CAPTAIN OUTRAGEOUS

Remembering Outrageous

2011-04-12T23:24:00.000-04:00

Today would have seen Captain Outrageous turn 71 years old. A legend in his own mind (as I often told him) and a man who made friends with hundreds of people from near (Key West) and far, as a legendary figure in the history of this place. His name lives on alongside such luminaries as Captain Tony, Buco Pantelis, Whistling Tom, Love 22, and others who helped to define the late 20th century here.

In his memory, I wrote a remembrance on my own blog, The Real Key West. Below are some pictures that I have received from others for your nostalgic enjoyment. And for an encore, you've read the blogs, you've seen the photos, now watch the movie.

R.I.P. Captain Outrageous

2011-02-08T23:39:00.000-05:00

R.I.P. Captain Outrageous

April 13, 1940 - Februrary 9, 2007

Is it art?

2011-01-30T23:30:00.000-05:00

The recent sale of a painting by deceased artist Roy Lichtenstein caught my attention because it reminded me so much of the work of Captain Outrageous. The Lichtenstein work, titled Ohhh, Alright ... sold at Christie's in New York in October for $42.6 MILLION dollars.

Captain described himself as a decorator rather than as an artist, at least towards the end of his life. He boasted of having given up painting in favor of "decorating" three-dimensional objects, and surely he decorated far more objects than he painted more traditionally -- but paint he did, and some of those works remain in circulation.

I had a call on Saturday from someone in St. Augustine who wanted to know if there was an active market for C.O.'s work, as he had come into possession of two of his signed paintings.

I had to say truthfully that no such market seems to have arisen, at least not to my knowledge, despite the fact that the body of his work is extensive. There is one person I know of, here in Key West, who did acquire a substantial quantity of his paintings and decorated objects. And I know not what became of the pieces that remained in the Captain Outrageous Gallery when he died in 2007, other than that they became the property of his heirs and his former business partner, and were moved to storage soon thereafter.

It's unfortunate that the Captain didn't maintain a catalog of what he painted and sold. I hope this year to expand the web sites I helped him to create, and that I now maintain, with more photographs that I have filed away.

I, myself, only have one piece of his original work, a round, outdoor table that is clearly his work, but is unsigned.

We once had two bicycles that he painted for us, my wife and I. Mine was stolen, and Janet's was sold.

It would be fitting if he received the recognition that his legacy deserves. I'm just not sure how such recognition develops.

Fame is, as they say, fleeting.

Outrageous Sentiment

2010-04-13T23:06:00.001-04:00

As Captain Outrageous would say (if he were here):

Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet prince;
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

Birth Day of Captain Outrageous

2010-04-13T09:44:00.000-04:00

Happy birthday, Captain, wherever you are.

And wherever you are, we hope that you are celebrating in your usual style, with friends gathered around.

Editors note:
Captain Outrageous would have turned 70 today were he alive. He's been on my mind for the past week, and I wish he was still here. I miss him, his wit, his broad interests (double entendre intended), and the interesting conversations we had, especially during the last two years of his life.

There really ought to be more of a memory of his life and his talent here, in this place that he called home for so many years.

Take some time and browse through the virtual memories on his various web sites. They can be accessed via the links on this page.

In Memoriam

2009-02-09T17:11:00.001-05:00

It was two years ago today that our friend Captain Outrageous collapsed in the house on Ann Street while confronting two of his tenants over unpaid rents. The memories return on days such as this one, and often on the 13th of the month, the day he always celebrated his monthly birthday with a party at the Captain Outrageous Gallery.

A special lady, in fact Captain's last wife, placed an ad in the Key West Citizen on Sunday in his memory.

Thanks, Lady O.

2008-08-21T20:57:00.010-04:00

A couple of weeks ago I was listening to Biz-Baz on U.S. 1 Radio, driving back from Stock Island, and I heard a woman call in with an offer for an older Airstream trailer to any one who would come and haul it out of her yard. She described it as the one formerly belonging to Captain Outrageous.

I called her immediately and asked if I might come by and take a few pictures. She gracefully agreed.

We knew Captain Outrageous in 2000 from him having stopped in at the shoe store with his dog, Jar, a few times. It must have been in April 2000 because he invited us to his birthday party, which was April 13. We had visitors in town and decided to "check it out". The party was being held at his trailer court on Greene St. where he (and many other colorful locals) lived for several years.

In October of 2000, the trailer park residents finally lost a long battle with the City, which decided that the land on which the trailers sat was too valuable for housing and would better serve as a parking lot for the Conch Republic Seafood Restaurant, then a-building. Rather than try to find a new lot on which to put the trailer, Captain Outrageous offered it to anyone who wanted it. Lisa Morris stepped up, accepted the offer,and moved it to her home on Seminary Street. There it has been since then, gradually losing the luster of its Captain O. decoration, the fading glory of which is still visible at a few spots on the outside and the inside.
Later, to commemorate the eviction, Captain was selling these T-Shirts and we bought one. I've only ever worn it once, to one of his monthly birthday parties at the Captain Outrageous Gallery, which we now operate as The Real Key West Gallery on Caroline Street.

Its a year and a half now since Captain is gone, and I haven't posted here very much, but I told Lisa that I was going to post some of the pictures I took, and here they are.
And, by the way, that birthday party was Captain's 60th. I remember this much about the party. Captain was getting increasingly celebratory as he drank toasts to his birthday with his many friends gathered there. He was also getting increasingly amorous with a lady of his recent acquaintance. Finally, he announced to one and all that they should continue to have a good time and disappeared into the trailer with that lady, not to emerge again for a very long time, methinks.

Five years later he designed the last T-Shirt he ever did. This the birthday T-shirt that we bought on that occasion.

Art Schools

2008-05-07T09:25:00.004-04:00

I got an e-mail last week from someone who knows someone who has a painting by Captain Outrageous titled Wanna See It Again? She was asking if there's a market for Captain Outrageous art and if knew what the value of this painting might be. She apparently saw my last posting here

I answered both questions as best I could: I don't know and I don't know. But I did observe these things to her. It must have been an early painting because it is signed simply "Outrageous" rather than with his copyrighted Captain Outrageous signature, and below the signature is the postscript Art Thief. However, she says that the painting is from the early 1970s, and I'm not certain that Captain Outrageous was here at that time. So, the dating might be wrong. The Art Thief appellation most probably refers to one of his early techniques, copying an existing image then transferring it the medium he was painting on and adding his own interpretation on the image by adding color and detail to it. The image of Wanna See it .. is from an image from Have Gun, Will Travel, a popular television program starring Richard Boone which ran for 227 episodes between 1957 and 1963. Or so I have been told.

When I want to remember what he was like, I go here. I wish there was more of that.

People come by The Real Key West Gallery occasionally and inquire about Captain Outrageous, some having heard of his demise and some not. Larry and Robin came in yesterday, knew the Captain from their annual visits, and hadn't heard, and were appropriately sad. I told them the short version of what happened then talked about other things. As they were about to leave, Larry said something about the Florida Highwaymen, mostly black artists who sold their work alongside the roads of Florida between the 1930's and the 1950's.

In a remarkable moment of synchronicity, I first heard of the Highwaymen only two days earlier when Jay and Beverly came in to look at Crosby's work. They also knew Captain Outrageous, had visited with him, knew that he died, in fact read about the funeral parade through Old Town when they were here last year and realized that they had seen it pass by their guest house without knowing then what occurred and why there was a parade in old town.

Jay and Beverly appear to be serious collectors of art, spoke knowledgeably of the Key West and Florida paintings that they own, and looked through all of the Crosby paintings that we have in the gallery. They have collected a few Highwaymen paintings and explained to me who the Highwaymen were. Larry, the other Highwaymen guy from yesterday, gave me a brochure about them from an exhibit that he and Robin went to in 2006 in Bradenton.

These diversions from my everyday routine are welcome. As Captain did, I enjoy talking with visitors who know something about art and artists. The creative types, the right-brainers, are fascinating to me, I guess because I'm so left-brain (see below).

Ten minutes after Larry and Robin left, Jay and Beverly came in again and looked again at the Crosby paintings they'd seen on Sunday. They haven't made a decision yet, but they'll be here for another day and may be back. I gave Jay a copy of Larry's brochure.

It's a day off today for me, so I'm off to study Highwaymen School art for a while.
I'll take up Ashcan School of painting next. Then I'll move on to the Trash Can School.

Right Brain/ Left Brain Quiz
The higher of these two numbers below indicates which side of your brain has dominance in your life. Realising your right brain/left brain tendancy will help you interact with and to understand others.
Left Brain Dominance:	(13)
Right Brain Dominance:	(4)
Right Brain/ Left Brain Quiz

Happy Birthday, Captain

2008-04-13T22:05:00.004-04:00

Today would have been Captain Outrageous' 68th birthday (the cake was for his 66th). I had him in mind all day, listened to music that he chose for his iTunes library, checked to see that the web sites that we developed together are still up and running. Late in the afternoon I went to the Green Parrot to hear a group that Janet said I would like, the Gypsy Blue Acoustic Revue, and tipped them generously to dedicate a sad song to the Captain. I proposed St. James Infirmary Blues, a song that C.O. enjoyed, but they played Minor Blues at an almost-dirge tempo. There was a scattering of applause in the half-full bar when the dedication to Captain was announced, like a few people knew who he was.

Hardly a day passes that I'm not reminded in some small way of Captain Outrageous. I occasionally hear from someone who knew him too, like recently when John St. John came by to tell me about some photos he has of the funeral parade through old town. He's going to bring them to me to copy.

Gypsy Blue at the Green Parrot last year.

Sometimes I wonder if Captain Outrageous' art is going to live on. His heirs stored away all of the things that were still in his possession. Some Key Westers (and others) collected his work. There are still examples of that around town, scooters, bicycles and the occasional automobile. Someone reported to me that they saw the "Circus Car" he painted for John Kelly over in new town recently.

A Note of Thanks and Rememberance

2007-02-23T02:32:00.000-05:00

Sherry, the late Captain's girlfriend, published in the Key West Citizen the following to thank those who took part in the tribute on the 13th and who express condolences over his untimely passing.

To the good people and great friends of our
most dearly departed Captain Outrageous:
Be assured your regards are well received.
A loss this great cannot be reduced even by
the common sharing of it.
Captain loved his daily life here in Key
West. We who remain can each honor him
and enrich ourselves by trying to do the same.
No greater love, Captain, no greater love
–Sherry White

The flowers, candles and beads at the gate to Captain's former gallery have come down now, replaced by a copy of this final farewell.

A fund to help pay for the good Captain's funeral expenses has been established at First State Bank. Anyone wishing to make a contribution can send it to:

Captain Outrageous Memorial Fund
c/o First State Bank
444 Whitehead Street
Key West, FL 33040

We Have Lift-off

2007-02-14T15:24:00.000-05:00

In an impromptu outpouring of Community (with a capital C) affection, friends of Captain Outrageous marched in procession through the streets of Old Town Key West yesterday to conduct the iconic Captain's spirit from his art gallery on Caroline Street to the VFW on Emma Street in Bahama Village for a tribute to the man who was a friend to anyone who would be a friend to him -- on his terms, not theirs.

A crowd estimated at 200 people traveled over the back streets of Old Town for over an hour, led by a band made up of musicians who knew him. The band preceded a black hearse carrying a plush pink casket that contained, not his earthly remains, but the painted vest, his painted cowboy boots, and other memorabilia of his rich life. Following the band were his girlfriend Sherry and his most recent ex-wife (he had seven), Jennifer, and a host of friends.

The procession halted at Harpoon Harry's where the Captain ate breakfast most mornings and, later, at the Green Parrot. There a 21-dove salute was given, with the flock circling overhead three times before heading back to their roost on Big Pine Key. With the fading sun catching the dove's flight, the marchers broke into unbidden applause before continuing on to the streets of Bahama Village to arrive at their destination.

We'll let the pictures tell the story for now, although there is much more to be said and, in time, some of it will, perhaps here, perhaps in other places by other people.

Tribute to Captain Outrageous

2007-02-13T09:48:00.000-05:00

CAPTAIN OUTRAGEOUS
1940 - 2007

The tribute for Captain Outrageous tonight will begin on Caroline Street at 5:45 PM with a procession to the VFW/American Legion on Emma Street, led by a band playing the traditional dirges of such funeral marches. Upon arrival at the VFW, the tribute service will begin.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Captain Outrageous Memorial Fund, c/o First State Bank, 444 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040.

Several local restaurants that the Captain favored are providing food. Those planning to attend are also invited to bring a covered dish dinner item or dessert to share with friends and neighbors. Food and other tributes may be dropped off at 803 Emma Street from 3:00 PM on. The tribute service is planned to take place both inside the VFW and outside on Emma Street. We remind visitors to be respectful of the residents of Bahama Village throughout the evening.

Friends planning to join the march should begin gathering at 525 Caroline Street at 5:30 P.M. for the 5:45 procession.

Many will likely bring their Captain Outrageous bicycles, mopeds and other vehicles. They will be led by Captain's own brightly-painted Mercedes convertible.

All are welcome (including dogs).

Captain Outrageous: A Celebration of Life

2007-02-11T02:45:00.000-05:00

Captain Outrageous passed from this life at 5:00 P.M. on Saturday, February 9 with his girlfriend Sherry White by his side. He gave the gift of life to unknown others by the donation of multiple organs, in accordance with his advanced directive.

The community of his friends will hold a memorial service and celebration of his life on Tuesday, February 13 at 6:00 P.M. at the V.F.W./American Legion, 803 Emma Street. Captain Outrageous was fond of celebrating his April 13 birthday twelve times a year with parties at his art gallery on Caroline Street. He had been looking forward to this particular birthday, because it would have been his 67th, and as he pointed out recently, 6+7=13.

Everyone is welcome to attend, and dogs are especially welcome.

CAPTAIN OUTRAGEOUS

2007-02-10T05:46:00.000-05:00

CAPTAIN OUTRAGEOUS
1940 - 2007

CAPTAIN OUTRAGEOUS

2006-12-20T14:08:00.000-05:00

For over two decades I have hand-painted pop-art design on bikes, cars, trucks, scooters, vans, a motor home, furniture, clothing, shoes, telephones, mannequins, wall murals, and a wild assortment of used items purchased at yard sales. At 66 years old I host a new art gallery at 525 Caroline Street in Key West.