American Heroes Mural
by Larry Salk
My father painted many images for the entertainment industry. He painted “The Kramer” for the beloved TV show Seinfeld.
This conceptual painting, as seen in the “Eric with a C” CD package, rendered in striking black and white, emerges as a powerful mural concept embodying American heroes throughout the ages. Each figure, meticulously depicted, reverberates with the spirit of resilience, courage, and sacrifice that has characterized the fabric of American history. The stark contrasts of light and shadow invoke an emotional depth, capturing the essence of each hero's journey as they navigate the complexities of time.
Designed and painted by my father, Larry Salk, for Wil Wright’s ice cream restaurant in Hollywood, California, one of Hollywood's most famous ice cream eateries. This mural concept was designed for the dining room. It would wrap around three walls.
Captain Wright, #50 in the legend above, was modeled by our next-door neighbor Fred Cowen.
The mural transcends mere representation; it evokes a sense of pride and reflection, inviting viewers to engage with the narratives woven into the fabric of the nation. Each element is thoughtfully positioned, guiding the observer through an exploration of bravery and moral fortitude. The absence of color does not detract from the power of the image; instead, it distills the essence of heroism into its purest form, allowing for a visceral connection to the past.
It is a celebration of the indomitable spirit that defines American heritage, encouraging contemplation of the sacrifices made by those who paved the way for future generations. This mural stands not only as an artistic statement but as a poignant reminder of the values that continue to inspire and unite. It transforms a simple wall into a narrative space, inviting all to reflect on the rich tapestry of American heroism.
American Heroes Mural
John Luther (Casey) Jones 1864-1900, railroad engineer, famous for saving his passengers in a wreck of the "Cannon Ball Express" on April 30, 1900.
Paul Bunyan - legendary folk hero lumberjack, roamed the North woods with his giant blue ox, Babe.
General John Joseph Pershing 1860-1948, Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I.
Frederick Douglass 1818-1895, son of a slave mother, became a leading abolitionist and crusading journalist.
Stan Laurel (Arthur Stanley Jefferson) 1890-1965, comedian, writer and director, teamed with Oliver Hardy in 1927, star of both silent and "talking" pictures.
Oliver (Norvell "Babe") Hardy 1892-1957, comedian, starred with Stan Laurel in two-reel comedies and feature films over a twenty-five year period after separate career in early silent films.
Phineas Taylor Barnum 1810-1891, showman, exhibitor of human curiosities: dwarfs, giants, bearded ladies, Siamese twins, etc.
Lion, part of P.T. Barnum's circus, "The Greatest Show on Earth", which opened in 1871.
John Smith 1580-1631, English colonist, guided the Jamestown settlement.
Thomas Alva Edison 1847-1931, inventor of the incandescent lightbulb, the phonograph, the synchronized sound and motion picture camera, and many other important items.
Henry Ford 1863-1947, America's pioneer automobile manufacturer, introduced mass production that made the motorcar available to almost every family.
Christopher Columbus 1451-1506, alleged discoverer of America, landed on San Salvador Island on October 12, 1492.
Jean Harlow (Harlean Carpenter) 1911-1937, movie star of the early 30's, one of the first glamour girls of the "talkies".
Neil A. Armstrong 1930-2012, commanding astronaut of the Apollo 11 mission, first man to set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969, 7:56 PM PST.
Carry Nation 1846-1911, temperance agitator, noted for breaking up saloons with a hatchet in the furtherance of her cause.
Rip Van Winkle, Washington Irving's fictitious character who slept twenty years in the woods of upstate New York.
Robert Edwin Peary 1856-1920, Arctic explorer, discoverer of the North Pole on April 6, 1909.
Thomas Jefferson 1743-1826, author of the Declaration of Independence, 3rd President of the United States (1801-1809), founder of the University of Virginia.
George Washington 1732-1799, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, First President of the United States (1789-1797).
Elizabeth Grissom (Betsy) Ross 1752-1836, alleged designer and maker of the first flag of the United States.
Charles Augustus Lindbergh 1902 -1974, aviator, first man to fly solo across the Atlantic, New York to Paris, 1927.
Balto, lead dog of the team that delivered Diphtheria medicines to the Nome, Alaska/Yukon Territory, immortalized later by Jack London. 1925.
Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865, Sixteenth President of the United States, guided the Union through the Civil War (1860-1865).
John L. (Lawrence) Sullivan 1858-1918, boxer, won the bare knuckles heavyweight championship in 1882.
John Henry, legendary railroad spike driver who fought a famous duel with the steam drill.
William Christopher Handy 1873-1958, "Father of the Blues", wrote "St.Louis Blues", "Beale Street Blues", etc.
Robert Edward Lee 1807-1870, General-in-Chief of the Confederate Army in the Civil War.
Ulysses Simpson Grant 1822-1885, Commander-in-Chief of the Union Army in the Civil War, 18th President of the United States (1869-1877).
George Herman (Babe) Ruth 1895-1948, all-time great baseball player for the New York Yankees, slugged 60 home runs in 1927.
James (Jim) Thorpe 1888-1953, All-American football player at Carlisle Indian School (1911-1912), won Olympic pentathlon and decathlon in 1912.
Davy Crockett 1786-1836, frontiersman, backwoods humorist, U. S. Representative from Tennessee, died at the Alamo.
Harriet Quimby 1875-1912, first licensed American woman flyer (certification on August 2, 1911), died in a plane accident during an air meet.
Orville Wright 1871-1948, designed engine for first airplane, flew near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, December 17, 1903.
Wilbur Wright 1867-1912, Orville's brother who assisted in design and construction of first airplane.
Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman) 1774-1847, frontier mystic, herb doctor, planted apple seeds throughout his travels along the Ohio River Valley.
Sitting Bull 1831-1890, Sioux Indian Chief, defeated General Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn.
George Armstrong Custer 1839-1876, Civil War General, defeated by the Sioux and Sitting Bull at Little Bighorn, June 25, 1876.
A Pilgrim Father, came over on the Mayflower, landed 1620, founded Plymouth in what later became Massachusetts.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain) 1835-1910, humorist, author of "Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn".
Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790, statesman, printer, scientist and writer, edited Poor Richard's Almanac.
Annie Oakley 1860-1926, best known as a performer with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, a sharpshooter.
George Washington Carver 1864-1943, agricultural chemist, discovered many uses for peanuts, sweet potatoes and soybeans.
Paul Revere 1735-1818, silversmith, designer, printer; rode on horseback to warn citizens of attacking British, April 18, 1775.
Stephen Collins Foster 1826-1864, Southern songwriter of "Oh, Susannah", "Camptown Races", "My Old Kentucky Home". Wrote songs for the original Christy Minstrel Show.
William Clark 1770-1838, one of the leaders of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Served as Governor of the Missouri Territory.
Meriwether Lewis 1774-1809, explorer; with William Clark explored part of the Louisiana Purchase, territory acquired from France.
Margaret Sanger 1883-1966, an early advocate of birth control and family planning.
James Butler (Wild Bill) Hickok 1837-1876, frontier scout and U. S. Marshal in Kansas.
Alexander Graham Bell 1847-1922, scientist, inventor of the telephone (1876).
Captain Wil Wright, itinerant ice cream peddler and erstwhile super-hero.
Plymouth Rock.
This is what the American Heroes Mural might have looked like.
The mural seamlessly blends art and architecture, creating a lively yet contemplative atmosphere with its interplay of light and shadow. Each detail invites appreciation, focusing on shape, line, and design due to the absence of color. This style merges traditional and modern influences, highlighting the subjects' significance in American history.