Relic of Heathenism, Vampires in 1913

From the Camas Post, Sept. 19, 1913

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James Abbott mural detail, Elma, Washington. One of the few instances I have found where he created a face that was not (A) Lifeless or (B) Demonic. Like I mentioned earlier, he was great on landscapes, but portraying people was not his strength.

Buster Brown Ad, 1908

Advertisement by Richard F. Outcault featuring Buster Brown, 1908.

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McCleary, Washington

Postcard - Universal City, California

"Famous Universal Studios. 'The World's Largest Movie Studio' with the beautiful San Fernando Valley in the background."

1970s

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Blank headstones waiting for urns

Tumwater, Washington

Favorite Movie Quotes: Royal Wedding

"There's a fella who won't take 'yes' for an answer."

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James Abbott mural, McCleary, Washington

When I Almost Died

Back in 1995 I almost died but a last minute surgery saved my life. While I was on the operating table, I left my body and found myself on the bank of a very shallow river, no deeper than waist high.

On the other side of the river was Mr. Death, beckoning me to wade across and join him.

"Yeah, right," I replied. "If you want me so bad then why don't YOU cross the river and get me?"

"Silly boy," he said, "Death wades for no one."

So I was spared.

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James Abbott mural in detail on cinderblock, which combined with the long exposure to weather has given the work sort of an unintentional impressionistic style. McCleary, Washington

Morty Comix # 2635

Morty Comix # 2635 was placed in a latch for an auto air/water machine

Tumwater, Washington

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Blank spots waiting for urns

Tumwater, Washington

Hoquiam Loggers Playday 2013

Nice to see the Hoquiam Loggers' Playday annual poster got away from a divisive political theme this year and just stuck to their consistent homoerotic image of loggers. Freud would've had a field day with these images.

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Detail of James Abbott mural, Elma, Washington

The "resting face" of the woman here reflects a modern condition

Postcard - Santa Monica, California

"Beautiful Santa Monica, California. Colorful view at dusk looking north toward world famous Pacific Palisades and the Malibu Beach movie colony - The loop of auto lights are the heavily traveled Pacific Coast Highway."

1970s.

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James Abbott mural, downtown Elma, Washington

Buster Brown Ad, 1908

Advertisement by Richard F. Outcault featuring Buster Brown, 1908. The lobster on Buster's costume is a beautiful off-the-wall touch.

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Entitled "Cycle of a Forest" and painted on a giant saw blade, this is yet another James Abbott work of public art that has vanished. Actually I am just sort of guessing he created this, but I think part of his signature can still be seen at the bottom.

Elma, Washington

Morty Comix # 2634

Morty Comix # 2634 was left in a propane tank filling shelter on a rainy afternoon next to Interstate 5 in Tumwater, Washington

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Tumwater, Washington

Postcard - Santa Monica, California

"Looking north along the Coast Highway, Santa Monica, California. This famed beach is one of the outstanding recreational areas of the Golden State. It includes Santa Monica Beach State Park, and Will Rogers Beach State Park."

1950s

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McCleary, Washington

Favorite Movie Quotes: Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves

"Cancel the kitchen scraps for lepers and orphans! No more merciful beheadings! And call off Christmas!"

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From the ruins of the Olympia Brewery, Tumwater, Washington

Morty Comix # 2633

Morty Comix # 2633 was left at a public area on the shore of the Fetid Lake of Doom, Olympia/Tumwater, Washington as another invasive species. As you can see the Legislative Building looms in the background.

Finding a place to stash this comic was not easy. At first I tried to put it behind a giant warning sign but didn't like that spot.

Then finally I crammed it into a slot behind the LAKE CLOSED ... sign where I figured it would be more shielded from the elements.

The FLOD has nutria and caimans swimming around in it, but it was the tiny New Zealand Mud Snail that "closed" the Lake. OK, in the first place, this lake was an estuary until the Post-War era, when humans dammed it up, creating this fetid polluted pool of slime that you see above. Now I ask you, just who is the real "invasive" species here? And who is to say New Zealand Mud Snails are not part of nature's plan?

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Fat Leo's Rollin' Bistro

Elma, Washington

Postcard - Point San Pedro, California

"Point San Pedro stands as a sentinel near the Portola campsite 'A'. San Francisco Bay was discovered from the 1200 foot mountain ridge in today's scenic Pacifica, 'X'. Here on November 4, 1769, the Portola expedition gazed out upon the world's largest harbor. Background shows San Francisco's International Airport, San Bruno, Milbrae, Burlingame, San Mateo and Foster City."

"Restaurants: Nick's - Moonraker - Papagayo Room - Sea Breeze Motel. All by the blue Pacific."

1960s?

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James Abbott mural detail. Faces were not his strong point and the technique of painting black, empty eyes gives the works a bit of a dark edge.

Schmuck Park is Enjoyed More and More

Headline from the Colfax Gazette, Colfax, Washington, June 3, 1921

The park still exists, by the way