Spontoon Island News

"What do you think of bathing girls?"
"I don't know - I've never bathed one!"
(as heard in the song The Man From the South by Ted Weems & His Crew)
(via Eric Costello)

Quotes Basket

May Day sarong - not just a banner anymore; Art by Ken Fletcher

May Day Banner (by Ken Fletcher)

Webpage Updates

1 May 2013
Art Basket - Art & culture archives (a directory page of art & text)

>> Re-Upload <<
A partial Character Listing from some contributions to the Spontoon setting
has been added as a pdf file at the Spontoon Island website server.
Thanks go to Reese Dorrycott - Ken Fletcher will be editing expansions.
(You will need Adobe Reader software to read pdf files -
the software is a free download at the Adobe website.)
Via the Editorial page.

May Day 37 (with sponsor: Union Maid Beer) - by Ken Fletcher

1 May is May Day on Rain Island & Spontoon Island! Visit the celebrations on
the May Day pages.

25 April 2013
"Extracts from a Diary: A Tale of Two Lidos"
(13 August 1937) by Simon Barber.
A daytrip from Inquamvit, hiking to the snowfields near the glacier.
A rescue. Miss Jenks tells Amelia the history of her mother and stepbrothers.
A promise of assistance in England.
via the Story page.

18 April 2013
Updates to the Contact page.
Added and deleted addresses.

(mature) art added by O. T. Grey & an essay by 'A. Kinoyev'
in "Baybee, the Blue Fox" - part of the Animation Cels page.
The tale of Bertrille's Mission - part of Missionaries in the Archipelago,
(mature) art & background by Dennis Clark
all via the History page.

The May Day on the Spontoon Islands is coming soon!
You are invited to come and hula at the celebrations!

20 March 2013
"The Sea Devils" (Chapter 11) by Richard Messer,
(A visit to a hospital. An unexpected answer. A flood. Resolution.)
via the Story page.

Image by Dennis Clark on the Characters page
& also on the 'Jenny Spinelli' art page,
4 sketches by Jerry Collins added to 'Round the Bay & Harbour
via the Art page.

Hear two broadcasts from Spontoon Island radio, on the web!
Two of E.O.Costello's radio plays have been re-created as audio performances
and have been broadcast on the KFAI community radio station of Minnesota.
The performances were produced by Jerry Stearns and volunteers from the staff
of KFAI, and were broadcast on Jerry's "Sound Affects" audio theater show.
Thanks to Jerry and the KFAI performers for so skillfully putting these shows on the air.

The first show was on at 9:30pm Central Standard Time, Sunday 17 February:
"Headline Chaser: If You Can't Stand the Heat."
The second show was broadcast at 9:30pm CST, Sunday 24 February:
"Rosie's Place: It's Shot From Guns."

The audio files for these 2 shows have now been posted at
the Great Northern Audio Theatre website, and are free downloads.
http://www.greatnorthernaudio.com/gnrt/spontoon.html

The Spontoon Island Radio webpage
Show scripts & transcripts and background information

18 March 2013
A new link to the "Spontoon Island Writers Guide", (now stored on the
Spontoon Island website server) is on the Editorial page.
Reese Dorrycott, the original compiler and editor,
has requested that Ken Fletcher continue
the editorial work. Information to add
is welcomed from the contributors.

Partial CHARACTER LISTINGS added 18 April 2013

8 March 2013
4 sketches by Jerry Collins added to 'Round the Bay & Harbour
via the Art page.

6 March 2013
Art by Red Dog, "Island Girls", added to 'Art Studies - Mature' section,
Art by Salmagundi added to "Kypriakos-Volstead Aircraft"
by Walter Reimer. In the 'Aircraft Bases' section,
via the Art page.

"The Gaze: The Glass Goose" - (Part 19) (Sunny Side Up),
written & illustrated by Warren Hutch,
via the Story page.

28 February 2013
"Luck of the Dragon: Hedging Bets" (Chapter 188) by Walter D. Reimer,
(Hard times for a fisherman. Social insurance in San Francisco.
A gift from Los Angeles. A Chinese dinner & a walk in the park.)
via the Story page.

20 February 2013
Jerry Collins's art archive " 'Round the Bay & Harbour" has been expanded
with a new section of sketches done in 2012 (and more to be uploaded)
Warren Hutch's "Hubba Hubba Hula" is a scientific art study (for mature viewers)
of a Spontoon folk dance, shown in 2 illustrated sequences, via the Dancer page.
New & re-located art by Jim Groat, Tegerio, Kv1nn4, and other artists may be tracked
via the Art page.

Art by L. Frank added to "The Sea Devils" Contents page & Chapter 8.
"The Sea Devils" (Chapter 10) by Richard Messer,
(Mature-rated for adult situations.)
A safer room from the rain, but a difficult night for sleeping. Bad dreams,
with good forewarning, and loving comfort. A dawn with police bringing bad news.

"Luck of the Dragon: Hedging Bets" (Chapter 187) by Walter D. Reimer,
(A newsreel of world newsreel events; a honeymoon in San Francisco;
discovering Chinatown; observing a cable-car in action. )
via the Story page.

*A RADIO BULLETIN*
The second re-creation E.O. Costello's Spontoon Radio shows
has been broadcast at 9:30pm CST, Sunday 24 February 2013:
"Rosie's Place: It's Shot From Guns."
On the show "Sound Effects: A Radio Playground"

"Reggie meets Marcel Macradon" (from the story "Gross Misconduct") - Art by Tegerio, characters by E.O. Costello

"Reggie meets Marcel Macradon" (at the Shepherd's Hotel bar, from the Story "Gross Misconduct"
by E.O. Costello) (Larger file here - 302 KBytes) - Art by Tegerio
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/tegerio/

13 February 2013
Hear two broadcasts from Spontoon Island radio!
Two of E.O.Costello's radio plays have been produced as audio performances
and were broadcast on the KFAI community radio station of Minnesota, and
live-streamed via the KFAI website. The performances were produced
by Jerry Stearns at KFAI community radio, and were broadcast
on his "Sound Affects" audio theater show on KFAI.
The first show was on at 9:30pm Central Standard Time, Sunday 17 February:
"Headline Chaser: If You Can't Stand the Heat."
The second show was broadcast at 9:30pm CST, Sunday 24 February:
"Rosie's Place: It's Shot From Guns."

6 February 2013
Art by Jim Groat & Tegerio moved and added,
locations via the Art Basket page.

Stranded Angel: Autumn 1936 (Part 15, "Portfolio"), by Reese Dorrycott
(reposted with permission on this website from the Naorhy Archive)
Rated MATURE for adult situations & erotic quotations from a fiction portfolio.
At his English country manor, Lord Barton receives by post a limited edition
publication ("profusely illustrated"). It seems to revive
his interest in exotic collectables.
via the Story page.

3 February 2013
"Extracts from a Diary: Storm Birds"
(9 & 11 August 1937) by Simon Barber.
Saint Johns, Newfoundland: Preparing the Storm Bird to fly the Atlantic.
Miss Jenks & her brothers will cross with them, in their own floatplane.
There is a wait for clear weather & seaplane maintenance.
via the Story page.

1 February 2013
"Extracts from a Diary: A Tale of Two Lidos"
(12 August 1937) by Simon Barber.
By floatplane across the Atlantic. A risky, fog-dodging start from
Saint Johns, Newfoundland - towards a small mining port in Greenland.
via the Story page.

29 January 2013
"Dyes & Gulls" (Chapter 1) by Walter D. Reimer,
(Laura & George 'Skippy' Patagarang
of the University of Woolloomooloo, Australia,
seem to be determined to find Lemuria. At least Skippy is.)
"Murder at the Chanticleer Club" (SECTION 2) by E.O. Costello,
M. Mitchell Marmel, & Walter Reimer. (A suspicious death at a very private
men's club on Moon Island, in the Spontoon Island Lagoon. Investigated by the
Constabulary Detective Bureau, & friends. Dr. Meffit, the coroner. Dinner at the club.
Questioning witnesses. An impromptu cabaret.)(Mature readers - for adult situations)
via the Story page.

27 January 2013
"Luck of the Dragon: Hedging Bets" (Chapter 186) by Walter D. Reimer,
(Room service; early gifts; a fresh breeze; honeymoon plans)
"The Sea Devils" (Chapter 9) by Richard Messer,
A return to the hotel. They help the housekeeping staff open their room door.
Moving to another room. Checking, and then some rest.
via the Story page.

19 January 2013
Art by O.T. Grey on the Contact Page & the Settings section of the Art Page
Art by Jim Groat on the 'Edy Loddis' page.

"Mail Woman's Run - Casino Island - Spontoon Atoll" - by O.T. Grey

"Mailwoman's Run - Casino Island - Spontoon Atoll" - by O.T. Grey
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/tai-1/ - (larger file here - 450 KBytes)
"The street is made up of crushed coral, which is why it's light coloured (off-white).
...Where's her cap? And why's she in the middle of the road? =) " - O.T. Grey

13 November 2012
"The Sea Devils" (Chapter 8) by Richard Messer
(Assailants in the night rain. Ming Xue as defender. A friendly questioning.
A review of memories brings surprises. Ming Xue shares more skills.)
"Luck of the Dragon: Hedging Bets" (Chapter 185) by Walter D. Reimer,
(Hao & Xiu's wedding day.)
Art by Kjartan added to Extracts from a Diary: Storm Birds:
4 August 1937 & 6 & 7 August 1937, by Simon Barber
via the Story page.

31 October 2012
Art & stories collected on a new Halloween Flights webpage, with a new short
Songmark Academy story by Reese Dorrycott, and a pulp magazine cover
by Warren Hutch, on the Story page.

Art & text added to the "Pumpkin Sacrifices" webpage,
An account by Henrietta Anabelle Weathers, art by L. Frank & Ken Fletcher,
via the Story page & History page.

20 October 2012
"Luck of the Dragon: Hedging Bets" (Chapter 184) by Walter D. Reimer,
(Sgt Brush is being badgered. Hai Wei fishes for a better living. The 'Good Luck Woman'
shares her experiences with the bride-to-be. Badgering.
Extracts from a Diary: Storm Birds: 8 August 1937, by Simon Barber
(Amelia & Miss Cabot rough-it for an evening, on French territory.
The next morning, 2 familiar seaplanes are discovered. Disguises are removed.
They fly to Newfoundland to prepare for their flight across the Atlantic.
Miss Cabot learns disturbing news about an unexpectedly close relation.)
on the Story page.

11 October 2012
"Luck of the Dragon: Hedging Bets" (Chapter 183) by Walter D. Reimer,
(Invited and uninvited wedding guests arrive. Sgt. Brush & Liberty
make their observations. Hao & Xiu are impressed.)
on the Story page.

10 October 2012
Extracts from a Diary: Storm Birds: 6 & 7 August 1937, by Simon Barber
(Amelia & Miss Cabot decide to do a good deed - combined with a departure from
Boston by yacht, conveniently avoiding a fresh swarm of G-men.)
on the Story page.

8 October 2012
"Murder at the Chanticleer Club" (SECTION 1) by E.O. Costello,
M. Mitchell Marmel, & Walter Reimer. (A suspicious death at a very private
men's club on Moon Island, in the Spontoon Island Lagoon. Investigated by the
Constabulary Detective Bureau, & friends.)(Mature readers - for adult situations)
on the Story page.

28 September 2012
"The Sea Devils" (Chapter 7) by Richard Messer
(A secret meeting in the Chinese neighborhood, with the wako of Bangkok.
A harmonious family takes time to share its harmony.)
."Luck of the Dragon: Hedging Bets" (Chapter 182) by Walter D. Reimer,
(The Red Dorm are dutiful tutors. More parties find out about Ni Hao's wedding plans.)
Extracts from a Diary: Storm Birds: 4 August 1937, by Simon Barber
(G-men confused. A grandmother's flight in the Storm Bird. A party for the younger set; certain
Hollywood types met. Eldrich Boston at night is spied - Senator Lovecraft is their guide.)
on the Story page.

16 September 2012
Extracts from a Diary: Storm Birds: 2 & 3 August 1937, by Simon Barber
(An attempted kidnapping at a park - with law enforcement complications. Who's Molly?
A party of Boston socialites, with some uniquely American Senators.)
"Luck of the Dragon: Hedging Bets" (Chapter 181) by Walter D. Reimer,
(The Songmark staff test the Crusader Dorm & the Red Dorm in the air.)
Stranded Angel: Autumn 1936 (Part 14), by Simon Barber
(reposted with permission on this website from the Naorhy Archive)
(Angelica loses some of her Lutefisk ingredients. Miss Pohovic, village priestess, visits. We
learn why the Ahnernerbe can be cautious. Prudence's dorm plans seaplane repairs. Where do
the ashes go? Black Lotus investigates to locate Angelica, and plots some alternate paths.
Ada shows Angelica some welcome warm devotion.)
on the Story page.

13 & 14 September 2012
"Marconi and Chaos" by M. Mitchell Marmel & E.O. Costello
(March 1937: An International variety show radio broadcast to the USA
receives some assistance from Reggie Buckhorn and his friends),
"The Sea Devils" (Chapter 6) by Richard Messer
('Sue' (Ming Xue) protects their hotel room, before they go into
the Bangkok night to confer with Jade's grandmother, Wu Hsing Tang.)
on the Story page.

4 September 2012
STEAMFOX comic strip page by Roy D. Pounds II,
"Millie almost blows her cover..."
More images have been moved to the STEAMFOX art archive,
via the Comics page.

The portrait of Sir Josslyn Buckhorn, Bt. by J.W. Kennedy
now has its own page, and links from the Reggie & Willow art page.

"Luck of the Dragon: Hedging Bets" (Chapter 180) by Walter D. Reimer,
(A sad song for the Magistrate, social assistance, & releasing some troubles of the year.)
Extracts from a Diary: Storm Birds: 30, 31 July, 1 August 1937, by Simon Barber
(Boston at last! Staying with Miss Cabot's adoptive family of upper-class Boston.
The 'Old' city is explored & Sunday services are dodged.)
on the Story page.

24 August 2012

French Speedweek poster (thumbnail) by Stuart McCarthy

Speed Week 1935 (French Poster) by Stuart McCarthy
http://duraluminwolf.deviantart.com/
- Speed Week begins! 24 - 31 August -
(An archive of 1930s air racing art & stories -
story & art contributions are welcome)

Ad for Nootnops Red soft drink 'The Sweetest Fruits of the Islands' - by Warren Hutch

Nootnops Red softdrink ad in the Archipelago - by Warren Hutch
(Larger file here - 820 KBytes)

‎"She opened the doors and gave a sigh of relief. There stood the aeroplane,
solid and secure, and Ray felt that in a few moments she would be dealing with
something that she could understand again."
(The Crash Girl - by Eileen Marsh ,1937 - page 12)

Quotes Basket

I regret to announce the death of John Speidel (1959-2012)
(a link to abbreviated memorial comments)

"Yes, we have no coco-nuts, We have no coco-nuts today!..."

Island 21 of 400 Keys Atoll, Spontoon Archipelago

"Island 21, 400 Keys Atoll, Spontoon Archipelago" by Ken Fletcher
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/heywulf/

26 August 2011

"Speed Week with the Sorensteen Sisters" (thumbnail) - by Warren Hutch

"Speed Week with the Sorensteen Sisters" - Art by Warren Hutch
added to the Speed Week contents page.

14 March 2011
Ursa Major Awards nominations!
The Ursa Major Awards (The Annual Anthropomorphic Literature & Arts Award) are popularity awards, voted on by fans.
Anyone can nominate entries; anyone can vote. Voting is done on-line with an email ballot, and will be going on through
17 April, 2011. Once you are at the ballot page, there are links to more information about the nominees.
Winners will be announced later in the Summer at a regional fan convention.

14 February 2011
I would like to recommend a free text story download via the Fur Affinity (FA) web archive.
(It is a pdf file, that may be found on a Fur Affinity contribution page
and opened via the free software, "Adobe Reader".)
Link to "Maude" is here:
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5256804

The story is a romantic adventure set in the world of early 1930s air-racing in the USA.
Written by 'Vixyyfox', well-illustrated by 'Pan Hesekiel Shiroi' (also on FA)
and also has music and sound files from members of a team of 9 creative
FA furryfans. (More credits & notes are at the linked webpage on FA.)

"Maude - a love story"
"'Maude' is the story of a vixen flier and her Gee Bee R1 aircraft.
It is also a love story like no other you will have read.

"In 1931, at the National Air Races in Cleveland, Ohio, a group of specially designed
racing aircraft took to the air to fly around a set course in an open display of tenacity and courage.
The pilots, all hailed as heroes of these 'modern' inventions, battled for space
in what was one of the most dangerous sports ever conceived - pylon racing.
Amidst the noise of seven powerful engines, belching smoke and flames
from their exhaust stacks, only one could be crowned the victor."

I believe many of you visiting the Spontoon Archipelago will find this story well worth
the reading (and listening!). I find it much like reading a good 1930s movie. 8)
Ken Fletcher ("Heywulf" on Fur Affinity)

10 February 2011
--o0o--
I regret to announce the death of J.P.Morgan, artist & writer,
and occassional contributor to these Spontoon Island pages.
He was born in 1957, and died 30 December 2010
at his home in Keansburg, New Jersey.
He was the writer and artist of the ironic, satirical,
cynical, & political comic strip character,
"Fission Chicken" http://www.fissionchicken.com/
There will be a memorial webpage here on the website, via the Art page,
collecting some samples of his Spontoon Island contributions.
Obitiuary page from the Asbury Park Press is here.
(Thanks to Mitch Marmel & the artist 'DAQ' for the links.)
--o0o--

Wishing you all a Happy New Year of the Rabbit,
and wishing you may find all the internal resources you need this coming year.
As Mr. Warren Hutch demonstrates, with the help of Miss Jayne Early
(from the serial story "The Gaze"), and her internal resources,
and a large (and possibly symbolic) tiger.

Year of the Rabbit "A Night On the Town" - cartoon by Warren Hutch

BEFORE: "Year of the Rabbit: A Night On the Town"
by Warren Hutch (Larger file here - 1 MByte)

Year of the Rabbit: A Fight (thumbnail) - by Warren Hutch

"Year of the Rabbit: A Fight"
by Warren Hutch - (Larger file here - 1.2 MBytes)

Year of the Rabbit "...And He's Down!" - cartoon by Warren Hutch

AFTER: "Year of the Rabbit: ...And He's Down!"
by Warren Hutch (Larger file here - 1 MByte)
© 2010 Warren Hutch - warrenhutch@yahoo.com

A reminder of forums for talk about Spontoon Island:

(including websites and zines)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Spontoon_Island/
A Yahoo Group moderated by Mitch Marmel.

Announcing a forum: 'Spicy Spontoon'
Speculation on Spicy Spontoon Stories and 1930s fantasies.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Spicy_Spontoon/
An over-18 Yahoo Group moderated by Mitch Marmel

"Makin' a List" (Big Red) (thumbnail) - by R.J. Bartrop

"Makin' a List" (Big Red) - R.J. Bartrop (large file - 1.2 MBytes)
http://rjbartrop.artspots.com
http://rjbartrop.deviantart.com/
Big Red background page

Poster (Four Fools at Odeon Theater) (thumbnail) - by Jim Groat

"The Four Fools at the Odeon Theater"
(Clockwise from upper left: Bobby (common martin), Chuck (gray wolf),
Dexter (red fox), Alan (badger) - Characters by Walter Reimer)
"The Four Fools are now appearing at a radio transcript near you!"
Art by Jim Groat - http://www.furaffinity.net/user/rabbi-tom/

Poster for Speed Week 1932 (thumbnail) - by Stuart McCarthy

Another international poster for Speed Week (1932) by Stuart McCarthy,
starting out on the Story page.

Speed Week 1931 poster (Romania) - by Stuart McCarthy

Speed Week 1931 Poster (Romania) (565 KBytes) by Stuart McCarthy
http://duraluminwolf.deviantart.com/
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/duraluminwolf/
http://us.vclart.net/vcl/Artists/Duraluminwolf/

May Day Celebrations on Spontoon Island!
A page of Stories, Art, and Articles via the History page.

May Day Greetings (thumbnail) - by Stuart McCarthy

May Day greetings - by Stuart McCarthy
(larger image here - 1.8 MBytes)
http://duraluminwolf.deviantart.com/
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/duraluminwolf/
http://us.vclart.net/vcl/Artists/Duraluminwolf/

Wo Fang, husband of Wo Shin (Ni Shin)
in the serial story, Luck of the Dragon, by Walt Reimer
Art by Jim Groat - http://www.furaffinity.net/user/rabbi-tom/

*** "Aviatrix" by Chris Goodwin ***
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/chrisgoodwin/
(larger file here - 1 MBytes)

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS FOLLOW:

(Links added: 9 September 2010)
If you like the quotes you have seen from "Savoias Over Sapporo" by Archie Whitehouse,
read the original story at http://www.ageofaces.net/2008/03/savoias-out-of-sapporo/
courtesy of "Age of Aces": http://www.ageofaces.net/ - they sell books compiled from
pulp stories on Amazon.com, but also allow free access & downloads
of public domain pdf files of pulp magazine air adventures!
Many other pulp aviation stories (in pdf format) are available for reference and research.

Those quotes from the stories were actually from my own hardcover copy of
"Wings Over the World", a collection of pulp magazine aviation stories,
edited by Leo Marguiles & published in 1943. I've discovered
this book is also listed by Google Books. There are previews of some of the contents,
which may be examined before purchase, here: "Wings Over the World".

Aviation history archive (Flight International magazine archive) -
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/index.html
This is an excellent reference archive from a weekly trade magazine,
Flight International. It was (and is) published in the United Kingdom,
reporting on world aviation, with a clear, entertaining, and appropriate bias
towards the interests of the British Commonwealth.

Artists & writers & website owners please look at these generous terms for
the use of material in these on-line magazine archives from 1909 to 2005:

(This review continued on the Spontoon Island Links page)

Your compiling archivist has been kindly directed (by 'Barnacle Will') to the blog:
The Flying Cloud, R-505
"Airships, adventure, gallant gentlemen, and sultry island maidens!"
an alternate-Earth serial by Paul Gazis, that is currently up to 46 chapters.
I highly recommend it. I believe that you may also find
the adventure and ironic humor to be very sympathetic
to Spontoonie sensibilities. (Added to the Links page)

30 September 2009
The Spontoon Island Althing regrets to announce the death of
Russell "Rusty" Haller. He did commissioned art for some of the story
contributors, and generously shared some of his adventure art with this website.
He had begun to build stories on his own island in the Spontoon Archepelago.
He will be missed.
There is a tribute page of some of Rusty's Spontoonie art.

More information is here.

Announcing a forum: 'Spicy Spontoon'
Speculation on Spicy Spontoon Stories and 1930s fantasies.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Spicy_Spontoon/
An over-18 Yahoo Group moderated by Mitch Marmel

Thanks go to Moses Lambert for his email and suggestions,
which include adding links to stories directly from this list of new uploads..
That reminds me to thank Jonathan Nicholls for his emailed
comments and suggestions, which were also much appreciated.

This website (among several others) has been given the

Golden Mimeograph Award
by the folks at http://www.naorhy.com

"Spontoon Postcards" wanted!
Postcard illos shared from visitors and tourists
to the Spontoon Archipelago are welcome! If you send them,
they may be posted to the "Visitors & Tourists" page.
Illos (.gif) under 400k and fitting the 1920 to 1950
time period are the most welcome.
Do show your own characters, shareware characters,
or public domain characters having some PG-13 fun.

NOTICE:
Corporate trademark characters are unlikely to be seen here.
They have their own trademark protected vacation islands to visit,
and likely only send copyrighted vacation postcards to
their corporate legal staff.

January-December 2007
(Fifty-seven baskets of updates in 2007)

January-December 2006
(Seventy-two baskets of updates in 2006)