed to have avoided any calamitous money decisions. My best was to invest in property. I bought my first in 1979 and sold my latest last year for three times what I paid for it in 2000. I also own a flat in New York, so I can catch up with my family.
I mentioned the DC comics. Well, many of the early issues that feature my letters are now worth thousands of dollars, although not because of my letters! But my collection has gained a lot in value.
I’ve been collecting since I was 11, when I had no thought of the value, so collecting comic books has been a good decision.
What is the little luxury you treat yourself to?
I do a crossword puzzle, either from The New York Times or New Yorker. Sadly, I just don’t have enough time to do both in one day.
Do you donate money to charity?
Yes, I have been involved in various charities throughout my career.
I helped raise several hundred thousand pounds for Amnesty International by assembling a bill of artistes for a show at the London Palladium.
Incidentally, the line-up included Kate Bush and David Gilmour singing Running Up That Hill, a clip of which recently went viral on YouTube.
To be alive in your time you must respond to your time, and in my time that was Aids. So, I became an early patron of the Terrence Higgins Trust, and I’ve been involved with it ever since.
What is your number one financial priority?
Not to be morbid, but I wanted to make sure I could provide for my husband and family members, which I have been able to do.
