Christmas Special. The WORST Folk art Environment EVER. New Jerusalem of Dr. Riker

Joints like this are what gave the state of California their unofficial motto "Land of Fruit and Nuts." Photographs of the Holy City of Father Riker circa 1941. The false utopia was established in 1919 by Father Riker, palm reader and white supremacist Christian.  The worst kind of Christian.  Residents had peculiar sexual rights as well, it seems.  That is, NO rights, as the sexes were segregated. God told him to build the commune into a roadside attraction and to use his cult followers for the tourist labor.  Soon there was a cult-operated gas station, a dance hall and peep show machines.  In 1929 Riker began spreading his gospel by radio station KFQU.  They had their own post office, I presume to send and receive hate mail.

Super racist, the cult allowed no one in who didn't look like them.   A large billboard on your arrival read "HOLY CITY IS A WHITE MAN'S TOWN!  NEGROES AND ORIENTALS KEEP OUT OF HOLY CITY."

Here is a brief quote from Father Riker from his book The Emancipator.    

"The White Man can take care of any and all kinds of business in our own, White Man's California State Home, and no longer will the White Man tolerate your undermining and polluting tactics. Farmers, Business Men and The Workers say: Orientals get out and stay out of our business. Our new Government will see that you get a job. Your polluting, undermining system of business must eternally stop in Our California. And besides this, keep your polluting hands off our White Race Women; they also belong only to the White Race Man. This is the true law of our original White Man's Constitution, these statements explain the real and true spirit of California."

See?  Nut Job and Fruity Pebble.  Father Riker ran for Governor of California four times but thankfully received only 1% of the vote each time.  That would be about the same percentage some of the current "religious right" politicians would get.  NOT…there is a good number of politicians today who seem to think separation of church and state is an obsolete concept.

IN 2016 what remained was purchased by wealthy Scientology couple Bob and Trish Duggan.  They bought the parcel of land where Holy Land stood (and rusted away).  192 Acres!  While the couple is worth BILLIONS (at one time Duggan was the 638th richest man in the world) they paid only 6 million dollars for the big plot near Los Gatos, California.

Jim Linderman books and affordable ebooks are available HERE.

Vintage Traveling Photographer on CB Radio RIsque Pinup Business Card

Vintage Traveling Photographer on CB Radio RIsque Pinup Business Card! It appears Mr. Stoneburner fancied himself the "go-to" for emergency pinup needs, at least on his QSL card. I aim no arrows, but here is what Wikipedia has to say about these cards.

"CB radio enthusiasts often exchanged colorful QSL cards, especially during the height of CB's popularity in the 1970s. CB radio operators who met while on the air would typically swap personalized QSL cards which featured their names ("handles") and CB callsigns. Originally, CB required a purchased license and the use of a callsign; however, when the CB craze was at its peak many people ignored this requirement and invented their own "handles".  

I am not suggesting the Sonny was doing anything more than pursuing a healthy hobby, of course.

QSL card circa 1975 Collection Jim Linderman 

A Genuine Dog and Pony show

Genuine Dog and Pony show! On reverse: Willie J. Bernard, Manager.  Bernard's Freak Animal Fair Canaan, NH. No date, circa 1930?  Collection Jim Linderman

Mimeographed Amateur Pornography from 1950s Mexico 7 Zephyrs Press

7 Zephyrs Press was a primitive smut publisher working just over the border in Juarez and Tijuana, Mexico.  By 1955, the modest business had published well over 200 individually numbered titles.  Each had primitive drawings to illustrate the deviant goings on.  Real collectors items.  The company also ran a lending library!  Not a collector?  Buy one, read it and return for another.  Each title seems to have been "cranked out" in editions of 100 or so.  Historians are aware that technological inventions are first used to spread erotic content...in this case, the mimeograph machine.     

Assorted editions of 7 Zephyrs Press erotic novels.  Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb

African-American folk art environment Memphis, TN c. 1990

Memphis flash! African-American folk art environment Memphis, TN c. 1992  Photographs by Jim Linderman

Vernacular Architecture Noah's Ark in the Desert

Vernacular Architecture  Noah's Ark in the Desert.  Noah's Ark with label.  No date.  Collection Jim Linderman

19th Century School Craft Show

Craft Day at the local public school.  Circa 1920?  Pair of 8 x 10 original photographs collection Jim Linderman

Black Friday Shopping for Dull Tool Dim Bulb Books

Shopping? I have one book nearly in the can and another soon.  Until then, for Holiday book purchases of current Jim Linderman Books, click HERE for previews and ordering.  Also available?  Two books from my friends at Dust to Digital.  The Birth of Rock and Roll and Take Me to the Water.  Thanks!

12,000 Bottle Caps in Folk Art Chair of Logan Davis 1935

Logan Davis presents his 12,000 bottle cap folk art chair and wins the Hobby Contest!  1935

Antique Folk Art Doll Wood Carving Late 19th / Early 20th Century

Antique Folk Art Doll Wood Carving.  Carved by hand with original paint, circa 1890-1920.
Collection Jim Linderman Dull Tool Dim Bulb

B. F. Perkins Brick Tower Words of God Vernacular Architecture

B. F. Perkins Brick Tower Words of God.  Original photograph Jim Linderman 1992 Alabama

The Folk Art Concrete Water Jug of S.P. Dinsmoor Garden of Eden

Anyone who has studied American Folk / Outsider art environments is familiar with Steven Dinsmoor and his Garden of Eden.  This appears to be a less common period image. Apparently, Dinsmoor kept this handmade object at the foot of the concrete coffin he made...in case he had to grab some water. That is if he was going down instead of up.  It's hot down there.  See HERE and elsewhere for more pictures.  Let me know if you find a picture of the jug in place?  You might also enjoy the book / ebook In Situ: American Folk Art in Place by Jim Lindeman.  Available for purchase HERE on Blurb.  
Real Photo Postcard c. 1920 Collection Jim Linderman

Driftwood Charlie and his Folk Art Stone Carvings

Postcard of Driftwood Charlie and his stone carvings.  No Date.  Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb.

  Photos of his work cribbed from Seymour Rosen and Spaces.

Folk Art and Photography books and affordable ebooks by Jim Linderman available HERE

Gay Aquatic Review and Mike Duffy Miniature Sideshow Carnival At the Circus in Black and White

I've done thirty or more "at the circus in black and white" posts here over the years, but this one is most curious.  The snapshot appears to show a MINIATURE circus.  Small period signs announce the performers.  A tiny "Cotton Club" stage and show.  The snapshot reverse reads "Mike Duffy and nephew on horse.  Carnival Midway front and background".  No date, but 1930 to 1950 I presume.  I have no idea what the "Gay Aquatic Revue" is.  

Original snapshot photograph of miniature Duffy Circus Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb 

Antique American Folk Art Wood Carving Miniatures

Antique American Folk Art Wood Carving Miniatures.  1" to 2" tall.  
Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb

WW2 Folk Art "Winged Angel" Trench Art drawn on a Pillowcase Love during Wartime

World War Two Folk Art "Winged Angel" Trench Art drawn on a Pillowcase.  Northeastern United States c. 1945.  Framed behind plexiglass with screws.  Collection Jim Linderman.  Courtesy Natalie Curley Antiques. "Love during Wartime" is a continuing series on Dull Tool Dim Bulb.

Vintage Handmade Child's Miniature Cook Book Drawn by Hand Folk Art

A Vintage Handmade Child's Miniature Cook Book Drawn by Hand.  4" x 6" with hand written recipes and some clipped from magazines of the time.  Circa 1940 - 1945.  Drawings and instructions by Carol Birkett with help from her friend Patty.  22 pages.  Collection Jim Linderman

Vernacular photograph of an Anonymous Folk Art Carver

Vernacular photograph of an Anonymous Folk Art Carver. This photograph is not signed and has no identification of the maker. Looks to be fine work. I'm showing a detail, but there isn't much information cropped. This backyard rocker (rain or shine?) should have the work seen. In the folk art world, an artist often becomes recognized decades later in photos.  Scanned images online often work as well as printed ones in newspapers, but if any of the following here knows the work? He was working when JFK was facing down a Ruskie, it appears.

Backyard photograph of an anonymous folk art carver, no location, circa 1965?
Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb / Jim Linderman

Scenes from a Texas Immersion Baptism Vernacular photographs 1927 San Antonio

Scenes from a Texas Immersion Baptism. Each stamped on reverse 1927 San Antonio.  Photographer Carl D. Newton.  Collection Jim Linderman

19th Century Folk Art Painting of ripe grapes

19th Century Folk Art watercolor of ripe grapes.
Anonymous Collection Jim Linderman
(See also the book Eccentric Folk Art Drawing of the 19th and 20th Centuries)

African-American Folk Art Sand Sculpture from the New Jersey Shore Pair of Snapshots c. 1915

 

A pair of vernacular snapshots of a sand sculptor at work near the turn of 19th century. The location is likely Ashbury Park or Atlantic City. There were several skilled sand builders working the New Jersey Shore around 1915. I suspect this is either Jas. J. Taylor (who was known for his depictions of Cupid) or Lorenz Harris. Harris was apparently an African-American artist and one of several who displayed their work for tips. This boardwalk tradition was eventually banned from the beaches in 1944. Postcards of the era (both real photo postcards and more widely sold printed versions) were common. This pair are among the few actual snapshots which have turned up. More information on the art and artists is found HERE in the magazine of the American Folk Art Museum. Note monkey gazing at his reflection in a mirror!

African-American Folk Art Sand Sculpture from the New Jersey Shore Pair of Snapshots c. 1915
Collection Jim Linderman courtesy Invisible Commute.

Georgia Folk Artist R. A. Miller paints a Snake. Outsider Art

Georgia Folk Artist R. A. Miller paints a Snake.
Original Photo Jim Linderman c. 1995

Handmade Folk Art Ventriloquist Vent Figure

Freckles the Vent.  Composite materials over wood frame.  Circa 1960.  Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb.  Books and Affordable Ebooks by the author HERE.

Time and Death Pair of salvaged Fraternal Society Paintings from a Banner

 Time and Death.  Pair of salvaged Fraternal Society Paintings from a Banner.  Likely early 20th century.  Oil Paint on Linen.  Signed as M. K. Mengle.  Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb

 

Antique Folk Art Drawing 19th Century Primitive Therorem Urn with Flowers Pennsylvania

Antique Folk Art Drawing 19th Century Naive Therorem Urn with Flowers. Pennsylvania origin.  Pencil on Paper. Signed Job Wagner dated 1883.  6" x 7".  
Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Duckwalking man Vintage photograph

A duck walking man.  
Original Snapshot no date (c. 1935?)  
Missouri Lee Jellum Photo Shop.
Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Folk Art Postage Stamp Collage (detail) Spinning Wheel circa 1910

Postage stamp collage (detail) circa 1910.  Hand-drawn ink features and early 20th Century postage stamps on postcard size card.  Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb.  See also the book "Eccentric Folk Art Drawings of the 19th and 20th Centuries" for several similar examples of the craft.