Pulpy Xmas Travels -- Frazetta Museum
Spider9137
newspaper chain in central Jersey. The major newspapers go through their big
holiday advertising blitz, but Xmas is pretty quiet for the smaller local
journals.
While passing the time, I typed "Frank Frazetta" into a web-search engine, and
his official site appeared. Didn't know he had one. Apparently he found
Florida weather in the summer intolerable, and he and wife Ellie returned to
Pennsylvania. He purchased a 75-acre estate and built the new Frazetta Museum,
which opened in July.
Figuring that December 23 and 30 would be pretty quiet for them, I decided to
visit the museum yesterday. Dave Hall, an editorial cartoonist, and I stopped
in Doylestown first, where the James A. Michener Museum is currently displaying
several originals by Al Hirschfeld, the New York Times theatre caricaturist.
In an adjacent room, a display devoted to "Media in the 20th Century" ... A
small room with theatre style seating is playing selected scenes from classic
films, from the silent era to the present; playwright Henry S. Kaufman was
represented with an interesting recreation of his working office; and a small
corner was devoted to magazines.
Several mock-ups of New Yorker covers, but a huge photo of a 1930s newsstand
stretched from floor almost to the ceiling. The top row features slicks, and
there are tons of pulp magazines on a lower shelf. Operator 5, The Spider,
Gold-Seal Western, Railroad Stories, Dime Western ... a STACK of Street & Smith
pulps including Pete Rice, Doc Savage, Western Story Magazine ...
Oddly enough, Dime Detective is displayed on a higher shelf, beside some of
the slicks. Perhaps the Big-Name authors elevated the status of this title,
for a brief time?
OFF TO THE FRAZETTA MUSEUM ...
The Frazetta Museum is located just outside East Stroudsberg, in a very
mountainous terrain. We travelled north on Route 611, a twi lane road which is
a real throwback to the pulp era. Tiny footbridges connect homes to the main
road, as you travel along the Delware River. Then you turn further north and
Route 611 snakes along hills, swooping up and down like a rollercoaster. You
won't be traveling very fast for very long, though. When you come to a sign
that reads "25 Miles Per Hour," they aren't kidding. Makes me question Doc and
The Shadow's ability to race along these roads at 75 mph.
Route 80 East is the last leg of the trip, and the directions warn that a
garden center named Bloomers is your only landmark. Afterward, watch for a
small blacktop driveway on the left hand side. It would be helpful if they
would mention the STONE GARGOYLE with the "Museum" plaque.
Ellie Frazetta welcomed us, and was more than willing to answer questions.
Frank, unfortunately, had just left the hospital the previous day. Hopefully,
we'll meet him when the museum reopens in the spring.
Three busts of the characters from FIRE & ICE were on display. Frank sculpted
these for the animators to reference while creating the artwork for the Bakshi
directed film. "Go ahead, pick them up," Ellie said. I don't hear THAT in
many museums.
A small stack of Conan paperbacks stood between two crouching gargoyle
bookends. Dave objected when I started to look through them, but again Ellie
consented. She grabbed one of the Conan paperbacks. "Take a look at this."
We followed her across the room, to a wall displaying seven paintings for the
CONAN paperbacks. "Look at this one," she said, holding the book beside the
painting. "Frank waited until the last minute to paint this one, and didn't
like it after it was published, so he repainted it." Slapped several coats of
gesso right over the figure of Conan. Sighs of horror followed. "I know, it
drove me crazy. I asked him, 'Why don't you just paint it on another canvas?'
But he wasn't pleased and decided to improve it."
Apparently, several of Frazetta's imitators were claiming that he couldn't
paint "tightly," that he painted with loose brushstrokes out of neccessity.
Frazetta answered them with this painting. "He said, 'I'll show them how to
paint detail.'" Brilliant. But jeez ... did he have to paint OVER the
original??!!
Six "Death Dealer" paintings were prominently displayed. The original from
1973, the four created as covers for a paperback series, and a sixth that I
hadn't seen before. Several of the Burroughs-related paintings were present,
from the latter 1960s and 1970s. I don't recall seeing anything from the Ace
Books period, as Donald Wolheim usually hung onto them. Frazetta used to give
his paintings away, until his wife Ellie put a stop to that.
Buck Rogers line-art from the 1940s (?) was displayed, including the famous
Weird Science cover, with Buck swinging a club at his enemies.
Did Frank still own the original for THE GAUNTLET? Ellie shook her head.
"Nope." Did Clint keep it? "Yeah, Clint Eastwood wanted a Frazetta original,
so he kept the painting after it was used as a poster." What about the
sketches? "We don't have those either. Frank made five or six preliminary
sketches, and Clint chose the worst."
Naturally, there's a gallery store ... more like an alcove with a few display
cases. I purchased an inexpensive print of the original Death Dealer, which
will adorn an honored section of the office.
We were there till slightly after closing time, after which I made the trek
back to south Jersey. I think I got a pounding headache as a result of the
change in altitude ... or perhaps I was still in awe of the paintings. Viewing
Frazetta's originals in person can be a very humbling experience ... especially
if you've attempted to be an illustrator.
Defintiely worth the trip, but try and give yourself enough time for the
inevitable wrong turns and moments of indecision.
Catts4
Dave
Jimvanhise
at least nine of them on display in their office, including the best ones
(BEYOND THE FARTHEST STAR, TARZAN LORD OF THE JUNGLE, THE MAD KING, JUNGLE
TALES OF TARZAN). One of their Ace Frazetta's (TARZAN AND THE LION MAN) was
stolen 20 years ago from the office and has never resurfaced. It was believed
to be an inside job engineered by a Burroughs cousin who had spent time in
prison for other offenses both before and since. (This person died recently so
whatever happened to that painting went with him to the grave). --James Van
Hise
Ilia
nj. thanks for the report.
the ace paperback paintings is a sad story for frazetta, burroughs estate
had the rights to the paintings. so frazetta had
to do recreations.
this past weekend i met a lady (ebay seller id is allstarcs) who related the
sad state of frazetta's health.
i had never known that he had so many consectutive strokes which have
disabled his right side.
Spider9137 <spide...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20001224132402...@ng-co1.aol.com...
Spider9137
sad state of frazetta's health. i had never known that he had so many
consectutive strokes which have disabled his right side. >>
Frank's right hand is disabled, so he started painting with his left. One look
at the results will tell you that Frazetta was meant to paint.
Richard A. Brooks
> Nice post
>
> Dave
Much as I hate to disagree with Dave, I'd call it a very good post.
Rick
Catts4
>
>Rick
>
Upon further reflection (i.e., having my nose gently rubbed in it), I'd even go
with a "great". Maybe even a candidate for the Post-of-the-Year Award -- the
coveted "Burbank".
Dave
Spider9137
<< Upon further reflection (i.e., having my nose gently rubbed in it), I'd even
go with a "great". Maybe even a candidate for the Post-of-the-Year Award --
the
coveted "Burbank". >>
Thanks, guys. I'm blushing. Then again, folks point out that the Academy
Award's Oscar often goes to films which open late in the year. Short-term
memories on the committee's part. I'll modestly assume that's the same dynamic
in effect here. :)