Joe Barry & LIP

[Steven Vigeant]

I'm still very motivated to document and interview Letterheads. Last year I got about 12 hours of tape concerning Letterhead memories and oral histories of sign personalities .This is a part of my self-styled Letterhead Interview Project (LIP)which I plan to work on into the foreseeable future for the benefit of all who would be interested in the results of the research. I was fortunate to meet with several early Letterheads at Lodi, Cincy and the Micromeet. I did extended interviewing with Keith Knect, Noel Weber, Larry White, Gary Anderson, David Butler, Lee Littlewood, Francis Lestingi, Crazy Jack,Billy Pickett, Kent Smith and several others. I'd like to expand the questioning this year to include historic sign experiences in general that would include secondhand info on Rick Glawson, Mike Stevens from people who knew them well. Kent's interview inspires me to learn more about signage history through personal accounts. (1 hour of tape later, I still have even more questions and would like to interview you again Kent) This trail leads to my interest in Joe Barry who is named in the introduction to Mastering Layout as a very compelling figure and his SignCraft interview bares that out. Does anyone know of his whereabouts past Commerce, CO and if he is in good health and open to contact? I'd also be inspired by any suggestions that are raised regarding people who should be interviewed, by phone is fine. I have a few John Jordan statements on tape and I wish I had more. His passing shortly after the ZooMeet is a solemn reminder of the importance of documenting classic old- timers and younger people alike. In this way we are indebted to Mike Jackson for his documentation of Stephen Parrish, and I'm convinced that it will be very valuable to keep working on this pursuit. Transcripts will eventually be available and open for inspection.

[oatis]

Steven: Call up Keith Knecht in Todelo, and he'll put you in touch with Joe Barry. He's living in Schenectady, New York.

Mark Oatis