Lettering: Crouse & Brandegee Hand-Lettered Advertisement

Clothier and Furnisher
December 1889

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Next post on Monday: Tommy Thompson, Lettering Artist)

 

Under Cover: Art Direction 1964

 
January: Ken Saco and Victor Obsatz

 

 

February: Henry Wolf

 

 

March: Verdun Cook

 

 

April: Harry Jacobs

 

May: Peter Adler

 

 

June: Norman Tanen

July: Henry Gregg

August: Bernie Zlotnick

September: Al Gescheidt

October: R.O. Blechman

 

November

December: Bob Cox

Related Posts

Art Direction 1961

Art Direction 1962

Art Direction 1963

 

(Next post on Monday: Crouse & Brandegee Hand-Lettered Advertisement)

Comics: Bernard Kantor, Little-Known Contributor to Golden Age Superman

Who’s Who of American Comic Books 1928–1999 said Bernard Kantor was an “Early science fiction fan & writer who sold some plots to Jerry Siegel.” The search for Kantor was told in Brad Ricca’s 2013 book, Super Boys: The Amazing Adventures of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster—the Creators of Superman. Publicity for the book appeared in the Cleveland Jewish News, June 20, 2013 and The Beat, August 11, 2013. Jerry Siegel’s October 8, 1939 letter to Kantor was reproduced in The Beat. The letter included a fifty-dollar bill as payment for a Superman plot. Ricca spent several years tracking down Kantor who passed away on January 13, 1967. He said the death certificate had the names of Kantor’s parents, Max and Sophie Kanter. This was just enough information to search for them and add details about their family.

The Rhode Island Marriage Registration, at Ancestry.com, said Max Kantrovitz, age 22, and Sophie Peskin, 18, were Russian immigrants who married on April 30, 1908 in Providence. Their first child, Louis, was born on January 7, 1909 in Providence.

The 1910 United States Census counted the “Canter” family (lines 67 to 69) in Brooklyn, New York at 448 Bradford Street. Max operated a business making caps.

At Ancestry.com, the New York, New York Birth Index has a Bernard Kantor born on September 27, 1912 in Brooklyn. His surname may have been misspelled. Kantor’s World War II draft cards had different dates. Almost four years later, his sister, Dorothy, was born on September 8, 1916 in Albany, New York.

In Super Boys, Ricca wrote “... a look at the 1920 census reveals a Bernard Kenton with the same parents living in Brooklyn, New York.” I have not found that enumeration sheet at Ancestry.com.

At some point the family moved to Cleveland, Ohio where Nathan was born on October 27, 1922.

The 1927 yearbook, The Hour Glass, was published by John Adams High and included a photograph of Louis.

Jerry Siegel’s letter in Amazing Stories, August 1929, mentioned Kantor. At the time Siegel, born October 17, 1914, was two months shy of turning fifteen. At an early age, Siegel met Kantor who was two years older. It’s not clear if Siegel was in high school in 1929. He graduated in 1934 at age nineteen.

Ricca wrote “At the same time, a “Bernard Kenton”[sic] shows up in Cleveland as a boarder ...”. Below is the 1930 census sheet with a seventeen-year-old Bernard Kentor on line 14. He was a laborer in street construction. It appears to be Kantor. It’s not known if he graduated high school.

Kantor’s parents and siblings have not yet been found in the 1930 census. The 1930 Cleveland city directory listed Max Kanter at 3455 East 121st Street. He was employed at the Artcraft Cap Company. The 1932 directory had the same information plus Louis as a salesman at Artcraft. There was a Bernard Kanter, a stockman, who lived at 1874 East 20th Street.

On January 4, 1934, Max Kanter married Mollie (Silverman) Stiel on January 4, 1934 in Brooklyn. (Max’s first wife, Sophie, may have been the Cleveland State Hospital inmate counted in the 1930 and 1940 censuses.) The 1934 Cleveland city directory listed Max, Mollie and Louis Kanter at 12645 Barrington Avenue. Max was the Artcraft manager and Louis a helper.

In the 1939 directory, Max, Mollie, Louis and Nathan Kanter were at 12406 Edmonton Avenue. 

 

Kantor’s letter appeared in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 12, 1939.

Editor Plain Dealer—Sir: Prof. Walter B. Pitkin’s smashing indictment of American youth, portrayed as plagued with a “horrible, hideous, contemptible lethargy” in the Plain Dealer recently, has awakened the writer out of his dream into the world of macabre realism.

May I suggest to Cleveland young citizens that our habit of waiting for a mythical prosperity, or depending upon the federal government to find us jobs, has as much effect upon reality as the chant of a voodoo doctor. Let’s get out of the fantastic into the facts!

Prof. Pitkin has a recommendation which appears rational, intelligent and practical. Let us, the unemployed youth of Cleveland, roll up our sleeves and transform that stretch of waste land between Cleveland and Elyria into a streamlined community which can support itself without being a burden to taxpayers and without sinking into the slough of morbid pessimism.

Bernard Kantor.
Cleveland.

Louis married Clara Bornstein on December 25, 1939.

Kantor has not yet been found in the 1940 census. His father, step-mother, two step-brothers and Nathan lived at 18401 Muskoka Avenue. Kantor’s father operated a retail fruit store. About two months after the census enumeration, Dorothy married Irving Sazzman on June 16.

 

On October 16, 1940, Kantor signed his draft card. His Cleveland address was 12329 Superior Avenue. Kantor’s birth date was September 12, 1912. Sam Block was his employer. Kantor named his brother, Louis, as next of kin. (Louis signed his card on the same date; Max on April 26, 1942; and Nathan on June 30, 1942.) Kantor was described as five feet seven inches, 155 pounds, with brown eyes and hair.

Kantor, spelled Kanter, registered again on January 7, 1942. His first card was cancelled. He lived at 1754 East 19th Street. Kantor’s birth date was September 17, 1912. He named his father as next of kin. Kantor was classified 4-F and did not serve during the war.

The Plain Dealer, July 25, 1949, published Kantor’s letter.

Editor Plain Dealer—Sir: In regard to the possibility of the Cleveland Indians changing ownership, Bill Veeck has publicly stated for the record “if a buyer came along with the right kind of offer a deal could be made.”

Sports Writer Gordon Cobbledick has estimated that $3,000,000 could probably induce Mr. Veeck to relinquish control of the tribe. Since bankers and other “groups” regard this figure with financial trepidation, may I offer the following solution:

By subscription, available to baseball fans throughout Ohio exclusively, the sum of $3,000,000 to purchase the tribe could be raised with the celebrity of Satchel Paige striking out an opponent. Since this represents a democratic enterprise, no single individual could subscribe to more than 1,000 shares.

Ohio fans support the Indians. Why nor afford them the thrill of ownership as well?

J. B. Kantor
3126 Prospect Avenue.

According to the 1950 census, Kantor’s father was a widower at 2733 Hampshire Road. His household included Dorothy, a divorcee, and Nathan, who, months later, married Milgreta Shapiro on September 15. Kantor, a self-employed photographer (line 21), lived at 3126 Prospect Avenue. The 1951 city directory had the same address.

The Plain Dealer, December 29, 1950, printed a classified advertisement for “J. Bernard Kantor”.

In 1951, Kantor’s father married Esther Phinick on May 8.

Kantor placed Success Society of America classified advertisements in Popular Science for February and August 1951.

Kantor was the subject a front page investigative report in the Plain Dealer, February 18, 1952. Part two appeared the following day. The paper said

The Success Society of America, latest promotion of G. Bernard Kantor, sidewalk photographer and promoter extraordinary, has a Better Business Bureau history going back to 1942 as a continuation of the National Advisory Institute.

Kantor claimed Siegel as one of the Society’s sponsors. Signing up for the courses included a three-dollar registration fee plus three-dollars a month. Some of the printed matter said

... in a short time you can compare favorably with the most profound followers of erudition.

... Money. You will be able to learn so quickly that in a short while, when you have mastered 10 to 30 entirely different methods of making money, your pockets and bank account should be bulging with greenbacks!

The paper said Kantor was a “sidewalk photographer working Playhouse Square and other busy corners.” The Better Business Bureau (BBB) had four files on Kantor. The Securities and Exchange Commission issued a cease-and-desist order stating Kantor had lied about his qualifications as a securities appraiser.

Kantor’s Futurist Society would teach “secret methods of mental power and financial strategy hitherto restricted to private psychology classes and Wall Street leaders.”

Kantor’s sidewalk photography business was called Classic Photos. It was mentioned in a BBB 1946 file about photography groups not delivering photographs to clients. In 1948 Kantor tried mail order orchids and got in trouble with the state of Ohio for not collecting sales tax.

Kantor’s business address was often a post office box number. One time he used his attorney’s office address. The paper said Kantor “lives in a rooming house at 3126 Prospect Avenue S. E.”

In December 1951 Kantor tried to raise $150,000 to start a comic book company. Once again he claimed Siegel as a sponsor who had provided a noncommittal letter with an estimate to form such a publishing company.

The Plain Dealer, July 24, 1955, published this note.

Editor Plain Dealer—Sir: We, the “Organized Unemployed of Cleveland,” demand either immediate, profitable work or a 100% increase of relief assistance and facilities.

Charles Mondelo, President
G. Bernard Kantor, Treasurer
Chas. M. Gorsuch, Secretary

The Plain Dealer, December 13, 1956, said Kantor had six tax liens for the years 1951 through 1954. At the time his address was 2573 East 55th Street.

Kantor, as Bernard D. Kantor, was mentioned in Billboard, June 3, 1957; June 24, 1957; September 9, 1957; September 30, 1957; November 4, 1957; February 24, 1958; March 3, 1958; April 14, 1958; and November 3, 1958.

The Plain Dealer, January 12, 1960, said Cleveland residents received a yellow card, about the size of a postcard, from “American Moon Campaigns, 310 Caxton Building.” The campaign asked for money to save the earth by exploring the moon. The business address belong to an answering service hired by “B. Kantor.”

At some point, Kantor moved to New York. The Writer’s Digest, June 1960, published his letter.

For quite some time we have been trying to contact Jerry Siegel, formerly of 50 Knightsbridge Rd., Great Neck, Long Island, New York. Mr. Siegel happens merely to be none other than “the writer with the $100,000,000 brain—the original creator, with Joe Schuster, of Superman.

We are in possession of Siegel’s manuscript, “Miracles on Antares” (the origin of which is described in the June, 1958 issue of Future Science Fiction Magazine) and which Nicholas Diamond assures us is “eminently appropriate” for immediate motion-picture production.

Must we call Superman personally, in order to locate his own creator? Can readers of Writer’s Digest help?

G. Bernard Kantor
Ries-Kantor Promotions
533 W. 112th Street
New York 25, N. Y

Nearly six years later the same letter appeared in Amazing Stories, February 1966.

Kantor’s father passed away in January 1964. An obituary appeared in the Plain Dealer, January 24, 1964.

Max Kanter, beloved husband of Ester, dearly devoted father of Louis of Chattanooga, Tenn., Nathan, Bernard Kanter and Mrs. Dorothy Sazzman, dear brother of Jake of New York City, Mrs. Rose Smith, and loving grandfather. Services at Berkowitz-Kumin Inc. Memorial Chapel, 1985 S. Taylor Rd., Cleveland Heights, Friday, Jan. 24, at 1 p.m. Interment Workmen’s Circle Cemetery. Family at the residence, 2749 Hampshire Rd., Cleveland Heights. Member of the Workman’s Circle, Branch 559.

On January 13, 1967, Kantor passed away at a long-term care facility in Cleveland. An obituary has not been found. He was laid to rest at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery.

Kantor’s sister, Dorothy died on January 12, 1983 in Ashtabula, Ohio. Louis’s death was in Miami, Florida on April 28, 1997. Two days after Nathan’s death, the Plain Dealer, April 29, 2009, published an obituary.

Nathan Kanter, beloved husband of the late Milgreta “Milly” (nee Shapiro). Loving father of Sandra (Jeffrey) Fine, Debra (Don) Posner and Garry Kanter. Devoted grandfather of Chad, Kasey, T.J. and Darcy Fine, Jason (Genelle) Denzin, Brandon (Edyta) Halprin, Evan (Brandy) Halprin, and Daniel Stewart. Great grandfather of Nick, Paxten and Raen. Dear brother of the late Louis, Bernard and Dorothy Kanter. Services will be held Wednesday, April 29, at 2:00 p.m. at the Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel, 1985 S. Taylor Cleveland Heights. Interment Mt. Olive Cemetery. Family will receive friends at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. J. Fine, 6801 Silkwood Ln., Solon. Wednesday following services until 8:00 p.m.; Thursday 2–8 p.m. Friends who wish may contribute to the American Cancer Society, of the Jewish War Veterans c/o D. Kaufman, 2292 Ashurst Rd., University Hts., OH 44118.

(Next post on Monday: Art Direction 1964)

Creator: Duke Wellington, Poster Artist

 
Dale King “Duke” Wellington was born on August 9, 1896 in Cherokee County, Kansas according to his World War II draft card. A family tree, at Ancestry.com, said he was born in the town of Hallowell. Wellington’s parents were Arthur Edwin Wellington (1870–1960) and Nellie L. McCoy (1874–1958) who married on November 6, 1890 in Cherokee.

The 1900 United States Census counted Wellington (line 8) and his parents in Lola, Kansas. His father worked in the dairy business.

The Wellington family (lines 24 to 27) were recorded in the 1905 Kansas state census.

In the 1910 census, the Wellingtons (lines 19 to 22) lived in Columbus, Kansas at 309 Florida Avenue.

Wellington attended Cherokee County High School. He was in the class of 1916 and editor of the 1916 yearbook, Checoukan.

1914 Checoukan

 

The Columbus Daily Advocate (Kansas), June 30, 1916, noted Wellington’s summer job.

Dale Wellington leaves for Kansas City tonight, where he will enter the employ of the Thomas Cusack Sign Co., for the summer.

The Thomas Cusack Company, based in Chicago, also operated in Kansas City and Indianapolis.
 

Who’s Who in American Art 1973 said Wellington attended Kansas State College but that was incorrect. The Columbus Daily Advocate, September 11, 1916, said “Dale Wellington went to Pittsburg [Kansas] today to attend the state normal.” Today the school is known as Pittsburg State University. Eight months later, Wellington quit school. Modern Light (Columbus, Kansas), May 17, 1917 said

Dale Wellington has discontinued his work in Pittsburg normal, and will leave in two weeks for a war training school of the Y. M. C. A., where he will study army Y. M. C. A. work and prepare for work in France.

The Columbus Daily Advocate, August 16, 1917, said

Dale Wellington Is Home
But He Leaves Tonight for Texas to Engage in Y. M. C. A. Work
Dale Wellington arrived home yesterday morning from Estes Park, Colorado and will leave tonight for San Antonio, Texas, from which place he will proceed to camp Travis, where he has been appointed manager and general secretary of the army Y. M. C. A. After leaving school at Pittsburg in the spring Wellington went to Estes Park, where he took special training in Y. M. C. A. work and was recently accepted for service in the army camps.

Wellington’s book, Theory and Practice of Poster Art (1934), said

Before the World War, Wellington was for several years engaged in various branches of sign display work, gaining experience in display-card art, window display art, outdoor advertising art, and carnival and circus promotion. He enlisted in the army in 1918 and served with the tank corps of the American expeditionary forces in France, holding the rank of first sergeant at the time of his discharge.

Modern Light, August 15, 1918, published Wellington’s address: “Sergt. Dale K Wellington, Co. A. 303d Battalion, Tank Corps, Camp Colt, Gettyburg, Pa.”

The following day, Modern Light said

Dale K. Wellington is stopping off here today and tomorrow to visit his parents. He has been in training at Estes Park and is now on his way to San Antonio, Texas, where he has been appointed as general secretary of an army Y. M. C. A. building located at Camp Travis, which is one of the three largest national cantonments, being occupied by 75,000 troops.

Wellington served overseas. Modern Light, October 3, 1918, published Wellington’s tribute to his mother. Wellington’s letter was printed in Modern Light, December 19, 1918.

An Army Transport Service manifest listed Wellington, who departed Marseille, France on February 28, 1919. He arrived at the Port of New York on March 18, 1919. Wellington’s address was 309 West Maple Street, Columbus, Kansas. His veteran’s file said he was discharged on April 11, 1919.

The Columbus Daily Advocate, April 14, 1919, said Wellington was awarded the Croix de Guerre.

Wellington’s marriage was reported in the Modern Light, June 12, 1919.

Miss Helen Smalley and Mr. Dale Wellington were married Monday, June 9, at 6:00 a. m. in Horton, Kansas, at the home of the bride’s parents, Rev. and Mrs. W. S. Smalley.

The ceremony was performed by Rev. Smalley. Only the immediate family and a girl friend of the bride were present.

Immediately after the ceremony; they left for Columbus.

Mr. and Mrs. Wellington were raised in Columbus and attended school here, having graduated from the high school. Mrs. Wellington went to Horton, Kan., with her parents about three years ago, when Rev. Smalley received a call to the Presbyterian church there and has taught in the public school at Horton for two years.

Mr. Wellington is the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Wellington of this city and recently returned from France, where he was in the service several months. He has gone into business with his father at the Wellington Coal and Livery Barn.

Mr. and Mrs. Wellington have gone to housekeeping at 310 East Pine. Their many friends extend congratulations.

The same address was in the 1920 census. Wellington was a retail merchant of coal (line 96). Wellington’s son, William, was born two months after the census enumeration.

The 1921 Kansas City, Missouri city directory (at Ancestry.com) said Wellington was a decorator at Marlborough Studios which filed for bankruptcy later that year. The 1922 directory listed Wellington at 1327 Tracy Avenue. He was a window trimmer for the Schmelzer Company. Wellington’s address in the 1923 directory was 707 West 76th Street. His occupation was signs at 8 West 12th Street. Directories from 1924 to 1926 had the same address. In 1924 he was a manager and, the next two years, an artist. Now Playing: Hand-Painted Poster Art from the 1910s Through the 1950s (2007) said Wellington “began his career as art director for the Texas Theatre in San Antonio, and was active there from 1924 through 1927.”

While Wellington was in San Antonio, his family remained in Kansas City. He was not in Kansas City in 1927 and 1928. Now Playing said Wellington, in 1928, was art director of the Paramount-Publix Theatre Corporation in New York.

Wellington’s hometown of Columbus had an art exhibit. The Kansas City Times, October 30, 1928, said

Dale K. Wellington of New York has work on display. Dale worked as a salesman in Columbus and Kansas City and studied art in Chicago. His work attracted attention and Publix Corporation sent him to San Antonio. He originated a new method of lobby display work there that attracted national attention and is now head of the art department of the Publix Corporation. He is the son of Ed Wellington, long a police officer in this city and county.

According to the 1930 census, Wellington (line 1) and his family lived in Manhattan at 540 West 158th Street. He was a Paramount Corporation artist.

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, December 27, 1932, reported the death of Wellington’s wife, Helen.

Wellington left Publix to form his own company. Variety, March 7, 1933, said

Wellington Steps out
After serving Publix exclusively for 10 years in building of house fronts and lobby displays, Duke Wellington has incorporated to do a general business with all companies.

Set up as Duke Wellington, Inc., he already has the RKO account and is handling display work on ‘42nd Street’ for Warner Bros.

At a meeting today (Tuesday) it will be decided whether Wellington will handle fronts for the two Radio City houses. As Publix’s exclusive builder of house and lobby displays, Wellington did business under firm name of Display Craft.

Signs of the Times, October 1933, featured illustrations by Wellington and his studio here and here.

In 1934, Wellington’s book, Theory and Practice of Poster Art, was published. (It was reprinted in 1986.)

Display World, March 1934

The book included lettering samples.

 

Wellington married Gerda Becker in Elkton, Maryland on May 26, 1935. The place and date were on her Petition for Naturalization. Gerda was German and naturalized on November 9, 1943.

Motion Picture Herald, May 9, 1936, said

Casanave Appoints Wellington
Charles L. Casanave has appointed Duke Wellington, formerly Art Director of Publix Theatres and author of “The Theory and Practice of Poster Art,” as Art Director for National Screen Accessories, Inc. He will make his headquarters at the home office in New York.

Wellington registered to vote in Manhattan on October 10, 1936. His address was 325 West 45th Street. The Democrat worked for National Screen.

The same address was recorded in the 1940 census. Wellington (line 12) was 44 years old and Gertrude 28. He was an art director in the motion picture industry.

Six months later, Wellington registered to vote as a Republican. His address was unchanged.

On April 25, 1942, Wellington signed his draft card. He had the same address and worked at the American Display Company, 525 West 43rd Street. Wellington’s description was five feet eight inches, 170 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair.

Wellington’s veteran’s file said he served from August 15, 1942 to January 8, 1946. Details are not known.

After the war, Wellington moved to Phoenix, Arizona. The 1947 city directory listed his address as 65 West Thomas. He was a displayman at Calapco (Central Arizona Light and Power Company).

The 1950 census counted Wellington (line 30) and his wife in Centinela, California at 1658 110th Place. He was the proprietor of an advertising company.

The State of Kansas conducted a census of its cities and counties. In 1951, Wellington was at 119 East Elm in Columbus. The 1953 census listed him and his wife at the same address. The censuses for 1959 and 1960 recorded Wellington, his wife, son and father in Columbus at 309 Maple. Wellington, his wife and son were counted, in 1961, at the same address (lines 21 to 23).

 1953

 

1961

Wellington’s first visit to Taos, New Mexico may have been in 1960. The Taos News, July 14, 1960, mentioned Wellington twice.

Guests of the Doel Reeds last week were the Duke Wellingtons of Columbus, Kan. Mr. Wellington formerly with Paramount Studios art department, Hollywood, studied with Mr. Reed during his two week teaching sessions at the Spiva Art Center, Joplin, Mo., this summer and last. While here he made the attractive posters for the pre-fiesta fashion show. The visitors were entertained at parties hosted by the Reeds and others.

Gibberds Host Board Party
Members of the Taos Artists Association board, their wives and husbands, were entertained at cocktails by the Eric Gibberds, at their, home, Wednesday afternoon of last week. They were the Doel Reeds and their houseguests, the Duke Wellingtons of Columbus, Kan., the Mario Larrinagas, Ford Goods, Dick Graingers and their guest, Bill Turbot of Albuquerque, the Lozier Funks and Emil Bisttram.

The Taos News, June 15, 1961, said

Duke Wellington of Columbus, Kans., arrived recently to work on his Talpa house. He will be joined later by Mrs. Wellington.

Wellington and his wife spent the winters in Columbus and summers in Taos.

The Taos News, March 16, 1967, mentioned Wellington’s TV shows.

Duke Wellington who spends much of each year at his Talpa home, from Columbus, Kan., has a new program on KOAM-TV Channel 7, entitled “Duke in Art.” He has done two live shows and will have 13 taped shows. Wellington, who made his home in New York for 30 years, was chief art director for Paramount theatres. He now spends several months in Columbus each winter from his art studio in Ranchos de Taos. Wellington hopes, through his TV program, to help young and old alike to enjoy art alive in the four-state area.

Who’s Who in American Art 1976 said his mailing address was Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico 87557. He was represented by the Reynolds Gallery in Taos.

Wellington passed away on August 14, 1987. The Social Security Death Index said his last residence was Columbus, Kansas. He was laid to rest at Park Cemetery.


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(Next post on Monday: Bernard Kantor, Little-Known Contributor to Golden Age Superman)