1940s Seagram's V.O. Canadian Whiskey: Candid Camera Color

   
     Wally made this series of illustrations for the Seagram Distillers Corporation based out of New York during WWII.  The main dialog of the advertisement touts mankind's progress through the advent of color photography, or at least the ability for the average Joe to develop it in his own home.  For photography enthusiasts, this must have been tremendously exciting.  I remember Grandpa had several enlargers in his basement, where I watched him develop film, cut glass and build frames.  Those were the days.

I wouldn't normally associate whiskey with photography.  But perhaps it isn't all that unusual.  I'd guess that 90% of all photography on Facebook has involved alcohol in one way or another.  Additionally, it isn't unusual to acknowledge mankind's ability to create fine photography and fine whiskey as "the result of the planning of many men over many years."  

     My modern sentiments would add, of course, that women probably played a larger role in the consumption as well as the developement of whiskey then this agency or era felt it appropriate to acknowledge :)

1943 Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Company

     This illustration for Eureka appeared in the Saturday Evening Post on November 20, 1943.  

    This illustration titled, "To Johnny_ with Love from Mom!" explains that "more than 70% of Eureka's employees are women and they making gas masks, signaling devices, the small but powerful precision control motors vital to our fighting planes."  It's an interesting example of the role crucial role women played at the home front during World War II.  

1944 Budweiser Advertisement: Ye Olde Melting Pot

     Grandpa made several illustrations for Anheuser Busch's classic in the 1940s and 50s.  In this illustration, "Help Your Community Drives ...and You Help America," the advertising company gives an interesting story about how communities during the colonial period (pre-1776) would contribute to a struggling family by setting up a 'melting pot before the door.'  I have no idea if there is truth to this, but it is an interesting concept.  As a father of two small children, this certainly doesn't sound like the safest of fundraisers a community could think of.



     According to the advertisement, during WWII, Anheuser - Busch which was based in St. Louis "supplied the armed forces with glider and bomber fuselage frames, wing parts, gun turret parts, foodstuffs, as well as ingredients for the manufacture of rubber, aluminum, munitions, medicines, B complex vitamins, hospital diets, baby foods, bread and other bakery products, vitamin-fortified cattle feeds, batteries, paper soap and textiles" and more.   

     A very impressive list of contributions.  Good thing we passed the 21st Amendment in 1933 :) 

The Early Years In Black And White

     My grandfather shot thousands upon thousands of rolls of film throughout his life.  My father and I both spent countless hours, days even, saving what film we could find when we were moving my grandmother from their home in New Canaan years ago.  Precious few roles from the 30s, 40s, 50s have survived the test of time.  They are tightly wound up in small metallic canisters with barely legible scribbling on them.  They have titles like "Chuck - folks at Woodstock, NYC BLDGs, East River, Geissman and family, etc."  

They are dangerous and hard to handle so I've only looked at a handful of them.  They consist of mostly family scenes, but some are field research he conducted for his illustrations, and some may be of him and his fellow artist friends from inside his studio at home or the Charles E. Cooper Studio in New York.

     While these rolls have been developed into negatives, scanning them is no easy task.  The older roles have a layer of nitrate embedded into the exposed side of the film stock, which is fascinating to look at but extremely volatile: if ignited it will literally continue to burn even under water.  I don't have the funds to send them off to some specialty store, nor do I feel comfortable mailing such rare and intrinsically valuable material.

 
 
     Enter Benjamin Lipiecki.  He's a friend and coworker, a recent graduate from Emerson College who has a degree in Digital post-production.  He has a love for old cameras and old film, with quite an impressive collection of his own, and approaches his material possessions and projects with a keen eye, thorough and scientific.  He's got a respect for old film like the rolls I have inherited.  It's because of my grandpa, my father and Ben that we are finally, after all these years, getting to see this film come to life in a photograph format: high resolution scans on a computer screen.

     In this blog I will post some of the photographs Wally, Glennie and their friends have taken through the years.  To preserve their originality I've decided not to touch them up, such as remove scratches, improve contrast and exposure (yet).  I hope you enjoy them, they have already brought thrills galore.  I will upload every single photo I scan to this blog's corresponding Flickr account, so look for more pictures there if you are interested.

Thanks again to all who have read this blog! 2,600 views from around the world and counting!   

The 1946 Directory of United States Illustrators

     This was a great discovery in a box of old books: a compact beat-up binder titled "Official Directory of American Advertising Artists and Illustrators 1946." 

   
     It is more than just a directory of advertising artists and illustrators from that year (or decade depending on how you want to look at it).  

     This booklet reveals a bundle of interesting tidbits of information about illustration art in general.  For example, a short study of its 'Types of Art Work' illuminates how a collection of specific disciplines and their sub-categories together defined the broad field of illustration art in the 1940s.

Walter D. Richards, Illustrator #617

     I gather this tasty glimpse into the business side of American illustration holds credence because of its three primary authors:  The Society of Illustrators, The Art Directors Club N.Y., and The Artists Guild.  That said, of the 104 'representatives' and 826 artists listed, the vast majority of the artists and art studios are in New York City and Chicago.  Three from San Francisco are listed and two from both Los Angeles and Cleveland.  Westport (CT), Dallas, Detroit, Brooklyn and Washington D.C. each had one listing.


     Hmmmm.  I've read that even by the 1940s a very large portion of all advertising in the United States (probably the world for that matter) was hand drawn.  You'd think there'd've been more than 104 entities representing at least one artist in the country.  Then again, when you see the list of companies a label like the Charles E. Cooper Studio held as clients, maybe 104 'representatives' is realistic.


     But enough of this boring rumination.  For the fun of it, I've typed out each category and sub-category that is found in the directory.  Eventually, I would like to include the number of corresponding artists in each discipline.  I think there is some fun in the statistics.  Better yet, there might be someone reading this who is actually qualified (not me) to have an opinion or observation about it.

  7 Types of Illustration and 132 Sub-Categories


Illustration: 96 sub-categories ____ artists (numbers to be added later)
     Abstracts:
     Accessories (men's shoes):
     Adventure: 
     Advertising: 
     Airbrush: 
     Americana: See Historical
     Airplanes (aviation):
     Animals:
     Animation:
     Architectural:
     Art:
     Automobiles:
     Birds-Eye: See Outdoors
     Black and White:
     Book:
     Calenders:
     Cartoons:
     Character:
     Children:
     Color:
     Commercial Art:
     Comprehensives:
     Composition:
     Continuities:
     Cosmetics:
     Covers:
     Crayon:
     Decorative:
     Diagrams:  See Technical
     Drybrush:
     Drawings:
     Editorial:
     Fantasy:
     Fashion:
     Fiction:
     Figures:
     Fine Arts: 
     Finished Art:
     Flowers:
     Furniture:
     General:
     Genre:
     Girls:
     Glamour:
     Gnomes:
     Heads:
     Historical:
     Housefurnishings:
     Human Interest:
     Humor:
     Imaginative:
     Illustration:
     Informative:
     Industrial:
     Interiors:
     Magazine:
     Marine:
     Mechanical:
     Medical:
     Merchandise:
     Military:
     Modern:
     Monochrome:
     Murals:
     Music Interpretation:
     Object:
     Oil:
     Oriental:
     Outdoors:
     Painting:
     Pastels:
     Pictorial:
     Portraits:
     Products:
     Realistic:
     Scratchboard:
     Sea Subjects:
     Serious:
     Shoes:
     Sketches:
     Sports:
     Spot:
     Still-Life:
     Story:
     Strips:
     Stylized:
     Surrealist:
     Symbolic:
     Technical:
     Teenage:
     Tempera:
     Textiles:
     Wash:
     Watercolor:
     Western Action:
     Woodcut:


Design: 21 sub-categories ____ Artists
     Book:
     Calligraphy:
     Cartographers:
     Coats-of-Arms:
     Decoration:
     Design:
     Engrossing:
     Graphic:
     Heraldry:
     Humorous:
     Industrial:
     Jewerly:
     Labels:
     Layout:
     Lettering:
     Letterheads:
     Maps: 
     Packaging:
     Trade-Mark:
     Symbolic:
     Typographical:


Posters & Displays: ____ Artists


Art Direction: ____ Artists
     Art Director:
     Catalog:
     Complete Advertisement:
     Consultant:
     Creative:
     Visualizer:


Retouching:  ____ Artists
     Color:
     Retouching:


General: ____ Artists
     Commercial Art, Presentation, Rendering:


Sculpture: ____ Artists
     Clay Modeling:
     Moulage:
     Paper Sculpture:
     Sculpture:


What percentage of the artists are in each category ____?
What percentage of the artists are in each sub-category ____?

Daniel Boone Never Heard Of Logistics: the AAR in 1950

     Walter Richards made this illustration of Daniel Boone for the Association of American Railroads in 1950.

     The exact date for the publication is unknown.  On the following side of this illustration the date 1950 can be seen.

     My father found two of these illustration magazine clippings that either Wally or his wife had set aside as an illustration Wally had done.

     

     

A 1955 Sports Illustrated Illustration

     This Sports Illustrated ad drawn by Walter Richards was published in late April, 1955.   According to an article on the Dodgers found on the backside of this page (and at the bottom of this post), about one week earlier the Brooklyn team had broken Major League Baseball's record for most wins (10) to start a season.  Opening day for the Dodgers in 1955 was April 13.



     When he drew this lithograph, Wally was probably still working for the Steven Lions Studio in New York City.  

     Glenora always told me that one of Wally's strengths as an illustrator was his ability to show a variety of emotions in his subjects.  

     I think this illustration is a good example of what she was talking about.   

     The article below revealed several important clues narrowing the date of Wally's illustration to late April of 1955.   

Complete Stamp Index: 37 Stamps

1.  Frederick Douglass $.25 Prominent Americans Series Issued February 14th, 1967 Scott #1290

2.  Plant for more Beautiful Cities $.06 Beautification of America Series Issued January 16th, 1969 Scott #1365

3.  Plant for more Beautiful Parks $.06 Beautification of America Series Issued January 16th, 1969 Scott #1366

4.  Plant for more Beautiful Highways $.06 Beautification of America Series Issued January 16th, 1969 Scott #1367

5.  Plant for more Beautiful Streets $.06 Beautification of America Series Issued January 16th, 1969 Scott #1368

6.  American Bald Eagle $.06 Natural History Series Issued May 6th, 1970 Scott #1387

7.  Save Our Soil $.06 Anti-Pollution Series Issued October 28th, 1970 Scott #1410

8.  Save Our Cities $.06 Anti-Pollution Series Issued October 28th, 1970 Scott #1411

9.  Save Our Water $.06 Anti-Pollution Series Issued October 28th, 1970 Scott #1412

10.  Save Our Air $.06 Anti-Pollution Series Issued October 28th, 1970 Scott #1413

11.  Cape Hatteras Seashore - Upper Left $.02 National Parks Centennial Series Issued April 5th, 1972 Scott #1448

12.  Cape Hatteras Seashore - Upper Right $.02 National Parks Centennial Series Issued April 5th, 1972 Scott #1449

13.  Cape Hatteras Seashore - Lower Left $.02 National Parks Centennial Series Issued April 5th, 1972 Scott #1450

14.  Cape Hatteras Seashore - Lower Right $.02 National Parks Centennial Series Issued April 5th, 1972 Scott #1451

15.  Paul Laurance Dunbar $.10 Issued May 1st, 1975 Scott #1554

16.  Giant Sequoia Sequoiadendron giganteum $.15 Tree Series Issued October 9th, 1978 Scott #1764

17.  White Pine Pinus strobus $.15 Tree Series Issued October 9th, 1978 Scott #1765

18.  White Oak Quercus alba $.15 Tree Series Issued October 9th, 1978 Scott #1766

19.  Gray Birch Betuia populifolis $.15 Tree Series Issued October 9th, 1978 Scott #1767

20.  Jefferson 1743 - 1826 Virginia Rotunda $.15 American Architecture Series Issued June 4th, 1979 Scott #1779

21.  Latrobe 1764 - 1820 Baltimore Cathedral $.15 American Architecture Series Issued June 4th, 1979 Scott #1780


22.  Bulfinch 1763 - 1844 Boston State House $.15 American Architecture Series Issued June 4th, 1979 Scott #1781

23.  Strictland 1788 - 1854 Philadelphia Exchange $.15 American Architecture Series Issued June 4th, 1979 Scott #1782

24.  Renwick 1818 - 1895 Smithsonian Washington $.15 American Architecture Series Issued October 9th, 1980 Scott #1838

25.  Richardson 1838 - 1886 Trinity Church Boston $.15 American Architecture Series Issued October 9th, 1980 Scott #1839

26.  Furness 1839 - 1912 Penn Academy Philadelphia $.15 American Architecture Series Issued October 9th, 1980 Scott #1840

27.  AJ Davis 1803 - 1892 Lyndhurst Tarrytown, NY $.15 American Architecture Series Issued October 9th, 1980 Scott #1841

28.  Stanford White 1853 - 1906 NYU Library New York $.18 American Architecture Series Issued August 28th, 1981 Scott #1928

29.  Richard Morris Hunt 1828 - 1895 Biltmore Asheville, NC $.18 American Architecture Series Issued August 28th, 1981 Scott #1929

30.  Bernard Maybeck 1862 - 1957 Palace of Arts San Francisco $.18 American Architecture Series Issued August 28th, 1981 Scott  #1930

31.  Louis Sullivan 1856 - 1924 Farmers' Bank Owatonna Minn $.18 American Architecture Series Issued August 28th, 1981 Scott #1931

32.  James Hoban White House Architect
     32a.  Eire (Ireland) .18 $ Issued in Ireland September 29th, 1981 No Scott #
     32b.  USA $.18 Issued October 18, 1981 Scott #1935
     32c.  USA $.20 Issued October 18, 1981 Scott #1936

33.  Frank Lloyd Wright 1867 - 1959 Fallingwater Mill Run, PA $.20 American Architecture Series Issued September 30, 1982 Scott #2019

34.  Mies van der Rohe 1886 - 1969 Illinois Inst Tech Chicago $.20 American Architecture Series Issued September 30, 1982 Scott #2020

35.  Walter Gropius 1883 - 1969 Gropius House Lincoln, Ma $.20 American Architecture Series Issued September 30, 1982 Scott #2021

36.  Eero Saarinen 1910 - 1962 Dulles Airport Washington, D.C. $.20 American Architecture Series Issued September 30, 1982 Scott #2022

37.  Timberline Lodge Mt. Hood, Oregon - Postal Card or Post Card $.14 Issued September 28, 1987 Scott #UX119

A Great Source For WWII Posters by Michael E. Moss

     Michael E. Moss was the curator at the prestigious West Point Museum in the 1970s and published this short but fascinating anthology of World War II Posters.  The title is "Posters For Victory: The American Home Front and World War II, Posters From The West Point Museum."  In it he includes brief essays about the various subjects and intentions of the posters that were published in the United States during the war.  On a select few he includes colorful commentary and thoughts.  Although the posters are all printed in black and white, it offers insight on Wally's work I haven't found anywhere else, making it an invaluable source.  


     Walter DuBois Richards made at least two posters during World War II that I know of.     

     This exciting poster showcases an Army artillery unit in action and was "one of the more popular and well designed posters [of WWII]" according to Moss.  Published by the Office Of War Information in 1943, "Housewives... Save Waste Fats For Explosives" is both entertaining and informational.  Click here for the color version of this poster. 
   
     In Framingham, Massachusetts there exists one of the greatest private collections of WWII artifacts in the World.  Called Museum Of World War II, you must be over 18 years of age (they will make exceptions) and must obtain special permission just to access its halls.  In it you will find a bronze bust of Hitler that General Patton owned and trained his dog to urinate on.  The stains can clearly be seen streaking down Hitler's forehead.  
     Like the vast majority of the artifacts in the Museum, the bust is not behind an acrylic pane, instead it is on an eye level pedestal, and the visitor is free to get as close as he/she comfortably wants to.  The Museum is built on trust and the assumption that the visitors will be respectful and careful.  Which explains why no High - School field trip is allowed in.  
     There is an actual Sherman tank that still has sand from the African Desert in its metal crevasses and joints.  (Notice the various guns you can pick up and inspect.)  Just about every country that participated in the Great War is represented with separate rooms dedicated to propaganda, weaponry, correspondence, for each country.  It is a truly breath-taking collection.   
     It was at this museum I first saw this poster, "They've got more important places to go than you!... Save Rubber, Check Your Tires Now."  

     What a thrill it was to see it in such a remarkable and prestigious collection.  The poster was published by the Office Of Emergency Management, date unknown. 
     For a color version of this poster, click here. 

A personal note from the Author of "Posters For Victory"

LifeGuard Safety Tubes - A Goodyear Tire Commercial from 1947

      Over a several year period following WWII, Wally did a series of advertisements for Goodyear's product, the LifeGuard Safety Tube.  This one appeared in the Saturday Evening Post in November of 1947.  According to this startling advertisement, the LifeGuard Safety Tube could save your life should you blow out a tire driving along a narrow cliff-ridged icy road in Minnesota.  Considering safety standards in your average car in the 1940s, I should think even at 25 mph a tire blowout could have more serious consequences than today, no matter what the scenario.  After a (very) brief online search, it appears that Goodyear first introduced this extra-tube-in-a-tire in 1934 and it evolved into a variety of products over the next half-century.

     Wally made several of these commercials featuring these 'BANG' scenarios, but I found this one a bit amusing.  Can somebody explain why these hunters are using a red sedan with no rack for a hunting trip?  

The 1955 Ford Fairlane Sunliner, Custom Ranch Wagon and Fairlane Victoria

   My father and I have come across literally hundreds of magazine clippings that either Wally or his wife, Glenny had saved for posterity.  In some cases my father had scribbled down information on accompanying yellow sticky-notes offering up interesting insights about that particular illustration.  Turns out Walter was a work horse within his industry, publishing sometimes a dozen illustrations in a month, year round, for decades.  

Walter DuBois Richards did quite a bit of work for many classic automobile manufacturers over the years: Packard, Mercury, Cadillac and Ford, to name a few.

Several 55 Fords are illustrated in this one page commercial, the red Custom Ranch Wagon in the background, the stunning yellow and black Fairlane Sunliner with the pretty Blondie in front, and the Fairlane Victoria below.  

   The yellow note explains that Glenora had saved this particular Ford commercial because she had helped Wally mix the colors for it (and did this often for Wally's illustrations.)  This could sound surprising, until you learn that Glenora Case Richards was a celebrated artist herself, who made a name for herself in Miniature art, and also produced some commercial art.