Ira Schnapp, Master Letterer

Last week I went to the Type Director's Club to hear Arlen Schumer speak about the history of Comic Book fonts.. He spoke at length about an unknown designer and letterer named Ira Schnapp, who not only designed and refined the logos for Superman, Action Comics and the Comics Code, but ALSO hand-chiseled the letters on the New York Public Library.. You know, the ones that say "NEITHER SNOW NOR RAIN NOR HEAT NOR GLOOM OF NIGHT STAYS THESE COURIERS FROM THE SWIFT COMPLETION OF THEIR APPOINTED ROUNDS." Correct.. Same guy.. Ira Schnapp.. How cool is that?

You can read more about Ira Schnapp here www.dialbforblog.com/archives/372

Check out Arlen's work here www.arlenschumer.com

Conversation Stoppers, Village Voice 1980-86

Found these comic strips in an old file drawer.. They were printed in the corner of the Village Voice every week from 1980-1986.. Cracked me up every time...
Check out the complete collection
PS I Googled the writers a few times, but came up emptyhanded.. Anyone have any information on the authors of these brillant gems?..

Max Rosenstock, aka "Max the Strongman".. My Great Uncle!

When I was growing up, my grandfather Al Rosenstock, would tell me stories of his Uncle Mendel Rosenstock, a famous strongman in the circus, who could pull airplanes together with his bare hands.. For the last 35 years, I never knew if these stories were made up, or highly exaggerated.. I recently reconnected with my grandfather's sister, my Great Aunt Martha, who told me that Uncle Mendel DEFINITELY existed, and went by the name of Max the Shtarker, or Max the Strongman. I Googled Max Rosenstock and this is what I found.. it's a photo from 1928.. This is my Great Great Uncle.. He's also my sister Great Great Uncle and my son and niece's Great Great Great Uncle...

I Love Futura!

I Love Futura! Especially Futura in all caps. I Like To Use Futura Extra Bold with Futura Light, Futura Book, or sometimes, even Futura Book Italic! Or Futura Extra Bold Condensed as headline type. I use Futura Condensend if I have to fit a lot of letters into a small space. If I really have fit a lot of letters in a small space, I use Futura Condensend in upper and lower case. Thank you Futura. I love you!