OCTOBER 2015
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Emmett Lee Dickinson & Andy Warhol. One poet and one artist. And one can of soup. "Soup Two Nuts" is an exploration of the impact of the life and work of Emmett Lee Dickinson on Andy Warhol. This exhibit is presented as a joint venture between the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum (above the coin-op Laundromat on Dickinson Boulevard) and the Andy Warhol Museum (near Galardi's 30 Minute Cleaners on Forbes Avenue).
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In his autobiography Fifteen Minutes of Fun, Andy Warhol stated that there was no greater influence on him than the life and poetry of Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request).
Andy Warhol first discovered the poet at the school named after him, the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Pittsburgh. From that time on, he based his life and work on his love of America's greatest poet: "When I read my first Dickinson, I stopped caring so much about having close relationships." 
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Above: When Jamie Wyeth agreed to paint Warhol, Warhol insisted that he be portrayed in the classic pose of Emmett Lee Dickinson
Left: The Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
Below left: Andy Warhol's boyhood home in Pittsburgh. Warhol would often play in the yard with his two pet squirrels, Emmett and Lee. Below center: The carcass of Warhol's pet squirrel "Emmett" is on display at the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum (above the coin-op Laundromat on Dickinson Boulevard) with special permission from the Andy Warhol Museum (near Galardi's 30 Minute Cleaners on Forbes Avenue). Warhol's other pet squirrel, Lee, was crushed to death by a Pittsburgh Waste garbage truck. Warhol was devastated. He began a letter writing campaign and was joined by the North American Squirrel Association (NASA). Together, they got Pittsburgh Waste trucks to include the slogan "Remember Lee the Squirrel" on the side of the trucks. Below right: A Pittsburgh Waste truck with the slogan, "Remember Lee the Squirrel." CLICK THE IMAGES TO ENLARGE.
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When Dick Cavett interviewed Andy Warhol on his TV show (the highest rated show in his series), he asked Warhol about his days at the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Pittsburgh. Cavett had attended the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Lincoln, Nebraska, and reminisced with Warhol about their similar pasts.
"What is it that you loved about Dickinson (the school)?" asked Cavett. "The soup," said Warhol. "Definitely the soup." In particular, Warhol loved the corn chowder made fresh in the school's cafeteria. Pictured at the right: Dick Cavett interviewing Andy Warhol. |
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“The idea of waiting for a bowl of corn chowder makes it more delicious," said Andy Warhol when his masterpiece "Corn Chowder" was unveiled. The painting was instantly recognized as a masterwork of 20th century pop art. The Museum of Modern Art bought the painting for $42 million dollars, and it is displayed prominently in the museum. Replicas also hang in the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum (above the coin-op Laundromat on Dickinson Boulevard) and the Andy Warhol Museum (near Galardi's 30 Minute Cleaners on Forbes Avenue). |
Pictured below: Andy Warhol (at the far left) learned how to make Emmett Lee Dickinson's classic recipe for Corn Chowder as an intern in the Children's Kitchen at the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Pittsburgh.
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Andy Warhol was the fourth child of Ondrej Warhola (Americanized as Andrew Warhola, Sr., 1889–1942) and Julia(née Zavacká, 1892–1972), Ondrej worked in the kitty litter mines in western Pennsylvania, and Julia was a big game huntress and an amateur artist. She would glue macaroni to lamps and other household objects and paint them. "Stuff is just stuff," she said, "but stuff with macaroni glued on it is art."
Pictured at the right: Andy Warhol's father, Ondrej Warhola Pictured at the far right: Andy Warhol's mother, Julia Warhola, and his beloved dog Velvet |
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Julia Warhola LOVED soup, and she particularly loved Emmett Lee Dickinson's recipe for corn chowder. She would often make it for the Warhola family dinner. In her kitchen she had Emmett Lee Dickinson's poem "If I can stop one soup from burning" on her refrigerator (shown at the right).
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If I can stop one soup from burning,
I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one pot from boiling Or cool one pan, Or serve one second helping Into your bowl again, I shall not live in vain. |
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The original concept for George Lucas' futuristic saga "Star Wars" was to be called "Poetry Wars," about the volatile relationship between third cousins Emmet Lee and Emily Dickinson.
The character known today as "Darth Vader" was "Emmett Lee" (who always wore black in his later years), and "Princess Leia" was Emily Dickinson (who always wore white). The tagline for the movie: was one of Emmett Lee Dickinson's most famous quotes: METAPHORS BE WITH YOU! For more information, click HERE (and scroll to the entry dated May 5). |
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George Lucas, who attended the Emmett Lee School for Boys in Burbank, CA, was also a fan of Andy Warhol's art. Warhol's paintings of soup cans below influenced Lucas in the character development of his Star Wars saga (the Chunky Wookie soup on the far right was said to be so chunky, that the Campbell's ad line for the soup was "May the forks be with you").
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Andy Warhol's aunt Myrna Warhola was also an aficionado of Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request).
Myrna worked as a guard at the Western Penitentiary in Pittsburgh. Though she was known to the prisoners as "Miserable Myrna," she would, from time to time, read them Dickinson's poetry. Myrna was also a soup lover. Her favorite Dickinson poem was "Consulting the stove top timer." She was also a lover of all types of broth, and Warhol paid tribute to his beloved aunt with a series of paintings of broth. Pictured at the right: Myrna Wahola, Andy Warhol's aunt. |
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Pictured below left: Western Penitentiary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pictured below right: A rare photograph inside the Western Penitentiary showing Myrna "Miserable Myrna" Warhola in her prison guard uniform. In his autobiography Fifteen Minutes of Fun, Andy Warhol said that he would often visit his aunt at the prison, and she would let him server the prisoners soup.
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Below on the left: Myrna Warhola's favorite poem by Emmett Lee Dickinson was "Consulting the stove top timer." Below on the right: Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily to write "Consulting summer's clock."
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By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
Consulting the stove top timer But half the time remains I ascertain it with a shock – A watched pot stays the same. The second bowl of soup Is hotter than the first. The broth I cannot wait to taste I sample with a slurp. |
By Emily Dickinson:
Consulting summer's clock, But half the hours remain. I ascertain it with a shock -- I shall not look again. The second half of joy Is shorter than the first. The truth I do not dare to know I muffle with a jest. |
Pictured below: Andy Warhol paid tribute to his beloved aunt by painting a series of broth soups.
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Have you seen the "Seinfeld" episode with the "Soup Nazi"? That character was based on Andy Warhol's Uncle Orpheus who ran Warhola Soup in downtown Pittsburgh for decades.
Orpheus was the brother to Ondrej Warhola, Andy Warhol's father. At age 20 he married his high school sweetheart, Myrna Gwozdek (see above in the entry dated October 5). At age 22 Orpheus graduated from the world-famous Culinary Arts Institute of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania, and he then opened Warhola Soup which was instantly recognized as one of the top soup restaurants in the world. Pictured at the right: Orpheus Warhola, Andy Warhol's uncle. |
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Below left: The world renowned Culinary Institute of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania. Below center: A rate photograph of Orpheus Warhola in the kitchen at Warhola Soup. Below right: Warhola Soup, open to this day in Pittsburgh's Strip District, draws long lines of satisfied customers.
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Below: Warhol painted a series of "angry soups" in honor of his Uncle Orpheus.
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For two summers when he attended the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Pittsburgh, Andy Warhol spent time in Camden, New Jersey, for an internship at Campbell's Soup Company. "Everybody must have a fantasy," said Warhol, "and my fantasy was to make soup." Pictured at the right: Summer Intern Andy Warhol in one of the tasting kitchens at Campbell's Soup. Pictured at the far right: Part of the Campbell's soup factory in beautiful Camden, New Jersey. |
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Below left: Warhol dedicated his painting "One Old Opus" to his Uncle Orpheus (see the entry above dated Oct 6) who was a dyslexic. The subtitle of the painting is "Noodle Soup for Dyslexics." Below center: Warhol's Uncle Orpheus said that his favorite poem by Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request) was "I lost my Soup Spoon -- the other day." Below right: Dickinson's poem was one of the inspirations for third cousin Emily to write "I lost a World -- the other day!"
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By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
I lost my Soup Spoon – the other day! Has Anybody found? You’ll know it by the Ivory Band Around its handle bound. A Full man – might not notice it – Yet – to my hungry Eyes, Of more Esteem than the World – Until – the Tureen – runs dry! |
By Emily Dickinson:
I lost a World - the other day! Has Anybody found? You'll know it by the Row of Stars Around its forehead bound. A Rich man – might not notice it – Yet – to my frugal Eye, Of more Esteem than Ducats – Oh find it – Sir – for me! |
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One of the biggest industries in Pittsburgh is land shrimping. Western Pennsylvania land shrimp are a delicacy enjoyed all over the world, and one of the pioneers in the industry was Bartlomiej Warhola, brother to Ondrej Warhola (Andy Warhol's father). He opened the Warhola Land Shrimp Packing Company in Pittsburgh in the early 1900s, and it is still in operation today.
Pictured at the right: A diagram showing the difference between sea shrimp and land shrimp. Pictured below middle: Bartlomiej Warhola, Andy Warhol's uncle. |
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Pictured below left: Warhola Land Shrimp Packing Company in Pittsburgh. Pictured below right: Andy Warhol painted "Oxymoron Tail Soup with Bitter-Sweet Large Shrimp" as a tribute to his Uncle Bartlomiej.
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Andy Warhol adored his third cousin (twice removed) Malgorzata Warhola.
“Sometimes people let the same problem make them miserable for years when they could just say, So what!" said Warhol in his autobiography Fifteen Minutes of Fun. "That was one of my third cousin's favorite things to say. So what! She was so superficial, it made her very easy to love." Warhol also wrote that he was devastated at the untimely death of his third cousin. Malgorzata held the world's record for holding one's breath, and when she beat her own record at the Allegheny County Fair in 1951, she passed out and was unable to be revived. To add salt to the wound, Elmer Fogg of the Guinness Book of World Records refused to recognize the new record that Malgorzata set. Pictured at the right: Andy Warhol and his third cousin (twice removed), Malgorzata Warhola. |
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Above: Warhol dedicated his painting "Hakuna Potato" to the memory of his third cousin Malgorzata Warhola.
"Hakuna Potato" is Swahili for "No worries...about what's for dinner tonight." |
Below left: Emmett Lee Dickinson's poem "There's a certain Slurp of soup." Andy Warhol read this poem at the funeral of his third cousin, Malgorzata Warhola. Below right: Dickinson's poem was one of third cousin Emily's inspirations to write "There's a certain Slant of light."
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In his autobiography Fifteen Minutes of Fun, Andy Warhol noted that it was his first art teacher at the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Pittsburgh, Betty Bye, who inspired him to become an artist.
"I totally embraced Ms. Bye's philosophy," wrote Warhol. "She taught me that an artist is somebody who produces things that people don't need to have.” Pictured at the right: Betty Bye, artist-in-residence at the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Pittsburgh. Three of Warhol's paintings (below) -- suggestive of the creative genius of Pablo Picasso, Georgia O'Keeffe, and E. E. Cummings (who also painted) -- were dedicated to his first art teacher, Betty Bye. |
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Left: Warhol's "Chciken wtih Wlid Rcie," with its misplaced i's, pays homage to Pablo Picasso. Center: "Desert Cauliflower" calls to mind the flower paintings of Georgia O'Keeffe. Right: "ch(i)ck e nn oo dl e w(i)th (r ice" suggests the work of E. E. Cummings." All three paintings were dedicated to Betty Bye.
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For a time, Andy Warhol was very involved with his schoolwork and activities at the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Pittsburgh. For example, he was the co-captain of the school's championship Pyramid Team.
Pictured at the right: Andy Warhol at the top of the ELD School for Boys' championship Pyramid Team. |
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In his high school years at the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Pittsburgh, Warhol (known as "Andrew Warhola, Jr.") became disillusioned with school. He said that the only things that interested him were soup, painting soup, and the poetry of Emmett Lee Dickinson (the school's namesake and Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request). During this time of angst, Warhol was voted "Most likely to get stuffed into a locker" (above right).
Warhol paid homage to his days at the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Pittsburgh with a number of paintings. "That's Using Your Noodle" (below far left) was dedicated to the school's Academic Bowl team. "Little Lamb Stew" (below second to left) was painted in honor of one of the school's cafeteria ladies, Mary Mifflin. "Ritalin" (below second to right) was dedicated to many of Warhol's classmates, and "Silent Pea" (below right) paid tribute to the school's swim team.
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In his autobiography Fifteen Minutes of Fun, Andy Warhol wrote, "October 12th (Emmett Lee Dickinson's birthday) was always like a religious experience to me." He said that he had a "conscious coupling" with the poet, and almost annually he was would visit the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum (above the coin-op Laundromat on Dickinson Boulevard) in Washerst, PA (Dickinson's birthplace).
Pictured at the right: Warhol outside the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum on one of his many visits. Pictured below on the left: On years Warhol could not make it to visit the ELD Museum on October 12th, he would have his picture taken with some subtle reference to the poet or the museum. In this example, he had his picture taken purposefully with the word "laundry" over his head in reference to the coin-op Laundromat beneath the ELD Museum. |
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Pictured below left and center: Warhol painted over 20 soups with a "corn" them in honor of Emmett Lee Dickinson, who invented Warhol's favorite, "Corn Chowder" (see the above entry dated Oct 2nd). Pictured below right: Warhol also painted some soups in honor of Dickinson's third cousin Emily Dickinson like this one, "White Belle Pepper."
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"Everything I know about fashion," said Andy Warhol in his autobiography Fifteen Minutes of Fun, "I learned from Delma Davenport, my Home Economics teacher at the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Pittsburgh."
"Miss. Davenport taught me that fashion wasn't what you wore someplace," wrote Warhol. "It was the whole reason for going." Pictured at the right: Delma Davenport, Andy Warhol's Home Economics teacher and fashion mentor. Miss. Davenport would open every class by saying, "Kiss me with your eyes." Below left to right: Warhol painted many fashion-related soups dedicated to his beloved teacher Delma Davenport. The soup "Sometimes You're In, Sometimes You're Artichoke" was the inspiration for the fashion reality show "Project Runway." |
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When Andy Warhol attended the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Pittsburgh, he was one of the founding members of the first A/V Clubs in the United States. As a member of the club, he helped teachers with 16mm film projectors, film strip projectors, opaque and overhead projectors, and more.
As an adult, Warhol expanded the club and established the National Society of Library Helpers, Media Center Assistants, and Audio-Visual Aides. the national headquarters of the NSLHMCAAVA is located in Pittsburgh, PA. |
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Pictured above: Andy Warhol -- known as Andrew Warhola, Jr. -- in the ELD School for Boys' yearbook picture of the newly-formed Audio Visual Club.
Pictured at the left: The National Headquarters of the National Society of Library Helpers, Media Center Assistants, and Audio-Visual Aides in Pittsburgh, PA, founded by Andy Warhol. The mission of the audio-visual division of the NSLHMCAAVA is to "train and entrust students to handle film and slide projectors and a school's PA system so that they can help teachers who don't know what they're doing." Pictured below: Warhol was such a visionary as a "techie" in the ELD School for Boys' Audio-Visual Club, that some of his tech-themed soup paintings of the era suggested tech trends yet-to-come. |
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One of Andry Warhol's favorite events at the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys in Pittsburgh was the annual Allegheny County Science Fair.
The annual science fair allowed Warhol to combine technology with many of his top interests. For example, one year he won first place for inventing the "Chowder Head," a helmet which would allow someone to work while dining on soups, stews or chowders. Pictured at the right: Andy Warhol typing while enjoying corn chowder through his invention the "Chowder Head." |
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Pictured above at the far right: Andy Warhol's 1st place trophy from the Allegheny County Science Fair for the "Chowder Head." The trophy is currently on display at the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum (above the coin-op Laundromat on Dickinson Boulevard) on loan from Pittsburgh's Andy Warhol Museum (near Galardi's 30 Minute Cleaners on Forbes Avenue).
Pictured below: More of Warhol's technology-themed soup paintings. The second from the right is called "Two peas in iPod." The painting on the far right, "The Leek Squad" pays tribute to the fact that Emmett Lee Dickinson was the first to deliver "waiter, there's a fly in my soup" jokes. "If there's a bug in your soup," quipped Warhol, in his autobiography Fifteen Minutes of Fun, " order the Leek Squad."
Pictured below: More of Warhol's technology-themed soup paintings. The second from the right is called "Two peas in iPod." The painting on the far right, "The Leek Squad" pays tribute to the fact that Emmett Lee Dickinson was the first to deliver "waiter, there's a fly in my soup" jokes. "If there's a bug in your soup," quipped Warhol, in his autobiography Fifteen Minutes of Fun, " order the Leek Squad."
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Andy Warhol was obsessed with celebrity, and as a child, his number one obsession was Soupy Sales. "I loved Soupy Sales," said Warhol in his autobiography Fifteen Minutes of Fun. "I loved his name, I loved his persona, and I loved his shtick." As a child, Warhol wrote to Sales and asked for an autographed picture. "The idea of waiting for something makes it more exciting," said Warhol, "and waiting for an autographed photograph of Soupy Sales was probably the most exciting time in my life." Pictured at the right: Andy Warhol's most prized possession, his autographed photo of Soupy Sales. The photo is currently on display at the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum (above the coin-op Laundromat on Dickinson Boulevard) on loan from Pittsburgh's Andy Warhol Museum (near Galardi's 30 Minute Cleaners on Forbes Avenue). |
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After he received the autographed photograph from Soupy Sales, Andy Warhol wrote back to the mega-star with additional questions and requests. Soon the two were corresponding regularly. Warhol was thrilled to learn that Sales was also a Dickinson aficionado, and that the star's favorite poem by Dickinson was "This is my Chowder to the world," the poet's ode to the concoction he invented, corn chowder. The poem was also one of Warhol's favorites.
Below on the left: Soupy Sales' favorite poem by Emmett Lee Dickinson, "This is my Chowder to the world." Below on the right: Dickinson's poem inspired "This is my letter to the World" by his third cousin Emily.
Below on the left: Soupy Sales' favorite poem by Emmett Lee Dickinson, "This is my Chowder to the world." Below on the right: Dickinson's poem inspired "This is my letter to the World" by his third cousin Emily.
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By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
This is my Chowder to the world – That never stewed for Me – The tender Corn that Nature made – With simple Majesty Its Flavor is committed To Mouths I cannot see – For love of Soup – Sweet – countrymen – Judge tenderly – of Me |
By Emily Dickinson:
This is my letter to the World That never wrote to Me – The simple News that Nature told – With tender Majesty Her Message is committed To Hands I cannot see – For love of Her – Sweet – countrymen – Judge tenderly – of Me |
Below: Andy Warhol painted many different soups in his celebrity-themed series. Although he never painted one in tribute to Soupy Sales, he dedicated the series to his idol.
On the left: "Six Degrees of Bean with Bacon" inspired the trivia pastime known as "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon." Center: Warhol said that "Marisa Tomato" was his cousin Vinny's favorite soup. Second from right: "What a Dumpling" was dedicated to Bette Davis. Far right: As child, Warhol was obsessed with the stop-gap animated characters known as Pokey and Gumby.
On the left: "Six Degrees of Bean with Bacon" inspired the trivia pastime known as "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon." Center: Warhol said that "Marisa Tomato" was his cousin Vinny's favorite soup. Second from right: "What a Dumpling" was dedicated to Bette Davis. Far right: As child, Warhol was obsessed with the stop-gap animated characters known as Pokey and Gumby.
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Before he dabbled in non-soup-related art, Andy Warhol tried to establish himself in a career in music.
Below left: Warhol's first album, "Thank You For The Dove" was panned by music critics even though it won thirteen Grammy awards. Below center: Warhol recorded one album with is brother Paul, and it was produced by his other brother John. "The Lord Is Coming Again" included an original song by Warhol entitled "Because I Could Not Stop For Soup." Below right: The Beatles cited Warhol's theme-album "Circus in Town" as one of the inspirations for their album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club." |
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Below: Although Warhol never found much success with his singing career, he painted a number of soups with a music theme.
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When his music career began to fizzle, Andy Warhol rebranded himself as "ANDY," and he released a series of foreign language albums. He quit recording albums, though, when his releases were only met with moderate success in a handful of countries, including Finland, Luxembourg, Armenia, and the Koreas.
For a short time, Warhol toured Europe with the New Glarus Swiss Yodelers. He had to leave the group, though, and return to Pittsburgh when he developed a chronic case of catarrh brought on by the mountain air. Below: Three of Andy Warhol's foreign releases as "ANDY" which were met with modest success. Pictured below the album covers: The New Glarus Swiss Yodelers. Andy Warhol is standing at the far right. |
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Below: More of Andy Warhol's music-related soup paintings. He dedicated "Keep the Beet" to Wankdorf Glarus, the leader of the New Glarus Swiss Yodelers.
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Following his tour of Switzerland with the New Glarus Swiss Yodelers, Warhol returned to Pittsburgh by way of Canada. He spent several months in La Tuque, Quebec, delving into Emmett Lee Dickinson’s research on the medicinal aspects of chicken soup, particularly in treating catarrh. It was there that Warhol founded the CCCP (Canadian Council of Catarrh Prevention).
Soon after establishing the CCCP, Warhol won the Royal Order of Non-Canadian Achievement, the highest award Canada bestows on non-Canadians. Warhol created quite an uproar and intense global tension, though, when he mentioned that the award’s golden urn with its eternal flame looked like a toilet. Pictured at the right: Andy Warhol the night he accepted the Royal Order of Non-Canadian Achievement |
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Pictured above at the far right: Andy Warhol's Royal Order of Non-Canadian Achievement, currently on display at the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum (above the coin-op Laundromat on Dickinson Boulevard) on loan from Pittsburgh's Andy Warhol Museum (near Galardi's 30 Minute Cleaners on Forbes Avenue).
After Warhol called the RONCA a "toilet," Canada rescinded the award, but Warhol refused to return it. An outraged Prime Minister St. Laurent banned American television broadcasts in Canada. This move was met with outcry on both sides of the debate.
At a press conference, Henri Patrick of the Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph yelled, “Give us American television, or bore us to death.” Labatt Shatner of the Montreal Gazette shouted, “That’s redundant! That’s redundant!." This kerfuffle turned into a brouhaha. It then grew to a fracas and ultimately a full-fledged donnybrook.
Alexander Milne Trebek, the Prime Minister’s press secretary and Sargent of Arms, tried to regain control of the situation and began yelling, “In the form of a question, please. In the form of question!” That gave his son, Alexander Sterling Trebek the idea to create the game “Twenty Questions,” and later his son, Alexander Trebek, starred on the American game show Jeopardy.
Pictured below: Three generations of Canandian Trebeks.
After Warhol called the RONCA a "toilet," Canada rescinded the award, but Warhol refused to return it. An outraged Prime Minister St. Laurent banned American television broadcasts in Canada. This move was met with outcry on both sides of the debate.
At a press conference, Henri Patrick of the Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph yelled, “Give us American television, or bore us to death.” Labatt Shatner of the Montreal Gazette shouted, “That’s redundant! That’s redundant!." This kerfuffle turned into a brouhaha. It then grew to a fracas and ultimately a full-fledged donnybrook.
Alexander Milne Trebek, the Prime Minister’s press secretary and Sargent of Arms, tried to regain control of the situation and began yelling, “In the form of a question, please. In the form of question!” That gave his son, Alexander Sterling Trebek the idea to create the game “Twenty Questions,” and later his son, Alexander Trebek, starred on the American game show Jeopardy.
Pictured below: Three generations of Canandian Trebeks.
TOMORROW: More on Warhol's quest to treat and cure catarrh.
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When Andy Warhol refused to return the Royal Canadian Order of Non-Canadian Achievement (see the entry above dated Oct 19), most Canadians backed Prime Minister St. Laurent's decision to ban all American television in Canada. However, everything changed once Canadians learned that Elvis Presley had appeared on the Milton Berle Show and later the Ed Sullivan Show. After that, support for the Prime Minister faded quickly and significantly until he was forced to leave office. Warhol did leave the country in the midst of the controversy, and he returned to Pittsburgh to continue his work in finding a cure for catarrh. Global tensions remained high for several years, though, until the events surrounding the Bay of Pigs shifted attention away from "the Warhol affair," as Canadians called it.
Pictured below left: The Canadian Council for Catarrh Prevention in La Tuque, which continues its work in preventing catarrh to this day. Pictured below right: Doctors at the CCCP monitor patients around the clock. |
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One of Warhol's inspirations to promote chicken soup (and hopefully end the spread of catarrh) was Emmett Lee Dickinson's poem "I never tasted Miso" (below on the left). That poem is displayed prominently in the main lobby of the CCCP in La Tuque. Dickinson's poem was one of the inspirations for third cousin Emily to write "I never saw a Moor" (below on the right).
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By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
I never tasted Miso – I never had Split Pea – Yet know I how a Gumbo tastes And what Gazpacho be. I never boiled Broth, Nor simmered in the Kitchen – Yet hungry am I for a soup Especially one with Chicken – |
By Emily Dickinson:
I never saw a Moor – I never saw the Sea – Yet know I how the Heather looks And what a Billow be. I never spoke with God, Nor visited in Heaven – Yet certain am I of the spot As if the Checks were given – |
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After his singing career fizzled (see the entries above dated Oct 17 and 18), Andy Warhol tried his hand at acting. After appearing as "Lefty" in Clifford Odets' "Waiting for Lefty," Warhol landed the title role in Mary Chase's "Harvey." The play ran for over 1700 performances, and Warhol was nominated for -- but did not win -- a Tony.
Pictured at the right: The Playbill for the original production of Mary Chase's "Harvey," starring Helen Hayes and Jimmy Stewart -- and Andy Warhol in the title role! Pictured below: Although Warhol refused to act again after he failed to win the Tony for the his portrayal of "Harvey," he painted a number of soups inspired by timeless classics and modern-day hits. |
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For a short time, Andy Warhol worked as an illustrator for children's books. However, book sellers complained that Warhol's illustrations were not popular with children. When sales plummeted with a number of children's classics, publishing firms dumped Warhol as an illustrator.
As a result, Warhol went into the depths of depression, and it wasn't until he re-read some of his favorite poems by Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin twice removed -- at her request) that his spirits began to lift. Although he never illustrated another children's book, Warhol did paint additional soups based on famous literature after re-reading Dickinson's poem "There is no frigate like a Bowl." Pictured right and below: Various children's books which were illustrated by Andy Warhol -- all of which are on display at the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum (above the coin-op Laundromat on Dickinson Boulevard) on loan from Pittsburgh's Andy Warhol Museum (near Galardi's 30 Minute Cleaners on Forbes Avenue). |
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Below left: Emmett Lee Dickinson's poem "There is no frigate like a Bowl" lifted Warhol out of the depths of depression when he was fired as an illustrator for children's books. Below right: Dickinson's poem also inspired third cousin Emily to write "There is no frigate like a Book."
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By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
There is no Frigate like a Bowl To hold a hearty Meal Nor any coursers like a Spoon To transfer soup Zeal – This Traverse may the hungriest take With croutons or a Roll – How simple is the Chariot That warms the Human soul |
By Emily Dickinson:
There is no Frigate like a Book To take us Lands away Nor any Coursers like a Page Of prancing Poetry – This Traverse may the poorest take Without oppress of Toll – How frugal is the Chariot That bears the Human soul |
Below: Although Warhol's career as an illustrator of children's books was brief, he continued to paint soup cans based on classic literature.
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Andy Warhol was thrilled when Hollywood reached out to him to star in a weekly sitcom about a single father small-town sheriff. He and co-star Don Knotts hit it off from the start, so he was devastated when the producers dumped him for upshot Andy Griffith.
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Below: Some of Warhol's TV-series of soup cans were inspired by TV shows -- like "Chive Got A Secret" and "Chunky Muppet." Others in the series inspired series. For example, "Bean Me Up Scotty" was one of the inspirations for "Star Trek," and "Jump The Shark Fin" inspired an episode of "Happy Days."
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For a short time Andy Warhol worked a printing press for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. While there, he became fascinated with fonts. He designed many fonts used by the paper, and he even developed the font used for the macaroni noodles in Alphabet Soup. He also wrote an alphabet book for children called Alphabet Soup. The book started with Acquacotta, Bouillabaisse, and Consomme.
Pictured at the right: Andy Warhol at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |
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Below: Warhol painted a number of soups inspired by the alphabet. "Hieroglyphics," said Warhol, "was the first Alphabet Soup." He also joked that "Alpha Obits" was "the most popular soup at the Dead Letter Office."
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Besides being co-captain of the Emmett Lee Dickinson School for Boys' Pyramid Team (see the entry above dated Oct 11), Andy Warhol was involved with many other athletic teams, including a synchronized volleyball team, a candlepin bowling team, and the Pittsburgh Hunt Club Youth Hunting Team -- a shooting team that exclusively hunted Pittsburgh pierogi rats (rats that eat both cheese and potatoes -- a delicacy in Pittsburgh). Pictured below left: Andy Warhol with the Pittsburgh Hunt Club's Youth Hunting Team Pictured below right: World famous Pittsburgh Pierogi Rats. The rats -- a delicacy in the Steel City -- run freely along the banks of all of the city's rivers. |
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Below: Some of the many sports-themed soup cans painted by Andy Warhol. He dedicated many of them to his Youth Hunting Team coach, Jerry Lee Pervis, pictured at the left in the photo above.
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Andy Warhol collected a great deal of Emmett Lee Dickinson memorabilia in his lifetime, and one of his most prized possessions was his "Izzy Sharp & Moe" poster from the Calvert Theater in Baltimore. Dickinson appeared there often with his good friend Edgar Allan Poe as half of the comedy duo "Izzy Sharp & Moe," and they were the first to tell "Why did the chicken cross the road" and "Waiter, what's this fly doing in my soup" jokes.
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Pictured above: A vintage Calvert Theater postcard has the Dickinson/Poe "Izzy Sharp & Moe" posters by the ticket booth. Warhol's "Izzy Sharp & Moe" poster (above at the far right) is currently on display at the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum (above the coin-op Laundromat on Dickinson Boulevard) on loan from Pittsburgh's Andy Warhol Museum (near Galardi's 30 Minute Cleaners on Forbes Avenue).
Below: Warhol painted a number of soup cans dedicated to the Dickinson-Poe duo of "Izzy Sharp & Moe." Of course, "Raven Noodle," was a tribute to Edgar Allan Poe. "Chicken On The Other Side Of The Road Noodle" paid homage to the comedy team's achievement for being the first to tell "Why did the chicken cross the road." "Blue uncertain stumbling buzz" honored the fact that Dickinson and Poe were the first to tell, "Waiter, what's this fly doing in my soup" jokes.
Below: Warhol painted a number of soup cans dedicated to the Dickinson-Poe duo of "Izzy Sharp & Moe." Of course, "Raven Noodle," was a tribute to Edgar Allan Poe. "Chicken On The Other Side Of The Road Noodle" paid homage to the comedy team's achievement for being the first to tell "Why did the chicken cross the road." "Blue uncertain stumbling buzz" honored the fact that Dickinson and Poe were the first to tell, "Waiter, what's this fly doing in my soup" jokes.
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Thanksgiving was a favorite time of year for Warhol because his entire family would gather at his grandmother's house for a traditional old-country feast of deep fried cheese curds, Minnesota grape salad, corn chowder (of course), lutefisk (dried fish soak in a lye solution), and whoopie pies for dessert.
Pictured at the right: Andy Warhol's grandmother Igtarzyna Szczerzaszek Warhola -- affectionately known to the family as Nanna Iggy. Pictured below: Warhol painted a number of soups with a Thanksgiving theme -- all of which were dedicated to his Nanna Iggy. "Traffic Yam" is in reference to the busiest traffic day of the year, the day before Thanksgiving. The next painting, "Shop Till You Egg Drop," is a tribute to Black Friday, Warhol's favorite day of the year. The painting on the far right, "Snow Pea & Charlie Brown," pays homage to the Charlie Brown Christmas Special which always airs around Thanksgiving. It was one of Warhol's favorite TV shows. |
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Warhol was also a big fan of the Christmas season.
" What's great about this country," wrote Warhol in his autobiography Fifteen Minutes of Fun, " is the Christmas tradition where the richest consumers buy essentially the same things as the poorest. You can be watching television commercials and see Chia pets, and you can know that the President buys a Chia pet for Christmas, Liz Taylor buys a Chia pet for Christmas, and just think, you can buy a Chia pet, too. A Chia pet is a Chia pet and no amount of money can get you a better Chia pet than the one the bum on the corner owns. All the Chia pets are the same and all the Chia pets are good.” Warhol also loved the endurance of the old-country traditions celebrated by his family. First, Warhol and his brothers would throw chipped ice onto their parents and grandparents to wake them on Christmas morning. Also, the entire family would go out caroling. In Pittsburgh, families would place brass pots on their porches. Passing carolers would then toss hot coals onto the porches. If the hot coals made it into a pot, they'd sing a carol. If they missed the pot, the carolers would laugh and ring bells -- and then move on to the next house. |
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Warhol also loved the traditional Warhola Christmas dinner which included Starzec Soup (or "Old Man Soup" or "Bib Soup"): Nanna Iggy would boil Grandpa Warhola's dinner bib -- which he would wear at meals throughout the month of December -- to make the broth for the hearty soup.
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Above: Bartosz Warhola,
Andy Warhol's grandfather. |
Below: Andy Warhol painted many soup cans with a Christmas theme. When asked about "Zuzu's Petals," all Warhol would say is, "It's a wonderful soup."
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In his autobiography Fifteen Minutes of Fun, Andy Warhol said that some of his most cherished memories were those of Christmas days at Granpa Barto and Nanna Iggy's house -- dining on Starzec Soup and chugging down mugs of corn nog. Below: More of the many Christmas-themed soups painted by Andy Warhol. |
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Below: Every Christmas, before the family dined on Starzec Soup, Andy Warhol would recite Emmett Lee Dickinson's poem "'Hope' is the soup with noodles," Grampa Bartosz' favorite poem.
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By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
"Hope" is the soup with noodles – That warms the human soul – And heals the pain without the cost – And never stops – at all – And strongest – in the Bowl – is broth – And sore must be one's form – That could accept the hearty Soup – That's kept so many warm – it's well known in the chilliest land – And on the farthest Sea – And, always, in Extremity, It's warmed a crumb – like Me. |
By Emily Dickinson:
"Hope" is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all – And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard – And sore must be the storm – That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm – I've heard it in the chillest land – And on the strangest Sea – Yet, never, in Extremity, It asked a crumb – of Me. |
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October 30th, National Candy Corn Day, was Andy Warhol's favorite day of the year! And if it's one thing that Warhol had no shortage of, it was candy corn costumes. "I wish every day were Candy Corn Day!" said Warhol in his autobiography Fifteen Minutes of Fun.
Pictured below: Andy Warhol in three of his many candy corn costumes.
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Below: Some of the many candy corn soups of Andy Warhol.
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Emmett Lee Dickinson's "'Stew' is a fine invention" was one of Andy Warhol's favorite poems. Every time he would recite it, though, he would add "What ever chicken soup can't cure, candy corn can." Dickinson's poem is below on the left. His poem inspired third cousin Emily to write "'Faith' is a fine invention," below on the right.
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By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
“Stew” is a fine invention When Gentlemen must eat! But Chicken Soup is prudent When you’re off your Feet! |
By Emily Dickinson:
"Faith" is a fine invention For Gentlemen who see! But Microscopes are prudent In an Emergency! |
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Pictured above: Andy Warhol in his all-time favorite Halloween costumer, a can of Corn Chowder.
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