He created Bazooka Joe and His Gang. He glorified the American Girl for the Ziegfeld Follies. He drew some of the infamous eight-pagers. His Copacabana logo, Latin Quarter menus, programs and pin-up art are instantly recognizable. He sipped bootlegged whiskey at speakeasies with Al Capone and Legs Diamond. His friends were welterweight boxer Barney Ross, actors George Raft and William Demarest, cartoonist Chic Young and columnist Walter Winchell. He dated women like hoofer Ruby Keeler, and showgirl Barbara Stanwyck who went on to movie stardom. He was known around the Manhattan nightclub scene as the debonair, soft-spoken artist who bought rounds of drinks for everyone when times were good. There were bad times, as well. Yet little is known about the artist/cartoonist Wesley Morse.
His personal story, and that of the stylish and decadent world of nightclubs and cabarets, are told through his artwork.
What you see on these pages is a very small sampling of the work produced by one of the most influential and popular artists of his era, often called the J.D. Salinger of the art world because so little is known about him.
Sketchy information and even a few myths have appeared about him on blogs and websites. I'm in a position to set the record straight because he was my father. A book is finally available that focuses on his personal life, and contains rare and unseen artwork. So, if you're a fine art collector, a pop culture historian, comic book fan, or pin-up art connoisseur, get ready for a wild ride.
- Talley Morse
Watch a video at https://animoto.com/play/EXA4eA44EhlMDf1c9HHqXQ
His personal story, and that of the stylish and decadent world of nightclubs and cabarets, are told through his artwork.
What you see on these pages is a very small sampling of the work produced by one of the most influential and popular artists of his era, often called the J.D. Salinger of the art world because so little is known about him.
Sketchy information and even a few myths have appeared about him on blogs and websites. I'm in a position to set the record straight because he was my father. A book is finally available that focuses on his personal life, and contains rare and unseen artwork. So, if you're a fine art collector, a pop culture historian, comic book fan, or pin-up art connoisseur, get ready for a wild ride.
- Talley Morse
Watch a video at https://animoto.com/play/EXA4eA44EhlMDf1c9HHqXQ
WHAT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!
AVAILABLE NOW IN PRINT!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1511646004
GET THE 60th ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION HERE!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1419706322/&tag=nanmor-20
My friend Bob Hudovernik has a wonderful new book out on the Hotel des Artistes, an artists' colony on Manhattan's west side, where America's great painters, sculptors, writers, illustrators (including Wesley Morse), actors, and dancers lived and created their art. This book is a treasure trove for historians and art lovers. Check it out here:
https://amzn.to/2Jxt0jh
https://amzn.to/2Jxt0jh
