(Above and below) Four posters promoting NBC’s 1966 fall preview. I was in the 7th grade, and wow it looked exciting!
Of course the golden age of illustration was still going strong in those days. Photoshop montages simply cannot replace the finely honed beauty and energy that one of these illustrators can conjure. I’ve yet to see one do it. These are pure magic, and they sweep you away with them. Unfortunately, over the years, cheap won out.
Anyway, NBC was offering these posters as a set for something like a measly two bucks. I especially wanted that one with the different kind of spacehip, and the guy with the pointed ears. The “Get Smart” poster was drawn by everyone’s favorite, Jack Davis from “Mad Magazine”. I’d like to know who made that decision, because they deserve a medal. “I Spy” was Gustav Rehberger. He was my teacher at the Art Student’s League on 57th St. What an amazing man. I saw him give a lecture on dynamic horse drawing where he created a painting of a rearing mustang on a canvas 14 heet high, and did it with such speed, enthusiasm, and energy, that he brought the crowd to it’s feet. “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.”… I still don’t know who the artist is. Is it Bob Peak? Could be. Maybe someone out there will recognize him for me and end 44 years of mystery. Sure looks like Peak.
Now we come to the very first piece of publicity art ever created for Star Trek. Illustrated by the great James Bama. It was years before I discovered who he was, but I had been seeing his dynamic illustrations at the drugstore paperback rack for years. Bama was the cover artist for over 60 “Doc Savage” novels, and they never failed to grab me by the throat.
In 1967, Bama moved from New York City to Cody, Wyoming, where he began to paint contemporary Western subjects during the daytime while doing his freelance illustrations in the evenings. He recalled, “I never came out here with the idea to be a Western artist. It just happened, and that’s the way it should be.” In May, 1971, Bama connected with a New York dealer, prompting his decision to abandon illustration and put his total concentration into the creation of easel paintings. His work is collected in The Western Art of James Bama (Bantam Books, 1975) and The Art of James Bama (1993). Brian M. Kane’s James Bama: American Realist (Flesk, 2006) has an introduction by Harlan Ellison.
(Below) A sampling of James Bama’s Jaw droppingly brilliant contemporary Western easel paintings.
If you would like to know more about James Bama, here are some wonderful links -
Oh MAN that’s awesome stuff. I love that NBC promo art but never knew who did it or what else he did. Thanks for the education, Doug! You awful credit hog, you!
Doug,
This guy was amazing, And his western truelife’s are Incredible!
Thanks again for sharing,
Paul F.
And not to be a posting hog, but looking at those great Doc Savage paperback illustrations, and thinking about the gorgeous Frank Frazetta illustrations for the Conan paperback series in the ’60s and ’70s, I wondered if we’re living in a day and age when something like the cover of a paperback novel is ever going to capture an imagination or make a lasting impression like those did again? Are there so many other entertainment media out there, that are so much more in the “instant gratification” mode, and are we living in an era in which everything is so fast-paced and disposable, that no one takes the time to stop and appreciate something as simple yet as potentially evocative as a paperback novel cover? I mean, speaking for myself, I have three copies of every Star Trek novel Bantam ever published, just to have the different cover art. Off-model and inaccurate though they may be, those covers stuck with me over these years, perhaps because as a kid growning up in the late ’70s and ’80s, I had the time to look at them a lot?
Anyhoo, I meander. Thanks for the great post, Douglas!
Jay, I’m afraid they have sort of gone the way of the album cover to a lesser extent. Remember what a big impressive field that used to be?
I’m enough of a nerd that I have nearly every album that my favorite band released on vinyl in addition to having it on CD or other digital format, simply because I love the big album jackets with the artwork, (and the same with a lot of singles with picture sleeves). Vinyl still appeals to me for another reason too. In my warped little brain, if I own music on vinyl, I feel like I *really* own it, I suppose because the music can be mechanically reproduced from the grooves on the vinyl instead of relying on a laser beam or a bunch of ones and zeroes. This will, of course, allow me to find an old Victrola and enjoy my tunes after doomsday, when Burgess Meredith will be yelling at me to “keep the racket down” from the steps of the public library … in the twilight zone.
Jay, that’s hilarious! Poor Henry Bemis! One of the few guys who did not get what he deserved on TZ!
Its not fair … its not fair!
There was time now… time enough at last!
Too true. With the exception of Science Fiction/Fantasy/Graphic novels most book covers these days are simply photoshopped with different elements or are taken up by the author’s name so much that the title is a mere by line.
Having said that, simple covers can work if done properly; eg the covers to Alastair Reynolds books.
Awesome stuff, I’ve certainly seen that promo image for TOS before
I like the Get Smart one too, in fact it would sweet to have them both as prints to frame. Any idea if they have been reproduced for this purpose?
Matt… These items are super rare today. I’ve never seen them reprinted, except with the exception of the Trek poster. I had all four of these on my wall when I was 13.
Realist is right, those easels are amazing!
I agree that the UNCLE poster was probably done by Bob Peak. Ilya’s face looks like pure Peak.
I have a print of the Trek promo art hanging in my home office. Nice
I love how that poster was also used in the first “Star Trek” advert on NBC.
“The first adult space adventure…”
Doug, thank you very much.
Bama’s images are simply amazing and it was a delight to see some again.
I used to have a teacher who would bring several of these out, and show them to his class, and then launch into a lecture about photo composition. Only after a certain period of time would he reveal to the students that these were not in fact photos.
The reaction from the students was a mixture of shock and disbelief. I don’t think I will ever quite forget the impact those images made.
There is something unique and remarkable about the impression these leave on a class of aspiring artists when something they perceive as a photo is revealed to be a painting. Hours and hours of discussion, and no small amount of envy.
I suppose in some small way, it’s akin to the people who believe they can identify all CGI. A master of their art can always fool you provided the medium is sufficient to the task.
Again, thank you for these wonderful memories.
Frank
I’ve always loved those posters, TMFU version as much as the Star Trek. I don’t think TMFU piece is Bob Peak because it’s missing his iconic signature. The poster is signed by the artist – whoever it was – along the side of Solo’s hand. I love Peak’s posters, from all the Trek stuff to My Fair Lady to The Spy Who Loved Me and Silverado. He was a film poster institution. You’re right Doug – as much as I love the digital age, these kinds of illustrations captured the imagination (at least mine!) in an emotional way that today’s stuff just can’t touch.
Hey, Don! It may not be Bob Peak, but that isn’t a signature by Napoleon’s hand. I blew it up and examined it. Just a smidge of the brush. Star Trek notable about Peak, is that he did one of the three TOS TV Guide covers.
The poster art is signed “Allison” and it is a signature by the hand. Hope that helps someone with the mystery. I have a scan if it is really important to someone. Cheers,
I have those TV promo posters! My grandfather was an enthusiastic collector, mostly of antique toys, but he also dabbled in some more contemporary fare. When he passed away a few years ago I was given a cardboard tube with pristine versions of the posters for The Man from UNCLE, Star Trek, Get Smart, and I Spy. Naturally, the one for Trek was my favorite, even though the engine exhaust coming from both the warp engines and the hangar bay was all wrong.
I still have the posters, rolled inside the tube in which I received them. I haven’t looked at them in years and never even considered having them framed, which isn’t a bad idea. I’ll have to pull them out and have another look at them. This article has been very educational. I’ve always liked those posters, but was never aware of what an interesting piece of TV history I have by owning them. Thank you, Mr. Drexler!
You sir, are lucky!
Wow!! Might be worth posting on ebay. I saw another post that includes a Bonanza poster in the tube instead of the Star Trek poster. Wonder what the back story is there. Cheers,
Brilliant and inspired artwork! I always find it amazing how well certain people can put pencil, pen, and brush to paper and make something so stunning in capturing the likeness of what they are observing.
Thanks for sharing these Doug! They really are fantastic!
That is really impressive artwork. I especially like the Get Smart! characterisation. That was a great series.
I still have my man from U.N.C.L.E lunch box ” mom never got rid of it.. has a Jack Davis mad magazine feel to the artwork.
Hang on to that Brandon! Jack Davis did in fact illustrate the U.N.C.L.E. lunchbox.
As a Doc Savage reader from way back I’ve always been in awe of Bama’s work. Amazing stuff. (the others you posted about are certainly no slouches, either!)
I’m so impressed by artists and illustrators of this caliber. I wish realism was more appreciated by the art elite. I’m one of those people who doesn’t understand the point of paying millions for a Pollack painting if stuff like this exists.
Continuity! Flames out the engines AND the shuttlebay?! Where’s the outrage?!
I kid.
Doc Savage looks like Robert Shaw. And I mean, old school, “From Russia With Love” Robert Shaw.
Very cool stuff.
ety3 – There was no continuity yet! This was the first time anyone had ever seen the Enterprise! In fact everything that came after Bama’s painting must be wrong!
Well, all but the Gold Key comics would be wrong. Those comics had the rocket flames!
Good to know the artist behind that iconic Trek art! It’s been imprinted in my mind since the first Blish novel used it for the cover. But although I loved Bama’s work on other things, like Famous Monsters covers and the Doc Savage covers, I never connected him to the Trekl images.
Awhile back I posted the Bob Larkin art for the ST:TMP comic adaptation magazine, which was an homage to the Bama art. Both are beautiful!
http://mystartrekscrapbook.blogspot.com/2009/05/marvels-sttmp-comic-adaptation.html
FWIW, folks, that is a great post Mr. Frederick has linked to. I had seen that Bob Larkin cover since I was a wee tot but had never made the connection that its an obvious homage to the NBC promo art. I’m a bit dense. But luckily I had Frederick and his wonderful blog to point it out to me!
I have always been in awe over the Bama cover art for Doc Savage. Because of that art, I read every single original Doc Savage book and enjoyed them more because I had that realistic image as a reference. Same for The Avenger series. The Ron Ely movie was obviously built on the iconic images created by James Bama. If Bama did that Get Smart promo, then he was an excellent mimic of the Jack Davis cartoon style. I had no idea he painted western art in such a realistic manner. He just got better and better. What a talent. There are few like him today. It takes patience as well as talent, to paint like that. Too many of the current generation are in too much of a hurry. The best talent like this today is Alex Ross, who painted the wonderful Kingdom Come for DC Comics. Like Bama, he made you believe Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel were real. It’s a shame they don’t use this art style for the new crop of super-hero movies instead of using 99% CGI and 1% human acting.
See? If rocket flames shoot out of the back of the Enterprise I have no problem seeing how it blasted off from Iowa…
Seriously though, excellent flashback to some phenomenal art. I have seen the Western images and never made the connection to one of my favorite Trek compositions.
Yes, but that sort of ignition would have popped all the corn in Iowa. They would be able to smell it in China.
BTW, those aren’t really rocket exhaust flames coming from the engines and the shuttle bay… Scotty had hidden a large still in Engineering, which a stray shower of sparks ignited.
Ah, yes. The good ol’ Wee Bairns brand of hooch!
Doug, thank you so much for putting a name to that iconic Star Trek illustration. I keep my copy of that book for no other reason than that lovely art.
Engineering seems to be in fire. And the nacelles!
Ah, well, who could know…
The sort of illustration exemplified by Bama and Peak has been supplanted by pointless group montages a la the recent Star Wars movies.
Instead of dymanic images hinting at what the movie might deliver we are given group portraits of anonymous characters. Looing at posters like that, I can’t tell that anything is even supposed to happen in those movies.
There is a Peak exhibition at Nucleus , 210 Main St Alhambra CA until 25 Jun. (Bob Peak created the rainbow poster for TMP, among so much else)
Well many thanks for the Steve Holland photos.
There so rear and it is so nice to see Doc savage in real forum for a change.
Hello,
I was surfing Google, and came across your site.
To answer some of your mysteries above…
The person responsible for the “Get Smart” illustration by Jack Davis is my late father, John J. Graham. He was Director of Design for NBC in that era, and chose the artists for the illustrative promos for the network. All corporate identity a matter of fact.
The “Man from UNCLE” was done by Jerry Allison. (I currently possess the original Illustration done on bristol board).
If you look closely, “Allison” is signed by Robert Vaughns hand holding the pistol.
I sold the “Get Smart,” I Spy,” “Star Trek,” Illustrations to the late Phil Seuling back in the 1970′s when I was financing a trip to california.
Funny story about the “Star Trek” by Bama…
I went to an early Star Trek convention in Philadelphia (about 1975 or 76) and put the original up for “auction” that they had.
It was small in it’s presentation in that auditorium, and had 2 or 3 inches or flood damage across the bottom. Not affecting the art at all.
The audience LAUGHED at it, and it wouldn’t bring the $50.00 I wanted.
Mr. Seuling gave me more a few weeks later…