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.

RECOMMENDED READING: MWOM #23...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

The fact that I'm still buying The MIGHTY WORLD Of MARVEL nearly 44 years after it first came out in 1972 is something I get a real buzz from.  Sure, it hasn't been an unbroken run, and it's now a monthly instead of a weekly, but we won't let that deter us from acknowledging an amazing feat of longevity in the world of publishing.

Starring DAREDEVIL, S.H.I.E.L.D., and The SILVER SURFER, it's well-worth £3.50 of anybody's money.  So scoot along to your local WHS and buy the latest issue (#23) as soon as you can.

Excelsior!  'Nuff said!

RECOMMENDED READING: THE BEST OF SIMON & KIRBY...

Copyright relevant owners

Published by TITAN BOOKS in 2009, The BEST Of SIMON & KIRBY is a sampler volume of the different genres of comicbooks that the titanic two collaborated on back in the '40s and '50s (and a strip or two in the '60s).  You'll find an example or three of Superheroes, Science Fiction, War and Adventure, Romance, Crime, Westerns, Horror, and Humour.  Simply put, this is a great book, and if you don't have it in your collection, then you're missing out.

Anyway, I don't want to spoil you all, so only a mere two images of the interiors this time around, Criv-ite chums.  If you want to see any more, get straight into your local comics shop or bookstore and buy your own copy!

  

RECOMMENDED READING: THE SIMON & KIRBY LIBRARY: SCIENCE FICTION...

Copyright relevant owner

Like Science Fiction?  Like SIMON & KIRBY?  Then this is the book for you!  Amongst its many gems are two early stories, the premises of which turned up again in two of Jack Kirby's later DC COMICS mags - JIMMY OLSEN and KAMANDI.  The CADMUS SEED is a tale about CLONING, and The LAST ENEMY is about Earth in the future being ruled by intelligent, talking animals.

So tell the wife you're cutting her housekeeping money this week, then dash straight 'round to your local comicbook store and spend the moolah you've prevented from being wasted on food, bills and other unnecessary items on your own copy of this valiant volume.  You'll be glad you did, even if the wife never speaks to you again!

See the back cover (three down) for info about contents.

BABE Of The DAY - SOPHIA LOREN...

SOPHIA - you look great,

luv.  Now scoot along and make

me a cup of tea - and don't forget

a wee biscuit.  (I knew I kept her

 around for something.)

BABE Of The DAY - CINDY CRAWFORD...

"Look deep into my eyes!" says

the awesome CINDY CRAWFORD.

Frankly, that'd take a bit of effort, luv.

Can't you leave it for us to decide?

DR. BEAR? YOGI WHO? CHILDHOOD REVISITED...

One day, back in 1965 or '66, while out shopping with my family in SAFEWAY's, I saw a Dr. WHO TARDIS money box (manufactured by PLASTON) on display at the front end of one of the checkout counters.  It was inexpensive so my parents purchased it for me, and on the way home we stopped in at a cafe in the shopping precinct halfway between the town centre shops and our house.

In memory, the cafe seems like something out of HAPPY DAYS.  It had a checkerboard floor and a Juke Box in the corner, and was a typical 1960s example of pseudo-American culture* that such British establishments usually modelled themselves on at the time.  It's now been a chemist's shop for decades, but I can't pass it today without remembering it in its '60s heyday.

(*To be clear, that's the British imitation of American culture which is 'pseudo', not American culture itself.)

The money bank was of a soft blue plastic, and some time later (don't know how long), I slit along the outlines of the door, so that I could place my MARX TOYS YOGI BEAR (sans scooter) inside its interiors.  (Remember, I was a mere 7 years old at the time.)  Then, in my imagination, the bold Yogi would traverse the vast distances of time and space in his borrowed time machine, landing on barren, alien terrains in faraway universes.

If you're like me, you probably sometimes played with your toys in bed (behave, not those sorts of 'toys'), and the topside of one's drawn-up knees under the bedspread provided a perfect mountain ridge from which the 'hero' had a vantage point over any and all enemies who might assail him.  And so it was with Yogi, who'd emerge from his Tardis (with my assistance of course) and scan the horizon for DALEKS - or the insidious RANGER SMITH.

Anyway, around a couple of years ago, I acquired a replacement for Yogi, but I've not yet managed to obtain an exact duplicate of that particular Dr. Who Tardis bank.  However, a few years before WOOLWORTH's closed its doors for the final time, I bought a modern-day equivalent Tardis money box, which has served as a stand-in in the absence of its illustrious predecessor.  (True, it's a darker blue and a harder plastic, but it's still an official Tardis bank, which'll do for me.)

Anyway, in a completely self-indulgent (and frivolous) exercise in boyhood nostalgia, I decided to reunite 'Dr. Yogi' and his Tardis for your pictorial pleasure (though this time he's brought his scooter along).  See the lengths to which I go in order to provide you with the finest examples of absurdity available on any blog?  You don't see delightful nonsense like this elsewhere!  (Whaddya mean "Thank goodness!"?)

(Update: I've now acquired an original Plaston Tardis, so here's a pic of it alongside Yogi.)

PART FORTY Of FAVOURITE COMICS Of The PAST - CAPTAIN MARVEL #25...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

After CAPTAIN MARVEL #1, the next issue I remember buying was #25.  I probably bought it because I recognized the style of art from the early covers of The MIGHTY WORLD Of MARVEL, not to mention the 'Marvel' part of the masthead, which had been pressed into service for the selfsame publication.  I used to have a 'Fortress of Solitude', a 'hideout', under the stairs of an office building in the local town centre, to which I sometimes repaired to read my newly-bought comics by torchlight 'cos I couldn't wait 'til I got home.  This ish was one among many that I yet associate with the place to this day.

I say 'Fortress of Solitude', but that was usually only when I was 'dogging' (no, not what you're thinking) school, which was normally a solitary pursuit.  However, on weekends I'd sometimes take some pals with me, and it was a thrill to sneak into 'my' hideout and while away some time, reading comics, drinking bottles of ginger, eating sweets and feeling like WILLIAM BROWN's OUTLAWS.  Ah, happy days!  Wish I could have those glorious times back again.

Got your own memories of this particular issue you'd care to share with your fellow Crivvies?  The comments section awaits!