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Stephen Longstreet
Great Buffalo Medicine Man

About the Item

Great Buffalo Medicine Man Mixed media collage Signed in pencil lower right Title on reverse Sheet size: 47 x 34 inches Condition: Tear in paper along right edge Color fresh Usual wrinkles for a paper collage Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist Joseph M. Erdelac, Cleveland, friend, patron and noted collector of Longstreet Stephen Longstreet (1907-2002) The artist’s own grandchildren attempt to fathom the real life and nature of Stephen Longstreet, prolific author, artist, screenplay writer, and jazz aficionado. Born Chauncy Weiner (sometimes spelled Wiener) in New York City in 1907, Longstreet reinvented himself on a regular basis. Changing his name first to “Henry,” then “Henri,” he started his career as a commercial artist for a department store. In various public biographies he claimed to have studied in New York, London, and Paris, and said he was a student of cartoonist Ralph Barton (1891-1931). Facts that can be documented are that he was art editor for Golfer and Sportsman magazines, and was a contributor to various other magazines including The New Yorker, Saturday Evening Post, Colliers, Life, and Hooey, among others. He wrote sketches for NBC radio and the Rudy Vallee Show. In the 1930s, Longstreet worked and wrote under the names Thomas Burton, David Ormsbee, and Paul Haggard before settling on the name Stephen Longstreet in 1939. He wrote 12 novels under this name as well as numerous screen plays, most notably The Jolson Story, The Greatest Show on Earth, and The Helen Morgan Story. Longstreet claimed to have been introduced to ragtime and jazz by no less a legend than singer Paul Robeson while Robeson was an All-American football player at Rutgers University. However it happened, the world of jazz was a constant theme throughout Longstreet’s life. He drew and painted such notables as Count Basie, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, and Duke Ellington. His media included collage, watercolors, and ink drawings. In 1989 Longstreet published his 100th book, Jazz from A to Z: a Graphic Dictionary. One of the more curious aspects of Longstreet’s art is his method of dating his material. He dated his works by the year depicted, not by the date of actual execution. Art signed “Longstreet” and dated before 1939 was actually done much later, as Stephen Longstreet did not exist prior to that! Early works from the late 1920s and 1930s will be signed “Henri” or “He” since Longstreet was still Weiner in those days. Later he often signed his work SL inside a circle. His collages dated in the 1950s or earlier were most likely done in the 1970s or 1980s. Longstreet spent most of his life in the Los Angeles area with his wife and oft-times collaborator, Ethel Longstreet. The artist remained active and prolific into his 90s. He died in Los Angeles in 2002 at the age of 94. Courtesy: StephenLongstreet
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  • Tribute to Bix Beiberbecke
    By Stephen Longstreet
    Located in Fairlawn, OH
    Tribute to Bix Beiberbecke Mixed media collage, 1974 Signed and titled in ink; lower right recto (see photo) Signed and dated ’74 in red crayon verso Image size: 32.5 x 22.75 inches Condition: Wrinkles due to collage and support sheet Provenance: Joseph Erdelac, Cleveland (friend and patron of Longstreet) One of the first Jazz Legends. He died at age 28 from alcoholism. Leon Bismark "Bix" Beiderbecke (March 10, 1903 – August 6, 1931) was an American jazz cornetist, pianist, and composer. Stephen Longstreet (1907-2002) Born Chauncy Weiner (sometimes spelled Wiener) in New York City in 1907, Longstreet reinvented himself on a regular basis. Changing his name first to “Henry,” then “Henri,” he started his career as a commercial artist for a department store. In various public biographies he claimed to have studied in New York, London, and Paris, and said he was a student of cartoonist Ralph Barton (1891-1931). Facts that can be documented are that he was art editor for Golfer and Sportsman magazines, and was a contributor to various other magazines including The New Yorker, Saturday Evening Post, Colliers, Life, and Hooey, among others. He wrote sketches for NBC radio and the Rudy Vallee Show. In the 1930s, Longstreet worked and wrote under the names Thomas Burton, David Ormsbee, and Paul Haggard...
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    Mixed Media

  • Jazz Singer
    By Stephen Longstreet
    Located in Fairlawn, OH
    Jazz Singer Mixed media 3 dimensional collage sculpture, 1975 Although dated 1975, this work may well have been done in the 1980s. Longstreet dated his works for the period they represented, not necessarily the date of actual execution. Dimensions: 41 x 18 1/4 x 1 1/4 inches Signed on the reverse (see photo) Artist's address sticker on reverse (see photo) Provenance: Acquired from the artist by his friend and patron, Joseph M. Erdelac, Cleveland Stephen Longstreet (1907-2002) At the website, the artist’s own grandchildren attempt to fathom the real life and nature of Stephen Longstreet, prolific author, artist, screenplay writer, and jazz aficionado. Born Chauncy Weiner (sometimes spelled Wiener) in New York City in 1907, Longstreet reinvented himself on a regular basis. Changing his name first to “Henry,” then “Henri,” he started his career as a commercial artist for a department store. In various public biographies he claimed to have studied in New York, London, and Paris, and said he was a student of cartoonist Ralph Barton (1891-1931). Facts that can be documented are that he was art editor for Golfer and Sportsman magazines, and was a contributor to various other magazines including The New Yorker, Saturday Evening Post, Colliers, Life, and Hooey, among others. He wrote sketches for NBC radio and the Rudy Vallee Show. In the 1930s, Longstreet worked and wrote under the names Thomas Burton, David Ormsbee, and Paul Haggard...
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    1970s American Modern Mixed Media

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  • Navajo Thunderbird Silversmith
    By Stephen Longstreet
    Located in Fairlawn, OH
    Navajo Thunderbird Silversmith Signed in ink, titled in pencil Dimensions: 42 1/4 x 23 inches Mixed media on paper Provenance: Acquired from the art...
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    Mid-20th Century American Modern Mixed Media

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  • Untitled (Tuscan Landscape)
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    Located in Fairlawn, OH
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  • Allen Ladd as Shane
    By Stephen Longstreet
    Located in Fairlawn, OH
    Allen Ladd as Shane Colored and metallic paper collage. c. 1960's Signed in ink lower right; Signed in pencil on reverse; (see photo) Titled in pencil upper left recto (see photo) Provenance: Joseph Erdelac, Cleveland Erdelac was a noted Longstreet collector who donated many of the artist’s works to the Columbus Museum of Art. Note: The movie Shane, was produced in 1952-53. It won several Academy Award Nominations, including the Award for best cinematography. Note: Ladd stars to perfection as Shane, a mysterious gunfighter who providentially appears in a Wyoming community just when the clash between homesteaders and cattle ranchers is turning uglier and bloodier. Shane finds himself impressed by the hearty industriousness of Joe Starrett (Van Heflin), a farmer who’s determined to work the land and protect his family. Just as important, Shane also finds himself drawn to the homesteader’s wife, Marian (Jean Arthur...
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  • La grande incognita (The great unknown)
    By Ray H. French
    Located in Fairlawn, OH
    La grande incognita (The great unknown) Collage elements with paint, paint and paper foil, 1964 1964 Created while the artist was studying at the Accademia d'Arte, Florence Signed an...
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    1960s Abstract Mixed Media

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