Crazy Philadelphia Eddie
By Eddie Funk/Eric Foemmel
Crazy Philadelphia Eddie is one of the godfathers of American tattooing, and he is missed by the tattoo community. There are more than fifty tapes of Eddie telling his life story, so it will take some time to upload all of the recordings. Mix yourself a couple drinks, hit play, and enjoy the ride. This story is a roller coaster!
Crazy Philadelphia EddieSep 10, 2019
Volume 2; Episode 31: Las Vegas
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Volume 2; Episode 30: Downtown on the Nickel
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Volume 2; Episode 29: Side Stories and Side Bets
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Voume 2; Episode 28: Back to Philly...Again
This podcast episode was published on 8/22/2019, which would have been Crazy Philadelphia Eddie's 83rd birthday! I will be raising a two glasses for you, my good friend! We sure do miss you!
Volume 2; Episode 27: San Francisco
Volume 2; Episode 26: Wrightstown, New Jersey
Volume 2; Episode 25: Old Friends, New Faces
Volume 2; Episode 24.5: Bob Shaw, Part 2
Volume 2; Episode 24: Bob Shaw, Part 1
Volume 2; Episode 23: There's Always a Set Up
Even if everything in your life looks perfect, be very wary of the ones close to you that may want to pull the rug out from under you. When they start to pull the rug, grab your hammer and start swinging! Check for rattles!
Volume 2; Episode 22: Sharon Disappears
Volume 2; Episode 21: Sharon's Name Game
Volume 2; Episode 20: Bernie Bales
Volume 2; Episode 19: Back to Philly
The Greek Pantheon was graced by Zeus's three daughters: Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrosyne. The daughters embodied elegance, beauty, and joy. As Eddie tells it, Philadelphia had three legendary brothers around Chinatown: the Cheety brothers.
Volume 2; Episode 18: California
Crazy Philadelphia Eddie was always one to defy the courts or buck the system. In this episode he packs up the family and heads west to keep everyone together. Exploring San Francisco, he meets Lyle Tuttle for the first time. I imagine they are both having drinks right now at some celestial bar.
Volume 2; Episode 17: Philly Characters and Family Court
Volume 2; Episode 16: Ninth and Cherry
As Crazy Philadelphia Eddie continued to establish himself in Chinatown, he reached out to the younger tattooers that showed promise. He was in a position to offer young kids a job just as Max Peltz and Brooklyn Blackie broke Eddie into the business.
Volume 2; Episode 15: Race Street
Volume 2; Episode 14: New York Memories
Volume 2; Episode 13: Love and Urban Blight
Volume 2; Episode 12: Jack Comes Back
Volume 2; Episode 11:Sharon
Crazy Philadelphia Eddie confessed in volume one that he always fell in love easily. In this episode, he talk about meeting Sharon, who eventually becomes his second wife.
Volume 2; Episode 10: Dracula's Eviction Notice
Crazy Philadelphia Eddie's loyalty to friends was steadfast! If you were a friend, he would assist you in any way. However, if someone messed up a sure bet, cheated him, or did not keep their word, he would put steady pressure on a person until they moved. Dracula was brought in on a deal, but he got the message, "It's time to move on!"
Volume 2; Episode 9: The Magistrate
Volume 2; Episode 8: Old Sailor Charlie
Crazy Philadelphia Eddie was always willing to let tattooers work in his shops. Chinatown on a Navy payday was packed with sailors. Eddie needed the help, and Sailor Charlie was willing to sit in at the shop.
Volume 2; Episode 7: The Philadelphia Operation
If there are laws and rules, there are always ways around them. If you understand them, all you need is a plan to get around them. Crazy Philadelphia Eddie had a keen understanding of the laws, and he had a plan. One doesn't become a legend by being a fool!
Volume 2; Episode 6: Hustle Until Spring
In this episode, Eddie is still grinding through his first winter in Philadelphia. In a city just as cold as Chicago, he finds himself among some new characters. These meager months give rise to occasions to make new friends and reach out to old ones. Old or new, the bottom line is the hustle to make a buck.
Volume 2; Episode 5: Crazy Philadelphia Eddie
Until this point in Eddie's life he was "Crazy Eddie" to all of his friends. Defending his spot, and striking his claim, Eddie added to the city of brotherly love to his moniker: CRAZY PHILADELPHIA EDDIE.
Volume 2; Episode 4: Winter's Rations
Volume 2; Episode 3: Fat Billy
This is a short episode, Eddie invites one of the many characters from State Street, Chicago to the Chinatown shop in Philadelphia. Eddie was always surrounded by an entourage of eccentric people. Hell, if you are listening to this podcast and plan to follow it to the last episode of the final volume--No. 7--you might be considered unconventional.
Volume 2; Episode 2: New York City Supreme Court
Volume 2; Episode 1: The Legend Begins
After a decade of struggle and tattooing around the country with the hope of finding a place to work without the constant threat of being shut down, Eddie arrived in Philadelphia. Among the bums, prostitutes, and grifters, Eddie set up shop. It was the start of his legacy and empire.
Volume 1 is the back story to entire story that is about to unfold. If you like this episode and have not listened to the prior ones, check them out.
Volume 1; Episode 19: We've Got Your Back
Volume 1; Episode 18: Stormy Angel
Volume 1; Episode 17: The LA Layover
Volume 1; Episode 16: Hotel Street
Volume 1; Episode 15: Homeward Bound
Volume 1; Episode 14: Hawaiian Dreams
Volume 1; Episode 13: State and Main
Volume 1; Episode 12: State Street, Chicago
Volume 1; Episode 11: Montreal
Volume 1; Episode 10: A Pirate's Travels and Legal Battles
Volume 1; Episode 9: Copenhagen
Crazy Philadelphia Eddie was mentally sharp until the day he died, and he often talked about his trip to Copenhagen as a young man. It had everything a young man could want. Eddie found a country with cheap beer, bars that only closed for an hour a day, and plenty of women. Reflecting on this trip, Eddie told me, "Copenhagen, that was my city of love."
Volume 1; Episode 8: Eddie's New Fury
This episode is about a time in America when a person with guts, grit, elbow grease, some midnight oil, and a bit of luck could put together enough money to drive a car off the showroom floor.
Volume 1; Episode 7: Back to Coney Island; Blackjacks, Hammers, and Hooks
Volume 1; Episode 6: Dominick Cianci; The End of Eigth Ave; Please Leave
Volume 1; Episode 5: The Avenue; The Bowery Brothers: Stan and Walter
Volume 1; Episode 4: Cianci and Rubino; Rockaway Beach
attracted the attention of the cops.