Алмалы жеңілдік: Филадельфиялық саяси карикатуралар тобының тарихы

The Anti Permanent Pearlman Poster League of the East (APPPLE) was an early (1979 1984) example of grass roots political satire performed to generate media coverage. It employed tactics now known as culture jamming and guerilla communication that have been widely popularized by Billionaires for Bush, Greene Dragon, Code Pink, and other organizations. Named after Al Pearlman—a Philadelphia Democratic City Councilman at Large elected in 1975, 1979, and 1983 and unsuccessful candidate for a Democratic State Senator nomination in 1982—its purpose was to protest Pearlman's practice of campaigning through masonite signs, 2x4 feet, nailed to telephone poles fifteen feet off the ground and not removed after elections as required by law. Some stayed up for several elections and were simply modified with new lever pull instructions from one election to the next. The sign issue was symbolic of the "in your face" attitude of both Pearlman and his political friend, ally, and mentor, Philadelphia Mayor Frank L. Rizzo. The posters were generally constructed and installed by members of the Philadelphia Building Trades, strong political allies of both Pearlman and Rizzo. The Pearlman posters featured pictures of Pearlman, which the Anti Pearlman Permanent Poster League would decorate with creative new designs in the broad daylight wearing white coveralls with a large apple on the back. They would often call Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Clark DeLeon prior to the redesign jobs who would month after month reveal their latest exploits to his readers with stories and pictures. Most of the posters were removed by Pearlman's people within days of the changes. Humor was a large part of APPPLE's MO. Their leader, McIntosh, noted that they started with "fewer than one thousand members and soon grew to fewer than two thousand members". APPLERs used pseudonyms such as Winesap, Turnover, Streudel, Crab etc. and remained anonymous, letting their artwork and commentary speak for itself. The group ceased its activities after Pearlman, fatally stricken with cancer, committed suicide at the age of 54 on June 10, 1984, in his hospital room with a gun brought by a former wife.

+NameFirst Public Display Mouse EarsSept. 18, 1979ClownOct. 8, 1979GangsterNov. 28, 1979Nose ThumbingDec.12, 1979Mouse Ears (ayatollah)NAApple on HeadFeb. 1, 1980BubbleheadFeb. 21, 1980PuppetMay 19, 1982JokerJun. 5, 1983Litter BasketSept. 18, 1983

TitleDescriptionDateAuthorPublicationTerrorism: Is no poster safe from these fiends?First reference to SWARMOctober 1, 1979Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerUpdate: APPPLE meets SWARMCouncilman Pearlman's office reports that Pearlman campaign posters are coming down all over the cityDecember 3, 1979Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerCALLING MSSRS. MacINTOSH, Winesap and BigCall to act on other signsDecember 7, 1979Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerPosters: Yes, Virginia, there is an Al PearlmanSatirical comparison of original "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus"December 25, 1979Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerPosters: The APPPLE of Pearlman's eyeFirst Annual Awards Night at APPPLE headquartersJanuary 18, 1980Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerAPPPLE STRIKES AGAIN againAdditional reference to 5th designFebruary 1, 1980UnknownPhiladelphia Daily NewsAPPPLE: United Nations split over PearlmanSatirical UN debate over APPPLEFebruary 12, 1980Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerAPPPLE: How about laying off poles for a whileFirst direct response from Pearlman regarding campaign signs: "Aren't they down yet? "February 29, 1980Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerBEAT IT PEARLMAN, THIS IS MY GIGMickey Mouse sign tells Pearlman "Beat it Al, this is my Gig"March 24, 1980Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerPolitics: APPPLE scores a victory sort ofAPPPLE leader claims credit for fact that Pearlman "didn't get one vote" in recent electionApril 28, 1980Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerBIRDS OF A FEATHERPicture showing both Pearlman and 1975 Rizzo campaign signs in close proximityMay 28, 1980Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerMonsters: At least he'll have plenty to eatAlchu debut (a. k. a. a one eyed, one horned, flying Pearlman Poster eater)June 20, 1980Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerPosters: Is APPPLE branching out?DeLeon questioning whether APPPLE may be embellishing other signs as wellSeptember 5, 1980Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerUpdate: APPPLE celebrates a birthdayFirst Anniversary recap of APPPLE and yearbook publicationSeptember 18, 1980Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerPosters: Hmmm, that leaves 492,800 on the streetSun Co. attempted campaign poster buyback and proposed merger of APPPLE and SunNovember 12, 1980Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerOn the Street: A Christmas storySecond Annual Christmas spirit tribute to APPPLE this time via a modified version of the classic "A visit from St. Nicholas" ('Twas the Night Before Christmas)December 24, 1980Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerPolitics: Your duty is clear, APPPLEPearlman declares for State Senate run and DeLeon calls on APPPLE to save us from the postersFebruary 16, 1982Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerMACINTOSH COULD BARELY control himselfWhile attending a campaign rally, Macintosh (sic) is asked what he does for Pearlman; he claims he helps "design his campaign posters"March 5, 1982Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerCampaigns: Pearlman is struck againCopycat group defaces signs during election process. APPPLE disavows actions (while still noting their humor)April 14, 1982Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerCampaigns: Uncle Sam to Al: Cut that outPearlman goes to new low sticks ads on pennies; competing group PEARL MAN (Poster Embellishment And Rearrangement League Mostly At Night) claims responsibility for new sign treatmentsApril 22, 1982Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerGREAT POLITICAL MOMENTS II: MAYBE HE NEEDED A NEW IMAGEAdditional PEARL MAN coverage in annual New Year's review of newsJanuary 2, 1983Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerPolitics: It's starting againPoster Improvement Kit referenced againNovember 14, 1983Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerCampaign Posters: Sun scores record cleanupAPPPLE does not participate in Sun Co.'s record campaign sign buyback because they are "not into this to make a buck" and are "a civic minded terrorist group"November 16, 1983Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerPearlman: APPPLE calls it quitsAPPPLE ceases activity respecting Pearlman's serious cancer diagnosisJune 14, 1984Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerPosters: Pearlman deserves better than thisDeLeon notes that the remaining posters should be removed out of respect for Pearlman's memoryFebruary 14, 1985Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia InquirerPosters: Will one of Al's friends take care of this?In the last known media reference to APPPLE, DeLeon again calls for someone to remove all remaining signs, noting the irony in a recent street name change where the street signs were changed but the Pearlman poster was left up on the same pole. February 21, 1986Clark DeLeonPhiladelphia Inquirer