Authors & Artists ...

Bob Dylan's "Tempest"

Soon, Bob Dylan will release his 35th studio album, Tempest. Rolling Stone has called it a "dark masterpiece". The centerpiece of the album is its 14 minute title track dealing with the sinking of the Titanic. Dylan's typically offhand response to those who've found significance in the fact that "The Tempest" was the title of Shakespeare's final play was simple: "The name of my record is just plain 'Tempest.' It's two different titles." Though Dylan has never lacked for creative energy, stuff since 1997's "Time Out of Mind", he seems to have entered a new creatively fertile period that, from all accounts thus far, continues with "Tempest". The name of the album is a reminder that weather conditions (often violent)  have featured prominently in his lyrics and song titles, even from his earliest work.

Consider the following:

"Blowin' in the Wind"

"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows." (Subterranean Homesick Blues)

"Buckets of Rain"

"A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall"

"A messenger sent me in a tropical storm" (Sara)

"You were born with a snake in both of your fists while a hurricane was blowing." (Jokerman)

"Shelter from the Storm"

"When the Night Comes Falling From the Sky"

"Thunder on the Mountain"

"I ran into the fortune-teller who said beware of lightning that might strike." (Idiot Wind)

"A change in the weather is known to be extreme." (You're a Big Girl Now)

"Crash on the Levee (Down in the Flood)"

And this is by no means a comprehensive list.

Of course with any songwriter who's released around 500 original songs and whose career spans over five decades, there are bound to be a number of references to a topic as ubiquitous as the weather, but just as the authors of ancient myths, Bob Dylan often seems to find inspiration in the heavens.

In keeping with the somber mood of the album, "Tempest" will be released on Sept. 11th.

LP: New Artist, New EP, Amazing Voice

Chances are you might not recognize singer-songwriter LP by name (or initials),  but you've no doubt heard her unforgettable voice belting out her just released single "Into the Wild" in the Citi Bank commercial with the girl rock climber. Though she's already achieved some success as a songwriter and released several smaller label CDs, her just-released breakout EP featuring audio & live video versions of five new songs, and recent stories in Rolling Stone and on CNN confirm that she's an artist on the rise. From her recent live appearances at Austin's SXSW festival and on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, it's clear that LP delights in performing for a live audience. It's also clear that her voice doesn't need any studio wizardry to make an impression. LP is scheduled to appear at Lollapalooza in Chicago on August 4th.

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Addendum:

LP’s manager came across this post, and as a result I was given complimentary backstage passes to Lollapalooza got to meet her prior to the show. Needless to say, it was an AMZING performance and LP and her band could not have been nicer. Thanks very much and continued success, LP!

Into the Twilight Zone

This past weekend, while others rang in the New Year with parties and Bowl games, I entered a dimension not only of sight or sound, but of mind. My daughter alerted me to the Syfy network's "Twilight Zone" marathon early on NewYears Eve and from that point on I was hooked. Though I'm by no means a Twilight Zone expert, over the years I've seen the show seemingly countless times, so I was surprised to find that some of the episodes this go-around were new to me.

Of course the entire series is the brainchild of the ultra cool and stern narrator Rod Serling, who wrote most of the stories and opens each episode with a wry introduction. The series began in the late 50's, and just as Playboy magazine was redefining the girlie magazine, Serling, who comes across as "Hef's" more cerebral alter ego, brought the "bug-eyed monster" sci-fi genre from the pulp comics store into mainstream living rooms. The stories endure, despite low budgets and (by today's standards) cheesy special effects, because of the deep psychological insights that Serling brought to them. He also addressed controversial topics and contemporary hot button issues such as the Holocaust, nuclear war, and racial inequality.

Though "The Twilight Zone" only ran for five seasons, there were a stunning 156 episodes in total, 96 of which were written or co-written by Serling. Two of them, "It's a Good Life", which features child star Billy Mumy as a spoiled kid with terrifying mental powers, and "To Serve Man", in which earthlings are lured to an alien planet only to discover that they're to be "served" as food, were cited as being among TV Guide's "100 Greatest Episodes of All Time". So it's no wonder that I find it difficult to pick a personal favorite episode. Still, here are a couple that stand out for me:

LoisNettleton

LoisNettleton

"The Midnight Sun": NYC apartment tenant Norma (played by Oak Park, IL native Lois Nettleton) struggles to remain optimistic and cheerful despite the fact that the Earth has left its orbit and is plunging ever nearer to the sun. She finally collapses in fear and despair. (SPOILER:) In a twist on the "it's only a dream" ending, a relieved Norma awakes from her nightmare oblivious to the news that the doomed earth is actually RETREATING from the sun.

The recent Lars von Trier film "Melancholia"has a similar theme of people trying to keep it together in the face of impending celestial doom.

"The Dummy": Cliff Robertson stars as Jerry, a ventriloquist with problems. Besides battling alcohol, he's convinced that his creepy and malevolent dummy, Willie, is controlling his mind and his act. When Robertson resolves to replace Willie with a more docile costar, things get out of hand. As a kid, I was thoroughly weirded out by ventriloquist dummies, which I managed to overcome through immersion therapy when I asked and received one from Santa one Christmas. Still, this episode brings back those unsettling feelings, and the final scene, which features a role reversal with the doll/ventriloquist looking directly at camera, is unforgettably eerie.

So now that the "Twilight Zone" marathon has concluded, I wonder whether a new series of half hour sci-fi stories could be as successful today. The Twilight Zone was resurrected for a three season run in the late 80's and Serling himself hosted the series Night Gallery from 1970-73, which centered more on horror/fantasy stories, but neither attained the cult status and reputation of the classic Twilight Zone series. I'm sure there are many talented writers who could share the duties of scripting some incredible stories. As I see it, the main challenge would be wowing today's audiences accustomed to lavish sets and production values, something hard to attain with "one-off" characters and situations.

For a complete online list of the original Twilight Zone episodes along with brief descriptions, see "The Croc's Domain: Original Twilight Zone Episode Guide".

So what's your favorite episode? Comments and thoughts welcome.

Interview with Raid Bug creator Don Pegler

Update: It was with great sadness that I received the news that Don Pegler passed away yesterday, Dec. 26, 2011. He was a giant in the business of advertising and truly one of the nicest guys I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. RIP Don. You'll be missed.

(Originally Published Oct. 1st, 2010)

With bedbugs, stinkbugs, and R1N1 in the headlines these days, what better time to check in with Don Pegler, the creator and artist behind one of the most successful ad campaigns ever?

The Raid bug campaign, originating in 1963, is part of advertising history, and Don Pegler designed and drew them for 40 years of his career with Foote, Cone & Belding ad agency (now DraftFCB) in Chicago.

I was just beginning my career with Foote, Cone, & Belding at a time when Mr. Pegler was a veteran of the agency and held the esteemed position of "Artist in Residence".

When I called on him for an interview all these years later, he was as cordial and generous with his time as always, crafting a thoughtfully written twelve page letter in response to my questions.

Were you surprised at how enduring the Raid campaign has been? DP: When I started on the Raid account I really liked it, but I never thought it would still be going 50 years later. And I got to go out to Hollywood and work with famous people like Mel Blanc (voice of Bugs Bunny and many others) and Tex Avery (Animation Director). At the time, I didn't realize how famous they were...just a guy making funny voices- and driving a Rolls Royce. Years later at an animation show, some people wanted to touch some of the notes Tex Avery had sent me as if they were touching the Holy Grail.

Where did you learn to be an illustrator? DP:  I went to The Art Institute of Chicago for a semester, but they weren't teaching us how to get a job. So I took a night course on how advertising works- one week at a studio, next a printing house, then an agency, etc. At the end of the course, the teacher got us jobs. I was an apprentice at a large art studio- delivering packages and mail, cutting mats, etc. I made $20 a week. But I could use the studio as a downtown base to shop around my samples and look for a real job. One time I went to the office of Esquire magazine on Michigan Ave. to show some cartoons I had done, but they were packing up the office to move to New York. And one of their people had just quit to start a "girlie" magazine. It was Hugh Hefner going to start Playboy. Years later, I was introduced to his daughter, Christy Hefner and I was tempted to tell her that story, but I didn't.

Did you have other jobs before FCB? DP: Before joining FCB, I had been a magazine illustrator for five years, and then an animator for five years. A former Disney man taught me animation at a studio called Cartoonists, Inc. in Chicago. But Chicago style animation meant doing the whole job yourself, not like in LA, where you had backup people to do the hundreds of in-between drawings- 12 drawings for each second of film. So I started to feel I was drawing pictures by the pound. And I couldn't show off because the agency guys would be afraid to change anything after they had sold the idea to the client.

Who would you say were your main influences? DP: I'd have to say Jack Davis, of course. And a guy named John Huehnergarth, who was a great idea man and artist from the 50's and 60's.

Earlier, you mentioned a comic strip of yours that was never published. What happened there? DP: One day Henny Youngman called me from New York. He told me he was a comedian with a thousand and one jokes and asked if I was interested in drawing a strip. Of course I was. Henny's strip was about a grandfather who is showing his grandson around New York City. The only gag I remember drawing was: The grandfather takes the kid down to see the subway. When they come back up, the kid says, "I don't know who lives down there, but he's got a great train set." Unfortunately, most of Henny's jokes were for nightclubs and the syndicate that ran comics had strict rules about what went into the comics, so most of the jokes he sent me couldn't be used. How do you illustrate "Take my wife....PLEASE!"? They even had words you couldn't use because "creative" kids could doctor them into swear words. Henny couldn't understand why I couldn't use his jokes, so he asked me if I didn't think he was funny. I told him he was maybe the funniest person I ever met, but his jokes weren't for the comics, so we gave up. I'm glad I did because even though it was a chance at big money, I wouldn't want to do the same thing day after day. I remember walking down Michigan Ave. with Jeff MacNelly, the Chicago Tribune political cartoonist who had just earned his 3rd Pulitzer Prize. I asked him how he had time to draw the strip "Shoe" and do the editorial cartoon AND the cover of the Sunday Magazine section. All he said was "That's not all I do." He died young. Too bad. He was a great talent.

What do you think of the more recent computer animated films as opposed to traditional cel animation? DP: I'm from the horse and buggy days. It's changed so much that I have no idea how it's done. Last night I watched the movie "Avatar" and couldn't tell the real from the fantasy. When digital artists started at FCB, I asked if they drew pictures. They said yes, but it wasn't that important to what they do. So maybe it's the end of drawing as we know it.

Any advice for aspiring illustrators? DP: Because of the difficulty I had getting into the art business- no contacts- no one to ask questions- I always try to help others who want to make a living in art. Through the years, I've been asked to look at young people's portfolios. I'm happy to do that, but I only look at their drawing ability. If they don't have it, I tell 'em. There's other kinds of art jobs- designer, art director, etc., but illustrators have to have drawing ability. And I tell them to be careful of what samples they show. One bad drawing or layout or design will stay in the client's mind over a bunch of good stuff. My many years at FCB were helped by my being able to draw realistically and also draw comic line stuff. I would be asked to do a client's portrait one day and a cartoon the next. And I looked forward to it. Every day.

I'm very thankful to Don Pegler for taking the time to share some of his memories of those early days of advertising. Funny how the Raid bugs meet their end in every commercial, yet they've somehow managed to endure through all these years.

a Pee-wee Herman timeline

PeeWee15

PeeWee15

Sometime during the early 80's, I first saw Pee-wee Herman on the David Letterman show, where he was a recurring guest. At the time, I really didn't know what to make of the character, an invention of improv comic Paul Reubens. But with every appearance, his brand of humor grew on me. The release of "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" made me a fan for life and "Pee-wee's Playhouse" was must viewing for my wife and I and later, for our kids.His recent "renaissance", with a wildly successful broadway show and plans for a new film, was welcome news to me and I'm sure to his many other fans. There were rumors of Johnny Depp taking over the role of Pee-wee in a movie sequel (only SLIGHTLY less ill-conceived than having James Brolin play the part) and there seems to be a grassroots internet movement to draft Jim Parsons ("the Big Bang Theory) as a replacement Pee-wee should that time arrive. As I see it, Reubens is, and will remain, the one and only Pee-wee Herman.