1. Machines supply another frontier for lucrative incompetence. Who profits from vending machines that somehow cannot be prevented from eating change?

  3. Can you please add the David leonardis Gallery to your list of Chicago Folk and contemporary galleries.
    All the info you need is on my web site.
    Please call with any questions.

    Thanks,

    David Leonardis
    David Leonardis Gallery
    1346 N. Paulina St.
    Chicago, Il 60622
    773.278.3058 gallery
    917.915.3058 cell

  4. Sorry David. As noted on the links page, I stopped adding sites a couple of years ago. It got to be too much work keeping up with all the sites. I’ve only left the page up for archival interest.

    Bill

  5. Bill,
    I think you’ve nailed it – almost. Ineptitude by itself is powerless. However, the perception of ineptitude is quite potent. Consider the object of your disdain. Even while the the country’s intellectuals are lampooning his slurred speech and simple ways, he’s getting his war, his permanent tax breaks and his ultra-conservative Supreme Court. George W. is the student of Reagan. the architect of the defeat of Communism. Reagan was in turn the student of Eisenhower, the architect of the defeat of Fascism. None of them were/are stupid; just underestimated. So keep laughing and W. will keep winning.

  7. Has anyone submitted “Beaver Liquors” in Beaver Creek, Coloreado? Here in Lucas, KS we have a local liqour store owned by a Rodney Dick – the store is unofficially “Dick Liqours” wiht an appropriate T-shirt. I presume that liqour stores would have a large number of submissions – most (like above) not suitable for family veiwing.

  10. Hello!

    We just drove to Detroit from NYC and saw these store names:

    “LOVE’S JUST HORS D’ OEUVRES AND ME SUPPER CLUB” – Detroit, MI

    and

    “QUAKER STEAK AND LUBE” (There’s several, many in Ohio.)

    ~ Juliana Francis & David Patrick Kelly

  11. Hello, I would looooove to purchase one of these. Is it possible for the artist to produce another for a pre-established fee? Please inform.

  17. Tightwad Convenience Store, TIghtwad MO.

    Unfortunately the Tightwad Bank closed years ago, but my mom has a picture of my brother holding up a penny in front of it.

  18. We would like to nominate “Eat My Buns” Bakery and Donuts, in Ajo, Az. and “Belly Acres RV Park” same town. Also ,near Casa Grande Az. there is “The Burnt Bun Cafe” as well. Guess it’s the heat affecting our ability to invent logical names! Really like your amusing website.

    Thanks, Tom

  21. In Houston TX, there used to be an auto shop in the galleria area (on Richmond near 610 for anyone local) that was called Lickety Lube.

  22. Out in California there are a lot of Vietnamese Pho resturants.

    My favorite is the “Pho King”.

  23. In Orlando FL, there is a head shop (Marijuana and other pariphenalia store) named The G-Spot. Orlando is peppered with billboards and advertisements challenging you with: “The G-Spot, can you find it?”

  24. “Xmas” is not just a modern abreviation of Christmas, the “X” being an ancient symbol for Christ dating back to the early days of Christianity as does the fish symbol. The “X” representing the Cross Christ died on. So “Xmas” is a legitimate word signifying “Christ-mas”. “Xster” could be legitimate in this context, but “Xgiving” would not as it has nothing directly to do with Christ.

  25. Don Knotts
    Will Be Miss For A Long Time To Come
    But Barney Fife Heart For Long Time To Come.

  26. The Goody-Goody liquor store chain in Dallas started as a liquor store named Goo Goo, so that everyone would remember the name.

  27. Curl up and Die Hair Salon
    Clark or Broadway
    Chicago IL

    &

    Yankee Doodle Italian Food
    Tucson, AZ

  29. One Sunday morning about 1992 I was getting ready for church and I heard my son, 6 at the time, laughing so hard I thought he was being tickled by his sister. I went into our living room and he was in the floor in front of our TV, and flashing before him was Don Knotts on an episode of Steve Allen’s fifties-era show. Don Knotts was being interviewed by Allen in a classic sketch, and between Knotts’ jittery character and Allen’s typical cackling he always had trouble containing, my son was about to suffocate from laughter. We were taping the episode on Comedy Central (along with Spike Jones and Your Show of Shows, my wife told me later) and it turns out Andrew, my son, had been enthralled by this little thin man and had yet to watch an episode of “Andy Griffith”

    It caused an interesting flashback for me of a Sunday morning when I was almost the same age as my son. My dad and I drove to the airport in nearby Charleston, WV to pick up someone he described as a “friend of the family” who had attended college with an older cousin my father was in business with at the time. It turned out to be the high-strung deputy Fife I was learning to appreciate on TV with my folks. I still recall what a thrill I had even at that age, and was fascinated by his conversations with my dad as they drove to a local golf course to meet our cousin and some friends Knotts was playing golf with that day.

    Your estimation of Don Knotts’ fate at the hands of Hollywood is spot on. It’s not unusual that he is high on my list with the Marx Brothers as favorites, and I agree with the estimation that he was not accorded the platform to really entertain the world as he might have. My son has since learned about the family connection, and our few taped episodes of Don Knotts and Steve Allen are cherished gems.

    Thanks, Don Knotts, for many laughs and much joy.

  30. I loved Don Knotts in The incredible Mr. Limpett and all the others he played in but this was my very favoret. I remember watching this with my mother and just laughing and crying when he fell into the water. He will be missed.

  33. I have two new store names: Bad Ol’ Bern/Smokin’ Up the Neighborhood, in Emporia, Kansas (a barbecue restaurant); Wok N Roll, Overland Park, Kansas (Chinese restaurant)

  34. The Stand-Bi Market, a convenience store in San Francisco’s Sunset District.

  35. I nominate the Full of Bull restaurant that used to be in Saugus, MA. on Rt 1 South

  36. Good Head hairdresser in Chicago
    Lotus to Go Go Vietnamese Restaurant in Minneapolis
    Fireworks and Chesse along a Wisconsin highway

  37. Schumann’s Meats in Columbus OH. It’s in a very urban area and the sign is a giant metal or plastic steer on a pole!

  38. Skinny Dick’s Halfway Inn. Located in Alaska, I don’t recal exactly. We happened upon it while lost.

  41. In Calgary Alberta Canada there is a store named
    Dan’s Not Calm It appears to be a curio shop.

  42. There is a museum of velvet painting Velveteria in Portland Oregon. Over 200 paintings on display.

  43. wonderfull website you have made! i am dutch and visit the site frequently. love the washing ladies. perhaps i can help to make it even better with a selection of my rejected paintings you can find on my site. all the works are found our bought at recycling shops -there are many in the netherlands…- cheers, mark

  45. I was in the Field Museum today and I asked to see the Shrunken heads again which I last saw when I was there some 15 years ago – I was refused – the question I was asked was what was my reason for wanting to see them – was it research. Me i think that this PC business has gone mad – I appreciate that they have to take care about showing such material that can offend the sensibilities of those who dont want to see such items but I believe that we as a race of curious individuals are so much the poorer for it. It would appear that the way life is going is if you are not part of the “in” crowd you are excluded.

  47. There is a store called, “Yowza” in Manhattan, KS that specializes in futons and gifts.

  49. Yes, there is something to be said for simple “curiosity” – that is the main reason we have “progressed” to where we are. When that native curiosity is stifled, then the entire human endevour suffers. Curiosity is a form of research, and should be honored.

    We now have homogenization of our culture at all costs – PC reigns supreme – – – – Pretty soon it will be un-PC to view Mr. Dinsmoor in his glass coffin at the Garden of Eden in Lucas, KS.

    You should have been given a choice — to see them or not. They didn’t want to bother with you unless you were someone “important”.

  50. Re: article on Jack Chick. Instead of trying to make the guy out to be “wierd” why not just say you’re not a christian? Your bashing of Jack and christian views makes you appear paranoid. No need to bash, just be honest.

  52. You’re so right. It’s remarkable how quickly we take things for granted, and how soon after that we grumble about them not being up to scratch. How we whinge ad nauseum in airport departure lounges because, goddamn it, with this delay it’s going to take us five AND A HALF hours to cross the Atlantic (it took my grandmother a week).
    How we drum our fingers on our desks with violent impatience because the entire National Library is taking three ticks instead of two to download. How we send snotty emails to Apple because the batteries in our iPods are only lasting 12 hours per charge.
    Something in our psyche prevents us from marvelling at anything for more time than it takes to possess it. I suppose it’s what makes us so ambitious and relentlessly evolutionary as a species, but it’s a real pain in the ass on a day to day basis. Flying machines! All the information in the world on a screen on your desk! A thousand albums in a little glowing yoke the size of a cig box! It’s all magic! Yeah yeah, whatever.

  53. Stuff ’em, Buff ’em and Fluff ’em–

    Taxidermist/car detailing/beauty shop
    Canon City, Colorado

  55. We have “Taste Good” Chinese Restaurant here, and there’s this place that was called “Ying’s” and then he added more and called it “Ying’s Wings”. That wasn’t enough, though, it became “Ying’s Wings and Things”. That was before he built the bar area. The name now? “Ying’s Wings, Things and Bar”.

  56. Gross Gas, Rte. 1 north of Bar Harbor, ME
    House Poon, Chinese Restaurant, Monroe Ave., Rochester, NY
    Artery Cleaners, Southern Artery, Quincy, MA
    Bird Cleaners, Miracle Mile, Miami, FL
    Stuff N Things for Pets, Ballard, WA

    I wish I couild remember something else about those places.

  57. I think the points made in favor of curios are valid. I also think it’s important to look at the real reason putting the shrunken heads into storage. The museum wanted to expand the gift shop. I’m sure when the question of taking a public favorite off of display or offering more trinkets at the gift store, the store won hands down with the administration. The question then becomes, why not move the exhibit? The answer to that question is that exhibits are no longer just thrown together without context. It’s a tough debate between museum goers, curators, and museum administrations. Regular museum goers want as much on display as possible in the “old school” style of lots of artifacts/specimen and little explanation. Curators of today want to explain the importance of every artifact/specimen in their particular field of expertise. The administration wants people to buy t-shirts, tickets to traveling exhibits, and special events at the museums for companies or organizations. The administration usually wins. Sorry, but that is what I’ve seen for the last 5 years.

  58. There used to be a large brick warehouse or manufacturing plant kittycorner from Hamburger Mary’s restaurant in San Francisco (I forget the street – somewhere south of Mission) with the sign, “House of More Plastic Bags”. I loved it.

  59. “Oh My Nappy Hair” salon and the “Oh My Nappy Talent Agency” right next door (los angeles, CA)

  60. We have a chain of grocery stores in Texas named Piggy Wiggly. There used to be four or five of them here in Denton, but there’s only two left now.

  65. Pussy’s Port o’ Call
    a kennel for cats in Northport, Maine

    Tumbling Tots Child Care
    One in Ashville, NY, and there was also one somewhere in coastal Maine in 2003

  67. There was an All You Can Eat Chinese Buffet whose say read “I You Can Eat” in NW Indiana.

    I also heard of a funeral parlor in Chicago (at least years ago – not sure if it is still around) called “Ketchum and Killem”… names of the 2 owners

  69. In Calgary…. a liquor store…. Liquor Box…. must be catering to the young female university crowd.

  70. We saw a beauty salon in Arkansas called “Curl Up and Dye”. And a church with a mispelled marque that said “The Church of Chris”. We have pictures of both. How do we submit them?

  71. In Kankakee Il, a beauty salon called “Curl Up and Dye” and in Beecher, Il, “Beecher Meat and Liquor” and “Beecher Tool and Dye”

  74. Rowdy Beaver (brand new restaurant & bar)
    417 w. Van Buren
    Eureka springs, AR 72632
    Located in the old Duke’s West Oaks place

  83. great Novelty food joint
    pepered possum aged armadillo spicey raccoon jerky
    elk buffalo burgers and quail .
    very fun place to eat.

  84. Is there a statute of limitations? I’ll never forget the grocery store sign I spotted in Troy, New York about 25 years agoannouncing the existence of the Sanitary Food Circus. Maybe it’s still there providing the sensational yet safe satiety which has always been their watchword.

    The Permanent Solution beauty salon, a half hour or so south of Burlington Vermont, is another fond memory from 2 decades ago.

    More cheerful and also more current is Nice n Necessary on 4th Avenue in Brooklyn, NY, one of many such stores selling everything from detergent to underwear to coffee pots to socks.

  85. One of my favorites: Nut ‘n’ Butt Puppys (sic), a pet store in Orlando. It may have changed its name. The misspelling adds a nice touch.

  86. ARDS CRICKET RANCH
    827 Lynch Street
    Pensacola, FL
    32505

    I saw this on a matchbook cover many years ago, and it just struck me as being funny. It is a fishing tackle shop. I did get one of their very colorful t-shirts for Christmas one year. As far as I know they do not have a web site.

  87. o.k. It’s the end of the Roman Calendar Year, kind of belated memorium for poor “Don”, as our son calls him. He’s taken to calling many celebrities by their first name, as if of course that’s how they’re known, until we persuade him to give us a surname reference.Please. He’ll look at us as if how could we be thinking of any other “Don” in that context. Yes, indeed. Don has made himself a presence in our son’s life. Which is pretty incredible since he’s the son of a super-saturated media soaker. Don will get his due through time, he’s still breaking through to the kids. Gud rest Don.

  88. This is the best calendar I have ever had the privilege of owning. I will keep it well after all the days of 2007 have passed. And I will lick the pictures too.

  89. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to start my own collection of bottle cap figures but after seeing your site I know that I will. I do work with bottle caps too. Check out my site. Thank you for the inspirition! Susan

  90. Huff House (restaurant off rt. 17 in upstate ny)
    Used to Be’s (restaurant, bar)
    Peek-a-Boo 5&10
    Plump Brothers (plumbing, Hackensack)

  93. I carry a money clip I purchased at Bob’s Bizarre Bazaar formerly in the Westport district of Kansas City MO. Bob Berdella had a penchant for teen boys, various torture techniques and cannibalism. After bagging the remains of a dozen or so victims and placing them curbside with the weekly trash, he was caught and sentenced to prison in Potosi MO. He died in prison from a heart attack (too much red meat in his diet we were told) and missed the MO Protocol. Local film makers have produced a full length movie of his exploits and it tours the indie film houses on a regular basis. There is also a book by Tom Jackman of the Berdella murders.
    Mike Mather
    Shawnee KS

  95. Near Port Townsend, WA, is a small billboard for a family company that specializes in excavation. The family name is GRAVES, so the billboard reads:

    GRAVES EXCAVATING

    I love that sign.

  96. In western Canada, there is a septic system service (I think it’s called Acme) and their motto is on all their trucks:\

    “We’re Number One in Number Two”

  98. “Mo Better Meaty Meat Burger” — often nominated as the best burger in Los Angeles. On Pico and Fairfax. Until recently. It is now deceased.

  99. A favorite from years back:

    From the window of a bus, I saw a sign on the second floor of an old commercial building, on the stretch of the Bowery within Manhattan’s Chinatown:

    Lung City Travel (apparently a travel agency)

    I don’t know if it’s still in business.

  100. Southfield Michigan has “Mercury Fish N Chips”
    Shelby Twp. Michigan used to have the Disco Methodist Protestant Church (the name was changed in 1979)

  101. I used to pass a business along I-95 just outside Richmond, VA. It was in an industrial section, and the name as Sterile Concepts.

    I never found out what it was, but I’m hoping they perhaps made autoclaves?

  102. How about the Whizz-Burger hamburger stand just west of Chattanooga, Tennessee. You can see the sign from I-24.

  103. In Melbourne, Australia, a custom manufacturer (now closed) of ceramic and stoneware tableware by the name of “The big duck and fish company”. Say it a few times quickly… No, again…

  104. Howard L. Tingling, DDS
    Southfield, MI
    (If memory serves, he’s an endodontist. Singy with the anaesthetic?)

  105. There used to be an automotive supplier in Warren, MI, whose marquee read:
    CONDAMATIC
    Screw Machine Operators Wanted

    (Damn. I can spell “anaesthetic” but not “stingy.”)

  106. There’s a couple of oriental restaraunts in Tucson, AZ named Long Dongs.
    Wish I had pics

  107. There’s a little restaurant in Venice, Florida, on Highway 41, named “Wee Blew Inn”.

  109. “Ronnies Little Hair House” a beauty salon thats gone out of business…but I liked the name…….in Stamford CT.

  112. Well I Have A Few Sweet name of cool stores and crap my name is Mackenzie and these are them:

    Roadkill Cafe -located outside of Hanover
    And i Forgot Other one lol

  113. Hi,
    I am an outsider artist from Paris.
    I don’t know if is you or other person done the connection to my site. Thank you.
    But what you did is going to the other ody saban….is not good.
    you are spiking about me, but the jinke going to other place. Please can you do it Ok.
    Thank you very much.
    Please wrote me
    Ody SZaban

  116. Gas station chain throughout the midwest… “Whoa n Go.” Can’t find a picture.

    In Springfield, PA: Prince’s Pet Goodies and Auto Repair.

  118. While visiting my oldest daughter in Fairbanks, made a stop at Skinny Dicks Halfway Inn(August 18,2006). Pretty cool place. Heard about from my parents who stopped there in 1990. Its located halfway between Denali and Fairbanks…kinda.

  119. Call for Submissions:
    Gallery 324 and DeepCleveland present

    — Outsider Art —

    July 14 – 28, 2007
    Opening reception Saturday July 14 6-8 pm

    Please send 3-5 jpgs, one picture per piece of work, with a short artist’s bio, with “outsider art” in the subject line, to:

    mbales@oh.verio.com
    and
    markk@deepcleveland.com

    Deadline: March 31, 2007

    We’re interested in submissions of

    1. Folk Art – the arts that are taught from the crade within a living tradition. The artists in this category carry on traditions passed on to them in their community or family such as quilting styles, embroidery, painting styles (like on furniture or house murals).

    2. Outsider Art – also called self-taught art. This is art produced by the individual who has not received any art training and has been more or less called into producing art by an inner need or compulsion.

    3. Psychiatric Art – This is the art that has been produced mostly at institutions or by art therapists or individual psychologists or psychiatrists notable for its authenticity and richness of expression.

    4. Art Brut – started by the Jean Dubuffet to both describe his art and to establish a label for much of the art which he collected and exhibited. It is characterized by a rawness and a primitive expressiveness.

    If you think your work falls into one of these categories, please send 3-5 jpgs, one picture per piece of work, with a short artist’s bio, with “outsider art” in the subject line, to:

    mbales@oh.verio.com
    and
    markk@deepcleveland.com

    Deadline: March 31, 2007

  121. From Cincinnati, in a flatiron building at LIberty and Reading, now defunct, but who could forget?

    THE HARD WORK AND SACRIFICE WIG BOUTIQUE AND BEAUTY PARLOR.

    No, sorry, no picture of the sign.

  125. I have to place a vote for Skinny Dick’s Halfway Inn, about 20 miles or so south of Fairbanks, Alaska. (I have a photo if anyone from this site is interested).

    But one of the best signs I ever saw was on a country road in Delaware. It was out a ways away from any large towns. “Helen’s Beauty Salon”. And just under that, on an attached sign “Worms”.

  127. Public Hair (barber/beauty) was in East Lansing, MI. Has been out of business for some years.

  129. just found your site and was browsing over the sock monkey pages – great resource for me. i have a series of sock monkeys in the theme of “the seven deadly sins and then some” on my blog. very therapeutic.

    the american visionary art museum (http://www.avam.org) hosts a free sock monkey saturday every december.

    maggie
    portland maine

  131. greetings!

    love your site!!! if you like my website, would you please consider adding a link to your outsider galleries page?

    kind regards,
    skot foreman

  133. okay…well, actually i go to a salon that is called “Cut up and Dye” i love the place…

    and i was on my way to the beach and i saw a ranch that said “Backache Acres” i laughed my ass off…

  136. Crusin’ Chubbies (Strip Club) Wisconsin Dells, WI

    The Dew Drop Inn, Pownal, VT

  137. One of my great regrets is that I didn’t haul away THE WORK’S sign when they took it down and tossed it in a the dumpster in the 1980s. The sign was a Chicago gyros classic. The Greek cousins who own The Work’s remain the greatest unsung food heros on the Northside of Chicago.

    Truly a wonderful project. My hat’s off to you, sir.

  138. Please, oh please, make this into a poster… just the grid o signs, like on the website.

    Thanks! This is lovely!

  140. I really enjoyed your Gyros signs – and also what you wrote about the Gyros experience. Yes, it’s the little details like the grilled pitta that make a gyros/doner/shawarma experience memorable.

    I was interested in what you had to say about the yoghurt sauce – here in the UK it always seems to be chilli sauce or hummus, which personally I don’t think is as good. Clearly I must get to Chicago some time for a proper gyros experience!

  141. In Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, a store that sells flowy women’s finery, a la Stevie Nicks…
    “Oh My Gauze”

  142. In Moscow, Idaho, there is a bar called the Slurp N Burp. They also sell their beer in mason jars instead of glasses.

  143. MMM Carpet

    Located of of Highway 101
    4877 Hopyard Road, Suite B1
    Pleasanton California

  144. In Lake City , Florida, the world famous Fu King Chinese Restaurant ! I’d like to send you a picture of the sign. Let me know how to get it to you. It’s really Fu King Funny!!

  146. Fu-Kim Vietnamese Food, Houston, Texas. It’s just about two blocks from the Toyota Center.

  149. Ha! That first one is the deathmobile here in Milwaukee! A moving landmark here in Brewtown. This guy has been around for decades!

  151. In Osage MN there is a cafe/bar/ gas station/baitstore. I think its called Doc”s Cafe but their awning says “EAT HERE GET GAS AND WORMS”

  152. In Arcadia, CA. there is a restaurant called “Young Dong Garden”. I still can’t bring myself to go inside.

  153. In Homewood, IL, there used to be “Lowe Quality Paints”. Can’t understand ~how~ they went out of buisness!

  154. There’s this septic tanks service place called Brownie’s Septic Tank Service, i’ve called to buy a shirt, they don’t sell them

  155. “What the Pho?” (Pho is read “Fu-” as in “FUC…”you know…)

    300 Pacific Coast Highway #110, Huntington Beach, California 92648

    Its a Vietnamese Restaurant…

  158. I have two Delaware locations:
    “Cum on Inn” a bar in New Castle, DE and
    “Breakfast Sandwich and Cigerette Outlet” in Newport, DE

  162. I would like to nominate John’s Big Deck a Bar and Grill in downtown, 928 Wyandotte St. Kansas City, MO 64105 816-474-5668

    Great name!

  163. Here are three from the past in Pittsburgh

    “Al’s Terminal Lunch” A lunch counter in the Terminal Buildings
    “Henry Bathtub Protector” got me
    “Shields Rubber for Industry” Painted big on the side of a bldg.
    “Rexall Drugs Lunch and Trusses” Self explanatory I guess.

  165. I’m sorry the review seemed venomous, which wasn’t my intention. Disagreement, obviously, which I suppose makes it a challenge for me to fairly represent the book from your perspective.

  166. how about “A DONG Supermarket” seen on a van in Westminster, Ca
    and “Phuket Thai” a restaurant in Huntington Bch. Ca

  167. The name of my dad’s bar in Centreville, MI called “Our Neighbor’s House”. I would ask him, “Where have you been?” and he would say “I was at “Our Neighbor’s House”. LOL

  169. My samplers are now available through Project Onward (www.projectonward.org). I am also working on a series of portraits of America’s First Ladies…I have finished Pat Nixon and am currently embroidering Jackie. I am also working on some Xmas cards featuring a 66 Dodge Charger in two designs. I hope to start on some festive corsages and boutonnieres. For info about my work, please email info@projectonward.org.
    Thanks!

  170. I have a few images on my new blog with an important poll – check out “Older Posts,” at bottom, too.

    While there, please consider taking the poll. It might eventually help me understand what’s going on with people. Please feel free to leave a comment or check out the links to more examples of my “outsider art photography” on Saatchi or my personal website. I really want to explore this idea; “What kind of photography makes the work outsider art?”

    j. Madison Rink

    And thanks for your ideas!

  171. I declare myself,a outsider of art.
    Full of Ideas and projects,and soo will be able to carry them out.
    In my new studio on the 3rd floor of our HISTORICAL HOME in NJ.
    Philip Freneau was a Revolutionary war Poet and lived here allmost 200 yrs ago.For Christmas I gave my Husband his own site,
    philipfreneau.com you can learn all about this Rascal,as Jefferson called him often. I am working on dolls with tattoos, well orignial art of rock starrs,and there tags….also many animal art peices in clay!
    This is a great site and full of inspiration! thanks,linda
    outsider of art,I am trying to submitt my site through my web site host and I dont see it come up here? What do I need to do diffrently to acheive that engine searchability here???
    happy creating!

  172. how about in detroit…

    an automotive supply company called

    fuch’s lubricants

    its off of i 75 in detroit

  173. DAY CARE ABOUT YA’

    made up by a family friend for a
    day care she was going to open :D

  175. real cool chineese food joint in san juan puerto rico called Hot Wok Cafe. no longer in bussiness.

  180. Norm’s Altruistic Lounge, a tavern in Milwaukee Wi.

    i always imagined at least one free beer available as i passed by on the bus.

  185. Kum and Go in Omaha off of 156th and Pacific….There are many others around the area as well.

  188. File these under odd combos:
    There’s a petstore/movie rental place in Russellville, AL called Video & Varmints–and another place in Rochester, NY called Pianos & Clocks–and they sell just that.

  190. Bonnie Beaver, Ob/Gyn (Los Angeles)
    Dr. Ow, Dentist (So Cal), REALLY!
    Cheap Thrills, Sacramento 2nd Hand Clothing Store

  191. When I was a kid in Wichita Kansas, there was a restaurant called Y’et Yet?

    Also, a city council member in Garland TX named Harry Hickey. I wish I had pilfered one of his signs out of a yard.

  193. The picture is from 1986 or ’87 when I was living in Brooklyn. I suspect the store is gone now.

  194. My Own Review of The Colorful Apocalypse

    and Greg Bottoms

    Part One (please also read Part Two)

    On page 181 of Greg Bottoms’ 182 page documentary book ” The Colorful Apocalypse “, Mr. Bottoms reveals that “a narrative is not life, and a moment in text is not a moment, only a made thing that presents the illusion of a moment. I did my best, though, to make these illusions look and feel like life, at least as I experienced it; and then, perhaps like a documentary filmmaker, I tried to string together and juxtapose some of what seemed to me to be the most meaningful moments in a way that made sense and told the story as I saw it.”

    How I wish Bottoms had inserted that incredibly revealing statement on page one or even page two! Having read this admission of Bottoms belief in a new style of documentary writing or filmmaking, I clearly could have read the rest of the book with a better understanding of the intent of the writer, that to create a documentary somewhat like “a documentary filmmaker”. You see, for the most part, the book purports to detail the life and times of three powerful visionary artists each on his own mission…Howard Finster, William Thomas Thompson and Norbert Kox. And naturally, in the telling of any true story, most authors are granted an amount of leeway for imagination and trivial inventiveness. But Bottoms attempt at being a documentarian fails, falling far into the pit of his own tragic life and its colorful distortion of what lay before him but remained hidden by his laziness and his rush to satisfy grant requirements.

    As I did not know Mr. Finster, my understanding of the “illusions” presented in Bottoms’ book comes from my familiarity with the art and life of Mr. Thompson and Mr. Kox. And as I do not know Mr. Bottoms save through his writings on the tragedy of his personal life and how it has colored his views towards us all, I can only deal with what he reveals about the pain and hurt and amateur psychology that most obviously will control the rest of his life and possibly that of his offspring.

    Throughout the book sections dealing with Mr. Thompson and Mr. Kox, Bottoms consistently attempts to shoehorn the artists’ fervent and steadfast belief in the vision that drives the creation of their art into the same stagnant swamp that produced Bottoms’ violent and drug-handicapped brother. Bottoms seems to say repeatedly that his brother’s uncontrolled and unleashed mental disorder shares a relative with the “Christian Poor South”, a class Bottoms proudly and often reminds us that he has become “one generation removed from”. Would that he could run from his brother as easily in telling the lives of these two men but he can’t. His brother’s madness apparently stamped its image and direction on his soul and in the tips of his hands where skin meets pen. Bottoms too frequently and emphatically compares the unbending will of the visionary artist to the black insanity emanating from within his family. Initially, I believed Bottoms had practiced typical lazy writing, an affliction common to those facing a deadline or lacking any insight into their subject. But as I read and reread the book, more seemed to be at work, especially in Bottoms retelling of the seminal moment in Mr. Thompson’s life.

    I have listened to Mr. Thompson many times…in person, in letters (email) and by phone…on his epiphany, the vision he experienced that has changed his life forever. That telling, the clear vision, has never changed. Never. No matter how many times I listened, the same events, the same times, the same results would reveal themselves. It is this reliably repetitive telling that has allowed me to know the truth behind the words he relates and the legitimacy of Mr. Thompson’s art as influenced by his vision. Bottoms asserts that he listened to the same man I have tell the events I have heard over and over but writes an account that clearly is “only a made thing”. However, Bottoms claims it as documentary-level truth while relaying that his new version of Mr. Thompson’s life-changing vision now has the stamp of authenticity and replaces the original. Bottoms also claims that this type of thing happens to those types of people, those people of his brother and of that “Christian Poor South” that he has proudly become “one generation removed from”. The entire section of Colorful Apocalypse dealing with Mr. Thompson’s important and driving event has been fabricated by Bottoms in the telling. Probably just Bottoms trying to “string together and juxtapose some of what seemed to me to be the most meaningful moments in a way that made sense and told the story as I saw it.” I don’t think it can be that simple.

    Simple it would be to pick out little things, cast-away remarks….locked in a tower, lips painted red, a deaf mother, a Mr. T brother yelling confusing lies…Bottoms claims as truth. And simple it would be to claim these burdensome, burgeoning lies as the subjective rant of “an amateur”, of this “Camus instead of Joyce.” Oh how simple to claim the book could have been four or five hundred pages instead of the most important, the most relevant 182 pages. And as a publisher, how really simple life is when you disavow responsibility for an unrelenting page-after-page of seemingly fabricated dreams by claiming the subjective nature of the author and his quest to be free of the bonds that tie all good men trumping any right to factual reporting of “whole reels” of recordings that ended up in the trash. What simple author, one just feeling the breeze, trying to relate to the subject at hand in his own manner records hours of conversation, writes books of notes? Simple…none. No one, no writer wanting to catch the dissipating mist of an idea, the fleet-footed wing of a mood takes mounds of notes, records reels of tape. In art terms, Monet took no photographs in his attempt to show that which made him feel, a feat Bottoms and his publisher claim as the true sojourn of this wounded but courageous young master. Yet Bottoms claims to have done just that. And most incredibly, Bottoms asserts that he forever consulted those hard-copy proofs of his trek across his beloved Poor South. Bottoms claims that it was “the help of tapes and transcripts” that jogged his soaked memory, that cleared-up the hazy remembrance of his quest to show “a sliver of a sliver” of the outsider art world in a “willfully subjective presentation”. In those three words…willfully subjective presentation…Bottoms again empties his bowels of the honest and humble notion of showing that which is before you. Bottoms reveals to all his readers, unfortunately on the last page of his book, that he will stubbornly press his daggered life and times into that which he sees and hears from the two men I know in his book. Bottoms defines for the reader that he will stubbornly present that which belongs to Bottoms as the visionary force behind Thompson and Kox rather than the vision held by these two men and their presentation of that vision in their art. In doing so, Bottoms and his publisher place excessive, misleading and damaging emphasis on Bottoms’ own moods and tragedy-filled life while expressing almost total disregard for the truths of his subjects’ experience. Simple it would be to pick out the simple lies and fabrications. Simple, too, to dispute those picks, as an author or publisher, with claims of subjectivity and eye-of-the-beholder speak. But running from that stated truth eventually becomes complicated.

    Bottoms has crafted a book that adheres to a tenet he claims to live by in his hobby as a “journalist….a kind of documentary filmmaker”. As he so eloquently quotes on page 122 (deep into his assault), Bottoms asserts that he will gain his story by approaching his victims with the purpose of “gaining their trust and betraying them without remorse”. Bottoms claims, in an unusual statement on how to live and, even worse, how to treat others, that this is the only way (in his role as a kind of documentary filmmaker) to make sense out of his travels amongst the people he has met. To act as a sort of confidence man, bankrupted of the quest for the true story, while wedging Bottoms’ own view of madness between himself and his subjects’ story. This is a complicated run at producing a book, at getting a story, such as the one he has created, published. Bottoms found, indeed is employed by, conspirators in his mission and others who embrace any version of a story as long as they don’t have to learn anything on their own.

    I could go on and on but am becoming bored with Bottoms, his book and the lazy attempt he has created to distance himself not only from that “poor Christian South” that courses through his family’s veins but in an attempt to find in many others the madness that creeps slowly up on him from behind, in the dark corners of his eyes. I’ll close with a listing of Bottoms’ revelatory musings and will translate them so that you, his unfortunate reader, may somehow get through the book without the madness that may have afflicted Bottoms:

    *

    Talking about Finster, Bottoms claims to have seen a movie on him when he was a youngster but not watching it again, fourteen years later, before starting a book on the man because “In my imperfect recollection of the film( I haven’t watched it again so as not to destroy my memory with a lesser reality), Finster played …a banjer.” Translation: Bottoms views his unaided recollection as more valid than the actual recorded event so much so that he does not view the material again out of fear of getting it right. It appears that, in Bottoms’ mind, the recorded version has become the “lesser reality” and his attempt to “make sense out of what I saw” has replaced the true version. Very unusual and complicated.
    *

    Bottoms uses quotes by his subjects that deal with other matters in sentences wholly crafted by him to illustrate his own views. In one case, relating an AVAM meeting with a young fan of Mr. Thompson’s, Bottoms feels the fan has gotten the message of a painting wrong, that the fan is all bundled up in pimples and piercing, unable to grasp the vision he thinks Mr. Thompson meant to portray. Bottoms writes that he wonders why Mr. Thompson doesn’t “shoot fire out of his mouth” and tell the fan about “Jesus being a white guy”. Translation: Bottoms repeatedly (to quote them all would make me just as much a prisoner as to Bottoms’ upbringing as his brother has become) inserts attributions in wholly crafted views that seem to assert those attributions belong to his subjects when they are clearly created and owned in Bottoms own past and family life. In the process, because of the way Bottoms presents the text, his subjects are damaged through Bottoms own limited understanding.
    *

    Bottoms often and erroneously compares his subjects to what he believes are certified nutcases. In one particularly damning claim, Bottoms states that he has used his own sense of the issues to determine that Mr. Thompson is just like August Natterer. Translation: Unfortunately, the only clear link between Natterer (a hospitalized, suicidal schizophrenic who was unable to function in society and spent most of the last 26 years of his life locked away in institutions for the insane) and Mr. Thompson is that they both claimed to have had a vision. Doubly unfortunately for Mr. Thompson, Bottoms emphatically and forever has linked him with someone unable to get through life on his own, a man who claimed to read the future and predict great events, not a man who was spreading a vision not of his own making, as Mr. Thompson does in his art.
    *

    Bottoms refers to Mr. Thompson and his art repeatedly in marketing terms, variously referring to Thompson’s art as “currently hot”, claiming that “his eccentricity is in direct accordance to his value as an artist and he is highly valued at this time” and , in text, implying a contrivance by Thompson to engender a “hard sell” of his work and vision. Bottoms also links Thompson’s presence at American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) with a type of cheap barkerism. Translation: Bottoms damages Thompson’s presentation of his vision through his art by repeatedly connecting Thompson’s attempts at creating on canvas that which drives him to an art world and process that Thompson cares little about and has never embraced. Bottoms claims that the most respected and presentable venue for Thompson’s work, the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, acts like a pimp to Thompson’s supposed whoring ways. Bottoms denigrates AVAM and Thompson and holds them both up to unanswered ridicule by describing scene after scene that seems at odds with Thompson’s stated mission to get the word out about his work. Bottoms even suggests that the presence of a snack shop and accoutrements in the museum somehow invalidates all else within, including Thompson’s art
    *

    In one particularly indecipherable passage, Bottoms links Mr. Thompson’s concentration on his vision and work with the life of Gerald Hawkes, “a poor heroin addict from the ghettos of Baltimore” and with the life of William Burroughs, “who shot his wife and shot up in Warhol’s factory”. Bottoms does this by claiming that Thompson ignores the differences in the two nutcases work, that somehow Thompson refusal to consider their art points to character flaws in the man. No real translation for this one.
    *

    Bottoms, without attribution or quotes, out of hand states that Thompson would send all Buddhists to hell.
    *

    Bottoms assigns to Mr. Thompson an encompassing and devouring depression. Bottoms repeatedly refers to cases of depression in others, including rampant prevalence of the disease throughout Bottoms’ own addicted-handicapped family, as somehow being assigned through dictum to Thompson. Bottoms pulls the little knowledge of history of the outsider art movement he has from the black, grainy pit of his own experience and brushes across the entire field, including splashing across Thompson and his work. Translation: Bottoms lazily takes what admittedly little he knows about art, outsider art and life and decides to present this small vial of poison as the facts in his “documentary filmmaker” presentation of Thompson and Kox’s life.

    Bottoms presents so much unusual text and silly links that I guess I could go on for days and days. But, as I’ve said, I am bored with this and must stop. This is as good a place to stop as any

    .

    Part Two

    I am reviewing this book on my own, this Colorful Apocalypse, after reading it twice cover to cover, reading most of it more times than I can count and after concentrating on Mr. Thompson’s portrayal more so than the rest. As I’ve said, I know Mr. Thompson and know Mr. Kox less so. Most of my review deals with the parts related to Mr. Thompson.

    It is as clear to me as the sky above that Bottoms not only has created a fictional account of the time spent with Mr. Thompson but that Bottoms has also created a message and vision that belongs only to Bottoms. In interviews conducted after the publishing, Bottoms does what most con men do when removed from their craft…they invent a persona and become it for the interviewer. Bottoms claims in an interview that “I also wanted to let them speak for themselves at length, more at length than I might otherwise, in another project.” He asserts that he documented, consulted, recorded and vetted what he wrote, that he alone respects the message these visionary artists have embraced and show in their art. He accuses many galleries and museums of attempting to “collect stories and package them and offer them up” in some unusual conspiracy of capitalism that denigrates the vision. He says that, for the most part, they miss the important message behind most visionary art and Thompson’s in particular and accuses galleries and museums of deadening the message. Bottoms, naturally, initially sees himself above all this in a way a documentarian is above advertising. But, in his pseudo artistic and martyred style designed to engender a feeling of motherly love for Bottoms, he then asks “Well, what the hell do I do?” when referring to how he spends time with his victims only to report on them later for his own enrichment.

    Time after time in Colorful Apocalypse, Bottoms intimates that Mr. Thompson suffers great depression because of the way he acts and what he says but provides no proof. Bottoms states that it is wrong to equate madness with freedom, wrong to disenfranchise artists in the way AVAM does, according to him, but provides to backup to his thoughts save for the background he has dealing with a nutcase in his own family. Seemingly, we the readers, are to blindly accept Bottoms as a visionary psychologist because there exists a frightening homicidal madness enveloping his won family. He asks us to believe that he is manner clairvoyant because he has suffered under familial insanity. But, I don’t buy it. I don’t believe he sees that true nature of people anymore than a tree knows its being wet down by the dog lifting its leg right next to it. I don’t accept Bottoms cutesy, trifled style of denying his attempt at documentary writing by claiming, as he does, that he is a master memoirist, that his goal was to live with, to breathe with, to listen to his victims. The proof that he did none of what he claims in interviews conducted the book was published exists in the Colorful Apocalypse. His book damns the stated goals, the espoused life-journey-as-writer that he wears like a red badge of courage. I think Bottoms is neither documentarian nor memoirist, illuminated writer nor sparkling recorder, not insightful author nor accomplished feeling-because-I’ve-been-hurt puppy dog. I think what Bottoms has produced is a con. And that con marks him more than any claim else.

    I’m bored again. Maybe more later.

    OutsiderArt.info is dedicated to my lifelong friend and only partner, without whose love I would fall out of time OutsiderArt.info exists to exhibit the greatest array of art to the greatest array of people™. The site is an exhibition gallery only and makes no representation or warranty nor is a party/facilitator/guarantor to sales. All offsite links for informational purposes only. All contents copyright 2001-2007 outsiderart.info except artwork copyright respective artists. What is OutsiderArt?

  195. Name: Teeter Cleaners
    Street: 111 East Broadway Avenue
    Fairfield, ia 52556-3203
    Dry Cleaners
    Yes, I’m that immature to laugh at that.

  196. Master Bait & Liquor, a bait and liquor store just north of Parsons, Kansas. Very funny, they have a web site and sell tshirts with the store name.

  197. Good’nough, Electric company in Toledo, Ohio

    Happy Hooker, Bait & tackle store in Ohio

    Gas ‘n’ Go, Gas station, I can’t remember where I saw it, but I thought it was funny because leaving a gas station without paying is sometimes referred to as a “gas n go”

  198. Hi. Looking through my really old matchbooks I found a couple: Hi-Da-Way (Boston); Garden of Eat’N (location not on matchbook).

  201. There was a store out in the country near River Falls, Wisconsin
    that had a huge sign proclaiming “Taxidermy and Cheese”.

  203. I was watching “Notorious”, a crime show hosted by Bill Kurtis…at one point they showed a sign of a town in Texas called “CUT N SHOOT”, a few minutes later they showed a gas station “GAS N STUFF”. Also, there’s “Cafe Bong” on Clark St. in Chicago.

  204. I live around the corner from this place, and I always thought that was an odd name for a funeral home.

  206. From Nightline tv show, 11/7/08:

    gun store “Cheaper Than Dirt!” in Fort Worth, Texas

    gun store “Ye Old Gun Shop” in Las Vegas, haven’t been able to confirm spelling, I would like to think it’s spelled “Ye Olde Gun Shoppe”

  207. May I assume you’re either from the Pacific Northwest or being sarcastic? Full disclosure: I own and use a Blackberry, but what I hope it’s not best for is driving another reason between me and a reason for compassionate human exchange. Happy elevator riding — I’ll try not to bother you again.

  208. An engineer friend of mine did some contract work in backwoods, coastal South Carolina. The only place nearby to get a bite was an ‘all you can eat’ hot dog joint called “The Squat & Gobble.” The sign has a drawing of two hillbilly-looking guys squatting and eating hot dogs. I’ll try to get a picture to send–it’s a hoot!

  210. I think this, of your many weekly credo’s defines, or at least gives a shape of understanding for the ceaseless quest for the unusual…which seems to point back into the past…

    If I can go back to the past, stand in the past, and in fact “Have” a past, then I can have a tomorrow…

    Thanks
    Martin

  211. Where or what site did you find that Dad’s Root beer ad. I’ve had people not believe me when I had tod them of this arrangement of Dad’s products. I would like to load an attributable copy

  213. I was watching a movie, a bleak British drama, and there was a store in the movie called THIS ‘N’ THAT. I know it doesn’t count toward the official list because it was in a movie, but it is a good name anyway.

  214. Do you have an email mailing list? If so, I would love to be on it. I’ve been reading lots of your articles and can’t get enpough of what you have to say and show me! Thank you! Cynthia Weston

  215. Automotive place in Superior WI called “Dick’s Transmission”. Pottery place near Poplar WI called “Barb’s Jugs”.

  216. I like stuff with “sir” in the name:
    SIR GROUT® Tile Care and Cleaning
    1550 W Cornelia Ave
    Chicago, IL 60657

  217. I see that Jared mentioned “Happy Hooker” bait shop. That reminds me of “Happy Hooker” towing in Indiana. My former neighbor’s family owned the business.

  218. Salon in Redkey, Indiana called “Hairway to Heaven”. I have a picture, Also in Livingston, Montana the “Town Pump”, ” the Kum N Go” and “Loaf and Jug”.
    Then there is “Weeping Lingerie” in Northhampton Mass. Got a picture of that one too. The best was the sign in Falls Church, Virginia pointing around the corner of a shopping center towards a Karate studio…, the sign said”Mt. Kim in rear”

  220. hi, my site is about anonymous art (since 2004); has to do with your idea’s. if it is ok with you: a link to your site ans a quote is now on my site. thanks, mark (he netherlands)

  221. Bill,

    Thanks for this article. I learned about Ramirez a couple of years back, and I made my first-ever trek to Milwaukee to see an exhibition of his work. I cannot explain why, but I appreciate his artistry, which I find oddly compelling. We all strive to make order of our lives; I’m fascinated by the journeys others take and how they share their stories.

    Cheers,

    Brian

  223. Absolutely Incredible! I spent several days in May 1975 and early 1976 exploring and taking slides (remember them!) of the same/similar architectural motives.

    Your archives of Chicago signs and buildings are a priceless research material! I have not been to Chicago lately, but when I do return, will cruise Western (near the Dragons on Point Street) with New Awareness!!!

    Eric Abraham
    Lovely Downtown Lucas, Kansas

  228. i am trying to find animated restaurant advert from Florida in the 50’s. My dad made them all over florida. The one i remember best was a huge chef whose are went up and down ringing a bell. Would you know where i might find a pic or info of any still around.
    tks.
    penny

  229. dear Bill
    I´m the organizer of an art&music-festival called “folk-artNOW!” in Bremen, Germany. Its a 3-week group-exhibition with european outside/folk-art and concerts on the weekends with LoFi/new/weird folk acts. its the 3rd time we do this now and this year we have a local focus on the countries around the baltic-sea. The festival will be in Dec.´09.
    we are still looking for contacts to organisations & artists in these countries(especially sweden,norway,finland,denmark,poland) who would like to partizipate in the exhibition. since i was very impressed by your knowledge about the outside/folk-art scene, i thought you might have an idea of any link or artist.
    i´ts a great site that your running.
    thakn you very much for any kind of advice.
    best wishes, tobias lange

  232. Cum Park Plaza is located here in Burlington, NC. It was named after Mr. Cummings and Mr. Park (or Parks–not sure).

  235. My contribution isn’t exactly a credo, but tis seems the best spot for it. Maybe there should be a category about, oh, say… tools! Anyway, here goes:

    When I use my coping saw to cut out complicated, curvy shapes, it makes me very anxious, yet when making the same cuts with my new fret saw, I’m relaxed and happy… go figure.

  236. The used to be a market in Oakland’s Chinatown called “Good Luck Market.” At the entrance to the very small parking lot was a sign which read: “GOOD LUCK PARKING”

  238. Would you consider adding my gallery to your list?

    Durham, NC – The newly founded, Outsider Art Gallery, Durham’s gallery specifically dedicated to exhibiting and selling works by Southern outsider artists, will host an open house Sunday, December 6, 2009 from 2 – 4 pm. This event is free and open to the public. The Outsider Art Gallery is located at 718-C Iredell Street, just around the corner from Whole Foods Market.

    Outsider Art is often identified as the creative work of artists who are self-taught and not formally trained. Often these artists have little or no contact with the mainstream art world or art institutions. The movement has been gaining popularity since the term “Outsider Art” was first coined in 1972 and has steadily moved to the forefront as a recognized and celebrated art form and sought out genre by collectors. “There was no gallery in Durham specifically focused on bringing the works of these artists to our community”, states Pamela Gutlon, founder and proprietor of Outsider Art Gallery.

    Gutlon’s longtime passion and appreciation for Outsider Art was inspired by her mother, Audrey Chase, an active art supporter in Durham and avid collector of the genre. Gutlon’s previous position as Director of Facilities at the John Hope Franklin Center, where she oversaw the facility’s two galleries, and her relationship with mentor and nationally recognized gallery owner, Ginger Young of Chapel Hill, lead her to conceptualize and open the Outsider Art Gallery in November of this year.

    “There is something for everyone here”, Gutlon states, “You can get a hand-felted bird pin for $10 or you can purchase a framed original painting by a nationally recognized artist for $3000.” The Outsider Art Gallery exhibits work in a variety of mediums including found metal sculpture, felted wool adornments, handcrafted jewelry, paintings on tin roof panels and wooden replicas. There are works by well-known southern artists Mose Tolliver and Jimmy Lee Sudduth as well as emerging artists like Mark May, Peter Loose and Reverend Mary Proctor. Alongside the artwork are bios so visitors can learn more about the artists whose works are displayed.

    The Open House on December 6th will be the second of what will become bimonthly events at the gallery. “We had so much fun at the last one we decided to have another”, Gutlon states. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Saturday 11 am – 6 pm, and by appointment. To schedule an appointment for a showing call 919.451.3231 or email pgutlon@outsiders-art.com. To view a small sampling of the works featured visit http://www.outsiders-art.com.

  239. Great set of photos, I particularly like the Synagogue, its harder to do a Box than you think. Proportion is everything. The variety in type and scale of buildings is fantastic, must cities in the UK are homogeneous by comparison.

  240. I have a great drawing in my collection (www.museumanonymus.nl cat nr MA 0907 005 hope you find it!) that has a little to you with your ‘Fine Fashion’ drawing (a teenager’s dream). I wish I could show it to you and attach it in this mail. Please let me know how to do it. I am a great fan of Interesting Ideas. I’m working on a new site: ‘museumzondag’ (Museum Sunday) because there is a lot of outsider art (etc etc etc) in the collection (for instance: Max Raffler). Mark Peeters

  241. Had a sign in Martinsburg, WV route 45 said “RAPE” .. and had 4 people on the billboard, and one of them was in a … “wheelchair”… WTF, is a guy doing in a wheelchair on a rape sign for??? lol… did HE get raped.. was he the raper?? .. Just didn’t see the logic there :)

  242. What a great tribute to the Bottle Cap Inn! As a young boy in the late ’60s, I spent much of my summers hanging out in the Inn, helping out in the kitchen with the preparations for the evening diners and just doing general cleaning. My great uncle and aunt had bought the Inn from the Wiser’s. I remember banging out some of my own original tunes on the old upright piano. By the time I saw the Inn, most of the bottle cap covered tables and chairs had been replaced. I had been told that the bottle caps were not very practical because clothes would get caught on their many edges. Thanks for the walk down memory lane!

  243. The Recovery Room is a bar in Jackson, MS that gives you a free beer for every sobriety chip you surrender.

  244. I laugh whenever I drive past this one…

    Pump-N-Stuf
    in West Chester, Iowa

  245. Beaver Liquors in Avon, CO
    Trumann’s Alcohol Abuse Center (bar in Chicago that is gone now)
    Roadkill Cafe Greenville, ME

  246. I’m not sure exactly what these signs are, but I am very interested in finding out about a sign my dad painted in the late 50s/early 60s for the House of Seat Covers. It was painted on the side of the building. I contacted this business years ago and never heard back. Thank you.

  248. I saw a work van outside my building the other day… “Sir Grout”. There was a medieval knight on the side of the van.

  249. JEALOUS NEIGHBOR Ceramics Supplier — this was in Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines, before a road widening needed this store to relocate.

  250. The reviewer naively assumes that any funeral home owner in Montgomery would be white, thus ignoring the copious evidence on p.167 in my work, cited above, that he was African American. The fact of the “murder” was reported to him by Traylor’s companion, who came from Traylor’s home community. A salient point in Traylor’s life is his baptism in the Roman Catholic faith shortly before he died.

  252. Thanks for the comment. Indeed, nothing on that page of your book explicitly indicates the race of the funeral home owner. My dubious assumption.

  253. Stubby’s Dog and Car Wash: Home of Waggin’ Tails and Shinin’ Cars

    This is located at 10201 W. 79th Street, Overland Park, Kansas.

  255. Trying to reach John Margolies to just say my computer collapsed along with the

    rest of me when I saw his beautiful work. Hope this message gets there.

  258. Or maybe it should be “You can always play the Ramones loudly.”

    @Mike – it may be noise, but it’s one of the best noises around.

  259. The Ramones MUST be played at full volume in order to get the full effect! But make sure that your neighbours are out

  260. Hey thank you for the ideas Iv’e got my stand name now I got the name idea from you it’s called Sity Stand

  261. Hey wanna here my shops? OK here they
    ASH
    Filit
    Great Dealz
    Shop Here
    Christmas Dealz
    Here you get the best dealz
    End with a z
    Ewaz
    Shamp
    Sholocate
    Farmers Double
    $100 Shop
    Valuble Shop
    $pend here $hop
    Wasyut
    Conchai Fu

  263. I agree with the reviewer. There is so much wishful thinking and conjecture in this book. There is no way to know many things about Bill Traylor and his imagery. but making things up is irresponsible.

  265. Just went back for the first time in many years and the shrunken heads were first on my list to see… what a drag! Amen to the fetuses and Ivan Albright =) these are the things that have warped me for life =D

  266. Nice. Have been trying to figure out what to write, too, and defaulting to mere tweets and Facebook shares for now. Did you see that Ebert tweeted he was reading about the death of Jobs on his 17th Mac? I’m not close, but then again I never succumbed to Wintel apostasy.

  267. Hey, I just wanted to say I think your site is fantastic! I’ve spent the better part of 2 hors going alll the way through it! Please keep up the good work, there are few of us out there who are so captivated by the art on the street :)

  271. Does it matter if Google pulls an AOL or Blackberry? If they do, it only means there will be more room in the digital environment for new players. And new players will probably bring new and better products and services.

  273. My uncle used to own that “Strange Drugs” in Dublin, GA. I believe it’s been out of business for years.

  274. I wonder when they were taken off display. I was curious to see them after reading about the effect they had on Obama– see his autobiography.
    page 145

    “At the Field Museum, I saw two shrunken heads that were on display. They were wrinkled but well preserved, each the size of my palm, their eyes and mouths sewn shut, just as I should have expected. They appeared to be of European extraction: the man had a small goatee, like a conquistador; the female had flowing red hair. I stared at them for a long time (until my mother pulled me away), feeling with the morbid glee of a young boy—- as if I had stumbled upon some sort of cosmic joke. Not so much as the heads had been shrunk — that I could understand; it was the same idea as eating tiger meat with Lolo**, a form of magic, a taking of control. Rather, the fact these little European faces were here in a glass case, where strangers, perhaps even descendants, might observe the details of their gruesome fate. That no one seemed to think that odd.”

    At a tiny museum in a small town, there was an exhibit of curios from someone’s travels- including shrunken heads. Freaked me out as a youngster– not glee.

  275. Very gratifying to know the president too had the benefit of those heads. Thanks for the heads-up. Weirder, when I went to double-check the Obama reference, I discovered that my original post had been cited (albeit apparently without attribution) in a right-wing attack on Obama’s book a few years ago: “In Chicago, Obama’s most vivid memory is of seeing the shrunken heads on display at the Field Museum. Yes, the museum did have those heads on display. Examining them, according to one source, was a “crucial rite of passage for generations of Chicago kids.”” I’ll return the favor of not naming the author or the work.

  276. thank you for posting this, it’s one of my very favorite songs. for years &, you know, years too.
    were it not for the heepster girl who shows up too soon afterwards, i’d now be able to sing it phonetically.
    —
    ps. i just found yr blog, i really like it. of all odd things, i think i found it thru nancy. i have no idea why i’d suddenly found nancy, however.
    pps. i cant call them hipsters, i cant. hipsters is what my parents were, way back before this one [& all the ones like her] were a splinter in the eye of their [now hated] boomer grandparents. you know: beats, folk, trouble. not this. not hardly.

  277. thank you for posting this, it’s one of my very favorite songs. for years &, you know, years too.
    were it not for the heepster girl who shows up too soon afterwards, i’d now be able to sing it phonetically.
    —
    ps. i just found yr blog, i really like it. of all odd things, i think i found it thru nancy. i have no idea why i’d suddenly found nancy, however.
    pps. i cant call them hipsters, i cant. hipsters is what my parents were, way back before this one [& all the ones like her] were a splinter in the eye of their [now hated] boomer grandparents. you know: beats, folk, communism, freud, trouble. not this. not hardly.

    —

    way pps. apologies if this posted twice, it told me it hadnt posted the first one. you are welcome to discard it–or both. i mean, it’s yr blog.

  280. WONDROUS!! someone else really liked Bottle Caps…..amazing.
    in the early 1950’s as a lad of 8 or 9 i had a connection with our family in philadelphia area…we lived in boston.
    my uncle owned a lumber yard and had several soda machines with some ‘exotic’ brands….i asked (!..begged) for him to send me the bottle caps.
    one day a package arrived…a wooden box about 12″ long, 6″ deep, and about 10″ wide…FILLED with Bottle Caps!
    Heaven!!…wore them….i knew the secret to removing the cork and then using it to attach the cap….traded them…displayed them….
    what a simple time…what a life…America in the 50’s….TY for this…best wishes, barry

  281. OK shore here…WOW you really know how to hit my sweet spot….recall i’m from boston….born in daw-chester…raised in brookline, in the shadow of fenway…sold newspapers outside the park during my early teen years (yes, it was legal for 11-13 year olds to transact commerce!) and saw most every sox game possible…because so few people actually wanted to go to the games…got free tickets…scalped some…used others…(hey, scalping is legal today…it’s called Stub Hub e al)…..even saw the amazing TW play…and of course CY…
    so to HEAR the brothers on can talk was nostalgia squared…especially since i CHOSE to emigrate to southern california in 1975 (TY Dear LORD)……they were so AUTHENTIC…SO BOSTON…SO ITALIAN…and the show was so Thoroughly AMERICA. only in this country.
    Now her’s a kick…my full time assistant is from Uganda….HE listens and LOVES the Guys!…www=whata wonderful world….Thank G-D for REPLAYS…

  282. Lived in Miami in the mid-70’s both my boyfriend and I would go out there and enjoy an evening. Later, a different man that became my husband, we would go to the Bottle Cap for the night. Great pizza.

  287. Excellent review of a book that’s really worth reading. Girardot’s placing of Finster in the context of his homeground and times is spot on. He also provides tools for some further thorough art historical analysis of Finster’s work.

  288. A truly forensic study that emphatically returns Ramírez’s humanity and brings to life the institutional times. A great social biography.

  289. Norman Giardot is the real deal. I did an interview with Norman several years back and we discussed this book before it actually came out. The interview took place in the Howard Finster Vision House the place where Howard lived when he had his actual vision from God to paint sacred art. Norman was kind enough to mention me in this book. I bought his book and I encourage you to see this interview to get an idea of how authentic Norman actually is. Thanks for being you Norman.
    Chit Chat with David Leonardis
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmSanoUWNXg part 1
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uygpiK9oRFs part 2

  291. I just want to thank you for the article. Im a former athlete and have trouble explaining these feelings I have to friends. Thank you for your help

  292. Thanks for this. No more suicide for me, besides I can’t even tie knots. Go figure skating. And count me out !

  293. Hello Bill: We are working on another outsider art environment here in Madison that you could add to your list – the former home/studio of Sid Boyum. Sid created concrete sculptures in his back yard, as well as paintings, bas reliefs, drawings and photographs. Many of his sculptures have been placed in locations around his former neighborhood. The Friends of Sid Boyum are raising funds to purchase the house and its contents, with the goal of restoring the art and working with partners to present it to the public. We’d love a mention on your site! http://www.friendsofsidboyum.org

    thanks!

  294. I’m a fairly average straight guy, played some soccer in high school, played baseball as a kid and enjoy a televised hockey game now and then. But ever since Jim Bouton published “Ball Four” and ever since the time I drove my GF all the way into Manhattan from Chatham, NJ to see the Ringling Bros circus at the Garden only to be turned away because the Knicks made the playoffs at the last minute I have developed a healthy disdain for the business of sports and eventually I stopped regularly watching it all. Not that I don’t appreciate great sportsmanship and talent (e.g. Derek Jeter) but like Mr. Swislow I have a hard time when guys get together because I’m clueless about who got traded and/or all of the inane stats these guys (and a few women) seem to be able to recall from ancient history. Not that I don’t watch at all; now that I’ve lived in Pa for years if the Phillies happen to win a few games in a row I might start watching and have even attended a few games at the beautiful Citizen Bank Park. I’ll even watch pro football championships and the Superbowl if I get in the mood. I just have a hard time understanding though how a made-up team of players from all over the country and sometimes the world can get people so worked up about “their” team when few if any of them actually grew up on the area. Maybe it’s just me but I just don’t see the point in keeping up with all the minutae of sports stats. Maybe because I lost my Dad at the age of 15, maybe because I had to work to help support my Mom instead of playing in high school and college, maybe because the fan and crowd/mob mentality can be stupid and cruel sometimes, maybe because I’m missing a gene, I don’t know. Maybe because there are fewer sports heros than when we were kids, fewer sane and law-abiding role models thanks to the Internet and bulldog investigative reporting and athletes who publicly act like assholes.

  301. Love to play all sports. Never liked watching any of them, though. Ever.
    I think it’s because I’m selfish.

    I don’t care about other people, unless they’re on my team… unless we’re going to war against other people (another team). I need physical interaction, not intangible images.

    When a person asks me about a team that won the other day, regardless of the sport, my reply is basically – I couldn’t care less. Then, after I see the person frown or whatever, I ask if they want to play the same sport against me in a competition.

    I’m highly athletic and extremely competitive.

    More often than not, any challenge I issue is rarely met. The person so concerned with my opinion of sporting events just a few moments earlier is suddenly trying to change the subject to something else.

  302. Man, can I identify with this! Thanks for the great post!

    I didn’t grow up in a “sporty” family. My small town was lucky to keep itself going and barely had funds to keep a high school football program in place. Sports was never a part of the lives of the people around me and I grew up never caring about sports.

    Present day, I’m a 50yo man in Chicago days after the Cubs won the World Series after 108 years. I’m happy for them and the happiness they brought others, but I can’t identify or empathize with the men around me. I once again feel like the outsider.

    About a year ago I decided to stop stressing over the fact that I don’t care about sports. If someone talks to me assuming I’m a fan, I let them know I don’t follow the sport. I get raised eyebrows as if I grew a 3rd arm most of the time. And I don’t care. I’m too old to worry about what someone else things anymore. And if they think less of me because I don’t share their sports enthusiasm, then that’s their issue, not mine.

  303. Of all sports to watch, you watch usually-boring, long-winded, often-scoreless soccer? Different strokes, I suppose. I’ll take it that you’re indicating that you watch your daughter play soccer for school? Otherwise, it seems to me that soccer epitomizes everything negative about sports which you pointed out.

    It’s the most over-exposed, overrated major sport in the world, with the worst fans in the world. All sports see their share of negative aspects, but soccer takes the cake.

    At least with other sports, they give you various things to talk about, like a myriad of strategies, fewer teams to talk about, and variety of ways to score in the game. Soccer gives you a tiny amount of strategy, way too many teams, way too many “cups,” and only two ways to score: Accidentally or barely.

    I mean, soccer fans literally fighting each other at frequent rates, over a sport that’s the softest, lowest-scoring major sport in the world? Even hockey fans aren’t nearly as rambunctious as soccer/”football” fans tend to be.

    Anyways, if you desire to find a way to “fit” in sports to some degree, have you considered looking into non-“major” sports, like billiards, bowling, or poker? Believe it or not, those sports do have quite the loyal following, and without all the fuss associated with other major sports.

    In any case, I don’t judge you for not liking sports. It’s no sin or anything. Folks have their preferences. I just find it a bit funny that of ALL sports, soccer’s among your exception, seeing that it embodies pretty much everything you highlighted as what’s generally off-putting about sports with folks like yourself.

  304. Well, other than the Olympics, I only watch sports on TV if someone else has turned it on — the bar, my wife, my daughter — and rarely all the way through. All the pro sports tend to drag on. And while I’m aware of soccer’s over exposure and sometimes thuggish fans, as an American I’m pretty much insulated from that. I’m sure if I lived in a soccer country, my feelings about the sport would be very different.

  306. My husband and I happened upon SS’s metal work in 2003 while on a trip to Chicago. We purchased several of his fabricated crosses and a couple of his boxes. I just happened to search his name, hoping to find a gallery that was currently representing his work and came across your lovely article. Thank you for featuring the work of this talented man, we continue to enjoy the pieces of his we purchased in the early 2000’s.

  308. I think the Dems need to take a page from Trump’s playbook and go directly to the people with a clear message about addressing income inequality. Let’s reform our tax system so the federal government can invest in the kind of infrastructure projects that provide good jobs and can’t be sent overseas. Yes, oppose Trump’s policies when we must, but don’t spend so much time in the Washington sandbox–it stinks to high heaven.

  309. True enough. For the time being, Washington is where the Democrats go if they want to fight losing battles. Better to focus on where the people are, including state politics as well as federal.

  310. There was once a photo of the wooden Patio Beef sign (at the old Cicero/Foster location) on your website; I cannot find it now. Any chance you could resurrect it? It was rectangular in shape and featured a painted hamburger and an arrow and the words, “Parking in rear”.

  316. Oh year, also:

    Old School Hip Hop/Rap Collection – 131 Vinyl Disks

    Mostly mid-1980s. Singles and albums. A few of the singles are 7 inch, as indicated. The rest are 12 inch. Generally original pressings in excellent condition. Most were bought new, played a few times and then stored. All are priced based on condition. Most seem near mint, though as I’m a collector and not a professional trader I don’t pretend to grade officially. $500 takes them all.

    1. Afrika Bambaataa & James Brown: Unity $3
    2. Anquette: Ghetto Style $7
    3. Audio Two: Make It Funky (second original pressing) $7
    4. Audio Two: What More Can I Say? (promo stamp, hype sticker and price tag) $10
    5. B. Fats: Woppit $3
    6. Big Daddy Kane: Get Into It $15
    7. Big Daddy Kane: Long Live The Kane (promo) $22
    8. Biz Markie “The Inhuman Orchestra”: ?Make The Music With Your Mouth, Biz (original picture sleeve) $15
    9. Biz Markie: Nobody Beats The Biz $8
    10. Biz Markie: Pickin’ Boogers (original) $8
    11. Bobby Jimmy And The Critters: Roaches: The Beginning $5
    12. Boogie Down Productions: Criminal Minded (original) $25
    13. Boogie Down Productions: The Bridge Is Over / A Word From Our Sponsor $8
    14. Boris Badenough / Farm Boy: Hey Rocky! / Jackin’ Me Around (7″) $5
    15. Busy Boys: Funky Fresh Xmas $12
    16. Captain Grandmaster Caz: Count Basey $10
    17. Casper: Casper’s Groovy Ghost Show $8
    18. Choice M.C.’s Featuring Fresh Gordon:? Beat Of The Street / Gordy’s Groove $5
    19. D.J. Bones Featuring M.C. Malika Love: Co-Rock Steady $5
    20. D.J. Polo & Kool G. Rapp: Rikers Island (original pressing) $25
    21. Danny Krivit: Feelin’ James (first pressing) $8
    22. Derek B: Bullet From A Gun $5
    23. Disco Twins & Starchild: Do The Whop / Get Back $5
    24. DJ Jazzy Jeff And the Fresh Prince Featuring Ice Cream “Tee”: ?Guys Ain’t Nothing But Trouble $3
    25. Doug E. Fresh And The Get Fresh Crew: ?The Show / La-Di-Da-Di $10
    26. Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde: The Champagne Of Rap $10
    27. Eazy-E: Eazy-Duz-It $25
    28. Eazy-E: Eazy-Duz-It / Ruthless Villain / Radio $15
    29. Eric B. Featuring Rakim: Eric B. Is President / My Melody $10
    30. Fat Boys: Chillin’ With The Refrigerator $5
    31. Fat Boys: Coming Back Hard Again $4
    32. Fat Boys: Crushin’ $5
    33. Fat Boys: Falling In Love $4
    34. Fat Boys: Sex Machine / Beat Box Is Rocking $8
    35. Frankie Smith: Double Dutch Bus $2
    36. Full Force: Guess Who’s Comin’ To The Crib? (Promo, with still and bio) $5
    37. Gary Byrd And The G.B. Experience: The Crown $6
    38. Gigolo Tony, Lace Lacy: The Parents Of Roxanne $6
    39. Grandmaster Caz: Get Down Grandmaster / I’m Caz $8
    40. Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five: The Message $5
    41. King Sun-D Moet: Hey Love b/w Mythological Rapper $5
    42. Terminators:? Forever Dis/Polo $20
    43. Grandmaster Flash: Style (Peter Gunn Theme) $5
    44. Grandmaster Flash: They Said It Couldn’t Be Done $5
    45. Grandmaster Flash: U Know What Time It Is $4
    46. Grandmaster Melle Mel: Jesse $3
    47. Heavy D. & The Boyz: Mr. Big Stuff (7″) $4
    48. High Power: Ok I’m Loosin’ Up (Remix) $5
    49. Hurby’s Machine: The House That Rap Built $8
    50. Tanganyika: Just Me $20
    51. Ice T: Rhyme Pays $15
    52. Ice-T: I’m Your Pusher $5
    53. Ice-T: Power (embossed sleeve) $15
    54. J.M. Silk: I Can’t Turn Around $5
    55. J.M. Silk: Music Is The Key (original version) $8
    56. Joeski Love: Pee-Wee’s Dance (original) $8
    57. Joeski Love: Say Joe $7
    58. Jonzun Crew: Time Is Running Out $4
    59. Juice Crew All Stars: Evolution / Juice Crew All Stars $5
    60. King Rad – King Stevo: Get Smart $3
    61. Funky Four Plus One More: Rappin And Rocking The House (Some surface noise) $6
    62. Newcleus: Jam On It $9
    63. Heavy D. & The Boyz: Living Large $7
    64. Mikey-D & The L.A. Posse: I Get Rough / Go For It $9
    65. Kool Moe Dee: Go See The Doctor / Monster Crack (sealed) $5
    66. Kool Moe Dee: Kool Moe Dee $6
    67. Kool Rock Jay And The D.J. Slice:? Tales From The Dope Side $5
    68. Kurtis Blow: Christmas Wrapping’ (1981) $5
    69. Kurtis Blow: Party Time? $5
    70. Kurtis Blow: The Breaks (7″) $4
    71. LL Cool J: I Can Give You More / I Can’t Live Without My Radio (7″) $3
    72. Lovebug Starski: House Rocker $8
    73. M.C. Boob A.K.A. Steady “B”: Yo Mutha / Bring The Beat Back $9
    74. M.C. Chill Featuring D.J. Kid Finesse & Beatmaster T: Bust This Rhyme $4
    75. M.C. Chill: M.C. Chill $8
    76. M.C. Chill: Nightmare On Chill Street / Nothing Can Save You Now $5
    77. Masters of Ceremony (featuring Don Barron): Sexy $5
    78. MC Lyte & DJ K-Rock: I Cram To Understand U (Sam) $8
    79. MC Miker G. & DJ Sven: Celebration Rap $3
    80. Miss Thang: Thunder And Lightning $5
    81. N.Y.C. Fat Girls: Here Comes The Fat Girls $5
    82. Full Force: Unselfish Lover $6
    83. Newcleus: Na Na Beat $8
    84. Pebblee-Poo: A Fly Guy $5
    85. Pebblee-Poo: A Fly Guy $5
    86. Pumpkin and the Profile All Stars: Here Comes That Beat $7
    87. Ralph Rolle: Roxanne’s A Man (The Untold Story – Final Chapter) $4
    88. Rappin’ Duke: Duke Is Back $3
    89. Rappin’ Duke: Que Pasa? $3
    90. Rappin’ Duke: Rappin’ Duke $6
    91. Roxanne Shante: Roxanne’s Revenge (Original pressing) $10
    92. Roxanne With UTFO: The Real Roxanne/Roxanne’s Back Side $8
    93. Run-D.M.C.: It’s Like That / Sucker M.C.’s $8
    94. Sir Mix-A-Lot: Posse’ On Broadway $7
    95. Soundtrack: Beat Street Volume 2 (sealed) $15
    96. Sparky “D”: Sparky’s Turn (Roxanne You’re Through) $4
    97. Spoonie Gee And The Treacherous Three: The New Rap Language / Love Rap $8
    98. Spoonie Gee: I’m All Shook Up $4
    99. Spoonie Gee: That’s My Style $4
    100. Steady “B”: Just Call Us Def / Fly Shante $7
    101. Stetsasonic: A.F.R.I.C.A. $10
    102. Stetsasonic: Talkin’ All That Jazz $6
    103. Steve “Silk” Hurley: Jack Your Body $8
    104. Sugar Hill Gang: Apache $4
    105. Sundance Kids: Crack It Up $3
    106. Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud: Do The James $6
    107. **Super Star** A-Mar Featuring Jay Bee Rock: Grasshopper Meets The Master (promo copy) $8
    108. Symbolic Three Featuring D.J. Dr. Shock: No Show $5
    109. T. J. Swann & Peewee Mel and Swann Controllers: Maximus Party $6
    110. The East Coast Crew: The Final Word – No More Roxanne (Please) $5
    111. The Fearless Four: Problems Of The World (sealed) $15
    112. The Incredible Mr. Freeze: Back To The Scene Of The Crime $3
    113. The Jonzun Crew: We Are The Jonzun Crew (7″) $4
    114. The Microphone Prince: Rock House / Memory Lane / Hound Dog $4
    115. The Real Roxanne With Hitman Howie Tee: Bang Zoom! (Let’s Go-Go) (sealed) $10
    116. The Sugarhill Gang: 8th Wonder $2
    117. Treacherous Three: The Treacherous Three $12
    118. Tricky Tee: Leave It To The Drums / I’ve Got It Good $6
    119. Twilight 22: Electric Kingdom $10
    120. Twilight 22: Siberian Nights $8
    121. Ultramagnetic MC’s: Traveling At The Speed Of Thought / A Chorus Line $8
    122. Various Artists: Christmas Rap $8
    123. Various Artists: Rap 1 (Def Jam) $12
    124. Various: Chicago Trax – Volume 1 $20
    125. Various: Smokin’ Beats $20
    126. Various: Ultimate Breaks & Beats (Street Beat, generic sleeve) $10
    127. Vicious Rumor Club: Whole Lotta Love (factory sealed) $6
    128. Whistle: (Nothing Serious) Just Buggin’ $5
    129. Whistle: Just For Fun $2
    130. Word Of Mouth Featuring DJ Cheese: Coast To Coast $2
    131. Word of Mouth featuring D.J. Cheese: King Kut (first pressing) $10

    No prices

    1. Afrika Bambaataa & James Brown: Unity
    2. Anquette: Ghetto Style
    3. Audio Two: Make It Funky (second original pressing)
    4. Audio Two: What More Can I Say? (promo stamp, hype sticker and price tag)
    5. B. Fats: Woppit
    6. Big Daddy Kane: Get Into It
    7. Big Daddy Kane: Long Live The Kane (promo)
    8. Biz Markie “The Inhuman Orchestra”: ?Make The Music With Your Mouth, Biz (original picture sleeve)
    9. Biz Markie: Nobody Beats The Biz
    10. Biz Markie: Pickin’ Boogers (original)
    11. Bobby Jimmy And The Critters: Roaches: The Beginning
    12. Boogie Down Productions: Criminal Minded (original)
    13. Boogie Down Productions: The Bridge Is Over / A Word From Our Sponsor
    14. Boris Badenough / Farm Boy: Hey Rocky! / Jackin’ Me Around (7″)
    15. Busy Boys: Funky Fresh Xmas
    16. Captain Grandmaster Caz: Count Basey
    17. Casper: Casper’s Groovy Ghost Show
    18. Choice M.C.’s Featuring Fresh Gordon:? Beat Of The Street / Gordy’s Groove (
    19. D.J. Bones Featuring M.C. Malika Love: Co-Rock Steady
    20. D.J. Polo & Kool G. Rapp: Rikers Island (original pressing)
    21. Danny Krivit: Feelin’ James (first pressing)
    22. Derek B: Bullet From A Gun
    23. Disco Twins & Starchild: Do The Whop / Get Back
    24. DJ Jazzy Jeff And the Fresh Prince Featuring Ice Cream “Tee”: ?Guys Ain’t Nothing But Trouble
    25. Doug E. Fresh And The Get Fresh Crew: ?The Show / La-Di-Da-Di
    26. Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde: The Champagne Of Rap
    27. Eazy-E: Eazy-Duz-It
    28. Eazy-E: Eazy-Duz-It / Ruthless Villain / Radio
    29. Eric B. Featuring Rakim: Eric B. Is President / My Melody
    30. Fat Boys: Chillin’ With The Refrigerator
    31. Fat Boys: Coming Back Hard Again
    32. Fat Boys: Crushin’
    33. Fat Boys: Falling In Love
    34. Fat Boys: Sex Machine / Beat Box Is Rocking
    35. Frankie Smith: Double Dutch Bus
    36. Full Force: Guess Who’s Comin’ To The Crib? (Promo, with still and bio)
    37. Gary Byrd And The G.B. Experience: The Crown
    38. Gigolo Tony, Lace Lacy: The Parents Of Roxanne
    39. Grandmaster Caz: Get Down Grandmaster / I’m Caz
    40. Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five: The Message
    41. King Sun-D Moet: Hey Love b/w Mythological Rapper
    42. Terminators:? Forever Dis/Polo
    43. Grandmaster Flash: Style (Peter Gunn Theme)
    44. Grandmaster Flash: They Said It Couldn’t Be Done
    45. Grandmaster Flash: U Know What Time It Is
    46. Grandmaster Melle Mel: Jesse
    47. Heavy D. & The Boyz: Mr. Big Stuff (7″)
    48. High Power: Ok I’m Loosin’ Up (Remix)
    49. Hurby’s Machine: The House That Rap Built
    50. Tanganyika: Just Me
    51. Ice T: Rhyme Pays
    52. Ice-T: I’m Your Pusher
    53. Ice-T: Power (embossed sleeve)
    54. J.M. Silk: I Can’t Turn Around
    55. J.M. Silk: Music Is The Key (original version)
    56. Joeski Love: Pee-Wee’s Dance (original)
    57. Joeski Love: Say Joe
    58. Jonzun Crew: Time Is Running Out
    59. Juice Crew All Stars: Evolution / Juice Crew All Stars
    60. King Rad – King Stevo: Get Smart
    61. Funky Four Plus One More: Rappin And Rocking The House (Some surface noise)
    62. Newcleus: Jam On It
    63. Heavy D. & The Boyz: Living Large
    64. Mikey-D & The L.A. Posse: I Get Rough / Go For It
    65. Kool Moe Dee: Go See The Doctor / Monster Crack (sealed)
    66. Kool Moe Dee: Kool Moe Dee
    67. Kool Rock Jay And The D.J. Slice:? Tales From The Dope Side
    68. Kurtis Blow: Christmas Wrapping’ (1981)
    69. Kurtis Blow: Party Time?
    70. Kurtis Blow: The Breaks (7″)
    71. LL Cool J: I Can Give You More / I Can’t Live Without My Radio (7″)
    72. Lovebug Starski: House Rocker
    73. M.C. Boob A.K.A. Steady “B”: Yo Mutha / Bring The Beat Back
    74. M.C. Chill Featuring D.J. Kid Finesse & Beatmaster T: Bust This Rhyme
    75. M.C. Chill: M.C. Chill
    76. M.C. Chill: Nightmare On Chill Street / Nothing Can Save You Now
    77. Masters of Ceremony (featuring Don Barron): Sexy
    78. MC Lyte & DJ K-Rock: I Cram To Understand U (Sam)
    79. MC Miker G. & DJ Sven: Celebration Rap
    80. Miss Thang: Thunder And Lightning
    81. N.Y.C. Fat Girls: Here Comes The Fat Girls
    82. Full Force: Unselfish Lover
    83. Newcleus: Na Na Beat
    84. Pebblee-Poo: A Fly Guy
    85. Pebblee-Poo: A Fly Guy
    86. Pumpkin and the Profile All Stars: Here Comes That Beat
    87. Ralph Rolle: Roxanne’s A Man (The Untold Story – Final Chapter)
    88. Rappin’ Duke: Duke Is Back
    89. Rappin’ Duke: Que Pasa?
    90. Rappin’ Duke: Rappin’ Duke
    91. Roxanne Shante: Roxanne’s Revenge (Original pressing)
    92. Roxanne With UTFO: The Real Roxanne/Roxanne’s Back Side
    93. Run-D.M.C.: It’s Like That / Sucker M.C.’s
    94. Sir Mix-A-Lot: Posse’ On Broadway
    95. Soundtrack: Beat Street Volume 2 (sealed)
    96. Sparky “D”: Sparky’s Turn (Roxanne You’re Through)
    97. Spoonie Gee And The Treacherous Three: The New Rap Language / Love Rap
    98. Spoonie Gee: I’m All Shook Up
    99. Spoonie Gee: That’s My Style
    100. Steady “B”: Just Call Us Def
    101. Stetsasonic: A.F.R.I.C.A.
    102. Stetsasonic: Talkin’ All That Jazz
    103. Steve “Silk” Hurley: Jack Your Body
    104. Sugar Hill Gang: Apache
    105. Sundance Kids: Crack It Up
    106. Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud: Do The James
    107. **Super Star** A-Mar Featuring Jay Bee Rock: Grasshopper Meets The Master (promo copy)
    108. Symbolic Three Featuring D.J. Dr. Shock: No Show
    109. T. J. Swann & Peewee Mel and Swann Controllers: Maximus Party
    110. The East Coast Crew: The Final Word – No More Roxanne (Please)
    111. The Fearless Four: Problems Of The World (sealed)
    112. The Incredible Mr. Freeze: Back To The Scene Of The Crime
    113. The Jonzun Crew: We Are The Jonzun Crew (7″)
    114. The Microphone Prince: Rock House / Memory Lane / Hound Dog
    115. The Real Roxanne With Hitman Howie Tee: Bang Zoom! (Let’s Go-Go) (sealed)
    116. The Sugarhill Gang: 8th Wonder
    117. Treacherous Three: The Treacherous Three
    118. Tricky Tee: Leave It To The Drums / I’ve Got It Good
    119. Twilight 22: Electric Kingdom
    120. Twilight 22: Siberian Nights
    121. Ultramagnetic MC’s: Traveling At The Speed Of Thought / A Chorus Line
    122. Various Artists: Christmas Rap
    123. Various Artists: Rap 1 (Def Jam)
    124. Various: Chicago Trax – Volume 1
    125. Various: Smokin’ Beats
    126. Various: Ultimate Breaks & Beats (Street Beat, generic sleeve)
    127. Vicious Rumor Club: Whole Lotta Love (factory sealed)
    128. Whistle: (Nothing Serious) Just Buggin’
    129. Whistle: Just For Fun
    130. Word Of Mouth Featuring DJ Cheese: Coast To Coast
    131. Word of Mouth featuring D.J. Cheese: King Kut (first pressing)

  317. Oh yea, also:

    Old School Hip Hop/Rap Collection – 131 Vinyl Disks

    Mostly mid-1980s. Singles and albums. A few of the singles are 7 inch, as indicated. The rest are 12 inch. Generally original pressings in excellent condition. Most were bought new, played a few times and then stored. All are priced based on condition. Most seem near mint, though as I’m a collector and not a professional trader I don’t pretend to grade officially. $450 takes them all.

    1. Afrika Bambaataa & James Brown: Unity $3
    2. Anquette: Ghetto Style $7
    3. Audio Two: Make It Funky (second original pressing) $7
    4. Audio Two: What More Can I Say? (promo stamp, hype sticker and price tag) $10
    5. B. Fats: Woppit $3
    6. Big Daddy Kane: Get Into It $15
    7. Big Daddy Kane: Long Live The Kane (promo) $22
    8. Biz Markie “The Inhuman Orchestra”: ?Make The Music With Your Mouth, Biz (original picture sleeve) $15
    9. Biz Markie: Nobody Beats The Biz $8
    10. Biz Markie: Pickin’ Boogers (original) $8
    11. Bobby Jimmy And The Critters: Roaches: The Beginning $5
    12. Boogie Down Productions: Criminal Minded (original) $25
    13. Boogie Down Productions: The Bridge Is Over / A Word From Our Sponsor $8
    14. Boris Badenough / Farm Boy: Hey Rocky! / Jackin’ Me Around (7″) $5
    15. Busy Boys: Funky Fresh Xmas $12
    16. Captain Grandmaster Caz: Count Basey $10
    17. Casper: Casper’s Groovy Ghost Show $8
    18. Choice M.C.’s Featuring Fresh Gordon:? Beat Of The Street / Gordy’s Groove $5
    19. D.J. Bones Featuring M.C. Malika Love: Co-Rock Steady $5
    20. D.J. Polo & Kool G. Rapp: Rikers Island (original pressing) $25
    21. Danny Krivit: Feelin’ James (first pressing) $8
    22. Derek B: Bullet From A Gun $5
    23. Disco Twins & Starchild: Do The Whop / Get Back $5
    24. DJ Jazzy Jeff And the Fresh Prince Featuring Ice Cream “Tee”: ?Guys Ain’t Nothing But Trouble $3
    25. Doug E. Fresh And The Get Fresh Crew: ?The Show / La-Di-Da-Di $10
    26. Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde: The Champagne Of Rap $10
    27. Eazy-E: Eazy-Duz-It $25
    28. Eazy-E: Eazy-Duz-It / Ruthless Villain / Radio $15
    29. Eric B. Featuring Rakim: Eric B. Is President / My Melody $10
    30. Fat Boys: Chillin’ With The Refrigerator $5
    31. Fat Boys: Coming Back Hard Again $4
    32. Fat Boys: Crushin’ $5
    33. Fat Boys: Falling In Love $4
    34. Fat Boys: Sex Machine / Beat Box Is Rocking $8
    35. Frankie Smith: Double Dutch Bus $2
    36. Full Force: Guess Who’s Comin’ To The Crib? (Promo, with still and bio) $5
    37. Gary Byrd And The G.B. Experience: The Crown $6
    38. Gigolo Tony, Lace Lacy: The Parents Of Roxanne $6
    39. Grandmaster Caz: Get Down Grandmaster / I’m Caz $8
    40. Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five: The Message $5
    41. King Sun-D Moet: Hey Love b/w Mythological Rapper $5
    42. Terminators:? Forever Dis/Polo $20
    43. Grandmaster Flash: Style (Peter Gunn Theme) $5
    44. Grandmaster Flash: They Said It Couldn’t Be Done $5
    45. Grandmaster Flash: U Know What Time It Is $4
    46. Grandmaster Melle Mel: Jesse $3
    47. Heavy D. & The Boyz: Mr. Big Stuff (7″) $4
    48. High Power: Ok I’m Loosin’ Up (Remix) $5
    49. Hurby’s Machine: The House That Rap Built $8
    50. Tanganyika: Just Me $20
    51. Ice T: Rhyme Pays $15
    52. Ice-T: I’m Your Pusher $5
    53. Ice-T: Power (embossed sleeve) $15
    54. J.M. Silk: I Can’t Turn Around $5
    55. J.M. Silk: Music Is The Key (original version) $8
    56. Joeski Love: Pee-Wee’s Dance (original) $8
    57. Joeski Love: Say Joe $7
    58. Jonzun Crew: Time Is Running Out $4
    59. Juice Crew All Stars: Evolution / Juice Crew All Stars $5
    60. King Rad – King Stevo: Get Smart $3
    61. Funky Four Plus One More: Rappin And Rocking The House (Some surface noise) $6
    62. Newcleus: Jam On It $9
    63. Heavy D. & The Boyz: Living Large $7
    64. Mikey-D & The L.A. Posse: I Get Rough / Go For It $9
    65. Kool Moe Dee: Go See The Doctor / Monster Crack (sealed) $5
    66. Kool Moe Dee: Kool Moe Dee $6
    67. Kool Rock Jay And The D.J. Slice:? Tales From The Dope Side $5
    68. Kurtis Blow: Christmas Wrapping’ (1981) $5
    69. Kurtis Blow: Party Time? $5
    70. Kurtis Blow: The Breaks (7″) $4
    71. LL Cool J: I Can Give You More / I Can’t Live Without My Radio (7″) $3
    72. Lovebug Starski: House Rocker $8
    73. M.C. Boob A.K.A. Steady “B”: Yo Mutha / Bring The Beat Back $9
    74. M.C. Chill Featuring D.J. Kid Finesse & Beatmaster T: Bust This Rhyme $4
    75. M.C. Chill: M.C. Chill $8
    76. M.C. Chill: Nightmare On Chill Street / Nothing Can Save You Now $5
    77. Masters of Ceremony (featuring Don Barron): Sexy $5
    78. MC Lyte & DJ K-Rock: I Cram To Understand U (Sam) $8
    79. MC Miker G. & DJ Sven: Celebration Rap $3
    80. Miss Thang: Thunder And Lightning $5
    81. N.Y.C. Fat Girls: Here Comes The Fat Girls $5
    82. Full Force: Unselfish Lover $6
    83. Newcleus: Na Na Beat $8
    84. Pebblee-Poo: A Fly Guy $5
    85. Pebblee-Poo: A Fly Guy $5
    86. Pumpkin and the Profile All Stars: Here Comes That Beat $7
    87. Ralph Rolle: Roxanne’s A Man (The Untold Story – Final Chapter) $4
    88. Rappin’ Duke: Duke Is Back $3
    89. Rappin’ Duke: Que Pasa? $3
    90. Rappin’ Duke: Rappin’ Duke $6
    91. Roxanne Shante: Roxanne’s Revenge (Original pressing) $10
    92. Roxanne With UTFO: The Real Roxanne/Roxanne’s Back Side $8
    93. Run-D.M.C.: It’s Like That / Sucker M.C.’s $8
    94. Sir Mix-A-Lot: Posse’ On Broadway $7
    95. Soundtrack: Beat Street Volume 2 (sealed) $15
    96. Sparky “D”: Sparky’s Turn (Roxanne You’re Through) $4
    97. Spoonie Gee And The Treacherous Three: The New Rap Language / Love Rap $8
    98. Spoonie Gee: I’m All Shook Up $4
    99. Spoonie Gee: That’s My Style $4
    100. Steady “B”: Just Call Us Def / Fly Shante $7
    101. Stetsasonic: A.F.R.I.C.A. $10
    102. Stetsasonic: Talkin’ All That Jazz $6
    103. Steve “Silk” Hurley: Jack Your Body $8
    104. Sugar Hill Gang: Apache $4
    105. Sundance Kids: Crack It Up $3
    106. Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud: Do The James $6
    107. **Super Star** A-Mar Featuring Jay Bee Rock: Grasshopper Meets The Master (promo copy) $8
    108. Symbolic Three Featuring D.J. Dr. Shock: No Show $5
    109. T. J. Swann & Peewee Mel and Swann Controllers: Maximus Party $6
    110. The East Coast Crew: The Final Word – No More Roxanne (Please) $5
    111. The Fearless Four: Problems Of The World (sealed) $15
    112. The Incredible Mr. Freeze: Back To The Scene Of The Crime $3
    113. The Jonzun Crew: We Are The Jonzun Crew (7″) $4
    114. The Microphone Prince: Rock House / Memory Lane / Hound Dog $4
    115. The Real Roxanne With Hitman Howie Tee: Bang Zoom! (Let’s Go-Go) (sealed) $10
    116. The Sugarhill Gang: 8th Wonder $2
    117. Treacherous Three: The Treacherous Three $12
    118. Tricky Tee: Leave It To The Drums / I’ve Got It Good $6
    119. Twilight 22: Electric Kingdom $10
    120. Twilight 22: Siberian Nights $8
    121. Ultramagnetic MC’s: Traveling At The Speed Of Thought / A Chorus Line $8
    122. Various Artists: Christmas Rap $8
    123. Various Artists: Rap 1 (Def Jam) $12
    124. Various: Chicago Trax – Volume 1 $20
    125. Various: Smokin’ Beats $20
    126. Various: Ultimate Breaks & Beats (Street Beat, generic sleeve) $10
    127. Vicious Rumor Club: Whole Lotta Love (factory sealed) $6
    128. Whistle: (Nothing Serious) Just Buggin’ $5
    129. Whistle: Just For Fun $2
    130. Word Of Mouth Featuring DJ Cheese: Coast To Coast $2
    131. Word of Mouth featuring D.J. Cheese: King Kut (first pressing) $10

    No prices

    1. Afrika Bambaataa & James Brown: Unity
    2. Anquette: Ghetto Style
    3. Audio Two: Make It Funky (second original pressing)
    4. Audio Two: What More Can I Say? (promo stamp, hype sticker and price tag)
    5. B. Fats: Woppit
    6. Big Daddy Kane: Get Into It
    7. Big Daddy Kane: Long Live The Kane (promo)
    8. Biz Markie “The Inhuman Orchestra”: ?Make The Music With Your Mouth, Biz (original picture sleeve)
    9. Biz Markie: Nobody Beats The Biz
    10. Biz Markie: Pickin’ Boogers (original)
    11. Bobby Jimmy And The Critters: Roaches: The Beginning
    12. Boogie Down Productions: Criminal Minded (original)
    13. Boogie Down Productions: The Bridge Is Over / A Word From Our Sponsor
    14. Boris Badenough / Farm Boy: Hey Rocky! / Jackin’ Me Around (7″)
    15. Busy Boys: Funky Fresh Xmas
    16. Captain Grandmaster Caz: Count Basey
    17. Casper: Casper’s Groovy Ghost Show
    18. Choice M.C.’s Featuring Fresh Gordon:? Beat Of The Street / Gordy’s Groove (
    19. D.J. Bones Featuring M.C. Malika Love: Co-Rock Steady
    20. D.J. Polo & Kool G. Rapp: Rikers Island (original pressing)
    21. Danny Krivit: Feelin’ James (first pressing)
    22. Derek B: Bullet From A Gun
    23. Disco Twins & Starchild: Do The Whop / Get Back
    24. DJ Jazzy Jeff And the Fresh Prince Featuring Ice Cream “Tee”: ?Guys Ain’t Nothing But Trouble
    25. Doug E. Fresh And The Get Fresh Crew: ?The Show / La-Di-Da-Di
    26. Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde: The Champagne Of Rap
    27. Eazy-E: Eazy-Duz-It
    28. Eazy-E: Eazy-Duz-It / Ruthless Villain / Radio
    29. Eric B. Featuring Rakim: Eric B. Is President / My Melody
    30. Fat Boys: Chillin’ With The Refrigerator
    31. Fat Boys: Coming Back Hard Again
    32. Fat Boys: Crushin’
    33. Fat Boys: Falling In Love
    34. Fat Boys: Sex Machine / Beat Box Is Rocking
    35. Frankie Smith: Double Dutch Bus
    36. Full Force: Guess Who’s Comin’ To The Crib? (Promo, with still and bio)
    37. Gary Byrd And The G.B. Experience: The Crown
    38. Gigolo Tony, Lace Lacy: The Parents Of Roxanne
    39. Grandmaster Caz: Get Down Grandmaster / I’m Caz
    40. Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five: The Message
    41. King Sun-D Moet: Hey Love b/w Mythological Rapper
    42. Terminators:? Forever Dis/Polo
    43. Grandmaster Flash: Style (Peter Gunn Theme)
    44. Grandmaster Flash: They Said It Couldn’t Be Done
    45. Grandmaster Flash: U Know What Time It Is
    46. Grandmaster Melle Mel: Jesse
    47. Heavy D. & The Boyz: Mr. Big Stuff (7″)
    48. High Power: Ok I’m Loosin’ Up (Remix)
    49. Hurby’s Machine: The House That Rap Built
    50. Tanganyika: Just Me
    51. Ice T: Rhyme Pays
    52. Ice-T: I’m Your Pusher
    53. Ice-T: Power (embossed sleeve)
    54. J.M. Silk: I Can’t Turn Around
    55. J.M. Silk: Music Is The Key (original version)
    56. Joeski Love: Pee-Wee’s Dance (original)
    57. Joeski Love: Say Joe
    58. Jonzun Crew: Time Is Running Out
    59. Juice Crew All Stars: Evolution / Juice Crew All Stars
    60. King Rad – King Stevo: Get Smart
    61. Funky Four Plus One More: Rappin And Rocking The House (Some surface noise)
    62. Newcleus: Jam On It
    63. Heavy D. & The Boyz: Living Large
    64. Mikey-D & The L.A. Posse: I Get Rough / Go For It
    65. Kool Moe Dee: Go See The Doctor / Monster Crack (sealed)
    66. Kool Moe Dee: Kool Moe Dee
    67. Kool Rock Jay And The D.J. Slice:? Tales From The Dope Side
    68. Kurtis Blow: Christmas Wrapping’ (1981)
    69. Kurtis Blow: Party Time?
    70. Kurtis Blow: The Breaks (7″)
    71. LL Cool J: I Can Give You More / I Can’t Live Without My Radio (7″)
    72. Lovebug Starski: House Rocker
    73. M.C. Boob A.K.A. Steady “B”: Yo Mutha / Bring The Beat Back
    74. M.C. Chill Featuring D.J. Kid Finesse & Beatmaster T: Bust This Rhyme
    75. M.C. Chill: M.C. Chill
    76. M.C. Chill: Nightmare On Chill Street / Nothing Can Save You Now
    77. Masters of Ceremony (featuring Don Barron): Sexy
    78. MC Lyte & DJ K-Rock: I Cram To Understand U (Sam)
    79. MC Miker G. & DJ Sven: Celebration Rap
    80. Miss Thang: Thunder And Lightning
    81. N.Y.C. Fat Girls: Here Comes The Fat Girls
    82. Full Force: Unselfish Lover
    83. Newcleus: Na Na Beat
    84. Pebblee-Poo: A Fly Guy
    85. Pebblee-Poo: A Fly Guy
    86. Pumpkin and the Profile All Stars: Here Comes That Beat
    87. Ralph Rolle: Roxanne’s A Man (The Untold Story – Final Chapter)
    88. Rappin’ Duke: Duke Is Back
    89. Rappin’ Duke: Que Pasa?
    90. Rappin’ Duke: Rappin’ Duke
    91. Roxanne Shante: Roxanne’s Revenge (Original pressing)
    92. Roxanne With UTFO: The Real Roxanne/Roxanne’s Back Side
    93. Run-D.M.C.: It’s Like That / Sucker M.C.’s
    94. Sir Mix-A-Lot: Posse’ On Broadway
    95. Soundtrack: Beat Street Volume 2 (sealed)
    96. Sparky “D”: Sparky’s Turn (Roxanne You’re Through)
    97. Spoonie Gee And The Treacherous Three: The New Rap Language / Love Rap
    98. Spoonie Gee: I’m All Shook Up
    99. Spoonie Gee: That’s My Style
    100. Steady “B”: Just Call Us Def
    101. Stetsasonic: A.F.R.I.C.A.
    102. Stetsasonic: Talkin’ All That Jazz
    103. Steve “Silk” Hurley: Jack Your Body
    104. Sugar Hill Gang: Apache
    105. Sundance Kids: Crack It Up
    106. Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud: Do The James
    107. **Super Star** A-Mar Featuring Jay Bee Rock: Grasshopper Meets The Master (promo copy)
    108. Symbolic Three Featuring D.J. Dr. Shock: No Show
    109. T. J. Swann & Peewee Mel and Swann Controllers: Maximus Party
    110. The East Coast Crew: The Final Word – No More Roxanne (Please)
    111. The Fearless Four: Problems Of The World (sealed)
    112. The Incredible Mr. Freeze: Back To The Scene Of The Crime
    113. The Jonzun Crew: We Are The Jonzun Crew (7″)
    114. The Microphone Prince: Rock House / Memory Lane / Hound Dog
    115. The Real Roxanne With Hitman Howie Tee: Bang Zoom! (Let’s Go-Go) (sealed)
    116. The Sugarhill Gang: 8th Wonder
    117. Treacherous Three: The Treacherous Three
    118. Tricky Tee: Leave It To The Drums / I’ve Got It Good
    119. Twilight 22: Electric Kingdom
    120. Twilight 22: Siberian Nights
    121. Ultramagnetic MC’s: Traveling At The Speed Of Thought / A Chorus Line
    122. Various Artists: Christmas Rap
    123. Various Artists: Rap 1 (Def Jam)
    124. Various: Chicago Trax – Volume 1
    125. Various: Smokin’ Beats
    126. Various: Ultimate Breaks & Beats (Street Beat, generic sleeve)
    127. Vicious Rumor Club: Whole Lotta Love (factory sealed)
    128. Whistle: (Nothing Serious) Just Buggin’
    129. Whistle: Just For Fun
    130. Word Of Mouth Featuring DJ Cheese: Coast To Coast
    131. Word of Mouth featuring D.J. Cheese: King Kut (first pressing)

  321. Memories… Reading the posts and remembering trying to count how many different bottle caps were on the walls and posts, and everywhere! And then dad would drag me out. Been many places in this land and had many great pizzas. But the BCI had a class of pizza all it’s own… on thru my time at M-DJC. All, all, seasoned with memories.

  324. I loved Nancy as a kid, too. My younger brother had Nancy and Sluggo rubber dolls. He wanted to bring them to school but our mother thought the boys would beat him up for it. How I wish we still had those dolls! Anyway, I’ve analyzed my infatuation with the Nancy strip and it’s much like another Nancy (Drew): It’s because there are no parents in the strip, not even their legs. That’s what we (I, at least) wanted in my childhood world: no parental interference.

    Thanks for this excellent review.

  328. My family went there when I was 8 (1983). And I guess they had been doing some cleaning, & whoever was doing it was kind of careless with the displays. Because the display case with the shrunken heads was open, & (being 8 years old & curious) I started stroking the long red hair on the 1. My mom saw it, & took me immediately to the bathroom to wash my hands. When we continued on, someone (maybe the same worker) had left a case with a mummy open, & I waited until my mom’s back was turned & reached in & touched the mummy. As an 8-year-old it was the best day ever! But looking back, ewwww! Sad to think that they’d not display them anymore.

  329. i’d been uninspired and depressed about ‘the world today’ and ‘the way things are’, until i stumbled across your pages-thank you for reminding me that ‘things, people, and the world’ are actually pretty cool; i just have to venture out periodically to encounter the good-uns :)

  331. Beautiful keep up the good work of collecting and spreading the art for all to see.

  333. I’m not sure if anyone else contacted you but Joe’s son Jeremy is a good friend of mine and he is in town. I’m sure he’d love to meet you and talk with you about his father. I’ll speak with Jeremy and see if he would like me to pass his number along.
    -Jeff

  334. This was lovely. He was a great man. He had a great mind and he loved his children and grandchildren. I grew up with his oldest we have been best friends for over 20 years. Joe was some kind of wonderful.

  336. I grew up down the street on NW 13th Ave in the 50’s and ’60’s. Loved going there with my parents. Best spaghetti ever. As a kid I discovered condoms there in the men’s restroom– they had a machine hanging from the wall with a picture of a beautiful blonde that dispensed them for a quarter, I think. I thought they were candy and asked my dad could we buy some and he gently escorted me out of the restroom, telling me it would ruin my dessert.

  338. Hadn’t visited your site for a while. Always a joy. I’m grateful for your energy and commitment.

  339. sports is a competition between at the time a rival, we are selves battle this on a daily basis. I myself have not watched any sports for ten years and do not have any lust for watching over paid people to race to win, make a winning goal, make the final hoop to win, hit the hole in the green, or skate and ski to a medal of a over advertised event! Football included.

  340. Man, can I relate to this article – I’m a middle aged hetero guy and have never been interested in watching or keeping up with sports, and therefore am at a loss around groups of guys. It’s hard to make new friends as a grown married man with kids, but there are opportunities, at my kid’s sporting events (which I do enjoy watching), before and after practice last, church etc – but I know know
    know that after striking up a conversation with a friendly fellow dad or three, there will come that moment, and it always comes, when the conversation turns to sports, usually college basketball or football – and then I go silent, I have nothing to offer- I used to try to feign interest, but it seems odd after a while when I don’t chime in, so now I just drift away and let them continue bonded over game talk – it I’m one on one with a guy and he say some variation of “how about that game last night” I’ve gotten to where I just mildly but frankly state that I don’t keep up with Them, whichever Them is being referred to – usually the conversation fizzles out, and a friendship doesn’t get traction.
    Sure, I could keep up with the local team , or the big games, to avoid these awkward moments and to bond with these guys, but I guess I’m not interested enough even to sustain that – I have precious little free time, and have better things to do, books to read, shows to binge watch, guitar and piano to play, trails to hike, rivers to kayak, time to spend with my wife and kids – Between a full time job, a wife, two great kids, and the pursuit of a robust spiritual life, I don’t have time to keep up with sports – and if I did have enough time for sports, I still would probably just do more of the above kinds of things – because those things give me a real joy and satisfaction in life, and televised sports doesn’t , I guess it just comes down to that, and I’m ok with that aspect of myself. At the same time I understand that in our culture talking sports is an easy way for men to bond with other men, and feel a little sad that that bonding leaves me out, but at almost 50 years old I’ve come to accept it and just avoid situations it would come up.

  342. I’ve known Joe for most of my life and he’s always been the same multi talented, mellow human being. What a gifted artist! You get pulled into his Chicago scenes, especially throughout Bridgeport where he and Tammy and the boys lived in the 70’s until later moving out of town for awhile. I remember the 3 mailboxes he did on 31st and Parnell, the same block as my grandmother’s house. I get such a rush of memories of him growing up back then. There was so much more to Joe that you just can’t put it in words. It’s hard to believe that it’s been over a year since I last saw him. He is truly a Good Soul. I can tell you, he’ll Never be forgotten. I know, because not a day goes by that he doesn’t pass through my thoughts. I haven’t been strong enough to write this before

  346. Wow! Parents went there in 40s 50s and 60s.My mother told me a story about how in a jealous rage she pulled some bartender across the counter and beat her up.She was only 5 feet 4!
    The road ended on 7 th ave not far.It was the boondocks back then.

  347. I appreciated this article. I work in a sports office. And all of my coworkers are into Sports, naturally. I’m there for my office skills (someone has to deposit the revenue). I do like the laid-back dress code. That’s a big plus. But I am utterly indifferent to 99% of the rest of it. I realized today, without a doubt, that I have to leave. I just have to find another job. The culture of our office is like a high school gym locker room. The banter is puerile. The slap-down domination rebuttals may pass for team camaraderie, as they are met with squeals and hoots, but they leave me wishing more a mature and cultured atmosphere where ideas matter more than who won and who lost.

  348. Idea: drawings of sky optical phenomena such as solar halos and parhelia.

  350. Thanks for this! My husband tried to give me the highlights of a football game tonight, after me repeatedly telling him over 48 years I’m not interested. Out of frustration, I googled “How to tell my husband I never want to discuss sports ever.” Google offered back pages of ideas on how to talk about sports. Arghhh! Then I found your article. If there ever is a next time, I will respond by talking about bottle caps. Thanks again!

  352. Bill, I’ve loved your site literally for decades. Thank you for all you do in keeping alive the odd and wonderful things that today’s world too often leaves behind. I’m always impressed at your dedication to art and culture. Please keep up the good work.

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  469. Is there more specific TIME for the organized lecture? Assuming, of course, that there IS an organized lecture.

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  763. I just remembered a place I used to go in the 70s…Sol & Sol Deli in Englewood, NJ.

  766. First thing on my.list after many years. Was told that there were many complaints about them. Poor bleeding heart people are ruining history for the rest of us. They’re feelings and sensitivity are ridiculous. I won’t come back to field museum. Shame on them !!!

  767. I also think bleeding hearts often ruin it for the rest of us, but in this case I can’t fault the museum for no longer wanting to exhibit human remains for our nostalgia and entertainment.

  771. I knew a “Corky.” The one I knew was graduate of Lane High School and a 1962 or 63 graduate of the Institute of Design at IIT. He was a fine Graphic Designer and leader in that community, particularly the STA (Society of Typographical Arts) all through the 70s and 80s. He also encouraged many women in the field. He lived on Irving Park just west of Southport. He was a most generous soul.
    Stef Leinwohl

  777. In Rochester,MN in the 1970s. There was a real estate office on the main drag (Broadway) with orange neon sign “ C Gordy Suk”

  787. I was blessed to grow up with Jeremy, with Joe taking us on “field trips” in the city and his wife Tammy being a second mom. He showed me the first cobble stone rode along with some amazing houses throughout the city. Some of my core memories are our adventure throughout the city and one of my favorite pieces of art in my home is one he did for my parents 40yrs ago.

  792. I’d value them starting around $250. His vases are much less common than his boxes, which you can usually find on eBay for $50 to $900 or more (though I doubt many sell at the higher price). A really nice vase sold in the right venue could be worth closer to the high end of that range. Unfortunately, the market for Stanley’s work is still not what it should be.

  800. Enjoyed your talk at Chicago Prime Timers. Today as I was walking on Michigan Avenue I noticed a crazy bar/restaurant name. About Last Knife.

  810. I loved their pizza. I lived within walking distance of the bottle cap inn. As a family we’d either go to Bottle Cap Inn or Bar-B-Q Barn less than 1/2 mile east on 119th street. After BCI burned down I rescued a few bottle caps from the debris. The east part of the building is still there and is now a church.

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  872. cool site

    question
    do you know about the ugly coconut heads that look like the face jugs?

  891. I knew Buzz Zingaro from Jeffery Manor back in the day. A great kid. He and his dad would hop on the Jeffery #5 with their golf clubs at 100th Street and Paxton to play at Jackson Park. Those were the days.

  893. My sister worked here out of high school and married nephew Jerry Holland,whom she met while waitressing.

  896. I have one I would really love you to look at. I’ve had it some time now. Can’t find one quite like it but I think your the guy to tell me. Please let me know where I can send photos. God bless

  898. Hi Dave, many thanks for the message. It’s great to hear from a carver. I’d love to ask you a few questions like, for instance, did you know the other people whose names are on the rock?
    Bill