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Delores Del Rio Mural – Hollywood, CA

Nov 12th, 2011
by fadingad.
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© Frank H. Jump

Posted in: Hollywood CA, Murals.

Irv’s Burgers – Since 1950 – Santa Monica Blvd – Hollywood, CA

Nov 11th, 2011
by fadingad.
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© Frank H. Jump

© Frank H. Jump

The historical story behind Irv’s Burgers is a fascinating weave of colorful stories. According to Mollie Zucker, who owned the original stand Queensburger (1950) (photo at left), from 1958-1973, the stand served as a ‘local’ for many Los Angeles actors, both known and unknown; its devoted regulars included John Cassavettes, Gena Rowlands, Sally Marr (mother of comedian Lenny Bruce), and Shelly Winters. Tucker Smith, the actor/dancer best known for his role as “Ice” in West Side Story, lived in the apartment building next door and often brought the ‘Sharks’ and the ‘Jets’ over between filming on the sound stage. As Los Angeles rapidly developed into the center of the 60s and early 70s burgeoning music scene, one could often spot Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin among the regulars. Linda Ronstadt used the roadside stand as a backdrop for the album art for one of her best-selling recordings (“Living in the USA”, photo below). Even then, what’s now known as Irv’s Burgers had a reputation for great food; Mollie’s husband went to Fairfax Avenue’s legendary Diamond Bakery every morning at 5 a.m. to get fresh breads and purchased the prime meat for the hamburgers at the now defunct Arrow Market, the last of the independent neighborhood family grocery stores.

[click image to enlarge]

Today, Irv’s Burgers is struggling to stay open and remain at its original location. The stand is owned by the Hongs, a Korean-American family who invested their entire life’s savings in buying Irv’s business from a former tenant of long-time owner Irving Gendis. The Hongs are beloved by scores of West Hollywood residents and businesses, many of whom eat there daily. Sadly, the Hong’s five year lease has expired and they are currently operating on a month to month agreement with their new landlord. Currently, the building’s land lease is held by Seltzer Commercial Real Estate who plans to develop the corner lot and lease the space to other operators. Peet’s Coffee, a major, albeit socially conscious, corporation, has been in leasing negotiations with the Seltzers for several months, but has not finalized their deal due to local concerns that Irv’s Burgers could be destroyed and the Hongs displaced. – Save Irv’s Burgers

Posted in: Burgers, Food.

Brooklyn Photographer Captures Relics of a Bygone Era by Caitlin McNamara – Brooklyn Eagle

Nov 10th, 2011
by fadingad.
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In ever-changing New York City, the old often falls to make way for the new. One instance of this is the slow but accelerating disappearance of the fading “ghost” advertisements, those signs painted on walls, often high above the city’s sidewalks, offering curious glimpses to the observant into a culture of the past.

Frank Jump has been passionately documenting these ads for 20 years, since his discovery of the Omega Oil ads in Harlem. For Jump, the ads have become “a metaphor for survival… as many of these ads have long outlived their expected life span.”

Although this project isn’t directly about HIV/AIDS, Jump likens his fading ad photo campaign to his more than 25-year survival with HIV. On his website he writes, “It is no accident I’ve chosen to document such a transitory and evanescent subject.”

Frank Jump (left) and husband Aiosa at at the National Equality March for LGBT Rights in Washington on Oct. 11, 2009. taken by B. Snow

A New York native, Jump has lived with his husband, Vincenzo Aiosa, in Brooklyn since 1989. Jump continues to document these “ghost ads” today, and regularly updates his blog on the same topic [www.fadingad.com]. – CLICK HERE TO READ MORE!

Posted in: Fading Ads of NYC - the book.

Nether Street Art – Baltimore, MD

Nov 10th, 2011
by fadingad.
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Girl with red bra strap & fedora: Chase & Clay - © Nether Street Art - CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE

Orleans & Collington - © Nether Street Art - CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE

Walls of Fame - Secret Bridge Spot - © Nether Street Art - CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE

Vacant Rowhomes - Whitelocke Avenue - © Nether Street Art - CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE

Wyman Park Bridge - © Nether Street Art - CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE

Artist: Nether
Photographer: Nether
City: Baltimore

Bio: NETHER is a urban art campaign that hopes to impact and beautify BMORE’s bleakness through vibrant street art with the hopes of evoking public discussion. The pieces that are wheatpasted to the chosen (usually vacant) surfaces directly comment on the city and the forces that have brought it to it’s shameful state.

Nether sees his work as a force that solidifies people’s connections to locations in the city that are distinctly Baltimore. He tries to reclaim and recycle the tragic landscape. This city is a place that is simultaneously loved and hated for bringing both contentment and fear, anger and joy; it’s vibe is a permeating force that becomes part of every mind experiencing it’s poetic chaos. The intention is to relentlessly pursue capturing that beauty in the mundane, that excitement in the fear, and whatever force brings out the orange and purple as a heart- felt declaration of true Bmore pride. OWN.YOUR.CITY  – Nether

Posted in: Baltimore MD, Graffiti, Guest Feature, Street Art, Wheat Paste.

Featured Fade – Harlem, Flour, Hay, Grain & Feed Revisited – Carter Harris

Nov 9th, 2011
by fadingad.
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West 128th Street, Harlem - © Carter Harris

Posted in: Featured Fade, Feed & Seeds, Flour & Bread, Ghost signs, ghost ads & other phantoms, Guest Feature, Harlem.

THR Building & Sculptures – Bushwick, Brooklyn

Nov 8th, 2011
by fadingad.
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© Vincenzo Aiosa

© Vincenzo Aiosa

© Vincenzo Aiosa

Posted in: Brooklyn, Bushwick, Sculpture.

Estey Brothers Company – Bronze, Iron Wire Works – Bushwick, Brooklyn

Nov 7th, 2011
by fadingad.
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© Vincenzo Aiosa

© Vincenzo Aiosa

© Vincenzo Aiosa

Fulton History - Brooklyn Eagle

Posted in: Brooklyn, Bushwick, Iron Works, Metal Craft, Vincenzo Aiosa.

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-11-06

Nov 6th, 2011
by fadingad.
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Posted in: Ghost signs, ghost ads & other phantoms.
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Conduit – Revs Hope! – Bushwick, Brooklyn – Vincenzo Aiosa

Nov 6th, 2011
by fadingad.
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© Vincenzo Aiosa

Posted in: Brooklyn, Bushwick, Ghost signs, ghost ads & other phantoms, Street Art, Vincenzo Aiosa.

Book Review of Fading Ads of NYC by Sam Roberts (Ghostsigns UK)

Nov 5th, 2011
by fadingad.
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Fading Ads of New York City cover

 

The eagerly awaited release of Frank Jump’s ‘Fading Ads of New York City’ book is almost upon us. I was fortunate enough to be offered a sneak preview by Frank himself so here are some reflections on the book to whet your appetite and hopefully encourage you to get a copy as soon as it’s published in the UK and the USA.

First and foremost is the quality of photography and the specimens that Frank has captured in his daring escapades around New York. 72 examples are beautifully documented which, although representing just a fraction of his collection, offer up some of the best examples to be found in this city of signs. Two of my favourites are his first ever photograph, the four-storey Omega Oil, and the colourfully illustrated sign for M. Rappoport’s Music Store. The selection is diverse, providing excellent examples of many components of the painted form: scale; lettering; illustration; characters; slogans.

Omega Oils Fading Ad in New York

Omega Oil by Frank Jump

Accompanying each sign in the book is a well researched account of the history of the company advertised. This is then set within the context of the wider industry and its connection to New York. In this sense, the book is an historical account of the commercial history of the city and the districts within it. There are parallels to Ben Passikoff’s ‘The Writing on the Wall’, although Frank uses individual signs as his springboard into the wider historical context.Perhaps the most striking difference between Frank’s book and others in the growing catalogue of Ghostsigns titles is the personal dimension that he brings to his work. The connections between his documentation of New York’s Fading Ads and his fight against HIV/AIDS are inescapable. He uses the unintended survival of the signs as a metaphor for his own survival against the odds, and is very candid in his account of his own story. In this respect, the book is part history, part autobiography, and I learned about more than just Ghostsigns from reading it.Adding another layer of depth to the book are a series of written pieces by various figures including historians, academics, and fellow Fading Ad enthusiasts. There are nine in total including an introduction from Ghostsigns pioneer William Stage (author of the original ‘Ghost Signs’ book) and an extended essay considering the meaning of these signs in terms of time and place from Dr Andrew Irving of the University of Manchester. It is clear from these accompanying texts that Frank’s life and work has touched many people in a positive way. In fact, my own account of the encouragement he offered me in the early stages of my interest in hand painted advertising is one such contribution. (To what extent it adds any depth you can judge for yourself by downloading here…)

This book is a fantastic addition to the published material available on the topic and I learned a lot from it. I hope that the publishers will commission a sequel so that even more of Frank’s photography can find its way onto the printed page. In fact, it looks like it might be the first in a series of titles based on this recent announcement from Lawrence O’Toole.

Posted in: Ghost signs, ghost ads & other phantoms, Sam Roberts.

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