History Custom Car Photographer Marcia Campbell 1932 - 2009

Great thread...

 

bump it up... Rikster Rules.

 

What a great "herstory" lesson.

 

Not A "Bettie" Page!​

My name is Michelle from Las Vegas, NV. In ***isting my man with his myriad car projects over the years (in this particular case the accurate Nick Matranga '40 Merc rebuild), I have enjoyed the rare gift of meeting and getting to know many of the still living legends of the hot rod, custom, and vintage car hobby. I savor all their sage words and log them for upcoming articles and book chapters. I was an earnest kid who actually listened and heeded and cherished the historical memories and fascinating tales my Grandparents and Elders told. I grieve daily the loss of these heroes of the "Greatest Generation" as they p*** on. Requiring some of her original photographs for the details, we searched and sleuthed the reclusive Marcia Campbell. Since re-discovering her a few years ago, we befriended and coaxed her back into some public recognition. I was grateful to have learned what a standup and standout woman she was. She was not a hermit. She just bowed out of the Hot Rod mainstream in the late 1950's. She continued with her ardent p***ion for cars as a collector, restorer, and RACER. She had her private pilot's license. She continued with her career as a professional photographer to include natural wildlife, the arctic, the jungle, and California wilderness. She belonged to several trade ***ociations and clubs. She also was a professional social worker. She continued these avocations throughout. Her interests and talents were unlimited! She didn't even bother with being sick, she was too busy having the times of her life. She simply dropped from an aortic embolism at the age of 77 (born in the au****ious year of 1932). She was a sensitive, artistic, brilliant, and comp***ionate Pisces. She endured prejudices because she was treading on guys turf before it was popular for women to do so. However she was always welcomed, respected, and appreciated for her invaluable photographic contributions to the hot rod, kustom, and vintage car sport. When you see a picture of Marcia Campbell with one of her kustom roadsters she isn't changing a tire by the side of the road naked and she really is utilizing the speed wrench not just jacking it. She was a clean-cut, trim, handsome, dignified lady, not a trollop. She was refreshing and I admired her immensely and wish there were more like her.
God Bless You, Marcia Campbell!​

© by Michelle M. Yiatras
Timechanic ™

 

Thank you Michelle for some more insight into this very interesting woman who do***ented this historical important time for custom cars so well, and so wonderful with here great eye for the perfect photo.

She must have lived a very private live since it is very difficult to find much information on here. So every one on one experience is very much welcomed.

There is some more information about Marcia's custom cars that where built by Barris, and I hope to be able to share some photos in the next couple of days. Michelle and David's contact with Marcia and researching other project cars have lend to some very interesting information.

 

Great photo,
The two girls in roadster are Jean & Nancy from Texas.

 

Had almost a 2 hour phone conversation with Jerry Q. today and we were talkin about Marcia and her great photos she took of everything and the great photos she took of Sam & Jerry chopping Jerry's merc.He said he remembers her always with a camera but he said he didnt get to know her as good as he wished he did.He felt bad that she p***ed away and was complimenting her talent and the great pictures she took.

 

What a great read what a fine lady and 40 years ahead of her time.

 

He Jeff... you have to tell us more about this two hours with Jerry!.

Glad Jerry remembered Marcia.

 

Until recently I still had not find out the real story about Marcia Campbell Photographer, and Jack Campbell Photographer.
Both Campbell's took photos of mainly (Barris) Custom Cars in the early 1950's. At one point I thought Jack was a name Marcia used to be more accepted in the mans world of Hot Rods and Custom Cars and the magazines. But when I researched here more I knew that could not have been the case.

Luckily my good friend Geoff Hacker from Florida always has his eyes open for good information... when he browses thru his immense magazine and book collection... and he came up with this... another mystery solved.

From the Auto Sportsman July 1953 issue

 

So could it be her dad, or other relation to get her involved into customs at an early age.

 

The Rodder's Journal has send out their email Newsletter about the highlights of the upcoming issue #51 yesterday.

And in it they announced that my article on Marcia Campbell will be in it.
So now it's official, and I have to say I'm VERY excited about it.
This article has been in the works since 2009 soon after Marcia Campbell p***ed away.
For this article I was ***isted by David E. Zivot, Michelle M. Yiatras and Sue Leipold (Cleatus his wife, who helped me a lot tot to make this a properly English written piece), and I want to thanks all of them for their help.
I hope when the magazine comes out everybody will enjoy it and Marcia's legacy as much as I do.





The Rodder's Journal #51
Marcia Campbell is one of customizing’s earliest photographers. Her work was seen in early issues of Hop Up, Motor Trend, Rod & Custom as well as the Dan Post custom books from the late '40s through mid '50s. In TRJ #51 we show some of her most well known photos along with never-before-published shots. Her story is one of p***ion for cars and photography, and we have it in detail in this issue.

 

That's Great News!!!!

 

This is great news Rik,I know it has been a long time coming.I really think Marcia was a huge part of the early custom era and im thankful for all of her great pictures that we have today.I really wish I would of got to meet her.


As far as the talk with Jerry it was great,I took almost 2 pages of notes He is moving right now but he promised I will be meeting him soon.He cleared some stuff up that I was asking him about.He is still pretty sharp for his age.Telling me about the first car he chopped at a very young age and he was telling about his fun stories with Sam Barris.Jerry really respected and thought very highly of Sam.He said he misses that guy.

 

We were glad to help out with this Rik - any time.
Looking forward to seeing it in-print.
You did a fine job bringing attention to one of the early custom enthusiasts who deserved a little recognition.

 

It looks like Jack went to the same high school as my dad,aunts and uncle.To bad they're not around anymore so I can ask then if they knew him.I'll have to go to my storage and see if I can find my dads old yearbook and see if he's in there?

 

I cant wait for the TRJ #51 comes out !!!!!! I want to see this real bad,marcia's photos were great.

 

Great thread, great research!

 

Great thread Rik! So gald Marcia was there to capture so much of the custom car scene. Can't wait to get TRJ.

 

The Rodder's Journal issue #51 has been send out to the subscribers and is slowly coming available in the book stores across the world.
My article on Marcia Campbell is in this Custom packed (well for TRJ standards) issue.
The work on this article was spread out over a year and a half, and during that time I found out a lot about Marcia Campbell. One of the saddest things I found out was that most likely here complete collection of negatives and prints she took during 1948-52 – her Hot Rod and Custom Car years – most likely has been lost forever.
Luckily we have been able to find some material, but that is possibly only 1 or so % of all she did. One of the highlights of the things that was found at Marcia 's house (by Marcia's live partner Suzanne) after Marcia had p***ed away, was this incredible color transparency of Marcia's Barris built, 1942 Ford Coupe she took in 1950.
The backdrop is Marcia's home in Walnut Park CA. The house still stands today (inset from Google maps) but has lost some of it glamour from the time Marcia and Suzanne lived there in the 1950's.

This photo was also used for this years TRJ Annual Poster, and here is the complete transparency including the black borders, just the way I got it.

One of the best looking 1941-48 Fords ever done!

 

In 2006, David Zivot and I began our bona fide research on his exact resurrection of Nick Matranga’s illustrious sanguine ’40 Mercury custom (executed by Sam Barris), with the benediction and counsel of Nick himself. David required precise details revealed by precious few photographs of the legendary car that died too young and fast. He had actually scored some original parts from the original car in his pursuit over the years, saving them for their reunion with a correct parallel he had in mind. David has an established track record of discovering lost and forgotten historical hot rods and customs. A notable unearthing was his rare find and proper restoration of the “Deep Purple” Joe Nitti ’32 roadster. He has since relayed it on to another noble stable. And there were others, resuscitated from dusty, rusty obscurity, and breathed fresh fire, directly into capable collections. So this Matranga Merc project was par for the concours. He needed never before seen photos of Nick’s car to catch the glimpses with acuity. We knew that circa 1948-53 custom photographer, Marcia Campbell, was the key to unlocking the missing arcana. Most car hobbyists had never heard of Marcia Campbell, but David is keen on details and always noticed her name in the finest print and thought she was a person of interest. He decided that we must trace her for other possible photographic reserves. I telephoned some of the older fellows from those trailblazing hot rodding days; guys like Bill Chuck, Jesse Lopez, Hershel Conway, Nick Matranga, Joe Lingrey, Eric Rickman, and Tom Medley. They all told me they hadn’t even thought of Marcia for fifty years. Yet they enriched my understanding of the hot rod glory days, provided me with substantial interview material, and I made some bronze acquaintances. They conveyed to me their personal reminiscences of Marcia and her photographic prowess of both their customs and her customs. She was an integral member of the early hot rod scene. She dropped out by 1953, and they didn’t know where to. We attempted to track her by ordinary search methods. Story was she became a recluse. Still no Marcia, so we had to pull some official detective strings. We pulled a possible location for her, and it landed. I called her, and she was shocked and reticent. I coaxed her, and we became comfortable friends. She explained to me some of her hobbies and activities since 1953; trophy winning race car driver, yacht racer, private pilot, wildlife photog, and social worker; with ***embled dozens of antique, custom, and sports cars including roadsters, woodies, Mercedes Gullwings, and Porsches. Certainly not a recluse, nor a shrinking violet femme. I interviewed both her and her lifetime best friend, Suzanne Irvin, about growing up in LA in its idyllic age of the 40’s-50’s-60’s, about being a Catholic School girl, about being a photographer, about designing custom cars, about the Sam Barris Shop days (being a photographer, model, and vintage car hobbyist myself, and also matriculating from Catholic School in Las Vegas, we had some common ground). David prompted me for the prime quest- “Any Matranga Merc pics?!” “No,” she replied to him, “I threw all that stuff away many years ago.” “ALL of it?! Even the negatives?!” “All of it. I left that world [Barris shop days] behind and didn’t look back.” “Are you sure you don’t have some little s**** left?” He explained to her how even the most insignificant image would be a tremendous help. She promised to search her garage boxes, and autographed some prints for us. We kept in touch over the next couple years as we didn’t want to push her. Then Suzanne called to tell us Marcia surprisingly p***ed away. Suzanne said Marcia found an old file, and she wanted me to have it. It was a cache of Marcia’s own original 8 x 10 b/w photo from the Jan ’51 Hot Rod Magazine article, with her own copy of the issue, many car and yacht racing photos, schedules, and 1st place ribbons she competed in the 50’s-60’s, many pics of her with her customs, and of her collections. I put these in a mounted display. I was also given her first camera (Kodak Autographic Junior, gift from her mother at age 11). Her desirable Rolleiflex and Speed Graphic she always carried with her had long since been traded in/up. Because David and I became research colleagues with Rik Hoving over the past couple years we kept him apprised of our progress. We ended up collaborating on an article RE: Marcia Campbell for TRJ. It was a yeoman’s team effort, and Rik fabulously revived, cataloged, laid out, and captioned Marcia’s photos, and helped tighten the timelines. I gave him for his master archive some of the photos I was gifted by Marcia and Suzanne. I kept my personal faves. The exquisite (4 x 5 color transparency astonishingly preserved) image of Marcia’s custom ’42 Ford coupe she devotedly named “Baby Bluey” parked in the driveway of her childhood home in Walnut Park, CA, used by TRJ as the annual Holiday #14 2010 poster in the winter #50 issue, is my window into “Willoughby” (Twilight Zone episode). This car is aka the Carl Abajian-Anne De Valle custom. Since all this, Suzanne p***ed away. I was also privileged to befriend and interview Nick Matranga before his p***ing, who confided secrets of his custom, and the Barris days. That story, and the treks to Jesse Lopez’ rooster ranch are to be told in upcoming articles.

© by Michelle M. Yiatras
Timechanic ™

 

She reminds me of Amelia Earheart and Margaret Bourke-White, two other great Gals spelled with a Capital G. Gary

 

Back in the mid-'40s thru late '50s, 'jack' was a crude term for a female.
Sometimes as a 'nickname', but actually used as a noun...a 'broad' was a 'jack'.

Don't flame me, I'm only the messenger. (there are more terms, also)

 

We have already found out that Jack Campbell was just another photographer... doing basically the same thing as Marcia did. Shoot Custom Cars and Hot Rods.
Go back one page and you will see a picture of Jack.

 

Thank you for the "Behind the scenes" info Michelle.

It sure was a pleasure to work with you and David on this Long Term project.
Thank you and David for all you have done to make this article on Marcia (and all the other info on Marcia that will be shared soon) happen.

It is so sad that both Marcia and Suzanne are not with us to be able to see the article. I think (hoped) she would have liked it, despite the fact that she moved on to other car related things from 1953 and up.


Here is one spread that was part of the material I submitted to the Rodder's Journal that did not make it in the final lay-out. Most likely due to the Copy right issues of showing to many publications on one page.
Its to bad, since it really showed the importance of Marcia's work as a Custom Car and Hot Rod photographer.

The photo on the botom of this spread did make it into the final layout. However the photo caption in the magazine says "This well-known photo..."while I think this is actually the first time this particular photo has been published. (thank you David)
A similar photo, but then with the car owners next to their Customs have been used in Dan Post Blue book as well as in one or two of the Barris books. But this photo only has the cars in it, not the owners.

 

man i just love stuff like this!
thanks to everyone...
Michelle!..look what the cat dragged in today ha ha!!
-palle

 

Palle~
Are you going to use a chromed rack of those antlers for a hood ornament?
Godspeed with the Mercury steering wheel!
Talk with you soon,
~Michelle & David

 

Thanks Rik. Just read your article in TRJ. Great history. To bad that Marcia lost most of her photos. Slim

 

A couple of people have already noticed the error on page 111 of the TRJ #51 in the my Marcia Campbell article.

The 32 Ford Roadster photo on page 111 and its incorrect photo caption is something added by TRJ after I submitted my material. The photo was submitted by Barris thinking the girl in the photo was Marcia Campbell... well its not!

The car and photo have, as far as I know nothing to do with Marcia Campbell. They are from 1953, when Marcia had already moved on to other automotive subjects, and away from Hot Rods and Custom Cars.

After I submitted my material I was not informed about possible changes made to the article. And I had not seen a proof of how the final lay-out and TRJ reworked article would look like... until I received my advance - printed - copy. Of co**** I was shocked, but by then it was to late to correct it!

So please ignore page 111 of TRJ#51 as part of the Marcia Campbell article... enjoy it for its nice photo though.


This photo taken at the NHRA Museum shows the real names of the girls in the car. Jean Fowler and Billie Hayes from Texas. No Marcia Campbell, and not here photo as far as I know.





Also on the Jerry Quesnel chop top photo series the photo of the car in white primer has a caption saying the photo most likely is taken at the Montebello Tent Car show. (See for more info on this show Jeff's HAMB thread)
I want to thank Jeff Neppl to point this out to the TRJ team at the GNRS. They added this info, but forgot to name Jeff as the source, I had not noticed the photo was taken at that location.