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Is there a Person somewhere in your past that turned you on to the Art of Sign Painting who is still out there and deserves a story and Interveiw for A.M.A.L.? Would you like to salute them but never got up the courage to go as em about an interveiw? If you want me to do it, E-Mail the information such as Phone number, address, photo's etc. to me and I'll handle the rest! These people were/are the backbone to the industry and deserve a pat on the back. Don't be afraid to call me. I'll investigate their background and give them the praise they so richly deserve! Let's see what ya got people!!!!!!!!
------------------ Mike Meyer SignPainter 575 1st Street Box 3 Mazeppa, Mn 55956 (507) 843-5951 EMail-mikemeyer@sleepyeyetel.net Check out this crazed man's web site he's doing fur me.....http://www.markfair.com/mikemeyer
Posts: 3617 | From: Mazeppa, Mn usa | Registered: Feb 1999
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His name is Dave Disbro (sp) and he was from the Beaverton Oregon area. I was hired as the sign painter for Payless Drug Store in Bellevue WA. I had no experience, but the boss knew I absolutely LOVED my sign painting job, so he asked the head sign guy from the corporate office in Beaverton to come out for a day and show me the 'tricks'. What a day!! What an experience. I learned so much in just one day! How to properly hold the brush....how to letter script.....what proper brushes to use......I have thanked my lucky stars so many times for Dave Disbrow. I wish I could find him to tell him what a great difference he made in my life. I think of him often. He later sent me my own set of brushes with a note "To a very Vivacious Virgo. Have fun sign painting! Dave Disbro" He was EXTREMELY talented. I wish I could find him to see what he has been doing since Payless went out of business.....By the way......HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE!
------------------ "surf" Cheryl Nordby Signs by Cheryl 206 300-0153 Seattle Washington
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My hero is Von Dutch! You could hardly get hold of him when he was alive.....now that he's gone, you got a better chance! Those that knew him know what I'm talking about!!
------------------ Bob Burns Bob Burns Signs LETTERCRAFT SIGN SYSTEMS www.lettercraft.com 1619 Oregon Ave. Prescott, Az 86305 1-877-778-5879
Posts: 2121 | From: Prescott, Arizona, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Izzy Posner - alas! Izzy has been gone a long time. Lots of us knew him, though, like Von Dutch, I guess you'd have to settle for stories and impressions. Izzy was a gold man for a lot of years and then became THE brush man in California. At least once a semester he came to L.A. Trade-Tech. and gave us a demo. One time he had 10 gold signs going at once! on 1 window, just to show different techniques. One of my heroes...
The other would be Richard Earnest, my instructor at L.A. T-T. "Earnie" is really shy about this sort of thing and now that he's retired doesn't want much to do with the sign industry at all. I leave him alone out of respect, but I'd sure like him to know how much I appreciate all he taught me.
------------------ "If it isn't fun, why do it?" Signmike@aol.com Mike Languein Doctor of Letters BS, MS, PhD ___________________
You know what BS is, MS is More of the Same, and it's Piled Higher and Deeper here
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Well,let me see' I would have to start out with the mob from Diamond Signs, in San jose, in the early 60's There was the Pentergras bros., George and Penny. They were from Colorado, a couple of bulletin painters and Ted Maddox, who was the Design chief. Apprenticed under these great sign artists, rather I mean was allowed to coat out 100's of boards that they blistered with bodacious skill. Even got to work with them on large letters. There was Jesse Callo, from Mountain View.CA who I learned a lot from in handling the quill and Johnny Berg, I met him in Peoria,IL A great talent and very fast. Studied under John, at Illinois Central College as well. There were a few times I was able to spend some time with the Late Mike Stevens, while doing a stint at Mel Cotton's Sporting Goods in San Jose,CA Mike, would come to do quickie Price cards for the store. He was lighting with a card brush " a true master" The hero of my time though would have to be Chester Cunningham, this guy had the magic touch. Too bad that Letterville, does'nt have a page dedicated to the journeymen who really made their living as everyday sign painters ya know'. I'm sure there were many who became masters but never saw the limelight. Oh Well.... My last employment as a journeyman Sign Painter, was at House of Signs in Sacramento,CA, $15.32 per hour with bennies til 85'. Went back to doin'my own thing from there. Thas'it,..........CrazyJack
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Posts: 2914 | From: Rocklin, CA. USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Those hero's in my life of lettering are no longer in this dimension. Perhaps you could contact them later. Herb Fisher, who started Hollywood Signs in the late twenties. Issie Posner, the legend from Vocay-Vaughn, and as also mentioned are Chester and Mike Stevens. I never met Chester,just spoke on the phone.
------------------ The SignShop Mendocino, California "Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
Posts: 6712 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I've always admired the work of two guys...Keith Knecht from Toledo Ohio, and the late Bill Boley. Every time I've met Keith at a meet, he's always been most eager to go through the portfolio and give a critique. His enthusiasm for the trade seems to be never-ending, even after so many years of cranking out exceptional work.
During the mid-sixties, I used to eagerly await the arrival of Signs-of-the-Times magazine, just so I could get a look at the latest showcards lettered by Bill Boley. This guy was a true master of "spacial relationships" and had some of the nicest script letterstyles. He was also one of the guys who had an influence on Mike Stevens' work.
------------------ Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail kjmlhenry@home.
Some days you get to be the dog....other days, you get to be the fire hydrant.
well i have to say my sign painting hero is a good friend of mine. Chuck Berg. chuck's work has been published in Hot Rod magazine as well as winning SOTM... http://www.markfair.com/signomonthmarch00.html
when i moved to montgomery, alabama in 1976 i noticed chuck's work right away. also everytime a fire engine screams by my shop, if i look out the window i see chuck's work!!! LOL
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