Gillette (Gil) Elvgren (March 15, 1914 – February 29, 1980). My favorite pin up artist. His paintings and models were sexy as hell but not overly sexual or ‘dirty’. Something of the hot girl next door, and g’damn he could paint a nyloned leg.
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The Art and Models of Pin Up Artist Gil Elvgren
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Let Me Sell You Something – Beautiful Movie Posters
Sorry about this, but here’s a shameless promotion and some sweet movie posters for sale. They’re all cool art and would look smashing on your wall. We just opened on online store specializing in vintage clothes and home decor. You should go there – http://dearwolfvintage.bigcartel.com. If you want one of these beauties send me a note or comment here (they’re not up on our store yet). Don’t worry there won’t be too many more commercials. Back to our regularly scheduled blog. – J.
& Year Itch – Marilyn Monroe French Moyenne 23″ x 31″
$300
Deadlier Than the MAle – Elke Sommer French Moyenne 23″ x 31″
$125
Kitten w/ a Whip – Ann Margaret. French 1 Panel 47″ x 63″
$300
Midnight Cowboy – John Voight & Dustin Hoffman – Italian 4 Panel – 55″ x 78″ $500
Secret Police – French 1 Panel 47″ x 63″
$150
Summer Love – John Saxon – US 27″ x 41″ on linen $125
Quatermas and the Pit aka 5 Million Miles to Earth – Italian 4 Panel – 55″ x 78″ $200
The Hunger – David Bowie
Italian 1-Sheet 33″ x 55″ $150
How to Murder Your Wife – Jack Lemmon French 1 Panel 47″ x 63″
$100
001, Destination Jamaica – French 1 Panel 47″ x 63″
$100
Journal of a Semi Virgin – French 1 Panel 47″ x 63″
$75
French 1 Panel 47″ x 63″
$75
Italian 4 Panel – 55″ x 78″
$100
The Third Key – US 27″ x 41″ on linen $225
Italian 4 Panel – 55″ x 78″
$100
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Drivers Licenses of the Rich, Famous and Infamous
Not really a lot to be said here. It’s interesting to see something as simple and everyday common as a drivers license … with Charles Manson’s name on it
Johnny Cash
Robert DeNiro
Charles Manson
Alfred Hitchcock
James Brown
Janis Joplin
Michael Jackson
Davey Jones – The Monkees
Steven “Tyler” Tallarico – Aerosmith
James Morrison
Liberace
Jackie O
Dean Martin
Harland Sanders – Kentucky Fried Chicken
John Winston Ono Lennon
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Abandoned Amusement Parks
Beautiful photography of amusement parks that for one reason or another have called it quits. Whether by economic problems (Detroit), disaster (Chernobyl) or just a weird non-commercial concept (Gulliver’s Kingdom in Japan) these parks just could not continue. This is what’s left.
Detroit, MI
Gullivers Kingdom, Japan
Gullivers Kingdom, Japan
Korea
Panama City, FL
Berlin
Berlin
Pripyat, Ukraine (Chernobyl)
Pripyat, Ukraine (Chernobyl)
Umoja Childrens Park – China
Nablus – West Bank
St Petersburg, Russia
Louisiana
Berlin
Shijingshang Park－Beijing
Encore Gardens Taiwan
Berlin
Wichata, KA
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Vintage Nude LP Covers
Great covers from around the world. The sixties were a great time for this stuff. Japan seemed to lead the way with some truly beautiful covers and models. The combinations were a bit weird. Why not throw a fine naked girl on a bad piano jazz LP. It’s bound to sell a few copies. I doubt that these would pass the censors today. How did we get less adventurous and more PC in 50 years?
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Painted WWII Bomber Jackets
The Type A-2 leather flight jacket is an American military flight jacket originally invented and developed for and closely associated with World War II U.S. Army Air Forces pilots, navigators and bombardiers, who often decorated their jackets with squadron patches and elaborate artwork painted on the back. Sometimes casually referred to as a bomber jacket, its original designation was “Jacket, Pilot’s (summer)”, and its wartime usage was limited neither to pilots nor to bomber crews.
In WWII almost any kind of paint that could be used was used. Enamels if they could get it, lead based aviation paint, oil paint… whatever the ‘artist’ could get their hands on. Some squadron artists could only get their hands on yellow airplane paint, so the artwork on the jacket was done in yellow. As troops settled in, painting flight jackets became a cottage industry for the local artisans. Since some of the paints were not meant to be used on leather, they rubbed off, flaked off, and faded. Thanks to www.vintag.es
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Iggy’s Keyboard Player 1977
David Bowie and Iggy Pop first met at NYC hotspot, Max’s Kansas City, in 1971, while Bowie was on tour with his album The Man Who Sold the World. The then-largely unknown Iggy made a deep impression on Bowie, (and was part of the inspiration for Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust persona). Bowie invited Pop, who was experiencing heroin addiction, to London, where he helped mix Iggy and the Stooges’ album Raw Power. Though the album would eventually become a classic, the band collapsed under the weight of Pops drug addiction and general bad behaviour. Returning to California, Pop would check himself into a mental institution in an attempt to overcome his heroin addiction. Bowie remained one of his few friends and visitors. In 1976 riding a wave of hits Bowie toured his most recent album Station to Station bringing Iggy along for the ride. The pair moved into an apartment in West Berlin, (over an auto parts shop) where Bowie would began the first of his Berlin trilogy of albums – LOW, and also collaborating on writing and recording Pop’s first solo album, The Idiot. In 1977, Iggy Pop finally went on a 30-date world tour as a solo act. His backup band included David on keyboards and backing vocals. Bowie remained truly in the background behind the keys. No costumes or stage show, Bowie wore bell bottom turned up jeans, flannel shirt and cap. It was meant to be Iggy’s show not the more famous Bowies’. That year the two also collaborated on Pop’s second album, Lust for Life, which would become Iggy’s long-awaited critical and commercial success, (with the title song eventually appearing in tons of commercials and films, most notably the opening for the Danny Boyle film Trainspotting). Iggy and Bowie would remain friends for the rest of Bowies’ life.
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Bonnie & Clyde – Lovebirds
What’s odd is that Bonnie and Clyde took so many pictures. Pictures of themselves, their gang, their guns, their loot. They would have been social media sensations had it been 40 years later. What’s also odd is that, though not Warren Beatty or Faye Dunaway, they were incredibly cute and apparently very much in love. Bad people to be sure, but they were really just kids, Bonnie was 19 when they met, Clyde was 20. Their short romance and crime spree would end in a hail of bullets only 4 short years later.
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Victorian Xmas Cards – WTF
By the time of the Victorian age Christmas was not really an established holiday. There was no Santa Claus, no identifiable iconography, no stocking hung by the chimney with care. The Victorians were trying to figure it all out. It was Queen Victoria (1819-1901) herself whose own celebration of Christmas gave the fledgling holiday a serious boost in England. Illustrated, mass-produced Christmas cards caught on with the British people during Victoria’s reign. Card makers of the era drew from Christian as well as pagan images, and also general interests of the era, such as science, art, or religion. Does that really explain sled riding chickens, murdering frogs and anthropomorphic oysters though?
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Roxy Music – The First Five
Roxy Music has always been about style. Formed in 1971 from a bunch of art school dropouts (Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzenera, Andy Mackay, Paul Thompson, Eddie Jobson, Brian Eno, et al) they would record 5 great albums back to back. The band looked sharp in space glam gear (later it would be expensive suits) and played a mix of rock, glam, psych, frak-out and pop that would, though not as highly regarded in the US, be in direct competition w/ David Bowie in the early 70’s. For the cover art of their first 5 LPs they chose women, (not band photos) to illustrate their style and their 1940’s mindset. Each had one of the 70’s hottest models on a beautiful gatefold sleeve, (with the band photograph inside). 1974’s Country Life saw a small break from form with 2 nearly nude models posed amongst some pine trees. Most of the copies got through uncensored but the US censored copy is hilarious (just the trees). Some were also delivered as the nude cover w/ an opaque green cellophane outer sleeve. Below are the original covers along w/ a few outtakes. Enjoy the covers then go buy the music. BTW Siren has the big hit “Love Is A Drug”.
The 1st – Self Titled
LP 2 – For Your Pleasure
The 3rd – Stranded
The 4th – Country Life
Censored US version
The 5th – Siren
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Hand Painted Jackets (and some are for sale)
Always loved hand painted coats and jackets – bombers, motorcycle cuts, hippy band jackets, etc. I’ve been painting them off and on for years – painting more now. I love commissions so If you’ve got something you want painted drop me a line – jon@jonmwessel.com.
David Bowie – Aladin Sane on 1970’s vintage Levi’s trucker jacket – SOLD
Adam Ant – 90’s era blue leather women’s jacket. Size 10. $500.
Andrew W.K. – Lee trucker jacket – Commission – SOLD
Lady Gaga – Red leather women’s motorcycle jacket – Commission – SOLD
Buxom Fruit Label – 70’s levi’s trucker (painted around 1986) – $525
Siouxie Sioux – Flash art style on Levi’s 80’s era M trucker jacket – $399
Siouxie Sioux – Detail
Johnny Cash – Flash art style on 80’s-90’s era Lee Trucker jacket XL – $399
Johnny Cash – Detail
Apollo Butterfly on 70’s era all leather 3/4 trench – $525
Butterfly Detail
Baby Bowie – Kids (5-7) vintage levi’s mini trucker. $99.
Trick R Treat – Sam on kids Levi’s jacket – NSF
Trick R Treat – Sam detail
Lil Nick (Cave) – Little kids levi’s jacket – $99.
Lady Bug – Extra small little kids levi’s jacket – $85.
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How ’bout a Little Love
We all know there’s deeper, darker more important events happening right now – and goddamn that orange turd, but here’s a bit of rock n roll love to get you through the day. Stay strong, love when you can and keep laughing. Let’s start with Bowie and Iman (who would be barred from entering the US today).
David Bowie, Iman and her Somali parents
John & Yoko married at the rock of gibraltar
Robert and Mary Smith and the rest of The Cure
Johnny and June Carter Cash
Marilyn Manson & Dita Von Teese (Dita Von Manson?)
Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne
Mick & Bianca Jagger – looking disinterested
Bono & Ali
Jerry Lee Lewis and his 13 year old cousin/wife, Myra
George Harrison & Patti Boyd
Tommy Lee & Heather Locklear
Elvis & Priscilla Presley
Bob Geldolph & Paula Yates. The wedding party – best man David Bowie as well as Duran Duran, & Spandau Ballet
Buddy & Maria Elena Holly
Eddy Van Halen & Valerie Bertinelli (they look about 12)
Gregg Allman & Cher
Ringo & Barbara Bach & some other people
Sebastian Bach & Suzzane Le. *For $300 you could attend this wedding at a casino
Twiggy Ramiriz & Laney Chantel
The Beckhams – David & Victoria (sweet crown there Posh).
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Victorians Posing w/ Skeletons! (?)
The Victorians got up to a lot of shenanigans and had some pretty odd customs and past-times. They made elaborated brooches and dioramas from the hair of a dead loved ones. They photographed the dead as if they were still alive, sitting upright, eyes open, or holding their poor dead babys. They had a general obsession with taxidermy (they stuffed anything). They made hats out of cats, birds and other small animals. They loved anything gothic (Dracula, Frankenstein and Dr. Jeyckl and Mr. Hyde came from the period). Freak shows were a main stay – think Elephant Man. And for whatever reason they liked to photograph themselves w/ skeletons. Some of these would be deemed risque, some just weird and probably one or two from some long forgotten gothic theater. I think they were just bored and need to stretch out a bit from all the rules of the day-to-day Victorian society.
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Anders Petersen and The Cafe Lehmitz
Anders Petersen is a Swedish photographer born in 1944 and still active today. From 1967 – 1970 he photographed the regulars (street hustlers, pimps, prostitutes and crazy people) of the Cafe Lehmitz in Hamburg Germany. The resulting book was first published in 1978 by Schirmer/Mosel in Germany. Café Lehmitz has since become regarded as a seminal book in the history of European photography. I found out about it (I’m embarrassed to say) from researching the Tom Waits LP cover of Rain Dogs. I always thought the man in the photo was Tom. Needless to say, he is not. His name is actually Rose, and the photo is called Lily and Rose and is actually the cover of the Cafe Lehmitz book.
Lily and Rose
Rose and Lily
Rose and somebody who’s not Lily
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Francoise Hardy – Queen of Ye-Ye and more
Françoise Madeleine Hardy found immediate success with her first song “Tous les garcons et les filles”. As a leading figure of the Ye-Ye movement (naive pop songs sung mostly by beautiful young women. The named is derived from “yeah-yeah” popularized by The Beatles), Hardy “found herself at the very forefront of the French music scene”, and became “France’s most exportable female singing star”, recording in various languages, appearing in several movies and touring throughout Europe. With her natural beauty and charm, Francoise began modeling as well – becoming a French fashion icon as well as pop star. As the Ye-Ye movement lost steam, Francoise changed her approach, singing ‘grown-up’ songs, working w/ songwriters like Leonard Cohan and Serge Gainsbourg. She would go on to record many more LPs, collaborating w/ Blur in 1994 and Malcolm McClaren as well as Iggy Pop. Her music has been used in a ton of movies – most recently Wes Anderson’s Moonlight Kingdom (The female lead (Suzy) calls The Ye-Ye Girls From Paris (1962) her “favorite record album”, and it is the only album she packs when preparing to run away from home). And DAMN! if she’s not still gorgeous at 70.
With Mick Jagger
With Brian Jones
With Salvatore Dali
Francoise at 70
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Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016)
Once again: Fuck 2016
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Iggy’s 70 today. Happy Birthday Man!
James Newell Osterberg, Jr – Born April 21, 1947
James Osterberg High School photo – Ann Arbor MI 1964
You wear it well – Iggy at 70
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Happy Birthday Bettie Page
Bettie Mae Page (April 22, 1923 – December 11, 2008) I’ve posted a ton of photos of Bettie over the years. She is a mixture of sex kitten and girl next door, sultry and fun loving all at the same time. The 1950’s No. 1 pin-up queen. Bettie was a knock-out. If you’re not familiar w/ her stop reading this and look her up right now. Hers is a story of sex, religion, fame and fortune, high highs and low lows. It’s a mystery w/ a happy ending. These aren’t her most famous photos – in fact some I’ve never seen before. Bettie would have been 94 today. Happy Birthday Bettie!
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The Handsomest Man in Rock & Roll – Bryan Gregory
Bryan Gregory (Gregory Beckerleg, February 20, 1951 – January 10, 2001) Bryan Gregory was an interesting guy. Standing not much more than 5’6″ in heals and hair Bryan made a splash on stage w/ his poka dot Flying Vee, black and white hair and an ever present cigarette. His career was spotty to say the least, Bryan helped form the first version of punkabilly killers, The Cramps in NYC in 76. He played guitaron their first 2 LPs, Gravest Hits and Songs the Lord Taught Us. Bryan left the band unexpectedly in Cleveland in 1980 (along w/ all the bands gear and only van). In 1980 he formed horror shock band BEAST – that lasted ’til 83 and then – Poof! What happened to Bryan? Rumors of Satanism, heroin overdose, porno stardom. No one knew what happened to Bryan, when in fact no one was looking all that hard. Truth is always much more boring than fiction and Bryan was no exception. Turns out he was running an adult book shop in Sarasota Fla. He was a zombie in George Romeros’ Day of the Dead, drew a bit and designed some jewelry. I prefer the Satanism story. He eventually made up w/ the rest of The Cramps apologizing for stealing all their shit and was living the high life of a Florida Man when he suddenly passed away from multiple system failure at the age of 49 on Jan. 10 – no one saw it coming. Bryan was cool, not a great musician, but he was cool. I loved his look and stage presence and best of all a story that sounded great and evil and mysterious but turned out to be a bit mundane and sad – though sitting in the sand in Fla. designing jewelry and drinking Mai Tais doesn’t sound all that bad.
From Left: Nick Knox, Bryan, Poison Ivy Rorsarch, Lux Interior
Cramps early promo photo
David Johansen of the New York Dolls and Bryan
Bryan and Lux
The Cramps Invade Britain, Die – Flyer
After The Cramps – Bryans’ band BEAST. Bryan in horns and leotard w/ weird penis type
Beast single – Love in a Dying World
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The Ladies of Burlesque – Signs and Posters
Burlesque, Burlesk, Burly-Q. However you spell it it’s still all the same – Great! Burlesque as a form of entertainment lasted a good long time. Starting in the 1860’s and sort of ending in the 1960’s with a resurgence in the 2000’s, Burlesque basically meant Variety Show with (hopefully) a striptease in there somewhere. It evolved into pretty much all Striptease by the 1950’s. Never overly raunchy or pornographic, Burly-Q was all about suggestion, the hope to see a shapely leg or glimpse of a breast. Toward the 60’s it got a bit dirtier, but as they say, “The times, they were a-changin'”.
K. K. Kelly and the Runway Rompers
Akiko O’Toole and a Stageful of Girls
Irma the Body
Charming Charmaine – The TNT Girl
Miss Gee Whiz – 52-28-38
Gee Whiz, Indeed!
The Rage of Burlesque
Ann Perry – The Jane Russell of Burlesk
Georgia Sothern – That Fiery Redhead
Zorita
Dixie Evans – The Marilyn Monroe of Burlesque
Tempest Storm – That Bust Out Girl
Harry Clark’s Park Avenue Revue
Frosti Winters
Lee “Hot Rod” Wayne
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