Iconic 70s and 80s Americana

January 6, 2011 3:16 AM

Richard Amsel was a Philadelphian artist who created original and iconic illustrations and paintings found on posters for several popular 1970s and 80s American movies, including Mad Max: Beyond the Thunderdome, The Dark Crystal, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and The Sting. He also created unique artwork for TV Guide covers, as well as album cover art for Bette Midler and others. His Time cover featuring Lily Tomlin was added to the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution.
posted by Blazecock Pileon (10 comments total)

unique artwork for TV Guide covers

Those are nice and I appreciate the artistry, but somehow that phrase still seems wrong.
posted by twoleftfeet at 3:39 AM on January 6, 2011

In the first shot in the "album cover art" link, Eddy Arnold looks like Hugh Laurie. Weird.
posted by notsnot at 4:13 AM on January 6, 2011

What's a TV Guide?
posted by fairmettle at 4:28 AM on January 6, 2011

Damn, now I'm dying to know why Magnum needs to get tougher, more passionate.
posted by chavenet at 4:41 AM on January 6, 2011

somehow that phrase still seems wrong

I was inclined to agree but those are some beautiful covers.
posted by JaredSeth at 6:25 AM on January 6, 2011

That Raiders poster gives me the warm-and-fuzzies.
posted by HumanComplex at 7:06 AM on January 6, 2011

Yes, "artistic" TV Guide covers -- and magazine cover art like them -- are an incredible loss in my opinion.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:25 AM on January 6, 2011 [1 favorite]

... including Mad Max: Beyond the Thunderdome...

This threatened to shake me to the core of my being, but thankfully the core of my being was in the right: it's "Beyond Thunderdome".
posted by gurple at 9:19 AM on January 6, 2011

Geez, gurple, can't we just get beyond Thunderdome?
posted by incomple at 2:51 PM on January 6, 2011

I don't think I'll ever be able to get over Macho Grande.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 3:55 AM on January 7, 2011 [1 favorite]