The CHORD IS LOST And The PEWTER HAS GONE TO POT...

In the West End of Glasgow was once a pub called The PEWTER POT.  Some years back, a pal of mine did stints as a deejay there from time to time and occasionally I'd help him set up his stuff, then I'd go for a stroll for an hour or so around that area of 'The Dear Green Place'.  Sadly, when I was in the neighbourhood a couple of weeks or so back, I noticed that The Pewter Pot had been demolished and Student accommodation was being erected on the site.

On my way back to the pub after my perambulations, I'd usually pass a record shop called LOST CHORD.  It was the kind of place that leapt right out at you, because of the way the exterior of the premises was decorated.  If I was ever in the shop on a daytime visit I can no longer recall, but if I was, it was only once.  I passed it quite a few times though, and sometimes stopped to look in the window to see what was on offer within.  The place had character.

On the same day that I noticed The Pewter Pot was no more, I also discovered that Lost Chord had likewise fallen to a similar fate.  It's still a record shop, but under a new name and owner - and with a brand-new look both inside and out.  In fact, at first I didn't click it was the same premises until the person I was with informed me of the fact.  Apparently, the original proprietor, after being there for many years, accepted an offer for the place and Lost Chord ceased to be around the 4th or 5th of September last year.

I've borrowed the accompanying photos from Lost Chord's FACEBOOK page, so I trust they won't mind me using them to lament the passing of a Glasgow icon. I bought a DOLLY PARTON 12" single from the new shop, as the cover was just too enticing to resist.  I can't remember whether it had a Lost Chord price label on it or not (could've been old stock the previous proprietor had abandoned), but regardless, I'm still glad to have it as it reminds me of a shop one simply couldn't ignore on catching sight of it.  Anyone got any memories of the place?

And, in case you were wondering, below is what The Pewter Pot looked like.  Actor DUNCAN MacRAE performed the opening ceremony and pulled the first pint in 1955.

Photo of the opening in 1955

Wait, don't run off.  Below is the record I bought a couple of weeks or so ago from Lost Chord's successor.  What can I say?  How about "Well, hello Dolly!"?

PAST POSTINGS: JOURNEY INTO SWIPERY...

Art by Jack Kirby.  JIM #83, page 8, panel 1

All artists have (or should have) a reference file.  This usually consists of a collection of photos and illustrations of just about every scene imaginable.  It can contain previous drawings by the artist and also even the artwork of others - which is why it's also called a 'swipe' file, because it provides the working illustrator with material from which he can copy if his imagination (or knowledge of the subject) is a little lacking.

It may surprise you to learn that not every artist can sit at their drawing boards and draw just about anything off the top of their head or at the drop of a hat.  Even those who seemingly do so are often drawing (pun intended) upon their experience of an earlier drawing, the subject of which they first had to meticulously research before committing to memory.

Even artists such as WALLY WOOD and JACK KIRBY occasionally swiped from illustrators who had preceded them, like HOGARTH and FOSTER.  Joltin' JOE SINNOTT, inker of many of MARVEL's top pencillers - and an illustrator of no mean accomplishment in his own right - occasionally swiped when he was performing sole drawing chores on The MIGHTY THOR back in the 1960s.

Joe drew five Thor strips for JOURNEY Into MYSTERY (#s 91, 92, 94-96) and not only swiped from Jack Kirby, but even from himself.  I thought it might be interesting to look at a few panels 'inspired' by ones in previous stories.  Some are direct copies, others have been tweaked (and flipped), but their sources are still all-too apparent.

The following examples result from a casual browse through the stories themselves and are by no means exhaustive (in fact, I've since seen one or two others), so look through the issues yourself (if you have 'em) and see which ones you can spot.

Art by Joe Sinnott.  JIM #91, page 12, panel 7

Art by Joe Sinnott.  JIM #94, page 12, panel 5

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Art by Jack Kirby.  JIM #83, page 10, panel 7

Art by Joe Sinnott.  JIM #92, page 10, panel 6

Art by Joe Sinnott.  JIM #95, page 4, panel 7

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Art by Jack Kirby.  JIM #85, page 6, panel 3

Art by Joe Sinnott.  JIM #94, page 10, panel 2

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Art by Jack Kirby (?)/Steve Ditko.  JIM #88, page13, panel 5

Art by Joe Sinnott.  JIM #91, page 1, panel 4

Art by Joe Sinnott.  JIM #94, page 5, panel 7

Art by Joe Sinnott.  JIM #95, page 2, panel 7

Art by Joe Sinnott.  JIM #96, page 2, panel 1

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Art by Joe Sinnott.  JIM #91, page 11, panel 7

Art by Joe Sinnott.  JIM #95, page1, panel 6

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Art by Joe Sinnott.  JIM #91, page 13, panel 3

Art by Joe Sinnott.  JIM #92, page 11, panel 2

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Art by Jack Kirby.  JIM #93, page 3, panel 7.  (This pic looks like a patch)

Art by Joe Sinnott.  JIM #96, page 8, panel 3

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Art by Jack Kirby.  JIM #86, page 12, panel 5

Art by Jack Kirby.  JIM #91, page 9, panel 7

Art by Joe Sinnott.  JIM #95, page 10, panel 7

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Art by Jack Kirby.  JIM #86, page 11, panel 6

Art by Joe Sinnott.  JIM #95 page 2, panel 3

Art by Joe Sinnott.  JIM #95, page 13, panel 7

Art by Joe Sinnott.  JIM #96, page 2, panel 3

KLASSIC KIRBY KOMIC KOVERS: The FANTASTIC FOUR #7...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

Some people think that REED RICHARDS resembles JACK KIRBY on this cover, but I'm not convinced.  There's a vague hint of a similarity if you half close your eyes and look at the comic from the other side of the room through the bottom of a milk bottle, but that's hardly conclusive proof of Kirby's intent to model MISTER FANTASTIC after himself.  Besides, he related more to BEN GRIMM, The THING, so he's unlikely to have also thought of Reed as his comicbook counterpart.  But what do the rest of you think?

KLASSIC KOMIC KOVERS - STAR WARS #1...

Image copyright DISNEY

Here it is - the comic that saved MARVEL!  Yup, had it not been for this particular comicbook, Marvel would most likely not be around today.  They were in pretty bad shape when this series went on sale and it ended up saving their bacon!  The force was obviously with them.  (For further info, click here.)

BABE Of The DAY - CINDY CRAWFORD...

It'simply stunning CINDY CRAWFORD.

I must stay in that hotel again - the room service

was terrific.  When they said "Just ask for anything

you want" I never realized they'd take me quite so

 literally.  I left a tip of course.

KLASSIC KIRBY KOMIC KOVERS: TALES Of SUSPENSE #44...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

The cover to TALES OF SUSPENSE #44 as originally drawn and lettered had CLEOPATRA with a look of concern on her face, while the jagged cover blurb read "See Iron Man come face-to-face with Cleopatra, Siren of the Nile!"  Her altered expression (to a grin) looks imbecilic, and I can't help but think that her original demeanor was more apt.  Okay, she's being rescued, but she's being rescued by a flying man in armour, so she'd be entitled to look a tad anxious.  After all, it couldn't have been an experience she was used to.

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Click here to read about the ALAN CLASS reprint of the tale.