Friday, June 12, 2009

Flippin' The Bird

No, the title of this post is not a tune from the Complete Savoy Recordings of Charlie Parker (I have it on double-album vinyl, so I can assure you.) However, I do know at least 4.8 Spectorphiles who can tell me which cartoon this is from. (Yes, I know too, but I'd rather you empty your valve spit in the comments section.) This picture used to hang on the wall above my dad's basement hovel animation desk on Long Island. It's larger than my scanner plate, hence apologies for the seam. And, he signed it, something he rarely did, and so was apparently satisfied, even with the professionally antiqued coffee drips.

A few years later in L.A., in one of my newly-adolescent moments, I noticed and mentioned to him that some of the musicians were flippin' the bird, giving the finger...or however you care to express it. This came as a surprise to him, and he said something to the effect of, "Oh God, they ARE!" He'd no idea (let's not get too Freudian about it all). And then he laughed.

(BTW, I realize the blog has lately been slower than usual. I'm currently in life's grip but hope to gear-up shortly)