CIRCA 1965, BEVERLY HILLS

My father's pride and joy: a stick-shift Triumph Herald.

WITH RONALD REAGAN

Selfridge Hotel, London, December 1978
(Photo: Robert Eringer)

AN UNEXPECTED E-MAIL

"Whilst cleaning my home this morning I was dusting a painting that your father kindly did for me, back in my 'days of darkness.'  The painting is very special to me ( and my family) and although I thanked your dad on the telephone I do regret not having met him in person.

"I celebrate 15 years sobriety on the 1st of August. Pio was my 'temporary' Higher Power at that time.  Your dad told me that whilst he was painting it, he was thinking of my recovery - and that the painting unintentionally finished up with Padre Pio smiling."

Clubhouse on Wheels: THE PADRE PIO FOUNDATION OF AMERICA

1947: CARTOONIST & ILLUSTRATOR'S SCHOOL, NYC

Burn Hogarth's class

PAPA DUKE BLOWS THE WHISTLE ON HORROR COMIC BOOKS

Jump to 22:24

PAPA DUKE WOULD HAVE BEEN 92 ON JANUARY 5th

In the early 1970s, wandering through the Science Museum, London with my father, we happened upon a large painting of Waterloo train station painted in 1967 by an artist named Shaun Stothard.

Inspecting the painting, I discovered a figure in its lower left center that looked exactly like my father, that is, how he looked in 1967, carrying an artist's portfolio, the same as he used to carry.

I called my father over and together we marveled at the likeness of him.

Although in 1967 we still lived in southern California, my father had spent a month in London during mid-1967, and must have gotten frozen in time in a photo taken by the artist in preparation for his work of art.

I occasionally wondered about this painting, especially after my father passed in 2008.

A few weeks ago, through a few deft strokes on my keyboard, I found it on Google images.

FATE OF ALBERTO

From...

THE HORRORS OF IT ALL: Fate of Alberto

Back in January 2008, I posted two stories from the August 1954 issue of Tales of Horror #12: "Welcome to My School" and "The Pallbearers.

"Today's fateful post comes from the same issue, and it's a wonderfully wicked tale of black magic and epic DOOM, superbly visualized by Ellis Eringer. 

I have to say, as good as today's story is, it's nothing compared to the fascinating man who illustrated it.

CLAIR GEORGE

SAD ANNIVERSARY

In loving memory of Papa Duke,

who died three years ago today.

AT WORK ON A SELF PORTRAIT

BONNIEUX VAUCLUSE

THE LAST SUPPER

JEFFREY ARCHER, BRITISH NOVELIST & POLITICIAN

Born this day, April 15th

FORD'S THEATER

Papa Duke earned his art degree with this pen & ink of Abraham Lincoln arriving at Ford's Theater while assassin John Wilkes Booth lurks nearby, awaiting his opportunity to strike, on April 14th, 1865.

PADRE PIO EXHIBITION, MONACO, JUNE 2002

BAR RELIEF

PAPA DUKE

Sketching, over cappuccino, at his favorite Monaco cafe.

"MIDGE"

PARROT