David Stone Martin & Stan Getz

David Stone Martin was a prolific artist, most noted for his jazz album cover graphics spanning the 1940's through the early 80's. Stan Getz At The Shrine is a classic, well worth checking out.
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Jefferson Machamer

Born in 1900, Thomas Jefferson Machamer's drawings of beautiful girls made him a stable in the industry. His comic strip Patty the Playful/Petting Patty, was syndicated by King Features in 1928. Probably best known for his famous Gags and Girls strips and Nifties comics.
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Strange Dolls

These odd dolls are not something you will find in a toy store. They are hardly something you would buy for a child. They are misproportioned, strangely dressed, and they have a story and character uniquely their own. Each doll is entirely hand made using polymer clays, vintage fabrics, acrylic paint, and sometimes real human hair or teeth. Each piece is one of a kind.Beth Robinson began making and selling hand made dolls in 2003. She is a prolific artist with collectors across the globe. This Site Is A Must See. CLICK HERE

Genius Claymation Featuring Nina Simone

Rip Kirby-Private Dick

Rip Kirby was a comic strip featuring an eponymous character, created by Alex Raymond in 1946.
After World War II, Raymond did not return to work on any of his previous successful comic strips (Flash Gordon, Jungle Jim, Secret Agent X-9) but instead began work on a new strip starring an ex-marine private detective named Rip Kirby, based on the suggestion by Ward Greene that Raymond try a "detective-type" strip. The daily strip was first published on March 4, 1946. The strip enjoyed enormous success and Raymond received the Reuben Award in 1949.

Matchbook Art

From the 1920s to the 1950s, a ubiquitous advertising gimmick made its way into the purses, pockets and kitchen drawers of millions of Americans. The giveaway matchbook, from its humble origins as an entrepreneurial gamble, quickly caught on and became one of the most pervasive means ever found of putting promotional images into the hands of the public. Order Here.

Hello Dali

Alfred Hitchcock diggin Dali,1944.

Origins Of Alfred E. Newman

I just uncovered some top secret info about Mad Magazine’s Alfred E. Newman and his provenance dating back to 1876. Click Here For Article 1. Article 2.

Art & Fellini

Roots Of Gumby

In 1980 I attended a Gumby & Pokey film festival at the Rialto Theater in Pasadena, hosted by Gumby creator Art Clokey. It was fantastic to see these classic claymation episodes on the big screen, but what really made an impact on me was Mr. Clokey’s prototype pre Gumby film entitled Gumbasia. This crazy pseudo-psychodelic spectacle was too cool for words, and I was psyched to find that someone has posted it on YouTube. Enjoy!

Dig This Crazy Beany Boy & Cecil Beatnik Parody Cartoon

I was super psyched to find Beany & Cecil on YouTube recently. They were some of my favorite cartoons as a child and as it was a very sad day when they left the airwaves some forty years ago.

This particular episode is borderline genius, parodying beat generation culture of the 1950's.
Among the many clever puns are The Hungry I-Land (the hungry i was a beat coffehouse in San Francisco), Mort Soil (Mort Sahl was a political satirist who is still alive & kickin), Lenny's Spruce Tree (comedian Lenny Bruce), The Kingston Tree-O (Kingston Trio-popular folk group who made a live record at the Hungry i) ~like cool daddy-o!