The Rip Off Review of Western Culture
Encyclopedia
Rip Off Review Of Western Culture was an underground comic magazine based in San Francisco, California
. There were three issues in 1972. The publication was historically significant in that it brought together the work of many noteworthy underground artists and writers.
was going strong as a publishing house and a store that sold underground comics during this period of time. The Rip Off Review of Western Culture was published as a magazine and comic book mix, just as J. David Moriaty had wanted by 1972. The artists, writers, and photographers contributed many different styles and stories to the magazine.
Robert Follett was asked by Moriaty to help out with the magazine as the editorial director, in which he contributed interviews and editing to the magazine. Follett and a couple of others managed to get the first issue out and distributed through different outlets in the business of underground publishing, with a limited amount of money. Dave Sheridan was the art editor for The Rip Off Review of Western Culture, and was already a well known cartoonist and underground comic artist. Ramsey Wiggins stepped in as the managing editor on the second issue and was asked to write a column and a few of the editorials.
a photographer from New York had determined to keep the total production of the magazine in house for absolute control of quality and costs. The covers for the first issue, features Dave Sheridan
, taken by photographer Michael Heinichen. It was the most difficult cover to print, which required large areas of solid black ink. J. David Moriaty had worked hard with the staff to save this differcult run. After many long days, he managed to print the covers without too many defects to the magazine. This saved the first issue, due to the lack of money The Rip Off Press
had in their budget.
The artist Monjett Graham
originally from Nebraska, wrote a regular column on culture for The Sun Reporter, an African-American newspaper, located in San Francisco. This was about the time he was approached by the Rip Off Review of Western Culture staff and asked if he would contribute to the magazine.
Monjett Graham contributed two pieces of artwork to the first issue. The first one is called “urban mood”, appears on page 15. This piece was created with woodcuts and pencil. The second piece was with woodcuts
only, a soldier with a helmet, call “Occupation” appears on page 30.
, who contributed many others to the magazine. This issue features several articles, such as a two part interview/story on Dennis Hopper
called “Acting Strange: Hopper’s Nickbag Medicine Show Comes To Dime Box," written by M.D. Shafter and "The Loan Arranger," a piece of creative non-fiction, by Bob Chorush. In addition, featured in this issue was artist/writer Tullio (Tullio DeSantis
) who contributed a regular column, entitled "Mindstream." A popular comic illustrator Frank Stack
, provided the comic "Jesus Goes To The Faculty Party."
provided the artwork for the cover, which is a parody of the artist Porfirio Salinas
’ work. Also in this issue is a detailed interview by the editorial director Robert Follett, with S. Clay Wilson, known as one of the best American underground cartoonist in the 1970's. Tom Pope contributed a regular column, entitled “The Morning Stage" along with Tullio DeSantis who winds up the magazine with his regular column known for his cosmic note “Mindsteam.”
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. There were three issues in 1972. The publication was historically significant in that it brought together the work of many noteworthy underground artists and writers.
History
The Rip Off Review of Western Culture was just a thought by J. David Moriaty in 1971. He wanted to publish a real magazine with writing, photographs, and comics. The Rip Off PressRip Off Press
Rip Off Press, Inc. is a seminal publishing company that specializes in adult-themed literature and graphic novels, mostly in a specific comic book format known as underground comix.-Overview:...
was going strong as a publishing house and a store that sold underground comics during this period of time. The Rip Off Review of Western Culture was published as a magazine and comic book mix, just as J. David Moriaty had wanted by 1972. The artists, writers, and photographers contributed many different styles and stories to the magazine.
Robert Follett was asked by Moriaty to help out with the magazine as the editorial director, in which he contributed interviews and editing to the magazine. Follett and a couple of others managed to get the first issue out and distributed through different outlets in the business of underground publishing, with a limited amount of money. Dave Sheridan was the art editor for The Rip Off Review of Western Culture, and was already a well known cartoonist and underground comic artist. Ramsey Wiggins stepped in as the managing editor on the second issue and was asked to write a column and a few of the editorials.
Issue #1 June/July 1972
- Editors for the magazine:
- Editor and Publisher- J. David Moriaty
- Editorial Director- Robert Follett
- Art Editor- Dave SheridanDave SheridanDavid Christopher "Dave" Sheridan is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician. He is perhaps best known for his performance as Special Officer Doofy in the comedy Scary Movie .-Career:...
- Managing Editor- Janie T. Gaynor
- Editor at Sea- Billy Lee Brammer
First issue
The first issue was 84 pages, and consist of very few ads. The editorial staff with Bruce JacksonBruce Jackson (scholar)
Bruce Jackson is an American folklorist, documentary filmmaker, writer and photographer. He is the James Agee Professor of American Culture at the University of Buffalo. Jackson has edited or authored 25 books and his articles have appeared in numerous magazines...
a photographer from New York had determined to keep the total production of the magazine in house for absolute control of quality and costs. The covers for the first issue, features Dave Sheridan
Dave Sheridan
David Christopher "Dave" Sheridan is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician. He is perhaps best known for his performance as Special Officer Doofy in the comedy Scary Movie .-Career:...
, taken by photographer Michael Heinichen. It was the most difficult cover to print, which required large areas of solid black ink. J. David Moriaty had worked hard with the staff to save this differcult run. After many long days, he managed to print the covers without too many defects to the magazine. This saved the first issue, due to the lack of money The Rip Off Press
Rip Off Press
Rip Off Press, Inc. is a seminal publishing company that specializes in adult-themed literature and graphic novels, mostly in a specific comic book format known as underground comix.-Overview:...
had in their budget.
The artist Monjett Graham
Monjett Graham
-Biography and education:Monjett Graham, was born in Omaha, Nebraska where he obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska. His major was European and American History with a minor in Art...
originally from Nebraska, wrote a regular column on culture for The Sun Reporter, an African-American newspaper, located in San Francisco. This was about the time he was approached by the Rip Off Review of Western Culture staff and asked if he would contribute to the magazine.
Monjett Graham contributed two pieces of artwork to the first issue. The first one is called “urban mood”, appears on page 15. This piece was created with woodcuts and pencil. The second piece was with woodcuts
Woodcut
Woodcut—occasionally known as xylography—is a relief printing artistic technique in printmaking in which an image is carved into the surface of a block of wood, with the printing parts remaining level with the surface while the non-printing parts are removed, typically with gouges...
only, a soldier with a helmet, call “Occupation” appears on page 30.
- Writers:
- Lewis McAdams and Tom Clark- Texas Years
- Bruce JacksonBruce Jackson (scholar)Bruce Jackson is an American folklorist, documentary filmmaker, writer and photographer. He is the James Agee Professor of American Culture at the University of Buffalo. Jackson has edited or authored 25 books and his articles have appeared in numerous magazines...
-"Prison" and "Henry" - J. David Moriaty -The Great County Prison Expose’ Fiasco pg 13
- Jubal Washcloth- The Pleasure Palace of Space pg 18
- Robert Follett- A Little Something for Mom pg 22
- P. J. O'RourkeP. J. O'RourkePatrick Jake "P. J." O'Rourke is an American political satirist, journalist, writer, and author. O'Rourke is the H. L. Mencken Research Fellow at the Cato Institute and is a regular correspondent for The Atlantic Monthly, The American Spectator, and The Weekly Standard, and frequent panelist on...
- A.J. at N.Y.U. pg 26
- James Langdon-Easter Present pg 30
- Fred SchrierFred SchrierFred Schrier is an artist, writer, and animator, best known as partner to the underground comic book artist Dave Sheridan. Together, using the name Overland Vegetable Stagecoach, they worked on Meef Comix, three issues of Mother's Oats Funnies, Skull Comics #1 , and The Balloon Vendor, which were...
, Uncle Sam Takes LSD -insert - William Ellis- Great Galveston Bay Dope Disaster pg 34
- Bruce JacksonBruce Jackson (scholar)Bruce Jackson is an American folklorist, documentary filmmaker, writer and photographer. He is the James Agee Professor of American Culture at the University of Buffalo. Jackson has edited or authored 25 books and his articles have appeared in numerous magazines...
Henry pg 44 - Ron Siegel-Psychedelics Revisited pg 54
- Lennart Bruce- The Whore pg 60
- Artists
- Joel Beck
- Jim FranklinJim Franklin (artist)Jim Franklin is an artist best known for his poster art created for the Armadillo World Headquarters, a former Austin, Texas music hall....
- Monjett GrahamMonjett Graham-Biography and education:Monjett Graham, was born in Omaha, Nebraska where he obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska. His major was European and American History with a minor in Art...
- Jack Jackson JaxonJaxonJaxon was the pen name of Jack Jackson , an American cartoonist. Many consider him the first underground comix artist. He co-founded the seminal Rip Off Press.-Career:Jack Jackson was born in 1941 in Pandora, Texas...
- Victor MoscosoVictor MoscosoVictor Moscoso is an artist best known for producing psychedelic rock posters/advertisements and underground comix in San Francisco during the 1960s and '70s....
- Vin Scheihagen
- Fred SchrierFred SchrierFred Schrier is an artist, writer, and animator, best known as partner to the underground comic book artist Dave Sheridan. Together, using the name Overland Vegetable Stagecoach, they worked on Meef Comix, three issues of Mother's Oats Funnies, Skull Comics #1 , and The Balloon Vendor, which were...
, Uncle Sam Takes LSD -insert- - Larry WelzLarry WelzLarry Welz is an American cartoonist and commercial artist, and the creator of Cherry Poptart . He is a noteworthy early contributor to the underground comics movement based in the San Francisco area in the late 1960s and early 1970s.In 1969 his work was published in Yellow Dog, a tabloid comic...
http://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/welz_l.htm - S. Clay WilsonS. Clay WilsonS. Clay Wilson is an American underground cartoonist and central figure in the underground comix movement. Wilson is known for aggressively violent and sexually explicit panoramas of "lowlife," often depicting the wild escapades of pirates and bikers. He was an early contributor to Zap Comix,...
- Gilbert SheltonGilbert SheltonGilbert Shelton is an American cartoonist and underground comix artist. He is the creator of The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, Fat Freddy's Cat, Wonder Wart-Hog, Philbert Desanex, Not Quite Dead, and the cover art to The Grateful Dead's 1978 album Shakedown Street.He graduated from Lamar High...
- Photographers
- Elihu Blotnik pg 41
- Michael Heinichen - Cover
- William Irwin pg 35-39
- Bruce Jackson photos of the prison system appeared in the 1st edition. The piece is called "Prison". http://brucejacksonphotography.us/#prison pg 8-12
Issue #2 August/September 1972
- Editors for the magazine:
- Editor and Publisher- J. David Moriaty
- Editorial Director- Robert Follett
- Art Editor- Dave SheridanDave SheridanDavid Christopher "Dave" Sheridan is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician. He is perhaps best known for his performance as Special Officer Doofy in the comedy Scary Movie .-Career:...
- Managing Editor- Ramsey Wiggins
- Southwestern Coorespondent-Bill Dormam
Second Issue
The second issue is a collection of articles, stories, pictures, illustrations, and comics. The cover is an illustration by Victor MoscosoVictor Moscoso
Victor Moscoso is an artist best known for producing psychedelic rock posters/advertisements and underground comix in San Francisco during the 1960s and '70s....
, who contributed many others to the magazine. This issue features several articles, such as a two part interview/story on Dennis Hopper
Dennis Hopper
Dennis Lee Hopper was an American actor, filmmaker and artist. As a young man, Hopper became interested in acting and eventually became a student of the Actors' Studio. He made his first television appearance in 1954 and appeared in two films featuring James Dean, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant...
called “Acting Strange: Hopper’s Nickbag Medicine Show Comes To Dime Box," written by M.D. Shafter and "The Loan Arranger," a piece of creative non-fiction, by Bob Chorush. In addition, featured in this issue was artist/writer Tullio (Tullio DeSantis
Tullio DeSantis
Tullio Francesco DeSantis is an American contemporary artist, writer, and teacher. His work is informed by ancient and contemporary philosophy, science, and the relationship between art and life.-Biography:...
) who contributed a regular column, entitled "Mindstream." A popular comic illustrator Frank Stack
Frank Stack
Frank Huntington Stack is an American underground cartoonist. Working under the name Foolbert Sturgeon to avoid persecution for his work while living in the bible belt, Stack published what is considered by many to be the first underground comic book, The Adventures of Jesus, in 1962.He graduated...
, provided the comic "Jesus Goes To The Faculty Party."
- Writers
- Bob Chorush-The Loan Arranger pg 10
- Susan Netzorg-Funky Fables pg 13
- Chris Miller-Hippie pg 17
- MD Shafter-Acting Strange, featuring Dennis HopperDennis HopperDennis Lee Hopper was an American actor, filmmaker and artist. As a young man, Hopper became interested in acting and eventually became a student of the Actors' Studio. He made his first television appearance in 1954 and appeared in two films featuring James Dean, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant...
pg 18 - Frank StackFrank StackFrank Huntington Stack is an American underground cartoonist. Working under the name Foolbert Sturgeon to avoid persecution for his work while living in the bible belt, Stack published what is considered by many to be the first underground comic book, The Adventures of Jesus, in 1962.He graduated...
-Jesus Goes to the Faculty Party pg 25 - Liv Peterson-Poetry pg 49
- Tom Pope-Media Review pg 60
- Tullio DeSantisTullio DeSantisTullio Francesco DeSantis is an American contemporary artist, writer, and teacher. His work is informed by ancient and contemporary philosophy, science, and the relationship between art and life.-Biography:...
-Mindstream pg 64
- Artists
- Jack Jackson JaxonJaxonJaxon was the pen name of Jack Jackson , an American cartoonist. Many consider him the first underground comix artist. He co-founded the seminal Rip Off Press.-Career:Jack Jackson was born in 1941 in Pandora, Texas...
- Tullio DeSantisTullio DeSantisTullio Francesco DeSantis is an American contemporary artist, writer, and teacher. His work is informed by ancient and contemporary philosophy, science, and the relationship between art and life.-Biography:...
- Gilbert SheltonGilbert SheltonGilbert Shelton is an American cartoonist and underground comix artist. He is the creator of The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, Fat Freddy's Cat, Wonder Wart-Hog, Philbert Desanex, Not Quite Dead, and the cover art to The Grateful Dead's 1978 album Shakedown Street.He graduated from Lamar High...
- Larry WelzLarry WelzLarry Welz is an American cartoonist and commercial artist, and the creator of Cherry Poptart . He is a noteworthy early contributor to the underground comics movement based in the San Francisco area in the late 1960s and early 1970s.In 1969 his work was published in Yellow Dog, a tabloid comic...
- S. Clay WilsonS. Clay WilsonS. Clay Wilson is an American underground cartoonist and central figure in the underground comix movement. Wilson is known for aggressively violent and sexually explicit panoramas of "lowlife," often depicting the wild escapades of pirates and bikers. He was an early contributor to Zap Comix,...
- Victor MoscosoVictor MoscosoVictor Moscoso is an artist best known for producing psychedelic rock posters/advertisements and underground comix in San Francisco during the 1960s and '70s....
- Kerry Fitzgerald
- Gary Frutkoff
- Phil Romero
- Frank StackFrank StackFrank Huntington Stack is an American underground cartoonist. Working under the name Foolbert Sturgeon to avoid persecution for his work while living in the bible belt, Stack published what is considered by many to be the first underground comic book, The Adventures of Jesus, in 1962.He graduated...
- Photographers
- Richie Fiddler
- Peter Gent
Issue #3 November/December 1972
- Editors for the magazine:
- Editor and Publisher- J. David Moriaty
- Editorial Director- Robert Follett
- Art Editor- Dave SheridanDave SheridanDavid Christopher "Dave" Sheridan is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician. He is perhaps best known for his performance as Special Officer Doofy in the comedy Scary Movie .-Career:...
- Managing Editor- Ramsey Wiggins
- Southwestern Corespondent-Bill Dormam
Third issue
The third issue consists of an editorial written by J. David Moriaty on the Presidential election of 1972 and the United States consumption of gasoline. On page three of this issue the “Liner Notes” describes the main contributors to "The Rip Off Review of Western Culture.” Jim FranklinJim Franklin
Jim Franklin is a British television director and producer.He has directed many British television comedy programs, including: Ripping Yarns, The Goodies, Broaden Your Mind and Keep 'Em Rolling.-External links:...
provided the artwork for the cover, which is a parody of the artist Porfirio Salinas
Porfirio Salinas
Porfirio Salinas was an Early Texas landscape painter who is recognized for his depictions of the Texas Hill Country in the springtime. He was one of the first Mexican-American artists to become nationally recognized for his paintings. He was described by Time Magazine as United States President...
’ work. Also in this issue is a detailed interview by the editorial director Robert Follett, with S. Clay Wilson, known as one of the best American underground cartoonist in the 1970's. Tom Pope contributed a regular column, entitled “The Morning Stage" along with Tullio DeSantis who winds up the magazine with his regular column known for his cosmic note “Mindsteam.”
- Writers
- M.D. Shafer-Acting strange part II pg 12
- Ty Hunt-Armadillo Festival pg18
- Ken Green-Several Final Solutions pg 23
- Pat Ryan and P. Delacorte- Fun and Games pg28
- Ron Siegel-You’re Just Another Animal that Turns On
- S. Clay Wilson: An Interview pg 38
- Will Hatcher-Will Hatcher Sells His Soul pg 46
- W.E. Ellis
- Tom Pope-Morning Stage pg 62
- Tullio DeSantisTullio DeSantisTullio Francesco DeSantis is an American contemporary artist, writer, and teacher. His work is informed by ancient and contemporary philosophy, science, and the relationship between art and life.-Biography:...
-Mindstream pg 64 - Lieuen Adkins- Craddock’s Crusade pg 55
- Mary Carter-Record Reviews pg 61
- David Dean
- Ricky Morsund
- Artists
- Jack Jackson (JaxonJaxonJaxon was the pen name of Jack Jackson , an American cartoonist. Many consider him the first underground comix artist. He co-founded the seminal Rip Off Press.-Career:Jack Jackson was born in 1941 in Pandora, Texas...
) - Gilbert SheltonGilbert SheltonGilbert Shelton is an American cartoonist and underground comix artist. He is the creator of The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, Fat Freddy's Cat, Wonder Wart-Hog, Philbert Desanex, Not Quite Dead, and the cover art to The Grateful Dead's 1978 album Shakedown Street.He graduated from Lamar High...
- S. Clay WilsonS. Clay WilsonS. Clay Wilson is an American underground cartoonist and central figure in the underground comix movement. Wilson is known for aggressively violent and sexually explicit panoramas of "lowlife," often depicting the wild escapades of pirates and bikers. He was an early contributor to Zap Comix,...
- Tullio DeSantisTullio DeSantisTullio Francesco DeSantis is an American contemporary artist, writer, and teacher. His work is informed by ancient and contemporary philosophy, science, and the relationship between art and life.-Biography:...
- Kerry Fitzgerald also known as Kerry Awn
- Gary FrutkoffGary FrutkoffGary Frutkoff is an American production designer.-Biography:Gary Frutkoff was born into the suburbs of Long Island in 1951. Graduated H.F. Carey High School in 1969...
- Jim Cherry
- Pat Ryan
- William Klapp
- Kim Verstraten
- Photographers
- Ike Baruch
- Peter Gent
External links
- Tullio DeSantis
- Bob Follett, ArtandLife
- Bob Follett A Personal Site
- S. Clay Wilson
- Wilson
- S.Clay Wilson Interview
- Frank Stack, Illustrator
- Fred Schrier
- Joel Beck
- Jim Franklin
- Victor Moscoso
- Monjett Graham
- Monjett Graham, Collectibles
- Billy Lee Brammer, The Gay Place
- Rolling Stone-1971 Bob Chorush
- Bob Chorush
- Kerry Fitzgerald
- Larry Welz
- Larry Welz