Summary
Bert Grimm (born Edward Cecil Reardon, later known as Bertram Cecil Grimm, February 8, 1900 – June 15, 1985) was an American tattoo artist considered the "grandfather of old school". Grimm's work contributed to the development and popularity of the American Traditional tattoo style.[1] He tattooed Bonnie and Clyde and Pretty Boy Floyd, among others.[2][3]
Bert Grimm | |
|---|---|
 Tattoo-Convention Reno 1982 | |
| Born | Edward Cecil Reardon February 8, 1900 |
| Died | June 15, 1985 (aged 85) |
| Other names | Bertram Cecil Grimm |
| Occupation | Tattoo artist |
Personal life edit
Edward Cecil Reardon was born in Springfield, Missouri[4] to John Elmer Reardon (1862–1945) and his wife Carrie Elizabeth Shull Reardon (1863–1923), one of twelve children. He grew up in Portland, Oregon.[5] At some point he changed his name to Bertram Cecil Grimm. He married Julia Florence Lechler (1910–1984) on February 7, 1931. Grimm died 15 June 1985 in Warrenton, Oregon.
Career edit
Early in his professional career, he spent a season with the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show.[6] Grimm opened his first tattoo store in Chicago in 1916.[7] Over the years, he operated stores in Honolulu, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Seattle, Los Angeles, Long Beach, St. Louis, Portland, and coastal Oregon and China.
His shop in Long Beach, at the Nu-Pike, was later owned by Bob Shaw.[8] Proximity to the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, and its many sailors on extended leave during retrofitting, supported an ink economy because of the tradition of sailor tattoos.[8] Kari Barba purchased Grimm's shop in 2003.[1]
Grimm was a promoter of Ben Corday, Lyle Tuttle and Ed Hardy.
References edit
- ^ a b Unzueta, Pablo (2020-12-03). "Generations of Ink: Tattoo artist Kari Barba and Long Beach's Outer Limits Tattoo, the oldest continuously operated tattoo shop in America". Daily Forty-Niner. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
- ^ Lowry, Jess (May 1, 2012). "Tattoo tourism: where ink and travel meet". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
- ^ Chesler, Josh (2016-03-02). "From Bert Grimm to Outer Limits, This Long Beach Tattoo Shop Remains the Oldest in the World". OC Weekly. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
- ^ Nyssen, Carmen. "Bert Grimm". Buzzworthy Tattoo. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
- ^ Dennis, Clarence (2022-05-06). "Midtown Museum to Open Honoring Legendary Tattoo Artist Bert Grimm". Flatland. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
- ^ Eldridge, C.W. (2017). "Bert Grimm". Tattoo Archive. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
- ^ Morse, Albert L. (1977). The Tattooists (1st ed.). p. 6. ISBN 9780918320018.
- ^ a b Leeds, Jeff (1995-10-20). "Ebb Tide at a Tattoo Landmark: A maritime tradition that flourished at Grimm's is fading along with Long Beach's naval operations. Though old salts sigh, today's image-conscious military frowns on skin paintings". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
Further reading edit
- Margo De Mello: Inked: Tattoos and Body Art around the World. ABC-CLIO 2014, ISBN 1-61069-076-1, p. 252
- Jason Brooks: Legends: Tattoo Flash Book. Greg Geisler 2013, ISBN 0-615-76726-5
- Thomas Albright: Art in the San Francisco Bay Area, 1945-1980: An Illustrated History. University of California Press 1985, ISBN 0-520-05193-9, p. 319