I have told this story before but here I go again. I was working for an outdoor advertising company back in the mid 70's and my helper and I were driving back to the shop after swinging on a billboard at the end of the day. All of a sudden a dothan, alabama welding company truck pulls up beside us and it was a cool lettering and graphic job by Chester Cunningham, the master! It was a dark truck with beautiful lettering and a posterized graphic of a welder at work in fire red! He came on by me and I raced to get up beside him again and again. My helper thought I was Crazy!!!
what a trill!!!!!
Take time and read some of the profiles on the sign museum website. They are stories of our forefathers in the sign biz.
-------------------- John Arnott El Cajon CA 619 596-9989 signgraphics1@aol.com http://www.signgraphics1.com Posts: 1443 | From: El Cajon CA usa | Registered: Dec 1998
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Good post, Mark. When we had our shop up in Ohio years ago, my brother idolized Chester. And he was right. I guess he was one of the forerunners of really creative layouts. His color combinations were sometimes odd, but always worked.
What a talent!!
-------------------- Dale Feicke Grafix 714 East St. Mendenhall, MS 39114
"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Posts: 2963 | From: Mendenhall, MS | Registered: Apr 1999
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that little blue sprial book was/is a Look at The Other Side!!!
-------------------- John Lennig / Big Top Sign Arts 5668 Ewart Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada bigtopya@hotmail.com 604.451.0006 Posts: 2184 | From: Burnaby, British Columbia,Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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quote: Today it seems to me that we signwriters, shop owners especially, are losing control of our own craft—by giving away sketches and designs just to speculate on a job. The usual signwriter seems to be too good-natured to be a good businessman. Also, we signwriters have historically been guilty of an inability to bind together (heavy egos, throat-cutting and professional jealousy). Now the graphic people and design groups are making more money than us, simply by charging for the signage design we give away, and ours is usually better.
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I love the pix on that link. Now that my friend was some great sign writing. Love.....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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One of my favorite stories from Chet was one he told often.
While he was a youngster in Dothan, Alabama, the old timers would make fun of him because he was doing things so much differently than they. They ridiculed his passion, saying "No one cares about that fancy stuff, they just want something cheap".
After he became well known in the trade because of his exposure through Signs of the Time and after he had moved to the Atlanta area, those same old timers in Dothan were bragging..."Yea, I taught him everything he knows".
"A prophet is not without honor except in his own country"
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Chester's daughter has a signshop about 5 miles from here and she's an excellent designer like he r dad was. She called the shop just this morning.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7404 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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quote:Originally posted by Wayne Webb: Chester's daughter has a signshop about 5 miles from here and she's an excellent designer like he r dad was. She called the shop just this morning.
Wayne is that Reggie? She was in the first Mike Stephens Layout and Design Workshop I went to. I have that little spiral notebook and I well remember the graphic of the welder, in fact I "borrowed" it and hand lettered it on a friends sign years ago. Chet was definitely the man.
-------------------- Ricky Jackson Signs Now 614 Russell Parkway Warner Robins, GA (478) 923-7722 signpimp50@hotmail.com
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Issac Newton Posts: 3528 | From: Warner Robins, GA | Registered: Oct 2004
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In the early '80s, I had a sign painter working for me who used to work with Chester. You could really see Chester's influence in Ron's work. At Fred's meet last week I got to scope out Bruce Bowers' portfolio. You can tell he's picked up a point or two from Cunningham's layouts as well.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5084 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Before we had Letterheads, there was a bunch of guys getting together doing the same thing. Chester Cunningham, Keith Knecht, Big John Brassell, Emmett Morelli and Bob Harper, to name a few.
I can't think of anything that influenced what so many of us. Seeing their layouts in ST Magazine completely changed my personal views on layout and design.
Wayne. Please do all you can to encourage Chester's Daughter to join us here in Letterville. A few years back, I was able to spend a day with Dawn Stevens, Daughter of the legendary Mike Stevens. It's a joy to let these Family members know just how much their Dad's lives influenced so many.
Thanks for the post Mark.
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
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Yep! Gotta agree that Chester was one of the best! I rely often on pictures of his signs when I am blank of idea. I would be curious if he was influenced by Edward Eberhardt, as he used lots of panel and background shapes in his design, something that Eberhardt was teaching in his Idea Sheets.
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Chester Cunningham work was a real inspiration to me. It is very reminiscent of the stuff being done in Chicago in the 40's and 50's.
If I had those Eberhardt sheets, I could make PDF's. I am an old hand lettering dinosaur who can use a computer...
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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Wayne Webb sent me the link to the Chester Cunningham topic. It is amazing how long he has remained a household name. His work never seems to go out style. I wonder if we will be remembered or mentioned as often as he has in the past 27 years. It's all about living and leaving a legacy I suppose. I find much inspiration in looking over his work and studying his design concepts.
Chester's passion for signs and designing lives through my veins as I am his daughter. He left his genetic mark on me. I inherited many of his natural gifts. Thank goodness as I have been gainfully employed in the sign industry since age 17. I can't imagine doing anything else. It pays to be creative that's for sure.
I am honored to see his influence still impacts the sign industry. I'm sure he would get a kick out of this site and how much more united sign people have become. He offered up many pointers and suggestions along the way to anyone who would listen to his sign chatter. He gave freely and willingly mounds of useful information that has been pasted down over the years. Although his life was short lived his work remains timeless and his passion was endless.
-------------------- Regina L. Wolfgang Auto Graphix 1417 Jackson Ave. Chipley, FL 32428 850-638-2999 Posts: 15 | From: Chipley, FL | Registered: Jul 2007
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Welcome to Letterville, Regina. I've always loved your dad's work and tried, in my own way, to utilize his concepts in many of my designs.
Ron Collier was a sign painter who worked for me in the early '80s after I moved him and his family here from Panama City, Florida. He called himself "The Chocolate Chipper" since he was one of the few black sign painters in the area. He'd worked with Chester in southern Alabama and was heavily influenced by their association.
He was my private Chester Cunningham and introduced me to several publications that had your dad's work in them.
I have few extant photos of Ron's work. Some day, I'll dig up what I can find and post them. Ron was awesome. His health, except for brief intervals, has not allowed him to paint signs for over 20 years. I still stay in touch with the family.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5084 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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A big welcome from me too Reggie! I just had to get out my copy of the Chester Cunningham sign design notebook. It's missing half of the plastic bindings but not from abuse. As I opened the cover, taped to the inside was the obit from Signs of the Times that Ray Chapman had written. I read it with the warmest feeling. I think it's time Ray coughed up those extra pix! Got a scanner Ray?
As I carefully flipped the pages I found example after example that I had "borrowed". Not just copying but trying to get into the style of the man himself. I never developed the style fully, traveling my own path instead but I think it was his work that gave me my first real appreciation for casual lettering and the importance of graphics instead of just "lettering". I remember making notes of his color combinations too. A few years later I would find myself traveling around Chicago and Detroit with Ken Millar and Al Grand "the gold man", looking at and photographing signs and hanging on every word they said. Chet really knew how to use panels to present an attractive layout and as I traveled around with my other mentors I saw Chets influence everywhere. In the strictest sence, I believe he was the first letterhead.
-------------------- Ricky Jackson Signs Now 614 Russell Parkway Warner Robins, GA (478) 923-7722 signpimp50@hotmail.com
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Issac Newton Posts: 3528 | From: Warner Robins, GA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Hi David, thanks for the insights. Did Ron letter showcards? I met a black signman in Dothan back in the early 80's. I can't remember his name but I did get him to do some snap work for me.
-------------------- Regina L. Wolfgang Auto Graphix 1417 Jackson Ave. Chipley, FL 32428 850-638-2999 Posts: 15 | From: Chipley, FL | Registered: Jul 2007
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Hi Ricky I still have some pics from the Mike Stevens workshop. I think your hair was much longer then. Somewhere along the way I lost the Mike Stevens book. It could've been all the moving around in my younger days. Part gypsy, part sign painter you know how it goes.
-------------------- Regina L. Wolfgang Auto Graphix 1417 Jackson Ave. Chipley, FL 32428 850-638-2999 Posts: 15 | From: Chipley, FL | Registered: Jul 2007
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Hey Mike I'm not real sure about what book you sent. Refresh my memory. I do have an autographed copy of Signs of the Times that Chet had given Buddy Driggers. Buddy was one of the people who claimed to have taught Chester everything he knew. When Chester made front cover he was quick to share it with Buddy and autographed it. At the time I'm sure even Buddy had no clue on what a lasting presence he would remain in the industry. I never met Buddy but we did speak on the phone several times.
-------------------- Regina L. Wolfgang Auto Graphix 1417 Jackson Ave. Chipley, FL 32428 850-638-2999 Posts: 15 | From: Chipley, FL | Registered: Jul 2007
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Reggie, I loaned out my M.S. book that had all of my autographs in it and I never got it back, forgot who I had loaned it to. I bought another one, got Mike and Cosmic to sign it also. Then the guy I loaned the first one to brought it back - much to my relief! If you'll scan those pix (high rez) and burn them to a CD or DVD and send them to me, I'll send you the second copy of Mastering Layout, signed (to me) by Mike Stephens and Cosmic Ray. Deal or no deal?
-------------------- Ricky Jackson Signs Now 614 Russell Parkway Warner Robins, GA (478) 923-7722 signpimp50@hotmail.com
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Issac Newton Posts: 3528 | From: Warner Robins, GA | Registered: Oct 2004
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He's the one. Incredible talent, reserved and humble. His wife's name is Dolly. I torment her by breaking out into my "Hello Dolly!" rendition every time I see her.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5084 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Wish I could say I knew him ...In a way we were close. I drooled over everything he did.
I've known Bob Harper over 25 years and used to follow his work...he actually worked where I stood my apprenticeship... Colorado Signs in Denver. Unfortunately he left there about a year before I arrived but his stuff was everywhere and he and I still reminise about shared friends over the years.
That reminds me I need to call him...been a while!
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
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I spent time with Chet at Emmetts with Bob and although I too was influenced by his designs, I have fond memories of the man. He sure could talk. Thanks Monte, I owe Bob a call too.
-------------------- Kent Smith Smith Sign Studio P.O.Box 2385, Estes Park, CO 80517-2385 kent@smithsignstudio.com Posts: 1025 | From: Estes Park, CO | Registered: Nov 1998
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