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WELL I MADE UP MY MIND. IM GONNA DO IT, AND IM GONNA ASK YOU TO HELP. YOU'RE THE ONLY TYPE OF PEOPLE I KNOW AND TRUST TO HELP GET THE JOB DONE AND WITH AS LITTLE FANFARE(that part is hard) AS POSSIBLE. I'VE LET IT STEW TOO LONG AND I JUST FEEL ROTTEN ABOUT IT. SHEILA NEEDS SOME SERIOUS HELP. I'VE KNOWN HER FOR 35 YEARS AND SHE ALWAYS TREATED ME GOOD. SHE WAS ALWAYS AROUND WITH AN UPBEAT ATTITUDE AND A HELPING HAND. SHE HAD 15 MARVELOUS YEARS WITH VON DUTCH (ALL TRUE), IN THE LATE 60s WHEN HE DEVELOPED SOME MENTAL PROBLEMS THAT WAS TURNING HIM INTO A DUPLICATE COPY OF THE CHARACTER HE HAD CREATED MUCH EARLIER HE CALLED VON DUTCH, LAMPOON HE WAS SO BELIEVABLE THAT HE OFTEN BECANME THE CENTER OF THE PARTY WITH HIS OUTRAGING. GOOD FRIEND STEVE MCQUEEN,EGGED HIM ON MUCH TO DUTCHS DETRIMENT. DUTCH SANK DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO HIS LITTLE WORLD WHERE HE DEVELOPED INTO THE NASTIEST PERSON I EVER KNEW.. SHEILA WAS AT WITS END TRYING TO KEEP ON TOP OF THINGS, AND DEALING WITH THIS GENIUS SAVANT ARTIST WHO DIDN’T LIKE CONVERSING WITH THE AVERAGE PERSON BECAUSE JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY WAS MENTALLY BENEATH HIM. NO ONE BUT 3 OR 4 OF US KNEW THAT THE TYRADES OF THIS ‘UBOAT COMMANDER, WAS HIS ATTEMPT AT HUMOR. BUT NOBODY GOT IT, SO CONVINCING WAS HE, , THAT HE MADE PEOPLE NERVOUS, AND DUTCH BECAME SOMEWHAT OF AN OUTCAST AMONG SOME OF HIS OWN FRIENDS THIS IS HOW HE SAW HIMSELF. THERE’S THE BIG MISCONCEPTION ABOUT THE MAN. HE WAS SICK, NOT CRAZY. HE WAS A GENIUS SAVANT. HE COULD REMEMBER EVERYTHING….I MEAN ‘EVERYTHING.HEWOULDN’T BE CAUGHT DEAD AT A DOCTORS OFFICE. BAD MOVE . HE SEEMED STUCK IN A WORLD HE DIDN’T UNDERSTSAND. PRIVATELY HE AND SHEILA ALWAYS ENJOYED A MARVELOUS RELATIONSHIP THEN CAME THAT DAY IN 1969. DUTCH RUSHED INTO HIS HOUSE FROM THE SHOP, AND ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WERE ALL GOING TO MOVE TO HELL ON EARTH…...THE ARIZONA DESERT. A PLACE WHERE HE COULD HIDE FROM LIFE. THE LAST TIME THEY HAD SERIOUS TROUBLE WAS THE JAGUAR-OVER-THE-CLIFF INCIDENT, THAT CAUSED PREGNANT SHEILA TO LOSE THEIR CHILD. IT WAS DUTCH'S FAULT....BOOZE. CHILD. AND IT WAS ALL DUTCH’S FAULT……..BOOZE. THEY WOULD WALK AWAY FROM THEIR CALABASAS CASTLE, A PERFECT LITTLE RANCH PROPERTY. COMPLETE WITH A PAINT SHOP AND GARAGE FOR DUTCHS WORK. ., AND KEEPING DUTCH HAPPY AS MUCH AS SHE COULD.. SHEILA WAS A GREAT MOM, AND GOOD FOR HER MAD GEIUS OL’MAN. MOST OF THEIR FRIENDS WERE MOVIE PEOPLE…..STEVE MCQUEEN,JIM GARNER, KEENO WYNN , LEE MARVIN, ELVIS , AND BEST FRIEND DOUG HEWITT AND ABOUT 8- 10 OTHERS... STUNTMEN,GAFFERS, BIKERS..THEY ALL HAD ONE THING IN COMMON THAT WAS THE GLUE THAT KEPT THEM ALL TOGETHER HEY WERE ALL EXTREMELY TALKENTED AND TOPS IN THEIR FIELD. THE PROPERTY IN CALABASES WAS WHERE THE WINTON-FLYER, FROM THE FILM, THE REIVERS WAS CONSTRUCTED WITH JUNK AND SPARE PARTS INTO A COMPLETELY AUTHENTIC LOOKING CAR FROM THE EARLY 1900s,ALL DONE BY VON DUTCH, AND WHERE MCQUEEN RACED AROUND IN HIS RESTORED WWII HALF-TRACK.DUTCH AND SHEILA LITERALLY HAD IT ALL. AND IT ALL WORKED FLAWLESSLY DUE TO NO SMALL EFFORT BY SHEILA, THE WOMAN BEHIND THE MYTH…..THE VON DUTCHESS!. WELL THE REST OF THE STORY HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED VON DUTCH STORIES ABOUND, MOST ARE LIES AND MADE UP TALES THAT KEEP THE LEGEND ALIVE. MOVE AHEAD TO THE ‘90S …….DUTCH PASSED AWAY IN ‘92, AND THE LEGAL HEIRS TO THE HOWARD ESTATE WERE THE TWO DAUGHTERS, LISA AND LORNA. SHEILA DIVORCED DUTCH IN THE EARLY ‘70S AND MOVED BACK TO L.A. THE DAUGHTERS WERE CONTACTED BY A GROUP OF PSUEDO-WEALTHY WANABES ABOUT PURCHASING THE FAMILY NAME “VON DUTCH” TO START UP A CLOTHING BUSINESS BY CASHING IN ON SOMEONE ELSES FAME.AND NOTARIETY.. SO TEENAGERS LISA AND LORNA WHO HAD LITTLE EXPERIENCE WITH ANYTHING, ASSUMED THEY WOULD BE TREATED HONESTLY AND IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER AND GET REWARDED WITH A LITTLE CASH, RAN INTO THE FOG OF CORPORATE MUMBO-JUMBO AND LEGAL MANIPULATION PLUS WHAT AMOUNTS TO POSSIBLE FRAUD AND COPYRIGHT THEFT... SO AFTER A TIME, THINGS REMAIN AS THEY WERE, BARELY LEGAL RIP-OFF BUSINESS PRACTICES SHOWING MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PROFITS FOR THE MOUTH-BREATHERS MADE WITH DISHONESTY.. AND A BIT OF MIS-REPRESENTATION . TAKING HOME ALL THE MARBLES….AND
ALL THIS COULD BE VIEWED BY SOME AS “SOUR GRAPES” IT’S A VERY SAD STORY WITHOUT A HAPPY ENDING WHAT WE’RE LEFT WITH IS WHO WATCHED OUT FOR HER.CRAZY OL' GENIUS HUSBAND FOR AS LONG AS SHE COULD, , AND NOW SHE'S A VERY SICK, LONELY VIBRANT WOMAN OF 75 WHO 'LIVES' ON A SS CHECK OF 600 BUCKS A MONTH WITH A DAZED EXPRESSION ON HER FACE, SAYING TO HERSELF….”WHAT TIME DID ALL THIS HAPPEN!?” SHE CANT GO ANYWHERE....NO CAR…………YEARS OF BEING MISUNDERSTOOD AND IGNORED BY FAMILY AND SOME “CLOSE FRIRENDS” AND NOW RUNNING OUT OF TIME,AND “WELCOMES”..WHETHER YOU EVER GAVE IT A THOUGHT, SHEILA WAS DEALT A HAND THAT WAS LIKE “LIFE IN A DYSFUNCTIONAL TRAILER PARK.”,SEEING TO IT THAT HER SICK GENIUS CREATOR OF THE LIVELYHOOD MANY OF US HAVE ENJOYED.....PINSTRIPERS, RODDERS, BIKERS,CUSTOM PAINTERS AND FABRICATORS. WE ALL OWE SHEILA A LITTLE SOMETHING. SO I MADE UP MY MIND. IM GONNA BUY HER A CAR SO SHE CAN AT LEAST ESCAPE THOSE 4 WALLS NOW AND THEN,AND MAYBE A FEW EXTRA GROCERIES.. SHE WONT ASK FOR HELP, BUT I WILL. ALL YOU DECENDENTS OF THE CRAFT, SEARCH YOUR SOULS AND LOOSEN UP THE PURSE STRINGS.ITS ABOUT TIME FOR SOME PAYBACK. I’LL START THE BALL ROLLING BY FORKING OVER $1000!
IF YOU ARE ‘MOVED’ TO BE A PART OF SAVING THE LIFE OF A ‘FAMILY MEMBER’, EMAIL ME AT: bobburnssigns@yahoo.com.
R send me a BIG CHECK made out to BOB BURNS FOR SHEILA.
BOB BURNS 3191 ASTER DRIVE 2051 PRESACOTT, AZ. 86305
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Well I made up my mind. I'm gonna do it, and I'm gonna ask you to help. You're the only type of people I know and trust to help get the job done and with as little fanfare(that part is hard) as possible. I've let it stew too long and I just feel rotten about it.
Sheila needs some serious help. I've known her for 35 years and she always treated me good. She was always around with an upbeat attitude and a helping hand. She had 15 marvelous years with von dutch (all true), in the late 60s when he developed some mental problems that was turning him into a duplicate copy of the character he had created much earlier he called Von Dutch, lampoon he was so believable that he often became the center of the party with his outraging. Good friend Steve McQueen,egged him on much to Dutch's detriment. Dutch sank deeper and deeper into his little world where he developed into the nastiest person I ever knew. Sheila was at wits end trying to keep on top of things and dealing with this genius savant artist who didn’t like conversing with the average person because just about everybody was mentally beneath him. No one but 3 or 4 of us knew that the tirades of this U-boat commander, was his attempt at humor. But nobody got it, so convincing was he.
That he made people nervous and Dutch became somewhat of an outcast among some of his own friends this is how he saw himself. There’s the big misconception about the man. He was sick, not crazy. He was a genius savant. He could remember everything….i mean ‘everything. He wouldn’t be caught dead at a doctors office. Bad move . He seemed stuck in a world he didn’t understsand. Privately he and sheila always enjoyed a marvelous relationship then came that day in 1969. Dutch rushed into his house from the shop, and announced that they were all going to move to hell on earth…...the Arizona desert. A place where he could hide from life. The last time they had serious trouble was the jaguar-over-the-cliff incident, that caused pregnant Sheila to lose their child. It was Dutch's fault....booze. Child. And it was all Dutch’s fault……..booze. They would walk away from their calabasas castle, a perfect little ranch property. Complete with a paint shop and garage for Dutch's work. ...and keeping dutch happy as much as she could..
Sheila was a great mom, and good for her mad genius ol’man. Most of their friends were movie people…..Steve McQueen, Jim Garner, Keeno Wynn , Lee Marvin, Elvis , and best friend Doug Hewitt and about 8- 10 others... Stuntmen, gaffers, bikers..they all had one thing in common that was the glue that kept them all together They were all extremely talented and tops in their field. The property in calabases was where the Winton-Flyer, from the film, the reivers was constructed with junk and spare parts into a completely authentic looking car from the early 1900s,all done by Von Dutch, and where McQueen raced around in his restored WWII half-track. Dutch and Sheila literally had it all. And it all worked flawlessly due to no small effort by Sheila, the woman behind the myth…..the Von Dutchess! Well the rest of the story has been well documented Von Dutch stories abound, most are lies and made up tales that keep the legend alive.
Move ahead to the ‘90s ......Dutch passed away in ‘92, and the legal heirs to the Howard Estate were the two daughters, Lisa and Lorna. Sheila divorced Dutch in the early ‘70s and moved Back to L.A. The daughters were contacted by a group of psuedo-wealthy wannabees about purchasing the family name “Von Dutch” to start up a clothing business by cashing in on someone else's fame.and notoriety. So teenagers Lisa and Lorna who had little experience with anything, assumed they would be treated honestly and in a professional manner and get rewarded with a little cash, ran into the fog of corporate mumbo-jumbo and legal manipulation plus what amounts to possible fraud and copyright theft... So after a time, things remain as they were, barely legal rip-off business practices showing multi-million dollar profits for the mouth-breathers made with dishonesty.. And a bit of misrepresentation . Taking home all the marbles….and
All this could be viewed by some as “sour grapes” it’s a very sad story without a happy ending what we’re left with is who watched out for her.crazy ol' genius husband for as long as she could, , and now she's a very sick, lonely vibrant Woman of 75 who 'lives' on a SS check of 600 bucks a month with a dazed expression on her face, saying to herself….”what time did all this happen!?” She cant go anywhere....no car…………years of being misunderstood and ignored by family and some “close friends” and now running out of time,and “welcomes”..whether you ever gave it a thought, sheila was dealt a hand that was like “life in a dysfunctional trailer park.”,seeing to it that her sick genius Creator of the livelihood many of us have enjoyed.....pinstripers, rodders, bikers,custom painters and fabricators. We all owe sheila a little something. So i made up my mind. I'm gonna buy her a car so she can at least escape those 4 walls now and then,and maybe a few extra groceries.. She wont ask for help, but i will. All you decedents of the craft, search your souls and loosen up the purse strings.its about time for some payback. I’ll Start the ball rolling by forking over $1000!
If you are ‘moved’ to be a part of saving the life of a ‘family member’, email me at: bobburnssigns@yahoo.com.
R send me a big check made out to bob burns for sheila.
Bob Burns 3191 Aster Drive 2051 Prescott, AZ. 86305
It's hard to read about the financial hardships so many of our old heros are enduring in their senior years. If you are in a position to help out, I can assure you this is a real need.
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
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I still don't see why this is my concern. There are many people in my own town I don't know who are getting my help. I know, that makes me bad. Your part about payback is off the wall.
That said, I wish her well and hope her friends and family help her.
-------------------- Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Posts: 2785 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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glenn & dave, great contributions. you helped out a lot. some people when given the opportunity to HELP another, in times of distress WILL DO FOR THEIR FRIENDS. but seem both of you dont need any help from anyone, and i would be surprised if YOU WOULD GET ANY, from any who read your responses. i say this as someone who just went thru a life changing episode, not of my choosing, and their was people from here who did more then they needed to for my recovery. i really feel for people with hard hearts. you wont get outa here without given back.........i know this.
[ May 17, 2011, 08:31 PM: Message edited by: old paint ]
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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Just a clarification...Glenn's post was a repost of Bob's but in regular typing style, not all caps.
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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I usually do not post here, but today I am going to make an exception......I have been just a simple observer of what goes on in this forum, since the year 2001, because I enjoy and like the people who run the website and the people who come here. ......However,today, I have to say this: David Wright, if you do not have anything nice or positive to say in a matter of this nature.......do not say anything and save the negative remarks to yourself. I do not, really, care about your negative contributions to this topic.....That is not nice and, much less necessary. I imagine that there are others who feel the same way you feel but choose to not say anything.........That is, simply, called CLASS!
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thanks dave, i just spent 10 days layin in a hospital bed, coming back from a near fatal heart attack. like i said many HERE sent me gifts. if i had some EXTRA CASH at this time, which i dont, i would GIVE A LITTLE to help a fellow member of our profession.grundy, and doing the repost....DID WHAT to help?????? nothing.
[ May 18, 2011, 12:31 AM: Message edited by: old paint ]
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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What's your problem OLD VINYL? Glenn Taylor reposted so we wouldn't strain our eyes and what do you do, but use all caps yourself as if you mean business, wonderful..
And what's the story with you and Dave Grundy, he is at least a gentleman
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Joe sent out plenty when he was in a position to do so.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5273 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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"doing the repost....DID WHAT to help?????? nothing." This comment struck me as rather weird.
And "Use your brain Ricardo, it might help." is the first time I've seen this sort of thing on Letterville.
[ May 18, 2011, 01:54 AM: Message edited by: Dennis Kiernan ]
-------------------- dennis kiernan independent artist san francisco, calif, usa Posts: 907 | From: san francisco, ca usa | Registered: Feb 2010
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Thanx for the space Steve. well, some things never change. .....THE ****ING CONTEST CONTINUES......... SOME PEOPLE JUST NEVER CAN SEE THE FOREST FROR THGE TREES!
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My Mom and I'm sure many others used to say, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything." Sometimes I wonder what gets into some of you! Remember, the thing that you say to a person could be the last thing you say to them forever. No one is promised tomorrow. Do you want to be remembered for saying something like that? Try to have a little kindness in your heart....
-------------------- 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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Jane, that's true. My wife's uncle lived in a home with about 30 cats. He absolutely stunk. After 10 years of not so subtle hints, I told him flat out ...... "man, you reek ..... you smell like a walking f*&% litter box & you need to go home & have a bath". I don't know if the clean water killed him, but he died the next day. I liked him too, at least from a distance, & I still feel a bit guilty about that.
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in fact iam in the process of making a 12" x 24" panel for an eye doctor i had, he stopped the optical stroke in my left eye, i was having with the open heart surgery. i have a "von dutch" flying eyeball and iam going to paint it with the doctors name on it. he also is a pilot so iam gona say dr. XXXXXX, the flyin eye doctor, on it. i will make a 2nd one, and let the car club i belong to raffle it off and send the proceeds to bob.
[ May 18, 2011, 08:57 PM: Message edited by: old paint ]
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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I'm going to lock this particular post up. By now, we all know the need. Jane's Mom said it best. There's no need to respond to every post.
Give us a few days to pass this request on to a few others, I feel would like to help out. The Pinhead gang are doing all sorts of Panel Jams these days. Those of us who still love to paint side by side with others, are urged to get involved.
Letterville is open for any positive way of raising cash to help out. A Paypal button comes to mind or some sort of Panel Swap and/or Auction.
I never met Dutch, but I sure get a kick out of hearing the stories. Why is the thought of a 75 yo Lady crusin' the open road so scary to me?
-------------------- Steve Shortreed 144 Hill St., E. Fergus, Ontario Canada N1M 1G9 519-787-2673
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