I was on a road trip to southern Indiana last week, when I saw a sign that really confused me. We had stopped at a gas station and I saw a big cardboard sign advertising a new beverage called "Von Dutch Energy Drink". Its motto was "Motion", "Freedom", and something else. I thought it was so strange to connect a caffeinated drink with the legend of a great pin striper. From my limited experience, caffeine is the enemy of the steady hand. What has happened to the Von Dutch estate? I have seen so many crass commercialized products with his name on them, everything from pre-worn jeans to tube tops. This seems to be against everything Von Dutch beleived in. Who buys these things? Poser Pinheads? Does anyone out there have any insight into the Von Dutch brand sellout? I am curious.
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
The next time you see someone with a Von Dutch shirt on, ask them who is was...they won't be able to tell you. Says a lot about what we perceive as important.
Also, how did people twenty years ago not die of thirst - they didn't have bottles of water to carry around with them?
While I'm on a kick here...why should I PAY Old Navy to advertise their business? Shouldn't they be paying me?
[ April 25, 2006, 10:05 AM: Message edited by: Raymond Chapman ]
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
...and why pay extra for pre-worn jeans? Shouldn't they be cheaper? Goodwill has the wrong business model!
Posted by Patrick Whatley (Member # 2008) on :
quote:Originally posted by Raymond Chapman:
While I'm on a kick here...why should I PAY Old Navy to advertise their business? Shouldn't they be paying me?
I ask that everytime I buy a car from a dealer. What makes them think I want them to stick their dealer decals and tags all over it? They sure didn't give me a discount for advertising. Twice now I've made them pull it all off as part of the deal.
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
I was at the beach over the weekend and saw someone wearing a Von Dutch hat..
I went off on a rant, everyone I was hanging out with was looking at me with wide eyes as I told them who Von Dutch was and relayed some of the stories about him... they were mortified. Some of them were even old car dudes that hadn't ever heard of Von Dutch which I find shocking because I'm 29 and have known of him for 17 years, since getting into my first auto resto project.
Posted by jack wills (Member # 521) on :
Most people would not have wanted to know VonDutch, at some times. He himself might have used one of his hand made knives to just scare the s#!t out out of em'.
CrazyJack
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
Nancy, while you wait for replies to rack up, you may enjoy doing a search on the topic. You will find plenty of reading within these walls on the topic. Lots of good first hand info, & lots of folks sharing your dismay back to the earliest days of these various crass commercializations of late.
Posted by Frank Magoo (Member # 3950) on :
For the most honest, well researched history of Kenneth Howard, go to Von Dutch.com, the offical website for Dutch, provided by one of his lifelong friends, Bob Burns out of Prescott, Az...a must read before jumping to any conclusions about any facet of his life...
What has happened to the Von Dutch estate? And that would be where? Read the website...also, Kenneth's heir(his sister), was dealt w/fairly and honestly, she was compensated for the licensing rights... The license holders, in my opinion, have done an excellent job, I personally don't care if kids today know who Dutch is, buy, buy, buy...not only does every sale make license holder more money, which is only fair, it's a business afterall; but it keeps Kenny's name in the public eye and that is a very good thing, trust me... I knew Dutch personally and better than some out there wish they did, but talk as if they did and as he hasn't risen from the dead, again, for the umpteth time now since he died; I haven't had a chance to ask him what He thinks of all this, so I can't answer that at this time, sorry...
Jack, if only we'd known, we(us stripers), could have had one of those knifes for only $1000, sumtum, huh? hehehe, sorry folks, insider joke, only a select few oldtimers will even get the inference, heheheh, and I'm getting to old to care if someone gets hot because of, yes, I should've called Jack, but I didn't now did I?
Posted by Kelsey Dum (Member # 6101) on :
quote:Originally posted by Frank Magoo: ... but it keeps Kenny's name in the public eye and that is a very good thing, trust me...
No disrespect Frank, but I wish the public eye knew who Kenneth Howard was. I don't think that the public even knows he represent the pinstripers...I think we all wish we had the oppertunity to meet him. I do agree that it is a shame that these trendy kids just use his name as a fad, but it is cool that his name is out there.
Posted by CJ Allan (Member # 52) on :
Hahahaha........ Good un's Frank & Jack.............
When he was by here a week or so ago.........he just gave that squinty grin & spit ( I guess that's one way to describe it).........heheheh
Kelsey. Wish ya would have had the oppertunity to meet him....?? Well......Uhhhh......hehehehehe OK !!
[ April 25, 2006, 03:11 PM: Message edited by: CJ Allan ]
Posted by Kelsey Dum (Member # 6101) on :
I would have loved to meet Hitler or Damer (of course if they were locked up)...interesting people are interesting people. From what it sounds though, he wasn't very approachable. I would have been happy to paint in the same room with him... or even just to watch him work.
Posted by Jon Aston (Member # 1725) on :
While I was there, I figured I would do Bob Burns a small favour and click on some of the Google Ads on his site (hint, hint)...and I thought this looked pretty cool, too.
[ April 25, 2006, 03:43 PM: Message edited by: Jon Aston ]
Posted by Frank Magoo (Member # 3950) on :
Heheheh, CJ
Kelsey, very few got to see him work and it was only in the last years that his personality took such a horrible turn...interesting though, Dutch had an interest in Hitler that disturbed his friends that didn't understand the motives behind such interest, heheh, of course in Dutch's case, he idolized Hitler...also, no disrespect taken sir, can't elaborate at this time, but trust me, it will ALL come full circle in the next few(empahsis on few) years, keep an eye out, his legacy is on it's way, all will know soon, it's just the way things like this work out, and for once, this one is going to work out positive, as corp America isn't involved and is being blocked to never become a glitch for this movement...
Posted by Frank Magoo (Member # 3950) on :
Way cool Jon, thank you, I didn't have it right, thanks for correcting that.
The Bruckner collection is wonderful isn't it? thanks again.........
Posted by Bob Burns (Member # 268) on :
Thanks Jon for clearing that up (website address). I'll be attending the Brucker auction with Dutch's Ex-wife Sheila and Dutch'e sister Virginia. It will be our last time to see his 'stuff'! NANCY: The Von Dutch 'estate' (daughters LORNA & LISA) sold the rights to the name VON DUTCH to VonDutch Origiinals in 1996. The flying eyeball is owned by yours truly (lucky me). Needless to say, there's litigation going on right now! MAGOO: There's good times ahead for you,,,,dont let the BS get you down!
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
Pat,
We think alike. (Scary thought, huh?)
When I bought my truck, I told asked the dealeship if they wanted to knock moff a few bucks for me to leave their tag on the tailgate. Nope.
A couple of years later, I brought in in for a recall and when they saw the flaming paint, the salesman who sold it to me said "Damn, we shoulda given him the discount. That sticker would be getting noticed."
Seems to me that the whole Von Dutchwear thing took off after Brittany Spears wore a hat with his "logo" when she eloped a few years ago. The hat survived the wedding...the hubby didn't. Rapid
Posted by greg feil (Member # 4379) on :
I just got my hands on the Brucker Collection catalog, I wish I had the money to bid on some of the stuff.
Posted by Nancy Waller (Member # 6428) on :
Thanks for the insights. I did some research and soul searching and realized that I am just JEALOUS! Von Dutch had such enormous talent, and lived his life by his own terms. I can only dream of such success. I am the ultimate poser pinhead, in need of a "premier lifestyle brand", (as it is referred to on the Von Dutch website). I was touched and honored to have Frank Magoo respond to my post. I am so sad to learn that he is leaving Letterhead. ( Is it wrong for me to want a pleated denim mini-skirt with "MAGOO" emblazoned across the rear? ) As for the Flying Eyeball, a brilliant design by any definition... Mr. Burns you are a lucky dog. In this age of surveillance your "eye in the sky" is the kind of watchfulness I can appreciate. Good luck with the litigation.
Posted by Bob Burns (Member # 268) on :
Just got an email request on auction info: May 13th PETERSEN's AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM in L.A.
Posted by Bob Burns (Member # 268) on :
Just got an email request on auction info: May 13th PETERSEN's AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM in L.A.
Posted by Mike La Marca (Member # 6515) on :
Unfortunately the family has no control of how the name is used. But maybe those buying Dutch labeled merchandise will eventually find out who the really was about. We can only hope.
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Some of them were even old car dudes that hadn't ever heard of Von Dutch which I find shocking because I'm 29 and have known of him for 17 years, since getting into my first auto resto project.
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