BLAG is now six months old, and I'm feeling grateful for the support of our adventures in sign painting. This has come in many forms, from article contributions, to feedback, and sharing things on social media. And, of course, subscribers. So thank you.

I'd also like to give a big shout out to our founding sponsors 1 Shot, A.S. Handover, Colossal Media, and Mike Meyer Sign Painter.

In light of the current global economic situation, I have extended the 'back to school' subscriber discounts until the end of October. The button below will get you 25% off the monthly plan, or you can use this link for $20 off the annual plan. New subscribers will also receive a copy of Issue 01, while stocks last.

Subscribe for $9/month

This time next month Issue 02 will be with the printers and I can't wait to see it landing in letterboxes around the world from the end of November. I'm now casting my eye towards Issue 03 which will be published in May/June next year, so please get in touch with ideas for articles and features.

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Shop Sale: If you missed last month's back to school shop offers, then for the rest of October I've put most items in the shop on sale with a 20% discount. This includes books, posters and merchandise.

Latest Online Articles

Now with Comments

There is a new feature on the site that allows you to make comments on articles. This is only available to email newsletter subscribers like you, so please give it a go and get the conversation started.

Over the last month four new pieces have been published: David A. Smith and Danny Cooke discussed their collaboration on The Making of Ludlow and Blunt; Etienne Renard penned the latest 'Chain Letter'; Mark Oatis shared the inspiration behind his Lockdown Letterheads panel; and I had a bit of fun writing sign painterly pangrams for your enjoyment.

Craft & Creativity: The Making of Ludlow and Blunt
David A. Smith and Danny Cooke on ‘The Making of Ludlow and Blunt’, an incredible artwork and film.
BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)•Better Letters
The Making of Ludlow and Blunt showcases top notch work from David A. Smith and Danny Cooke.
Chain Letter: Etienne Renard
Etienne Renard, co-founder of Enseignes Brillo in Paris, shares some lettering that has inspired him.
BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)•Better Letters
A family connection in the latest 'Chain Letter'.
Behind the Panel: Alf Becker at Lockdown Letterheads
Alf R. Becker’s alphabets and the inspiration for Mark Oatis’ Lockdown Letterheads panel.
BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)•Better Letters
Lettering and portraiture combine for Mark Oatis at Lockdown Letterheads.
Playful Pangrams for Sign Painters (and Other Languages)
Power up your sign painting practise with these playful pangrams. And then try to write your own.
BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)•Better Letters
'My very fuzzy kit box just bulges with quick-dry paint' and other sign painting pangrams.

Sign Painters Don't Read Signs

Text reading "Sign Painters Don't Read Signs"
From the title page of Sign Painters Don't Read Signs.

The second part of my digitisation of Syl Ehr's Sign Painters Don't Read Signs is now available. In chapters III–V he talks about women in the trade, getting his first shop, and taking on an apprentice. He then offers some careers advice to would-be sign painters. Read it here.

And One from the Archive

A Curtain Call for the Theatre Advertising of Old
Time capsule painted advertisements on 1920s theatre curtain.
BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)•Better Letters
When advertising in theatres was hand-painted.
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Events News

I have decided to offer some live online events via a new page at bl.ag online. To get things started I'm going to do a virtual version of my Stoke Newington Ghostsigns Walk at 7pm London time on Saturday 29 October. You can find out more here, and this link will allow you to add the time to your calendar.

Promotional graphic saying "Stoke Newington Ghostsigns Walk"
Stoke Newington Ghostsigns Walk at bl.ag/live on Saturday 29 October.

I've added this, and more, to the events page at bl.ag online. Some highlights include: An online presentation of The History of the Beverly Sign Company; Mike Meyer back on the road with his gilding class in Evansville; Good Type's online Kernference (ticket price goes up after 14 October); and The Justin Green memorial show, Binky Brown's Funeral Pyre, in Cincinnati.*

Events
Sign painting, sign and lettering events, curated by BLAG (Better Letters Magazine).
BLAG (Better Letters Magazine)•Better Letters

*If you can't make the Justin Green show in person but want to support it, then donations are accepted here. There's also a good write-up here.

Each print issue of BLAG features the publication's generous patrons whose support is invaluable to its creation: Blackout Signs & Metalworks, C&P Graphics, Chicago Sign Systems, Dragging the Line, John Moran, Right Way Signs, Skiltmaler Gundersen, Stender Bros. Sign Co., and W&B Gold Leaf. To add your name to this list for Issue 02 then the subscribe/account button on the site will allow you to select this plan. We'll be finalising Issue 02 on Thursday 20 October.

Linktree

Thank you to Fernando Mello, Joe Vaughan, and The Sauce Studio for some of this month's links. Please share informative and inspiring material for future issues by replying to this email, sam@bl.ag.

The 'Sorriest' Burger in Texas

In 1960 there was an article published in the Houston Post about the irreverent signs painted for Jean Glasco's burger joint. One of these claimed that Glasco sold "The Sorriest Burger in Texas" and proved to be highly effective advertising. I'd love to see a photo, and to hear of other examples of cunning copy painted by hand...

Tuscan Origins

Wagon painted white with gold and blue lettering.
Buffalo Bill's Wild West wagon at at the Circus World Museum in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Photo: Carol M. Highsmith via rawpixel.

The origins of Tuscan letters, beloved of the Victorians, circuses and fairgrounds, have been explored in depth in this article (in two parts) by Tere Schultz on pampatype.

Seen in Hollywood

The Hollywood Sign. Photo: Thomas Wolf via Wikipedia.

I heard about the repainting of the famous Hollywood sign and posted the story to Instagram. The comments then led to me learning about when graffiti artist Seen put a piece on the 'LLY' part where the letters follow the hill lowdown. Here's a video of him reflecting on the mission years later.

PS. Did you know that the sign has a permanent webcam feed? An opportunity to watch some paint dry if you're interested!

My work on BLAG (Better Letters Magazine) is funded entirely by paid subscribers. Plans start from $5/month. To receive the print magazine, I have discounted the Blagger plan to $9/month or $99/year until the end of October.

Get a BLAG Subscription

New Shops

Painted and gilded glass shopfront.
Enseignes Brillo shop in Paris. Photo: Pixdar.

You wait all year for a new sign shop, then two come along at once... Congratulations to Louis and Paul aka Etienne Renard* on opening their new Paris shop, Enseignes Brillo (@enseignesbrillo), and to Rachel, Hana and Duncan on launching the Bungo Sign Co. collective (@bungosignco) in Glasgow.

*Read Etienne's Chain Letter here at bl.ag online.

Contrast and Shadows

Hand-painted lettering.
City Towing via George Perkins on SignCraft.

George Perkins has shared some practical tips on contrast and shadows, with a host of illustrated examples in this SignCraft article.

Bionic Reading

Text set in type with bold initial letter(s) for each word.
Sample of text about BLAG created with the free Bionic Reading web app.

The above text was created using a technology called Bionic Reading. It claims to be "a reading system that supports the reading flow" with the aim of helping readers more quickly and effectively absorb information from texts.

My throwaway Instagram post about the technology, which can be installed on your mobile device, or used as a web application, received a lot of comments. Many of these anecdotally found it helped their reading, while type design experts were more sceptical about its general application. I include it here as a curio, and in case it helps you in any way.

Ghost Sign Corner

Old sign with fabricated crown on top.
Pat's King of Steaks sign from 1955, from the collection of the Neon Museum of Philadelphia.

In a slight detour from the usual ghost signs material, this month I wanted to share the news that the Neon Museum of Philadelphia is closing. You have until 11 December to visit the collection, which includes this piece of local culinary history.

The 1955 sign advertised the Pat's King of Steaks restaurant, founded in 1930 by brothers Pat and Harry Olivieri. They played a pivotal role in the invention of the famous Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich, and the business is still trading today.

The museum is open Fridays 1–6pm and from 12–5pm on Saturdays and Sundays at 1800 North American St, Unit E, Philadelphia, PA 19122.

Half-Price Truck Lettering

Hand-painted sign on door.
"1/2 Price. Trucks, Painted, Letters, 32 St-2 Av, See-Save". Photo: Jerry Cinamon, New York, c.1960s.

'Be Wise, Advertise' thought this New York painter some time in the 1960s before getting out the white enamel and showcasing what customers can expect. This photo by Jerry Cinamon was originally published in Forum, Journal of the Letter Exchange, and is reproduced here with permission.

Subscribe to BLAG today with 25% off when paying monthly or $20 off the annual plan. New subscribers receive a copy of Issue 01, while stocks last.

Join the Annual Plan with $20 Off

Thank You!

Thank you for reading this latest BLAG (Better Letters Magazine) email newsletter. Please get in touch with feedback, things to consider for publication, and any other adventures in sign painting that you'd like to share.

All good things, Sam

bl.ag / @betterletters