The new pope, Francis, has enjoyed extensive press coverage, but it must be pointed out that he is not the only one in the game.  This flyer was handed to me today, presumably by the other pope herself.  I wish her well; it’s not an easy job, and Francis has a head start.  (Please click for legibility.)

(Posted by Doug Skinner)

Today is April 1, a day sanctified by the extraordinary French humorist Alphonse Allais; and I am happy to announce that it brings the release of Captain Cap, Volume 2.

Allais’s stories of his absurd anti-hero, first published in 1902, have been meticulously translated and illustrated by Doug Skinner, in the second volume of a set of four.  This volume contains 15 stories and 17 illustrations, and is published in an edition of 125 by Black Scat Books.

The first volume recorded the real life Cap, Albert Caperon, and his tumultuous foray into politics.  The second is devoted to his fictional exploits, as he boasts of his dubious accomplishments, insults his friends, bullies bartenders, and consumes many elaborate cocktails.  You’ll learn the disgusting history of Meat-Land, the origin of polar bears, Cap’s plans for interstellar communication and recycled confetti, his unconvincing experiments with hypnotism, and, of course, all about the apparent symbiosis between the boa and giraffe.

Buy a copy today!  Memorize passages!  Color in the pictures!  And if you see me, I’ll be glad to sign it with the name of your choice.  You can order it from Black Scat Books.

(Posted by Doug Skinner)

“Jodete” was published by Nupro Games, in Buenos Aires.  According to my dictionary, “jodete” means “get lost,” “deal with it,” and other saltier expressions, which I suppose fosters competition.  There are 110 cards, and the objective seems to be to gain 600 points.

(Posted by Doug Skinner)

Jean Veber drew several caricatures of Allais in Le Journal, January 6, 1896; here are two of them.

Ernest La Jeunesse (who, parenthetically, had a long affair with Allais’s wife, and may have fathered her child) drew this sketch of the unhappy husband.

Pierre le Trividie drew this portrait of the young Allais in 1935.

And another, from Guirand de Scévola.

(Posted by Doug Skinner)

This undated “Authors” deck from Russell gets high points from me for including one of the Founders of the Fortean Society.  I like the curious grisaille portrait and the curlicue as well.

The other members of this humble pantheon are: Oliver W. Holmes, Joseph Conrad, Charles Dickens, Sir J. M. Barrie, Rudyard Kipling, Longfellow, and R. L. Stevenson.  Only Longfellow gets single name billing.

The box is nice too.  The touch of cursive is tasty.

(Posted by Doug Skinner)

As I continue to translate and illustrate Alphonse Allais, I’ve been contemplating the many caricatures of him.  Having already offered portraits of his semi-fictional antihero, Captain Cap, I’ll now post some of the man himself.  Internet Allais buffs, you’re welcome.

The first is by Cabriol, aka Georges Lorin, from the Hydropathe, January 28, 1880.  Allais’s original vocation as pharmacist is still part of his image.

Allais beats the drum for a shadow puppet play at the Chat Noir, in a sketch by Georges Redon.

The Chat Noir itself accompanies Allais, in a 1956 drawing by Maurice Henry, on the cover of a collection of Allais’s plays and monologues.

Another early sketch, by Charles Léandre.

And, lastly (for this time; there will be more), Siné’s cover for a 1966 collection.  Siné’s people all tend to look alike; he has, however, distinguished Allais with a beard and a boater.

(Posted by Doug Skinner)

This German “Black Peter” deck was issued by Berliner Spielkarten.  The pairs represent men and women of different nationalities; I’ve picked a dashing Spaniard for you.  And here’s Black Peter:

(Posted by Doug Skinner)

As the cardinals convene in the Vatican to elect a new boss, let’s consider for a moment the once flourishing art of cardinal paintings. In the late 19th century, particularly in France, several artists specialized in painting pictures of the red-robed religious. There’s a fine article on the subject by John Fleming, in the 13th volume of The Saturday Book (1953); the illustrations, however, are in black and white, so I’ve snipped some color examples from elsewhere on the internet.  Here’s one by François Brunery, who claimed to have invented the genre.

One by his son, Marcel Brunery.

UPDATE:  A pope has been chosen; the cardinals can go back to shaving cuts, woodwinds, and cats.  But be careful, men.  (The elder Brunery again).

ADDENDUM: No survey of Cardinal art should omit Alphonse Allais’s masterful painting from 1897, “Apoplectic Cardinals harvesting tomatoes by the Red Sea.  Effect of the Aurora Borealis.”

(Posted by Doug Skinner)

“Peculiar Popularities” attracted a nice large audience.  Thanks to all of you who came out; more Ullage Group events are in preparation.  For those who missed it: Lisa Hirschfield covered the early history of X-Rays in popular culture, with plenty of pictures and early films; Doug Skinner talked about slang, artificial languages, and other fleeting linguistic flare-ups, with musical examples of Solrésol and Esperanto; Anthony Matt covered pre-cinema spectacles, concluding by demonstrating the early technique of back-projecting spooky slides on billowing fabric.

My Black Scat chapbook, Captain Cap Volume 1, translated from Alphonse Allais, received a nice review over at Leonardo.  I guess that’s just another incentive to buy the little rascal.  Volume 2 is almost done; it’s slated for April Fool’s Day.  Mark your calendars!

(Posted by Doug Skinner)

The Ullage Group is back for another afternoon of the odd and obscure.  This time, we present “Peculiar Popularities”: a diverse selection of now-forgotten-but-once-popular public interests, practices, and fixations.

Anthony Matt will survey the short-lived but popular cinematic stage shows of the late 1800’s that anticipated the birth of motion pictures.  He will discuss panoramic paintings, phantasmagorias, traveling peepshows, and a projection ride inspired by H.G. Wells’s The Time Machine.  Anthony will also attempt to conjure a smoke phantasm on stage.

Doug Skinner will talk about evanescent language, including catch phrase flare-ups, abandoned universal languages, and occupational slang.

Lisa Hirschfield will explore the public’s fascination with the power and potential of the recently-discovered Roentgen ray at the turn of the last century, a phenomenon that bordered on obsession, and forever changed perceptions of modern medical science.

When: 4 pm, March 3, 2013
Where: Jalopy Theater, 315 Columbia St., Brooklyn NY 11231.

Admission is the nominal sum of $5 and the slang expression of your choice.

(Posted by Doug Skinner; the picture is by Hogarth.)