Fred the Chain Man and his Carved Gun A True Crime Tale #2 by Jim Linderman

The Chain Man was found guilty October 19,1922 for kidnapping and sentenced to life in prison.  He stayed there three years.

The Chain Man earned his nickname for linking a few young women together in in a hole below his shack near Omaha, Nebraska.  He had tricked them by offering a ride to a nearby amusement park.  His victims were Jean Jenkins and Kathyryn McManaman. While his prisoners were chained to a cement block in the pit, Brown dug their graves nearby.  When H. E. Boyd tried to rescue the women,  Brown simply added him to the chains.

Chain Man was shot while being captured in Medicine Bow, Wyoming after a few days on the run.  He survived to face trial.

Chain Man's trial was delayed while the court decided what to do with hoards of high school girls who came to enjoy the show.  "We will continue the trial in the morning when the children are at their desks" decided the judge.

Brown didn't stay in prison long, unless you consider three years a long time.  He carved this dummy gun and used it in an escape attempt, but he was killed while trying. So was a prison guard.

Several years later, the skeleton of his apparent partner in the crime, Gus Grimes, was found buried near the shack Brown had held his victims.

There is at least one other example of this real photo postcard surviving.  There is no way to determine how many were developed, but the businessman who made them probably hoped to sell a few to the high school. 

Fred Brown's Dummy Gun "Azo" Real Photo Postcard 1925 Collection Jim Linderman

See Books and eBook downloads by Jim Linderman HERE at Blurb.com 

Crime Scene Drop Zone Tossed in Haste and a True Crime Pulp Staple

Hard-boiled visual aids here, a collaboration between photographer, graphic artist and perp. Give me twelve straights, an easel, and we've got this one sewed up.

Cleveland Torso Murder True Crime Ed's Head on a Plate

Cleveland Dick Dave Cowles shows the reconstruction mask bas relief of Mr. Edward Andrassy, a murder victim to be sure, but one of the lucky ones as he has his name. Most of the other victims are left only with names such as "Lady of the Lake", "Tattooed Man" and a handful of regular old "John Doe" followed with a number. It is a trade off though--as Edward DOES have a name, when the killer was finished he did not have a penis...win some lose one Ed. The Cleveland Torso Murderer is credited with 12 hits. There MAY be as many as 40. Most of the victims lived in the shanty towns which turned up in Cleveland during the depression. Big Daddy Elliot Ness got involved in the case and couldn't solve the crime...but it did insure books, films and such would be produced. Some book titles? The Maniac in the Bushes, In the Wake of the Butcher, Butcher's Dozen, Torso (a recent graphic novel) and many more. Unusual to see Paper-Mache as grisly.

Original Press Photograph November 1939 Collection Jim Linderman

The Exhibition of Celestial Planets figures created by Occult Prophet Benny Evangelista Bizarre Folk Art Sculptures

The Exhibition of Celestial Planets!  Figures created by Occult Prophet Benny Evangelista of Detroit.  Bizarre Folk Art Sculptures made in the late 1920s, and the work of a murdered bogus faith healer.  Intrigued?  Read my story  in The Chiseler HERE titled Faith Healer Left Headless : A True Crime Tale by Jim Linderman

Original Press Photograph edited and cropped for publication Collection Jim Linderman

Keith Bernard Photographer Master of the Pin Up

 
"Unsung Hero of Photography" number eight hid his name, but he worked under one.  Keith Bernard was what he sold his glamor under, but his real name may have been Keith Davis.  The Glamor Photographers site says his full name was Marion Keith Davis, he was born in 1911 and passed away in 1981 still a slight mystery...but he left behind Betty Brosmer, praise the slick pin up lord.

Keith Bernard adopted the Bernard moniker from Bruno Bernard.  It worked for Bruno, after all.  Among his most notable subjects were Jayne Mansfield, and also the famous cover of Modern Man Magazine showing muscleman Joe Weider's wife Betty Brosmer.  Betty's chest to waist ratio was so magnificent, I'm not going to depress you by reporting it.  Joe is one of my personal hero figures, and not just because of Betty's figure.

Okay, I will. Betty Brosmer had an 18 inch waist.  She may still!  Take your two hands, put them together in a circle and you just about approximate Betty Brosmer's waist.  No photoshop.  The Gym.

Keith Bernard sold TWO HUNDRED MAGAZINE COVERS of Betty Brosmer.  For that alone, he is awarded the Vintage Sleaze Unsung Hero award!  His photos of Ms. Brosmer are some of the most incredible glamor photographs ever created, and if there is a library of men's magazines in a box when you get to heaven, head right to the one with Betty Brosmer done by Bernard.  Bernard has the brains to sign her to an exclusive, and he did her well.

The three (magnificent, IMHO) photographs on top, each 8 x 10, show the master at work with Patti Conley, who is ALSO quite a story.  Apparently, Ms. Conley earlier posed in bondage photographs (under far less glamorous circumstances) for somewhat demented fetish kinkster John Willie.  Don't look them up.  They look like true crime photographs and will creep you out.
 
However, if you want spend a pleasant few minutes typing Betty Brosmer into your friendly search engine, it might motivate you to get to the gym.  And yes, as far as I know, Keith whatever his name is took these all.



Three original photographs top, Keith Bernard and Pat Conley each circa 1955 Collection Jim Linderman

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"Clear Out, Art Boy...We're puttin' in a Darkroom"

Everyone loves the covers to original true crime magazines. I even love the insides. This little photo essay on the good life in small town America comes on the cusp...the precise moment when the painted covers by all manner of pulp artists skilled with oils and a brush changed to the camera artist. 1953.

Let's put it in the right lingo.

Rudy had been workin' the night shift turning out paintings for the murder rags...suddenly, a pounding on the door made his brush wiggle like the little finger on a ten cent hooker. The Camera guys were at the door, and they weren't going away. Rudy put down the brush and picked up his blaster. "Go away, shutterbugs" he cried..."No one is taking my work away!" Big Frank and his ugly brother Rocco entered the joint, slapped Rudy's gun from his hand and tore the paint-splattered rug right from under his feet. His days sniffing turpentine thinner were over. "Clear out, art boy" groused Frank "We're puttin' in a darkroom."

The insides had already changed...black and white photograph reproduction in the guts was easier, and although they were stilted and staged shots for the most part, they were actual photos from the 40s on. But the cover had to be in lurid living (or lurid dead) color, and so were painted. Advances in printing techniques made actual photos for the cover possible. New clarity and fresh layouts were developed using pictures of models being strangled with heaving actual cleavage, not heaving painted cleavage. The bright colors once used on canvas were replaced with bright color backgrounds. Art became artless. The crimes remained the same. 

BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR ARE HERE AND HERE

True Crime Dull Tool Dim Bulb. The Great Iuka Illinois Bank Robbery of 1921 Original Drawing

A rare first person account of a 1921 bank robbery in Iuka, Illinois. Obviously a notorious day for the residents…but there isn’t enough printed material to write a screenplay. The drawing provides more color than the press. Here there is enough to write a song! the one substantial article found is enough to confirm that yes, bank employee Miss Kelley did leap into her Essex automobile to give chase! Surely a local hero. The account from The Chicago Banker of February 11, 1922 reports “Ed Hall, 19 years old of Flora was found guilty here of robbery in connection with the holding up of the State Bank of Iuca, December 20, in which over 18,000 was stolen. Hall’s younger brother, Lex, 17 years old, who was indicted with him, was found not guilty. The younger Hall had twenty-one witnesses to prove his alibi that he was in Flora, Ill. at the time of the robbery. Ed hall tried to prove that he was at Kincaid, Ill. at the time of the robbery. Mildred Kelly, 22-year employee at the bank, who gave chase in an automobile after the robbery, identified Ed Hall as one of the participants in the robbery. The Hall Brothers were arrested December 26.” Unfortunately, I find nothing written about “the semi-professional ball player” or Lester. Original drawing 1921 collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Weegee the Technical Assistant 1956 Photographers Showplace Magazine

The Weegee show "Murder is my Business" at the International Center of Photography in New York is certainly a must see, and I thought I would post a little Weegee curiosity to celebrate it. While Weegee is often thought of and portrayed as something of a lone wolf prowling the streets at night with his camera, which is certainly true, he was also a social creature active and involved with the photographic community. He participated in social camera club shoots and had friends who did the same. In addition to the crime and nightlife scenes in the ICP show, he had a successful active and creative role in the places you might not think...including this unusual gig as "technical assistant" to a most unusual photo layout in Photographers Showplace magazine in the December 1956 issue.

Photographer's Showplace was by far one of the most interesting periodicals for the photographic community at the time, it had models and nudes, but was actually serious about it, unlike the large number of "under the counter" publications claiming to be "figure studies" but which were little more than soft-core pornography skirting the law. It was also entertaining without being too technical...serious about the emerging art and craft of modern photography, but light on the jargon.

Here are bits from a painterly picture set. As you see Weegee is credited as "Technical Assistant" although his precise role is not described. Certainly he checked his light meter! Maybe he found the model (identified as Rae Chandler) The artist (the one with the brush) is Ralph Therrien, and the photographer is James Pappas. An unusual collaboration of painting and photography from a time when both arts were experimenting. The layout is extensive, no less than 12 photos are presented, several full-page and in color.

Interestingly, the same issue has a full page spread which claims to be the first published example of Weegee's unusual photographic experiments, abstractions which are referred to as the "Weegeerama Kaleidescope" which is a post for another day.

Though a big fan, I have posted only once here about Weegee, but had fun putting it together. Revisit my piece on the relationship between the photographer and the pin up girl Bettie Page HERE which I am still grateful for being allowed by the ICP to use images from their collection to illustrate.

Images from Photographers Showplace Magazine December 1956, Creative Publications. Collection Jim Linderman

Jim Linderman Interview in The Bund Chinese Lifestyle, Art, Fashion Magazine

The Bund is a beautiful (TRULY beautiful) High-fashion / style / art / lifestyle weekly magazine published in Shanghai, China, and you will most certainly be surprised if you take the time to browse the current online edition HERE. The Jim Linderman interview is HERE in the issue of March 15, 2012. The circulation of The Bund has grown to 450,000 paid subscribers, and a flip though the online edition will show why. Lovely!

Niea Gu, Senior Fashion Editor did the with interview considerable grace and style.


Some of the introductory material was adapted from the recent New York Times article of 2/12/02, and the interview portion follows along with samples of things I have discussed in the blogs over the years. The Article translation (which is simply charming...what can I say?) follows based on the Google translate service. I have discovered some striking phrases from the translation I could not have created on my own but love, and believe me, this is one of the greatest honors of my life.

This is also a true experiment for me. I have no idea how many citizens will read this or have access to it. But it is lovely, fascinating and splendid. That I am able to play even this very, very small part of bringing together two great lands is an honor I never thought would be possible. Thank You The Bund. I am truly honored.


POP CULTURE MINER (Introductory Text based in NYT article)


Jim Linderman, may be the world's coolest book file administrator. Although he has retired, but looking for something, and his ability to still no one can, and still bored. His collection of all the bits and pieces of American folk art and popular culture, they are popular enough, but also interesting enough. Tens of thousands of his collections, as large as sculpture, as small as a postcard, all cheap. As he himself puts it: "I have no money to buy Andy Warhol, so I'm always looking for the poor 'Warhol,'.


Jim Linderman, accustomed to get up early every day, give yourself a cup of coffee, then turn on the computer to update the blog. He wrote not a morning news current affairs reporting or celebrity gossip, but those old, forgotten the wonderful things. Mr. 58-year-old Linderman is an art collector, most recently, his achievements even by the attention and coverage of the New York Times. He was living the small town of Lake Michigan, Grand Haven, when the lifetime of the Book File Manager. Identity mix sounds a little strange, and his collection: a variety of interesting bits and pieces of American folk art and popular culture. "I always collect a number of unusual, strange things do not fly." He said.


In 2008, he has set up three blog - Dull, Tool Dim Bulb, the Old Time Religion and the Vintage Sleaze - used to display and describe their favorites. As an all-encompassing network flea market is full of novelty is convulsed amazed found. On the blog, he will dig out the story behind every piece of the collection, and his right, as if a magical secret passageway leading to the past for the reader to open.

 Mr. Linderman, the blog is always an unexpected manner makes an eye-opener, for example, you know the pianist in the 1930s Baldy Wetzel, a record 48.5 hours of uninterrupted play record? Have you ever heard advertised himself as "hated woman world champion in the 1940s folk artists Albion, Clough,? Have you ever seen American porn comic Tijuana, Bibles "(Tijuana Bible).? As a senior File Manager, he loves books and writing in the past three years, he not only write a blog every day, also published a book of 14 content, the majority of their own money to publication. His latest book is called "the mysterious old photos (Vintage Photographs in of arcane Americana), a collection of his collection" the most bizarre photos ", such as the ventriloquism strippers. While his most famous publication was undoubtedly the 2009 Grammy Best Historical Album "nomination" take me to go in the water "(Take Me to the Water), although the book is only a thin 95, but a collection of 75 old photos of Christian water baptism scene, but also comes with an old gospel song LP.

Linderman Mr. lived in Manhattan for 28 years until 2008, was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) before deciding to move out of New York with his wife, Jenna, back to his hometown of Grand Haven breath of fresh air. Since then, he started writing a blog, in his words, "In order to give myself a bunch of digital footprint."



1980 the beginning of the year to Manhattan, Mr. Linderman, the first job is an international The discography finishing rock punk kind of music, and later worked in CBS's "60 Minutes" program and the evening news, as well as the BBDO advertising agency as file tidying up. Spare time, he launched an extraordinary collection of career. He has hundreds of Bob Dylan's private system of records, a few thousand copies of the book of John - John F. Kennedy assassination conspiracy theory. Dylan's fans, President Kennedy, he fell does not care who is assassinated. "I just love the books of such print-out in her garage. Those guys interested in UFOs, will also discuss the JFK incident but then no one will go to collect their masterpiece." He said.


In particular, he favored the self-taught artists, especially in the mostly South American artists and African artists. He gave the South African artist Howard Finster, write to discuss the painting, the other replied, "OK, ah, please send sheets check over." So he sent a check for $ 10, then really received a painting. He went to the southern United States Travel, met a lot of crazy and interesting painter, they put in front of his house to sell the painting, he was almost accept. "I have no money to buy Andy Warhol, so I'm always looking for the poor 'Warhol,'". He said.

Comical collectors 
 Mr. Linderman three blog "Vintage Sleaze" is the most popular. This blog is mainly a poster girl on his collecting research on the 1950s and 1960s male publications. Camera Club Girl "(Camera Club, Girls), a book, he tells the Harlem jazz singer Cass Carr anecdotes - in the early 1950s, she has organized a bold outdoor photo tour, participating members, including designed to beat the legendary crime scene photographer Weegee, and the wound has not yet been made a star of "Playboy" magazine sexy stunner of Bettie Page. Later, this group of people caught in a farm in suburban New York when shooting is to photograph the nude was illegal.


These little-known variety of baby from where? Mr. Linderman said that he usually drove to the not too far away from home more than a dozen antique market, see the story of stuff "will be shot. He also frequents eBay, looking for photos and prints, especially useful. Old photos of the Christian water baptism mentioned previously, almost all from eBay Go to flea markets to find a photo, you have to turn one year old shoebox. "He said on eBay may be a month will be able to procure. He collected all kinds of strange objects: "Diddley Bow" (a structure like stringed guitar, West African homemade blues musical instruments), hand-made slingshots, toy bulldozers, antique kimonos, Indian raw leather small bag ... once fell in love with a things, he will be blown out, until one day are tired, it sold, traded or donated out, and then find a new target. Before you move out of New York, Mr. Linderman, his collection of religious baptism photo, left Manhattan International Center of Photography last year, the latter on this theme organized an exhibition. He donated a Victorian-style slide is also the center included in the exhibition program. Center for Brian Wallis' praise in visual culture, "he has done is unprecedented, he excavated treasures at the edge of the popular culture, which requires a collect talent, but he is the world's greatest collection. always pay attention to strange things, and constantly come up with fun new ideas. "

 When asked about favorite era", Mr. Linderman, said, "This is really a strange question to me and everyone else can not do without the Internet. "Today, his blog click-through rate has been close to 2 million, which was unimaginable before the arrival of the digital age. "Of course, I miss the past years are sincere and reliable," he then said, "We always appreciate losing before, so we really should take the time to appreciate those around simple small things, because one day, they will disappear. technology is very beautiful, but a child, my night to listen to the radio very happy, and now the same child is afraid I do not think so, they have much choice ... However, I still think radio great. "

Whew! Interview follows:


B = "Bund" 
 J.L = Jim Linderman
B: You also wrote three blog, why? JL: I first began to write Dull, Tool, Dim Bulb, used to share my collection of strange photos and articles, this blog open for four years, has been updated over 1000. I will be regarded as the main blog, even though the other two seem to be more popular. Then I opened the Old-Time Religion, every Saturday night, I would choose a religion class from Dull, Tool, Dim Bulb, strange pictures posted up. Because over the weekend in the United States, some people are used to "crazy one", then go to church on Sunday morning repentance some. So I started on Saturday night posted one and church-related photos, so those guys wake up the next morning you can see, gradually developed into a new blog, a book. Dull, Tool, Dim Bulb original intention is to demonstrate to those who have been forgotten art form, unusual creation and the United States in the past some odd figure. Every now and then, I will introduce some of my respected artists and photographers, almost every one will be coupled with after years of a strange collection of articles or photos. I think, to write something it is necessary to its familiar enough with the job, is to personally in his hand playing experience. This is also my blog and other blog differences, I wrote every thing can be found shoebox yard behind me. Vintage Sleaze is a late start, but it is the highest page views. I found his collection there are many old photos of the "immoral", similar to the 1950s, men to buy sexy magazine. This is a category of popular culture rarely documented mention of everyone's basement can be dug out a few, but very few talk about. So I think the Vintage Sleaze to show their comical, although sexy, but also harmless, but also reveals some silly. Subscribe to this blog's women less than men, which made me very proud. 50 years ago "dirty pictures" very cute, and do this trip - those models, illustrators, writers, publishers - also very interesting, they walk the edge of the law, doing challenging and the sense of accomplishment. Every time I write their stories, laugh at least once. I like the challenge.

B: How often updated blog? JL: I as far as possible every day at least update a blog, sometimes three will be updated. Write an article or photo, I want to investigate for several days. I tried to proceed from each photo or article, write a thesis on the history. I work with a humorous tone to write. I like the ease and the pursuit of serious and precise at the same time, entertainment is also very important. I try to like reporters to remain objective, but occasionally melt into his own point of view. I always hope that your article can become a starting point of the in-depth study of other scholars. All these years I dig out the thousands of stories, I think every one deserves to be written in a book. Someday, the scholars will be curious about who this guy write Dull, Tool, Dim Bulb! Than a writer, I also see themselves as a visual artist, of course, have to depend on the readers' opinions.
B: Your collection must be very considerable, they account for where it is? JL: they just seem more than is good, because most of them are photos and paper, not of space. My house has not been large, but in good order. The collection is concentrated in a small room, one of the few big-ticket items (such as sculpture and handmade furniture) are placed into the garage or basement, all these years, many of the big guy has been I sold, replaced, or otherwise share out. I used to put a few special things in their own front, I like to see them at any time. The thing is not necessarily the bigger the better, little things often a vast reservoir of energy.
B: your collection is to spend money? JL: my life is a book file manager, no money. My favorites is the sense of smell, not like a child is eight by collectors as no money, but also buy the "excellent" work of art. I want to prove that everyone can gather to wonderful things, many small stones, and many nest, or transistor radios. Anything, as long as you allow them to became a scale through a lot, organize and share, they allow others to see their beauty, this is the collection. Although the whole process very time-consuming, but it does not cost money.

B: You grew like to collect things? JL: Yes, like any little boy, I also collect stamps and baseball cards, but then I made a solemn decision: a collection of things that others do not collection! It makes me feel different, I once again received attention for those who have been forgotten and ignored.
B: Do you think the librarian how the job? JL: I like the librarian job is that it allows me to be made now, this is one of the most remarkable career. A good librarian can equally help to anyone, regardless of the guests what to look for books, he can provide the services without the subjective judgment, encountered the controversial subject matter, he would know how to take into account, always harbor respected. Librarian every day to learn new knowledge, and ability to use their knowledge to help others people great satisfaction.
B: Do you collect things related to American popular culture, in this field who idolized? JL: I love Bob Dylan, because he was well received by the image of American culture. I also appreciate the southern United States, a painter named David Bates, depicting rural America a huge work, bright colors, humorous, and full of respect. However, the majority of my collection are anonymous works, the author has long been time to annihilation. I especially like the amateur for, like all mortal beings. From one work to dig out a piece of history or an artist is a great sense of accomplishment.

Genealogy DNA Roots Family History Hand-painted Lithographs and Buffalo Bill

I am not into genealogy, though the doctor did take a DNA test today...scientists are learning how genetics influences disease. I have always been more interested in moving ahead than looking back, but those who do the family history are to be much admired, and if it weren't for my uncle I would not know I was related to Buffalo Bill. (True) When I was young, that was really cool, but now that I know he was a "showman" and big-time hunter, I have had second thoughts.

The document here lasted one hundred years. Not a long time when tracing your roots or relatives. And yet to me it seems ancient. The entries begin in 1826, and the last entry is dated 1927. One hundred years before the family lost interest and stopped keeping track. The latest death recorded was 1880 and it is still sad. The country was young when this record was started, but in the span of life on earth, this entire familial package doesn't even qualify as a freakin' blip.

I am sorry the entire document doesn't fit on the scanner, but we should be glad it remains at all. It has been in a flood or two and has been repaired, but at some point it was passed over or weeded out, and I found it abandoned in an antique mall.

The document itself was printed by Kellogg and Comstock, lithographers who churned them out and underpaid women to add the color by hand. They were second only to Currier and Ives in sales.

As the world shrinks, we will actually have to rely on science even more for our records. Travel and the growing population have put one tribe in touch with another to the extent that culture, language and heritage are even harder to trace and record. When one married the "girl next door" it was easy to know where she came from (of "good stock" probably) but now who knows?

I have been doing this blog a few years. It is surprising how many relatives of those I have mentioned or profiled have gotten in touch. I'm not too polite or delicate, but in all that time not one family member has written to criticize. Every single mail I have received from a surviving member, be their ancestors scoundrel or saint, has been to thank me. I am including the folks I put on old time religion and vintage sleaze as well...not one critical letter from a family member. I think we have lost so much of our roots, we are grateful for whatever we find. I have had former strippers, children of musicians, great grandchildren of artists, family members of postcard makers and more write to say "Thanks..."I didn't know that!"

(I try to generate heat, but the only complaints I have received came from a post where I made fun of Glenn Beck (which I ignored) and from a post where I roasted the "science" of chiropractic. I ignored them as well for the most part, but did refer a few to the Wiki article. I also got one or two angry notes from folks who didn't like my profile of scam artist Charles Jessup...so let's bring it up again HERE. Facts is facts.)

The important categories are Family, Born, Married and Died. Not died HOW, but died when and where. Although the family here came all the way from England, it looks like most of them never got out of Michigan after that. Having gotten out and returned, I know one could do both better and worse.

I won't be making any deathbed confessions (or having a deathbed conversion.) I am an open book for the most part, and now even my Deoxyribonucleic acid will be in digital form I guess. Medical confidentiality is sacred, but how many of you read the forms you sign? Eh...if whoever replaced J. Edgar wants my DNA, let him have it. At least I don't have to worry about some crime from decades ago coming up when they sort through my strands of genetic material. When I was ten, I was fingerprinted during a boy scout tour through a police station. That has never haunted me either!

Kellogg and Comstock Lithograph, embellished by hand circa 1825. Collection Jim Linderman

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