Friday, April 1, 2011

A Moment in Doof History



DOOF CULTURE

In the 1930’s a small powerful political party, Doof Culture made their voices heard all the way to Washington D.C. This grass roots organization consisted of lower middle class working men who were horribled maimed by the effects of certain health products that sold under the name of Doof Wonderments. These deadly concoctions were readily availible at any drug stores and magazine vendors. These poor men suffered severe injuries that caused them to lose work and watch helplessly as their hospital bills pile up. These products were in time found out to be full of harmful chemicals and it was believed to be the main cause of the men’s disfigurement. Relatives and friends of these unfortunate victims protested the factories and stores that dealt with the suspect products. the protesters wore bright red and white patches with the Doof image and were later give the name Doof Culture by the press. This small group grew to be a midsize grass root organization that gained a fair amount of politcal power. it was said that they even had an ear or two in Washington but when World War II gathered strength, the strenght of Doof Culture faded due in part to most of its members were now members of the United States Armed Forces.



Doof Culture in WWII

When Americans soldiers who formally belonged to Doof Culture were stationed in England at the beginning of the war, they inadvertently introduced the Doof to the allies. The British Air force took a fancy to the Doof image that they saw some of the american airmen were painting on American B-17 bombers. The British fondly called the Doof “Lord Albert” and were eagerly reading the stories of D. Maylock and Clancy Webster which the Americans would sell to them. Eventually some of the ace british pilots formed a tight knit flying squadron and they adopted the Doof image as their mascot.

The highly successful squadron rode a lucky wave of missions, boasting not a single loss of aircraft.

One of the pilots, Captain Andrew Hailstorm, a highly decorated raf pilot, went on at least 65 missions sporting a Doof or “Lord Albert” on the side of his spitfire aircraft. Sadly, the squadron luck ran out as Hailstorm's plane did not return, his plane shot down over the water. That began a dreadful string of bad luck for the squadron. Mysteriously, Hailstorm's fateful dog, Lady Mumsbley, died on the same night as her master's fatal mission. The dog was accidentally ran over by a small maltese nurse who did not see the dog asleep behind the car she was backing out.
After that, more and more planes were shot down. The Doof was to blame. A case of being bad luck. Doof images was painted over and forgotten. A new emblem took it’s place.

Doof Culture Now

The Images of Doof Culture had a small revival in England in the late Seventies adapting into the Punk Culture. This picture above on the right shows a typical late 1970’s group of English punks standing outside a British pub waiting to use their monthly stipends to buy drinks and smoke cigarettes. As fate would have it, the young man in front belonged to the short lived Neo-Doof Culture. this enterprising group of easily influenced school boys began using the Doof Culture insignia that was popular in the USA in the 1930’s. This misguided little group had the misfortune to adopt a fascist fashion style and was eventually hounded out of existence. Some of the surviving members either formed bands or went into guiding European tours for Americans.

Doof Gallery

a changing survey of the growing Doof Culture collection.

Doof Bling

Doof Bling

T. L. Douveres

T. L. Douveres
my portrait of the famous Doof visionary

Doof Toy

Doof Toy

Doof in a Box

Doof in a Box

Jack O'latern Doof

Jack O'latern Doof

Doof in a Marsh

Doof in a Marsh
9 x 12"

Graphite Doof

Graphite Doof
graphite on museum board, 35 x 27"

Beach Doof

Beach Doof
rocks,water and sand