TypeTown #7: Not a dry eye in the house
🎤 Meat Loaf, Langston Hughes, Blofeld, Jerry Lewis, and David Bowie
Hello, hello.
News of
Meat Loaf’s death
is breaking as we assemble this issue of TypeTown, prompting a quick rejig of our running order.
Take a look at the back cover of his fifth studio album,
Blind Before I Stop
. He’s definitely an honorary member of the typosphere.
Meat Loaf’s passing also stirs memories of this amusing but extremely not-safe-for-work British TV interview from circa 20 years ago.
RIP.
Now, onwards.
History hunting in Harlem
After recently stumbling across this piece about a
long-finished photographic exhibition
, I’ve been delving into American poet
Langston Hughes
in the last few days.
In 1973, critic Donald B. Gibson wrote of him:
“Until the time of his death, he spread his message humorously — though always seriously — to audiences throughout the country, having read his poetry to more people (possibly) than any other American poet.”
Hughes died in 1967.
But as recently as December 2019, his house at 20 East 127th Street in Harlem was host to the
I, Too, Arts Collective
. Langston’s typewriter still took pride of place.
At one stage, the house also appeared to be a
walk-in museum
.
But the reviews I’ve found dried up in 2019 and I can’t quite work out what has happened since.
READ:
»
A Poet’s Mission: Buy, and Preserve, Langston Hughes’s Harlem Home
- The New York Times
»
The battle to save Langston Hughes’ $3 million home
- CNN
»
For East Harlem nonprofit, Langston Hughes’ legacy is more than his house
- Caroline Hopkins, Medium
Happy 100th birthday, Blofeld
Today marks what would have been the 100th birthday of James Bond baddie and Lt. Theodopolus Kojak actor Telly Savalas. For those wanting to pay tribute, here’s a fascinating guide to producing your own piece of typewriter art.
Worth pausing the platen
📬
The great Chinese puzzle: how to adapt the language to modern communication technologies
—
The Spectator
📬
Those typewriter-wielding, mustachioed hipsters aren’t crazy, they are reacting to a crazy world
—
The Dallas Morning News
And finally… typewriters in the wild
In this remarkable 1967 letter from David Bowie…
In this work in progress from Maria Walker…
In this 2010 piece by the same artist…
And in this Jerry Lewis skit…
You’re a lovely bunch
A couple of readers have been in touch to ask how to show their support or say ‘thank you’.
So with absolutely no pressure, expectation or hard sales push… if TypeTown brightens your week, I’m open to coffee.
Please share the love
Alternatively, please take a second to ❤️ and comment below — or share this post to your social networks, neighbours, grannies or anyone else who might like it. Whatever you do to spread the word, I promise it never goes unnoticed. Thank you!
Until next time
PS: Tales of Transgression
Typosphere king
Richard Polt
has been in touch to let TypeTowners know that the deadline for submission for the fifth volume of the
Cold Hard Type
series is fast approaching.
Get clacking!
PPS: New here?
TypeTown
is a fortnightly celebration of the typewriter’s place in modern (and not so modern) culture.