From the Sketchbook of John Fuccillo #1: Jim Londos

Ralph saves everything. A lot of it is, how do I put it, junk. BUT most of it is a treasure. A crown jewel of his archives is his father's sketchbook. His dad, John, was quite handy with a pencil, sketching cartoons, celebrities,  etc.

Today's sketch is of World Heavyweight Champion of Professional Wrestling (November 18, 1938), Jim Londos, better known as "The Golden Greek."

When Ralph was a kid, he and his dad used to watch wrestling matches (just ask the Kid to rattle off a few wrestlers' names). Londos even wrestled the great Bronko Nagurski!

To learn more about The Golden Greek (and to see how close the sketch's likeness is), click here.

More to come from the mighty pen of John Fuccillo!

He Did it Amway!

Distributor of Amway Products?

No.

Distributor of Bull?

Yes!

One of Ralph's many guises over the years (from the wildest of the "Ralph & Red" years)!

Glimpse Into the Future #1

 

Big Pops with a copy of "Once a Kid" in a Tokyo book store.

Yeah, the cover's a mock-up.

But when the great, already legendary memoir is published, Ralph will re-enact this pose in the land of the rising sun!

(Photo courtesy: Chuckles Barnyard.)

Down the Gullet Hole

I don't know whatever happened to that rabbit. I'm sure it's fine.

After all, the rabbit is safely cradled in the hands of Walter Slattery, Bronx photographer and flanked by Grand-cousin Frank (left) and Raphael Fuccillo, Ralph's grandfather (right).

Each gent wears a singular expression.

Frank: "What would you like us to do with this bunny?"

Mr. Slattery: "What do THINK I'm gonna do with this rabbit?"

Grandpa Raphael: "What are you looking at?"

Actually, the rabbit went on to live a long, happy life in a cushy hutch in Garden City, Long Island.

Or he ended up in the pot.

Fine Dining - al Fresco, a la Fuccillo

So anyway, a few years ago, Ralph & Jan returned from abroad with delicious Italian cheeses and meats. Ralph brought them to work, of course, to either eat, or just for show and tell. Over the weekend, he left them in the company fridge (so as not to spoil), only to gruesomely discover on Monday morning that the fridge had been cleaned out Friday afternoon.None too pleased, Ralph dashed downstairs (he loathes elevators!) to the dumpsters! I tagged along to document this ridiculous event.

Ralph looking for Italian cheese.

Ralph looking for Italian salami.

I can tell you in all honesty that if he had found that cheese and meat in the garbage, he would have indeed retrieved and most likely eaten it. I probably would've had a nibble myself. Thank heavens, the imports were no more!

Parker Street Monologues #3: Tokyo Edition

Delivered in rare muted reverence, Ralph returns to Tokyo to regale us with the tale of his first visit to Japan. Filmed outside of a temple in Kawagoe. With special guest appearances by Princess Yuma, The Emperor Joey, and the great Janikins! Photographed and edited by Jeff Fuccillo.

No ovaries of sea urchins were harmed during the course of this film.

Writing in Tokyo

Set to the music of Mikami Kan, a short meditation on the writing process of Ralph Fuccillo has been beautifully crafted by his eldest son, Jeff.

Ralph always writes with pencil on yellow legal pad. His handwriting is decipherable by only a few close associates.

Here we see Ralph scratching out one of his lengthiest pieces yet, in Tokyo, about Tokyo.

From Once a Kid: For a guy from the Bronx, educated in Omaha, living in Portland, Oregon, who almost didn't give Tokyo a chance I found an enchanted city with a mix of the old and the ultra-modern that is absolutely one of my favorites in the world. I wouldn't and couldn't be the kid I am today without Tokyo!