An Unexpected Sighting
I was reading Blake Bell's critical retrospective Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko when I ran across this unexpected mention of my grandfather on p.75.
The art direction, set design, lighting, characterizations, plotlines and dialog of movies had been a strong influence on comic-book artists from the beginning, and with its many theaters and ready access to research material, Manhattan was a movie haven. One of the most popular haunts for acquiring 8X10-inch movie still photos was Irving Klaw's Movie Star News on 18th Street.
"Al Williamson once said he always ran into Ditko at Irving's," says artist Batton Lash.
So Irving Klaw was not only instrumental in the pin-up and fetish industries but served as a source for comic book artists. The latter was news to me.
Labels: Blake Bell, Irving Klaw, Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko
posted by Rick Klaw at
10:45 AM
3 Comments:
Hi Rick. I hope you enjoyed my book and I'm glad you discovered something new about the legacy of your grandfather.
Blake Bell
Blake,
I did enjoy it. I reviewed it in the latest Nexus Graphica.
No shock that Ditko would know the great Mr. Klaw. Ditko's one time studio partner and buddy, the erotic artist Eric Stanton, hung out at Klaw's all the time. In fact, most of the rare photos of Ditko in existence were taken by Stanton's lovely wife.
What I'd like to see someday is a photo with Ditko and Bettie Page. I just know it's gotta be out there somewhere!
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