Anatomy of a Logo: Scrambled Feet (Plus a Few Details About Val Mayerik)

Scrambled Feet was a lettering job for Val Mayerik who did the painting. In Spring 1979, Mayerik, a member of Upstart Associates, contacted me at Continuity Associates and said he wanted the logo to be styled after the Playbill logo. The letterforms are similar to the Photo-Lettering font Latin 8 2757c. 

A few days later he picked up the original art. The off-Broadway revue opened on June 11, 1979 at the Village Gate. The logo appeared on Showbill and posters. Mayerik was credited on the staff page.

By 1980 the lettering was replaced with a typeface. Mayerik was credited on the original cast recording. 

Further Reading

Scrambled Feet (1980)

Broadway.com, Obscure Videos: Two Revues

Internet Off-Broadway Database, Scrambled Feet

SIDEBAR: A Few Details About Val Mayerik

Val Stephan Mayerik was born on March 29, 1950, in Youngstown, Ohio. His full name was found on public records at Ancestry.com. Mayerik’s parents were Val and Virginia. 

In the 1950 United States Census, Mayerik and his parents (lines 18 and 19) were in the household of his maternal grandparents who resided in Youngstown at 137 Falls Avenue. 

Mayerik was counted on another census sheet (line 11). 

At some point the Mayeriks moved to Howland Township in Warren, Ohio. Mayerik attended Howland High School from 1965 to 1968. 

1965 Scroll yearbook

1966 Scroll yearbook

1967 Scroll yearbook

1968 Scroll yearbook

The Youngstown Vindicator, March 9, 1969, reported the Trumbull New Theater production of “Wait Until Dark” and said

… Val Mayerik will play the part of Carlino, one of the men involved in the plot against Suzy. He is a freshman Youngstown University majoring in art, and will have some of his work on display at the TNT Playhouse during the run of the suspense play. His only other appearance in a TNT production was as Teddy, the eccentric brother in “Arsenic and Old Lace.” …

The 1971–1972 Neon yearbook of Youngstown State University had artwork by Mayerik: 40 spot illustrations and 17 full-pages.

4 of 40 spot illustrations

12 of 17 full-pages

Mayerik performed in Camino Real

For the 1973 Neon, Mayerik produced two portraits and two pages of comics. 

Youngstown Vindicator, January 20, 1974, Mayerik Nuptial at Warren Church 

Youngstown Vindicator, April 8, 1977, Musical Comedy Revue Scheduled at Playhouse

... Val Mayerick [sic], who made his Playhouse debut as “Lysistrata’s” Polydoris ...

Youngstown Vindicator, April 13, 1977, Effervescent Cast Presents “El Grande de Coca-Cola”

… The other member of the cast, Val Mayerick [sic], in his second Playhouse performance, seems right at home comic role which has him imitating everything from a blind guitar player to a weak muscleman. …

Youngstown Vindicator, April 17, 1977, cast photograph

Youngstown Vindicator, July 24, 1977, Reception at Bride’s Home Marks Polly Law’s Wedding 

Youngstown Vindicator, April 5, 1984, Youngstown Artist Will Lecture at CSU 

… Mayerik, 34, began his career in 1972 as an assistant to artist Dan Adkins who later introduced him Marvel Comics. In addition to the Marvel comic books, “Ka-Zar,” “Howard the Duck,” and “Savage Sword of Conan,” his drawings have 

Grand Comics Database, Mayerik credits; Mayerick credits

(Next post on Monday: 1930 Syllabus Yearbook)