This evocative image was taken in Shaver’s home in Wisconsin sometime in 1961 or 1962.  From left to right, it shows Richard Shaver, his mother Grace, Dorothy Shaver, and a friend, Richard Horton.  Dorothy is holding Horton’s daughter, and the photo was taken by Horton’s wife (sorry, I don’t know their names!).  As Horton says, […]

[Read more →]

In addition to his stories and his paintings, Shaver also regularly wrote poetry.  It was often published in a wonderfully unpredictable little magazine called Ray Palmer’s Forum, published by Shaver’s long-time editor, friend, and occasional adversary. I believe this one, though, was unpublished. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

[Read more →]

Here’s another item from the Shaver household: a pretty little ashtray by Dot Shaver.  She signed it on the base, and identified it as “slab work” — a piece worked up from a slab of clay, rather than shaped on a wheel. (Posted by Doug Skinner; thanks to Angela Alverson for the photo.)

[Read more →]

Despite his mental problems, Richard Shaver seems to have had a relatively happy marriage with his wife Dorothy, or Dot. And he always praised her cooking in his letters. Among my Shaver mementos is Dot’s hand-written cookbook. I’m intrigued by these recipes for fig wine and rhubarb wine. They sound like intriguing down-home concoctions. I […]

[Read more →]

This rock came from Richard Shaver’s studio, down in rural Arkansas.  It’s not one of the large rounded stones that he usually identified as rock books; it’s a small flat one.  I’m sure he gazed at it anyway; I invite you to do the same. (Posted by Doug Skinner)

[Read more →]

The Ullage Group is particularly fond of the work of Richard Shaver, and likes to return to it from time to time.  This is one of those times; we’ll be posting a few items on Shaver this week. For those unfamiliar with him, I’ll say (briefly) that he was quite active as a pulp writer […]

[Read more →]

This sketch comes from a notebook kept by Richard Shaver’s wife Dorothy; the notebook contains recipes (both manuscript and clipped from newspapers) and miscellaneous jottings.  I can’t be certain that it’s by Shaver, since it’s unsigned.  The handwriting looks like his; and the artwork, although cruder than his usual style, resembles other sketches he made of what […]

[Read more →]

“Microlithomania” unfurled on a drizzly Sunday; we had a nice crowd. The ullage was uncorked, and shots of Alsation pear brandy were handed to our hosts at Jalopy, Geoff and Lynette Wiley. Doug began with a few remarks, explaining the Ullage Group a bit, or trying to, and then giving credit to John Michell for […]

[Read more →]

The Ullage Group presents its second afternoon of oddities at the Jalopy Theatre: “Microlithomania,” devoted to unusual stones smaller than megaliths.  We will have mini-talks on ringing rocks, stone stars, archeological hoaxes, toads-in-holes, pseudo-roads, and other anomalies; from Doug Skinner, Anthony Matt, and Lisa Hirschfield.  There will be slides, specimens, a video of the unusual […]

[Read more →]

We’re happy to report that the Ullage Group now owns a functional 1932 Violet Ray Generator.  One of your founders (Doug) and charter member Dr. Mamie Caton bought the device at an antique store in upstate New York.  We tested it before purchase; the spectacle of four clueless adults trying to work a potentially broken […]

[Read more →]