"Lone Digger" by Caravan Palace

We're going to start the month off on a high note with some electro-swing. This particular tune is a favorite when me and my 3-year-old have one of our private dance parties. For those who may not be hip to the lingo, a "lone digger" is when you're out with a group of friends and you're the only one who is digging the music. Or you're the only one dancing. This song is an invitation to - go ahead - be that lone digger and enjoy yourself. Who cares what anyone things? Those losers just ain't no fun. The meaning makes a little more sense when you see the video. It's animated, with nightclub neon coloring. It revolves around a strip club but all the characters are non-human animals. The viewer watches three young tom cats walk in, wearing the classic letterman jacket, ready to make some trouble. And they do. A fight ensues and by the end of it, everyone in the strip club is dead. Well, except the stripper, who just keeps on dancing while chaos erupts around her. She's the lone digger.

Hey, brother, what you thinking?

Leave that old record spinning

You feel the rhythm, going

(They call it lonely digging)

Let's end your time to lay low

Your knees a-bending, so

It's time to get up and let go

(You're gonna come undone)

Since the video for this song is so visual, I've decided to focus on a visual medium that was very popular during The Great War Era: Pin-Up Art. I have a few favorite artists from the The Golden Age of Pin-Ups, which was from roughly the 1930s to the early 1950s, but there's tons of other work from the period to check out. When it comes to pin-up art, it's important to be aware that one of it's primary uses was for American propaganda during World War II and was an essential element of the morale effort. Calendars with pin-up artwork were sold to servicemen and they were encouraged to post them in their barracks by Roosevelt's War Advertising Council. Even after the war, it was prominently featured in magazines such as "Life" and "Time." The decline in the artform began when nude photographs of real women became readily available in magazines like "Playbook." However, with modern artists embracing the style, pin-up has made a comeback and originals by the artists named below now go for a small fortune.

Gil Elvgren

Gil Elvgren's initially worked for Louis F. Dow, a leading publishing company at the time, where he produced dozens of works. Since this was during WWII, much of the work he created during his time at Dow was recreated as nose art on American aircraft.  Eventually, he moved on to Brown & Bigelow, a publishing company credited with popularizing the pin-up form. He was active until the 1970s.

"Hold Everything"
Gil Elvgren

Alberto Vargas

Alberto Vargas may be considered one of the most famous painters from The Golden Age. He was a Peruvian painter who studied in Europe up until World War I, when he moved to New York. His earliest work began with the Ziegfield Follies, an elaborate theatrical revue based on the Parisian Folie Bergere, a French cabaret famous for its beautiful chorus girls. He also did work for many Hollywood movie studios, producing movie posters. His most well-know poster was for "The Sin of Nora Moran," which is considered one of the greatest film posters of all time. During WWII, he went to work for Esquire. He produced over 180 paintings during his time with the magazine, many of which featured the iconic "Varga Girls." He eventually moved onto Playboy, where he continued producing his signature works until the 1970s.

"The Sin of Nora Moran" Film Poster
Alberto Vargas

Zoe Mozert

Zoe Mozert (nee Alice Moser) is probably the most well-known female pin-up artist from The Golden Age. While in art school, she made money by modeling for other artists. This had its benefits. She often posed for her own paintings, using cameras and mirrors, and is said to have enjoyed working topless. Like Vargas, Mozert's work was often featured for film posters and promotions. She also worked for Brown & Bigelow during the 1940s, during the same time Gil Elvgren was with the company. Her work was known for the soft color palette and realistic depictions of women, and much of her work was commissioned by magazines of the era.

"The Outlaw" Film Poster
Zoe Mozert

Modern Artists

As I mentioned, there are several artists keeping the style alive today. Chief among these is Olivia De Berardinis, whose work has been featured in Playboy since 1985. Her artwork often features pop culture, such as comic book superheroes and cult film characters like Elvira. However, most people are probably familiar with her beautiful depictions of Bettie Page.

Bettie Page
Olivia De Berardinis

Another contemporary favorite of mine is Art Lucia, who created the DC bombshells series. I have his "Rockabilly Black Canary" as my laptop background because it's my favorite but all the prints in this series are phenomenal.

Catwoman
Art Lucia

Black Canary
Art Lucia

Wonder Woman
Art Lucia

The last artist I'll end with is Luma Rouge, whose artwork actually calls back to the pin-up style's origins with Toulouse Lautrec and the Moulin Rouge. (I also geek out hard over La Belle Epoque, as well, but maybe that's for another month.) Similar to Lautrec, you'll find Luma Rouge hanging out in the dressing rooms of burlesque shows, furiously drawing the dancers in between performances.

"Burlesque"
Luma Rouge

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed the pictures! The weird animal strip club video for "Lone Digger" is below.

"Lone Digger" Video