
—Dawn Wells, RIP (1938 – 2020)

Two Puritans, 1945
Oil on canvas: 76.2 X 101.6 cm
Private collection


2559 Bloor St. West, Toronto, July 2020
From his series: Art Deco Toronto


Screenplay by Silvia Richards, Story by Rufus King

“Pico Boulevard; the Painting Not the Boulevard”
acrylic on linen: 36 X 24 inches, 2020


Waiting c. 1882
Pastel on paper
Height: 19.01 in; Width: 24.01 in.
Collection: Getty Center

—Tina Louise (born Tina Blacker; 1934)

Young Girl Reading, c. 1769
oil on canvas
31 x 25 1/2 in.



Whiskey A Go-Go
West Hollywood, 1964
Love the Jag!




—Bob Denver (1935 -2005)

In Summer, 1887
oil on canvas mounted on panel
Height: 24 in; Width: 20.8 in.
The model is Ellen Perry Peirson, whom Benson married a year after painting this portrait.

Snap, Crackle, Pop,
The Bronx, New York, 1946



That wrist watch looks like a twin lens reflex camera!
It also looks like an early motion picture camera.
I think the E-Type coupe was the most beautiful. When they made the 2 + 2, completely ruined the lines with a back seat nobody could use. On Tina Louise, I read that she expected to be the star of Gilligan’s Island – but I can see how that type casting ruined her career.
Among adolescent boys of that era the question was “Ginger or Mary Ann”?
Ginger.
On the Steve McQueen photo, always thought it funny that he escapes on a British motorcycle with German markings. The Germans, of course, rode BMWs. I suspect he felt more comfortable on the (BSA?). Musta drove the movie insurance company nuts with his stunts.
The Ringo Starr photo – interesting!
The Broken Pitcher ,/i> – eerie.
I’ve wondered about the Dyckman House, but never visited it.
Jan Nagel was the partner of Jan Dyckman. Together they owned much of the northern part of Manhattan Island. Jan Nagel was married to Rebecca Waldron. After Jan Nagel died relatively young — in his early 40s I think — his widow married Nagel’s partner, Jan Dyckman, in 1690. So far as I can tell, her 2nd son with Dyckman was Jacob Dyckman, who was the father of William Dyckman. William Dyckman built the Dyckman house in 1783. (https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NHLS/67000014_text)
Jan Nagel and Rebecca Waldron are my great(9x)-grandparents.
Amazing!
Another nice collection. Can that photo of BB at age 12 be taken as an attempt to recreate the Degas painting? Hmmm.
Tina Louise was once described as the most beautiful redhead of all. According to her Wiki bio, Gilligan’s Island did ruin her career. She did not get another movie role.
I’m trying to remember another gorgeous actress who has a similar name. She was in a film too recent to be that woman. She took a shower in the movie but I can’t remember the rest. The shower scene was the one thing I remember.
Maybe you’re thinking of Anita Louise? https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0521937/
No, it was Tea Leoni. Gorgeous and looks good in the shower, to steal a line from MASH. I finally remembered it was “Family Man” an odd but interesting movie.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0218967/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_14
I’m sure the BB photo was set up as a recreation.
I really like your painting, Robert. My art teacher uncle never cared for what he called “non-representative” art, but it has pleasing colors and I’d certainly hang that in my house.
Tina Louise never seems to have accepted her “Gilligan’s Island” stardom, unlike Wells and Denver. From accounts I’ve read, she seems to have spent most of her life hating the show. As an aside, rumor has it that the part of Ginger Grant was first offered to Jayne Mansfield, but her agent told her that TV wasn’t worthy of a star like herself.
That Bouguereau painting and living girl is eerie. IIRC, it’s actually one of a series of “doubles” portraits where people who resemble the paintings’ subjects stand in front of them.
And may I ask what “z’l” means after the names of your parents? I presume it’s something along the lines of “of blessed memory,” but my Hebrew is even rustier than my Yiddish!
A lovely weekend to you and yours.
Glad you like my painting. My work is sort of simple : What you see is what you see. Shape, color, texture. No secret meanings, no metaphors. Just another view into the universe.
z’l = may his/her memory be blessed.
Thank you for asking.
I’m surprised by the remarkably down to earth comments by both Dawn Wells and Tina Louise.
I love the Cinema watch by Konstantin Chaykin. It is whimsical, innovative and meticulously designed. I did a cursory searched for a price and I didn’t even find one for sale.
Both of the Jaguars are beautiful cars, but the XKE is in a class by itself.
I really like your painting, Robert. Are these series of “The painting, not the . . .” going to be a part of a larger work like your Tribes paintings were, or are they strictly stand alone pieces?
I’ve meant to ask you. Months ago, you photographed the Motel Grand on Le Cienega Blvd. when it was painted blue. I occasionally check Google Street View and see that it has been remodeled and is now white (except the original sign?). Is it still in operation as a motel? (I don’t know why I have a minor fascination with the particular business!)
Any idea why BB was recreating the Degas painting?
Your family photos are very nice. My wife has spent the better part of this winter creating scrapbooks for our kids. Each tells a story.
Have a nice weekend!
I have seen the Cinema watch on sale on pre-owned sites like Chrono 24 for about 100k. Yikes. I’d be frightened to wear something so expensive.
I have not checked out the motel recently, but last I looked, a few years ago. it was totally derelict and ready for the wrecker’s ball.
Each painting is a stand-alone.