December 3, 2009, Take Me To The Water: Immersion Baptism In Vintage Music And Photography 1890–1950 Steven Lance Ledbetter & Jim Linderman, compilation producers; Robert Vosgien, mastering engineer (Various Artists) [Dust-To-Digital] was nominated for a Grammy award, Category 24 "Best Historical Album"
A testimony to loving, respectful care compiled by Ruth Miller, who earned her Red Cross badge and then some. These images from her homemade scrapbook not only contain carefully clipped tips for the well-managed home, she has compiled a compendium on health, welfare, positive thinking and attitude. Among the manilla pages of the book, which she titled "Caring for the Sick in the Home" are included everything from tips to finding pasteurized milk to "39 points to avoid functional nervous disorders." She has a page for a well-made bed, glued pamphlets indicating how to properly light a room, a page listing the proper elements of posture:
Just square your shoulders to the world You're not the sort to quit It isn't the load that breaks us down It's the way we carry it
From "What to look for when buying children's shoes" to the ravages of syphilis, Ms. Miller has it covered and in considerable detail. She has notes to remind her to be patient and wait while her charge performs a task, Her attention to detail and creative arrangement of visual cues gives me no doubt she was the kind of woman I would trust with anyone I love.
"Caring" a homemade scrapbook compiled by Miss Ruth Miller, circa 1930. Collection Jim Linderman
Those of you old enough to remember Johnny Carson's "Carnac the Magnificent" might understand this photo. The master talk show host conspired with his straight man Jolly Ed R.I.P to produce a skit which never got tired. Here, Some poor woman having turned over her life savings for one brief message from her dearly departed has no idea the news from heaven is actually coming from the proverbial man behind the curtain. Slick! Known as "Billet Reading" the message could read "withdraw funds from bank and give to man with moustache.
As for Carnac, I would link to them all if I could, but you'll find the good ones.
Original Press Photograph 1924 Collection Jim Linderman
All these examples, I believe, were published by the Ceagee publishing company in the 1940's, although none have publisher imprints or dates. The same size and format of the famous Tijuana Bibles (or 8-pagers as they were also known) they contain dirty jokes and racist humor, but of a more gentile nature than the X-rated ones. They each have something of a formula...a gentle racist joke, a gentle "boner" joke, a "whoopsie" of some type, maybe a effeminate man in some situation, some women conspiring to get a fur coat and of course, the housewife home alone and a plumber. Each page has an illustration, but many are blurry and appear to have been handed down and passed around before, so the print bleeds and some are virtually indecipherable. Some have been cribbed and a new punch line typed in. Curious little giggles probably traded at drinking establishments, carnivals and such. Group of Ceagee Publications, circa 1935-1935. Collection Jim Linderman
Dull Tool Dim Bulbwill receive hit number 100,000 today though I only added the counter in August 2009. The figure includes all my sleazy sites as well, but STILL! I am amazed. This site started one year ago to occupy my time while my first book/cd project was being printed by the good folks at Dust-to-Digital. The book, Take Me to the Water: Immersion Baptism in Vintage Music and Photography 1890-1950 is something I am very proud of.The institution the original photographs were donated to will announce an exhibition soon.
You can read the reviews. In fact, this week I read one in DUTCH. They are all, I am also proud to say, great. If great reviews were coins, we would all be shaking our hips like Shakira at the American Music Awards. Not being available at your local Barnes and Noble, you'll have to click it on home. Needless to say, it will make an outstanding Christmas present, as will any of the discs at D to D. Don't expect to see my publisher's house on MTV Cribs anytime soon, this is most certainly, as they say, love labor... but I can promise anyone who receives the book will not re-gift. It is a keeper.
"THEIR CLOTHES DRIPPING AFTER THEIR BAPTISM IN THE OPEN AIR RESERVOIR IN THE HILLS NEAR HERE, MR. AND MRS. HOWARD MCGEE AND HUGGED BY THEIR THREE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, PEGGY, AS THEY EMERGE FROM THE POOL. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE DEEP SOUTH, THE BAPTISM WAS HELD IN THE OPEN AIR UNDER FLOODLIGHTS. THIRTY-ONE "APPLICANTS" WERE DUCKED" Original Press Photograph, 1938. Collection Jim Linderman
"Pet refuses to leave Master's bier; derrick Needed to Lower Coffin" 1922
Captain George Auger Cabinet Card by Frank Wendt, circa 1890 and attached newspaper clip, Collection Jim Linderman(To be posted on the circus sideshow photographer site Wondrous World of Frank Wendt as well)
Get your Christmas Shopping Done early. ALL of my books were published this year and all were small press books, so none of your friends have pawed them at Barnes and Noble. Surprise them! Preview and read reviews at each click. Thanks.
The LP cover was the perfect medium for a visual artist. A 12" x 12" square one could fill with anything. It had a good run. Some of the images are so ingrained, I carry them upstairs all the time, though haven't owned an LP or record player for years. Sticky Fingers by Warhol. Talking Heads by Rauschenberg. The Richard Pettibon covers for Black Flag and the Minutemen. "What makes a man start fires" indeed.
Susan Archie is one artist who has been able to bring both classic and innovative esthetics to the music package. Despite dropping sales and the invisible format of the download, she has designed some of the most beautiful artistic objects you can imagine, and they often come in a 5" x 5" size! I once thought the CD was too small for art..I was wrong. I'll be wrong about the 2" x 2" screen of a handheld one day too.
Here are examples of Susan's work from the last few years. They are usually thick and juicy as well, a richness I can not show with a scanner... she specializes in packages, not just covers, and the damn feel of her product (a word I hesitate to use as they are so beautiful) makes everything she does just about the least expensive piece of serious art one can buy. It is difficult to be both pure and lush, her work manages to be both. She will jam in content and information, but still present a minimal beauty that is capable of creating awe. I have not asked Susan or the labels who have hired her for permission to use these images, nor do I have the time to list all their details. I am sure she would choose others, since she also manages to be prolific, thankfully...but if there is a way to search her name you can purchase ANYTHING and I do not exaggerate. I grabbed a few here, ignore the wear. They are among the most played discs in the house.
Is the CD gone? Actually this is the glory days. I'll let you all in on a little secret too...for collectors, the most rare and valuable items are always produced in the last days of a format change. As many of the small presses and labels Ms. Archie chooses to work with press in small quantities, there won't be enough to go around in the future...and believe me, she will have a museum show one day. These images from my rack don't even BEGIN to show what she has done and what she is capable of. The music too is above reproach, she has taste AND taste!
Susan's WEBSITE is here, She should crow louder than she does. I am linking as well to hertestimonial page here so you can see some of her achievements. I don't know where there is a complete discography of her work, but the one HERE will give you an indication (and buying list) Her work is consistently beautiful and that she chooses to work in a small format is no indication of her giant talent, plus when I think of her I always smile.
Light posts today, it being Mad travel day, which ended for me the day I left Times Square, thank heavens. Boy, I used to hate going to Grand Central on holidays. All I need to do now is take the medicine and drive over to see the folks. No one is going to SEE this post, however, for artists, consistency is THE virtue, so here you go, my daily post.
Untitled (Three Clowns) Anonymous circus snapshot, circa 1955. Collection Jim Linderman
In the 1960's, a student at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia was dumpster-diving and made a remarkable find. A scrapbook consisting of dozens of pages of the female form (in stockings) which had been carefully assembled into a fetish object of considerable girth! With 80 pages, and despite decay, the student saved the packet for decades. They have now been published in a book which is itself a little work of art. Our anonymous artist would be proud, though his family, who likely tossed the originals hoping they would be lost for good, might not be as pleased. There is NO NUDITY as with the convention of the times, but as you can see, risque might be the appropriate word. Art Brut with scissors and tape. A perfect gift for anyone interested in fashion or retro-fashion, stockings, legs, women...and, well...anyone with an interest in the unusual. It is linked at right, and there is a free 15 page previewHERE.
Gals Gams Garters comes in a limited edition of 250 hardcover paper jacket books. There is also an unlimited (for now) paper edition available. Order in time for Christmas! CLICK to order or free 15 page preview.
