I started, full time, 1996, I think, and went full time in 1997.
Back then, we made each thumbnail one by one. I figured that
was a waste of time, so I got Gary Park to write the first batch
thumbnail software for us. It was all one big happy family, so
tn_to_list and the other stuff we did was all free.
Some of you will remember this old site of mine, which hasn't been
updated in years, so it shows what the biz was like back then:
http://webmastersguide.com/
I was thinking about organizing an old timers conference, focused
on enjoying the weekend and making real business connections between
people who know their shit, as opposed to some of the conferences which
have a bunch of shiny booths with a model a pamphlet. How many of
you would attend something like that in Texas perhaps? I know we have
some old timers in Texas, including several who posted in a thread on
another board recently.