"Rotsler's religion is the joy of life"
- Robert Silverberg

"...a genius and a remarkably gifted talent dealing in evocative symbolism"
- Robert Bloch

"To say Bill Rotsler is a remarkable man is a sad bottom-line indeed; inadequate"
- Harlan Ellison

"...amazing and a great talent"
- Stan Freberg

The Original Cover For Bill Rotsler's To The Land Of The Electric Angel!

Take a look at this first edition cover of Bill's To The Land Of The Electric Angel - a new edition is coming soon from Digital Parchment Services!


William Rotsler Obituary - Excerpt From Locus Magazine, November 1977



William Rotsler, 1926 - 1997

William Rotsler, author, artist, sculptor, photographer, and cartoonist extraordinaire, died suddenly October 18, 1997, at the home of his friend, Paul Turner. He recently had throat cancer surgery. In the last few years, he had a heart attack and bypass surgery, and various other severe illnesses.

Rotsler's cartoons and drawings delighted and amazed friends and fans for 50 years. In 1996, he was given Hugo and Retro-Hugo awards for work 50 years apart. He won his fifth Best Fan Artist Hugo Award just this year. His spare, laconic drawing style masked an ability to look at life, described by Harry Warner in A Wealth of Fable, as "funny on the surface, terrifying a millimeter beneath to anyone whose eye could penetrate."

William Rotsler was born 3 July 1926 in Los Angeles, California. He worked on a ranch in Camarillo as a teenager, and served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1945, learning the profession of photographer. He discovered fandom in the mid-'40s and was part of the Los Angeles fan scene for over 50 years. He attended Los Angeles County Art Institute, 1947-50, and worked as a sculptor of mainly outdoor modern work from 1950 to 1959, then gave it up to become a photographer, filmmaker, producer, director of commercials, documentaries, etc. He worked mainly in the "erotic" industries, selling photos to Playboy, writing columns for Knight and other men's magazines, writing, directing, or acting(!) -- or some combination of these -- in such movies as The Agony of Love (1966), Notorious Daughter of Fanny Hill (1966), Shannon's Women (1969), and The Secret Sex Life of Romeo and Juliet (1970). He frequently used fan friends as extras in his movies. This part of his career mostly ended by the '70s. During all this, his prodigious output of cartoons and drawings continued unabated. He was fan Guest of Honor at the World SF Convention in 1973.

He also became a professional writer in the '70s, first producing non-fiction book Contemporary Erotic Cinema (1973) and then his first and best novel, Patron of the Arts (1974). To the Land of the Electric Angels (1976) was also noteworthy. He collaborated with Gregory Benford on Shiva Descending (1980). Most of his books were movie and TV tie-ins or children's fiction such as Tom Swift books with Sharman DiVono under the name of Victor Appleton, Jr. His most recent book was Science Fictionaries (1995), a collection of sayings and quotes from SF writers.

(posted 21 Oct; excerpted from the obituary to appear in Locus Magazine, November 1997)


" A Night at the Movies" By Daddy X, Inspired By Celebration Of ReRelease Of William Rotsler's Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema

This is very touching: master erotica author Daddy X penned a little story inspired by attending the recent three-week special celebration of William Rotsler's adult film work and the rerelease of his classic The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema 

For the story itself click here - or go the NSFW William Rotsler blog here.



A Night at the Movies
Daddy X

I could mention a hotel window I know in Verona. But all that would do is inspire me to sing opera. While I’ve never been good at singing, or particularly fond of opera, I am fond of sex. Yum. Not that I wouldn’t want to have sex in Verona while hanging (banging?) out a window. Singing.

But never mind all that. I found an inspiration much closer to home.

On June 6, I attended an evening at the San Francisco Center for Sex and Culture, promoted by M. Christian through his involvement in Digital Parchment Services. Quite inspiring. The speaker that night, Chris’s partner in the project, was Jean Marie Stine who worked for the sex film industry in the 60’s and 70’s. Her droll delivery and wry sense of humor was both entertaining and enlightening.

Most of William (Bill) Rotsler’s films were, compared to today’s standards, soft-core, featuring simulated sex. Although he did some hard core stuff toward the end of his movie career, he was known more for the simulated variety. There were no home computers and VCR tapes were just being developed; so if anyone saw his films, they likely saw them at porn houses. At that time it was all considered transgressive.

Rotsler was more than a filmmaker, proficient at many things, a true renaissance man. One of his many mainstream accomplishments was the novelization of the film “Arachnophobia”. His stories won five Hugo awards. His sculpture occupies public space in Los Angeles and he designed the Nebula Award trophies.

Watching sex films featuring all those cute hippie chicks who I fell in love with back in the day makes me want to have sex. Or at least to write about it, given I can’t always find a willing partner at this age. (Thank goodness Momma X still comes across :>)

So, here’s a flasher inspired by that night at the (smut) movies

DPS RE-RELEASES WILLIAM ROTSLER'S CLASSIC The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema (1959-1972)


FIRST TIME IN 40 YEARS
DPS RE-RELEASES WILLIAM ROTSLER'S CLASSIC
The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema (1959-1972)

William Rotsler’s book "from the start of the porno-chic age provides contemporary perspectives and valuable insights into soft- and hard-core." -John Minson, Bright Lights Film Journal

Digital Parchment Services and the estate of William Charles Rotsler are proud to announce the republication of The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema (1959-1972) (originally published as Contemporary Erotic Cinema) – a groundbreaking examination and celebration of early adult films by the man who helped make those years so special!

William Rotsler (b. 1926 – d. 1997) was truly a renaissance man: acclaimed sculptor, filmmaker, photographer, reporter, novelist, illustrator, cartoonist, and the recipient of multiple awards and award nominations.

But first and foremost, William Rotsler was a visionary erotic filmmaker, acclaimed for such "cult classics" (Wikipedia) as Agony of Love, Lila (Mantis In Lace), Street of a Thousand Pleasures, The Godson, and Like It Is!, among others. During the 1960s he directed dozens of short and feature length films. Frequently working with Harry Novak of Boxoffice International fame, William Rotsler filmed many of the legendary actresses and models of his time, including Diane Webber, Virginia Gordon, Vincene Wallace, Pat Barrington, Gloria Saunders, Cathy Crowfoot, Joanne Rotolo, and Vicky Dee.

Back in print for the first time in 40 years, The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema is William Rotsler's view of the rise and flowering of adult filmmaking in the 1960s, beginning with the films of Russ Meyer, through to the phenomenal success of Deep Throat – the movie that put adult films on the map – to Behind the Green Door, and so many others. It takes readers behind the scenes for a look at the making of erotic movies, presents up-close-and-personal interviews with stars and producers, and concludes with an "Erotic Cinema Checklist" rating the heat level and and quality of over 100 erotic movies of the era!

Over the years since its original publication The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema has as achieved the status of a classic on its subject. Eric Schaefer, Associate Professor of Visual and Media Arts at Emerson College hails the book for its "valuable insights" and unique lived perspective..."

And William Rotsler was a man uniquely qualified to write it. "His experience [as writer and director] within the sexploitation industry made him a prominent commentator on the screen's explicit sexual realism," writes David Church in "Between Fantasy and Reality: Sexploitation, Fan Magazines and William Rotsler's 'Adult Only' Career." In his writings, Church says '...Rotsler knowledgably ... championed the underground cinema movement for creating 'sexy and beautiful' films that 'say ... important things' as a visible part of broader social changes in sexual mores..."

Join William Rotsler as he takes you behind-the-scenes of Golden Age adult films to cover:

Deep Throat
Behind the Green Door
The Devil In Miss. Jones
Linda Lovelace
Russ Myer
The Mitchell Brothers
Marilyn Chambers

–And much much more!

The republication of The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema is a major event. It’s a "must-have" for any one interested in erotic films, their history and making.

The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema (1959-1972)
http://amzn.com/B00XYWRTBO
$5.99
FREE on Amazon Unlimited for a limited time
Paperback edition coming soon!

#

The estate-authorized William Charles Rotsler site (http://www.williamcharlesrotsler.com)

The estate-authorized William Charles Rotsler site – featuring his adult films and photography (http://rotsler-erotic-cinema.blogspot.com)

Digital Parchment Services (http://digitalparchmentservices.com)

For information please feel free to contact mchristian@digitalparchmentservices.com

The Celebration Of The Re-Release of Bill Rotsler's Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema Was A Hit - and Then Some!

Thanks to the Center For Sex And Culture, the Estate Of William Rotsler, The William Rotsler Virtual Museum, and all the great folks who came out over the last three weeks to check out some great Bill Rotsler's artwork and photographs, enjoy his marvelous adult movies - and help celebrate the re-release, after 40 years, of The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema!

We'll be posting pictures, videos and a lot more very soon but in the meantime check out these shots - and be sure and pick up a copy of this beautiful new edition of Bill Rotsler's definitely book on The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema ... out now!





FINAL NIGHT: Come See William Rotsler Erotic Films And Photos At San Francisco's Center For Sex And Culture!

If you are anywhere in the Bay Area be sure and come by for the final night of our celebration of William Rotsler's adult films and photography and the re-release of his classic Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema at the Center For Sex And Culture!

First Night Celebrating ReRelease of William Rotsler's Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema Was A Hit!

Thanks to all the great folks who came out to the first night of the three week celebration of the rerelease of Bill Rotsler's Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema!  It was a blast and a half!

And if you couldn't make it last week, a special retrospective of Bill's erotic work - plus one or two of his films - will still be shown this Saturday, May 30th ... and there'll be very special concluding event on Saturday, June 6th with guests and door prizes!

For tickets to these fun nights just click here

Check out this fun video of last Saturday's event!




New York's Short And Sweet/Sex Files On The “The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema” Event

The great Ralph Greco at Short and Sweet NYC's Sex Files did a wonderful write up, and interview with Digital Parchment Services Publisher, M.Christian about the upcoming celebration of the erotic films and photographs of William Rotsler ... part of the monumental three week event launch of the re-release of Bill Rotsler's Golden Age of Erotic Cinema!



The estate of William Rotsler, San Francisco’s Center For Sex And Culture, and Digital Parchment Services are proud to announce a very special three week series of events (May 23 – June 6) celebrating the launch of a new, enhanced edition of the legendary writer-director’s controversial look at the 1960’s birth of the adult film: The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema (1959-1972). The dates are Saturday, May 23 (special book launch party); Saturday, May 30; and Saturday, June 6 (doors open at 6PM, show beginning at 7PM and concluding at 10PM).

Back in print for the first time in 40 years, The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema is William Rotsler’s view of the rise and flowering of adult filmmaking in the 1960s, beginning with the films of Russ Meyer, through to the phenomenal success of Deep Throat – the movie that put adult films on the map – to Behind the Green Door, and so many others. The republication of The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema is a major event and this is why Digital Parchment Services and The Center For Sex And Culture are planning the special three-week-long event to celebrate.

I spoke with M. Christian, author, anthologist, editor and one of the officers of Digital Parchment about acclaimed sculptor, filmmaker, photographer, reporter, novelist, illustrator, cartoonist, and visionary erotic filmmaker, William Rotsler and this must-attend event (get your ass to San Francisco!) I also learned exactly what Digital Parchment is getting into…and it’s not just naughty book publishing!

So, as the title of William Rotseler’s book states…did a golden age of erotic cinema exist in those 12 or so years?

Well, it’s always a matter of opinion, but I do think there was a wonderful window of adult films around that time: before then, films were of pretty poor quality and afterwards the quality went up but also the limitations of censorship pretty much vanished … which meant that any kind of focus on story and eroticism was gone. I’m not saying that censorship is good-far from it-but during this window a lot of filmmakers, like Rotsler, had to focus on character and atmosphere and work around what they could and couldn’t show. True, a lot of these films fit into the category of sexploitation but a lot of them were pretty daring and imaginative for their time.

And you are reissuing it through Digital Parchment Services, which is also sponsoring the big weekend; can you tell us a little about the company. You are a certainly a unique publishing house.

Unique is a pretty good way of putting it. Even though we’re made up of people with about 30 years of cumulative experience in editing and publishing, DPS is a very special endeavor: we’re reaching out to authors and estates we feel did truly excellent work but who didn’t get their well-deserved shot at popularity.

How does one acquire an older out-of-print book and release it. Can you take us through a little of the process?

It can be a bit tricky, that’s for sure. Luckily, often books revert back to the author or, if they’ve passed away, their families. So you need to track them down–which can involve a bit of detective work–and then approach them with the idea of getting these books back out into the world. We are truly fortunate that pretty much each and every author and estate we’ve approached hasn’t just been willing but actually shared our excitement in bringing back these treasures.

Tell us about The Center for Sex And Culture where the event is taking place.

We are tremendously fortunate to be working with the Center for our Rotsler celebration. Founded by Dr. Carol Queen and Dr. Robert Morgan Lawrence, the Center for Sex and Culture (to quote their site) “provides judgment-free education, cultural events, a library/media archive, and other resources to audiences across the sexual and gender spectrum; and to research and disseminate factual information, framing and informing issues of public policy and public health.” I really can’t rave enough about the Center For Sex And Culture. They are a noble and important organization who needs and deserves attention and support. Donate if you can and, if you’re in the Bay Area, swing by and check out their other fun events.

What other things does D.P. have planned?

We have lots of great things coming actually. We just released Locus Award author Ernest Hogan’s Cortez On Jupiter and am going to be publishing his High Aztech and other novels very soon; we put out Nebula Award nominee Arthur Byron Cover’s Autumn Angles and will be putting out his East Wind Coming and the rest of his great books in a few months, we are going to be re-publishing Jody Scott’s Passing For Human and her I, Vampire and other brilliant books from her estate very soon … plus more collections of stories from Fate Magazine and Amazing Stories. In addition to publishing William Rotsler’s Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema we just released his novels Patron Of The Arts (a Hugo and Nebula finalist) and Far Frontier and am going to be putting out his other SF novels plus collections of his stories and other treats.

So lots more than just an expose’ of early adult films.

Yes, lots more. We are also working on some great other properties … so stay tuned at our DPS site and blog for updates.

And come out to the event this weekend.

Oh yes, definitely! We want everybody in on this big celebration of a great artist and wonderful book

To Pre-Order Tickets for the event, go here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1565296

Setting Up For the Celebration Of William Rotsler's Adult Films And Photographs - And The ReRelease of Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema!

Check out these fun photos of our prep for the very fun three week celebration of William Rotsler's adult photos and films ... as well as the new edition of his groundbreaking Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema.  

The event should be fun-and-then-some!  See you then for a video tribute to Bill Rotsler, some of his adult films and shirts, a gallery of his magazine work and photos, door prizes and so much more!






Reminder: Special Three-Week Event Celebrating The Adult Films And Photography Of William Rotsler!


Digital Parchment Services Is Proud To Announce
The First Re-Publication In 40 Years
Of William Rotsler's Classic Look At
The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema (1959-1972)

A Special Three-Week Program Featuring
The Adult Films And Photography
Of William Rotsler!
Kicked-off May 23rd with a Book Launch Party
With Door Prizes

For Immediate Release:

The estate of William Rotsler, San Francisco's Center For Sex And Culture, and Digital Parchment Services are proud to announce a very special three week series of events (May 23 – June 6) celebrating the launch of a new, enhanced edition of the legendary writer-director's controversial look at the 1960s birth of the adult film: The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema (1959-1972).

Reserve the dates of Saturday, May 23 (special book launch party); Saturday, May 30; and Saturday, June 6 (doors open at 6:00PM, show beginning at 7:00PM and concluding at 10:00PM).

William Rotsler (1926 – 1997) was truly a renaissance man: acclaimed sculptor, filmmaker, photographer, reporter, novelist, illustrator, cartoonist, and the recipient of multiple awards and award nominations.

But first and foremost, William Rotsler was a visionary erotic filmmaker, acclaimed for such "cult classics" (Wikipedia) as Agony of Love, Lila (Mantis In Lace)Street of a Thousand Pleasures, The Godson, and Like It Is!, among others.  During the 1960s he directed dozens of short and feature length films.  Frequently working with Harry Novak of Boxoffice International fame, William Rotsler filmed many of the legendary actresses and models of his time, including Diane Webber, Virginia Gordon, Vincene Wallace, Pat Barrington, Gloria Saunders, Cathy Crowfoot, Joanne Rotolo, and Vicky Dee.

Back in print for the first time in 40 years, The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema is William Rotsler's view of the rise and flowering of adult filmmaking in the 1960s, beginning with the films of Russ Meyer, through to the phenomenal success of Deep Throat – the movie that put adult films on the map – to Behind the Green Door, and so many others.  It takes readers behind the scenes for a look at the making of erotic movies, presents up-close-and-personal interviews with stars and producers, and concludes with an "Erotic Cinema Checklist" rating the heat level and and quality of over 100 erotic movies of the era!

Over the years since its original publication The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema has as achieved the status of a classic on its subject.  Eric Schaefer, Associate Professor of Visual and Media Arts at Emerson College hails the book for its "valuable insights" and unique lived perspective..." while John Minson in Bright Lights Film Journal says the book, "from the start of the porno-chic age," provides "contemporary perspectives and valuable insights into soft- and hard-core..."

And William Rotsler was a man uniquely qualified to write it.  "His experience [as writer and director] within the sexploitation industry made him a prominent commentator on the screen's explicit sexual realism," writes David Church in "Between Fantasy and Reality: Sexploitation, Fan Magazines and William Rotsler's 'Adult Only' Career."  In his writings, Church says '...Rotsler knowledgably ... championed the underground cinema movement for creating 'sexy and beautiful' films that 'say ... important things' as a visible part of broader social changes in sexual mores..."

The republication of The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema is a major event!

That's why Digital Parchment Services and The Center For Sex And Culture are planning a special three-week-long event to celebrate it beginning Saturday, May 23 with a don't-miss book release party featuring a video recap of William Rotsler's life and work, including trailers for his erotic movies, personal reminiscences from friends, a showing of one of his notable films, and wine and cheese afterward.

The following two Sundays will feature more clips and trailers plus one or more of William Rotsler's ground-breaking erotic films. And throughout all three weeks, there will be a special gallery exhibition of posters for his movies, samples of his erotic photography, and reproductions of his adult cartoon work on display at the San Francisco's Center for Sex And Culture!

Be sure to join us for the May 23 kick-off book release and the special video presentation on William Rotsler's life and work.


WHERE:
The Center for Sex And Culture
1349 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103

WHEN:
Saturday, May 23 (book launch party): Doors at 6:00PM.  Event 7:00PM to 10:00PM
Saturday, May 30: Doors at 6:00PM.  Event 7:00PM to 10:00PM
Saturday, June 6: Doors at 6:00PM.  Event 7:00PM to 10:00PM

DONATION (suggested):
$10 per evening

The estate-authorized William Charles Rotsler site (http://www.williamcharlesrotsler.com)

The estate-authorized William Charles Rotsler site – featuring his adult films and photography (http://rotsler-erotic-cinema.blogspot.com)

Digital Parchment Services (http://digitalparchmentservices.com)




For information please feel free to contact mchristian@digitalparchmentservices.com

"Bill" By Any Other Name


A few folks have asked questions about the name of this tribute site ... as well as the URL we have used. 

Even though legally born Charles William Rotsler (in 1926), in all the wide-ranging communities and interests he enjoyed – photographer, cartoonist, illustrator, sculptor, adult filmmaker, novelist, short story author, fanzine editor, beloved science fiction fan and so much more – he always referred to himself as William Rotsler. 

It is to reflect this, and the wishes of his estate and family, that we refer to him as William Rotsler ... or fondly as Bill to so many.

The reason the URL we have chosen www.williamcharlesrotsler.com for this celebration of Bill's life and work is because there is already an excellent site at www.williamrotsler.com, and because he occasionally referred to himself as William Charles Rotsler. 

We would also like to take this opportunity to invite anyone who knew Bill to contribute their photos, artwork, stories, reminiscences, and anything else they'd like to share to help us keep the memory of this brilliant, charming, and so full-of-life friend to so many alive. 

If you have anything to share, please write us at m.christian@digitalparchmentservices.com. 


Special Three-Week Event Celebrating The Adult Films And Photography Of William Rotsler!


Digital Parchment Services Is Proud To Announce
The First Re-Publication In 40 Years
Of William Rotsler's Classic Look At
The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema (1959-1972)

A Special Three-Week Program Featuring
The Adult Films And Photography
Of William Rotsler!
Kicked-off May 23rd with a Book Launch Party
With Door Prizes

For Immediate Release:

The estate of William Rotsler, San Francisco's Center For Sex And Culture, and Digital Parchment Services are proud to announce a very special three week series of events (May 23 – June 6) celebrating the launch of a new, enhanced edition of the legendary writer-director's controversial look at the 1960s birth of the adult film: The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema (1959-1972).

Reserve the dates of Saturday, May 23 (special book launch party); Saturday, May 30; and Saturday, June 6 (doors open at 6:00PM, show beginning at 7:00PM and concluding at 10:00PM).

William Rotsler (1926 – 1997) was truly a renaissance man: acclaimed sculptor, filmmaker, photographer, reporter, novelist, illustrator, cartoonist, and the recipient of multiple awards and award nominations.

But first and foremost, William Rotsler was a visionary erotic filmmaker, acclaimed for such "cult classics" (Wikipedia) as Agony of Love, Lila (Mantis In Lace)Street of a Thousand Pleasures, The Godson, and Like It Is!, among others.  During the 1960s he directed dozens of short and feature length films.  Frequently working with Harry Novak of Boxoffice International fame, William Rotsler filmed many of the legendary actresses and models of his time, including Diane Webber, Virginia Gordon, Vincene Wallace, Pat Barrington, Gloria Saunders, Cathy Crowfoot, Joanne Rotolo, and Vicky Dee.

Back in print for the first time in 40 years, The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema is William Rotsler's view of the rise and flowering of adult filmmaking in the 1960s, beginning with the films of Russ Meyer, through to the phenomenal success of Deep Throat – the movie that put adult films on the map – to Behind the Green Door, and so many others.  It takes readers behind the scenes for a look at the making of erotic movies, presents up-close-and-personal interviews with stars and producers, and concludes with an "Erotic Cinema Checklist" rating the heat level and and quality of over 100 erotic movies of the era!

Over the years since its original publication The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema has as achieved the status of a classic on its subject.  Eric Schaefer, Associate Professor of Visual and Media Arts at Emerson College hails the book for its "valuable insights" and unique lived perspective..." while John Minson in Bright Lights Film Journal says the book, "from the start of the porno-chic age," provides "contemporary perspectives and valuable insights into soft- and hard-core..."

And William Rotsler was a man uniquely qualified to write it.  "His experience [as writer and director] within the sexploitation industry made him a prominent commentator on the screen's explicit sexual realism," writes David Church in "Between Fantasy and Reality: Sexploitation, Fan Magazines and William Rotsler's 'Adult Only' Career."  In his writings, Church says '...Rotsler knowledgably ... championed the underground cinema movement for creating 'sexy and beautiful' films that 'say ... important things' as a visible part of broader social changes in sexual mores..."

The republication of The Golden Age Of Erotic Cinema is a major event!

That's why Digital Parchment Services and The Center For Sex And Culture are planning a special three-week-long event to celebrate it beginning Saturday, May 23 with a don't-miss book release party featuring a video recap of William Rotsler's life and work, including trailers for his erotic movies, personal reminiscences from friends, a showing of one of his notable films, and wine and cheese afterward.

The following two Sundays will feature more clips and trailers plus one or more of William Rotsler's ground-breaking erotic films. And throughout all three weeks, there will be a special gallery exhibition of posters for his movies, samples of his erotic photography, and reproductions of his adult cartoon work on display at the San Francisco's Center for Sex And Culture!

Be sure to join us for the May 23 kick-off book release and the special video presentation on William Rotsler's life and work.


WHERE:
The Center for Sex And Culture
1349 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103

WHEN:
Saturday, May 23 (book launch party): Doors at 6:00PM.  Event 7:00PM to 10:00PM
Saturday, May 30: Doors at 6:00PM.  Event 7:00PM to 10:00PM
Saturday, June 6: Doors at 6:00PM.  Event 7:00PM to 10:00PM

DONATION (suggested):
$10 per evening

The estate-authorized William Charles Rotsler site (http://www.williamcharlesrotsler.com)

The estate-authorized William Charles Rotsler site – featuring his adult films and photography (http://rotsler-erotic-cinema.blogspot.com)

Digital Parchment Services (http://digitalparchmentservices.com)

For information please feel free to contact mchristian@digitalparchmentservices.com

Read About SciFi Fan Favorite William Rotsler's Legendary Sculptures - When He Was Just 25!

Here's an extra special treat: an article on William Charles Rotsler from the Tuesday, May 17, 1955 Oxnard Press-Courier reporting on Bill Rotsler's creation of a bronze sculpture for the Beverly Hillon Hotel in Los Angeles.  (a tip of the hat to the William Rostler site for the original article)

 County Sculptor Completing Giant Task

By Stan Mandel

In the sun-drenched. Santa Rosa Valley, six miles cast of Camarillo, a youthful artist this week will complete a decorative sculpture piece in metal which will adorn the entranceway to a plush Beverly Hills hotel scheduled to open this summer. To William Rolster it will be the "biggest thing" he's done in his live years of sculpture work, and he's "proud of it."

The sculpture piece, consist­ing of three "ancient-type" tow­ers constructed of bronze will be placed in an eight-inch deep circular pool near the entrance of the Beverly Hillon Hotel at Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards.

The hostelry, another addition to the world-wide Conrad Hil­ton chain, was originally sched­uled to open June 3. Delays are expected to postpone the gala opening until later in the summer.

Big Project
One tower will he 25 feet high, a second will reach skyward for 21 feel.   Both will be composed of four giant "balls" of stripped bronze pieces.    A third tower of one such "bail" will be 14 feet high. 
The three towers will be placed close together within the 32-foot pool to form a colorful fountain.
Six-Inch pipe will run up the center of the towers carrying water to the top of each, allowing it to flow down the brass plated sides. A pumping system installed beneath the pool will circulate the water.
Colored tiles will cover the bottom of the pool and colored lights, operated by electronic dimmers, will be placed inside of the towers to present a con­tinuously changing lighting ef­fect through the flowing water.

YOUTHFUL ARTIST, William Bolster, holds model for his sculptured bronze fountain piece which will adorn the en­tranceway to the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Bills. The three towers will be placed in a circular pool. One tower will be 25 feet high, second 21 feet high, and the third 14 feet high.

$15,000 Job
Construction of the pool and fountain will cost the hotel own­ers $45,000 including the pump­ing system, lighting and finish­ing touches. Rotsler will receive $6,500 for his part of the display.
The 28-year-old artist began work on the project some six months ago at his father's 200-acre walnut and citrus Rancho Santa Rosa in the valley.

The youth's workshop in a large corrugated building which is used by his father, Charles Rotsler, as a storage shed during harvest season. When not busily engaged in sculpturing, young Rotsler doubles as fore­man on the ranch,

Rotsler's art background dates back to 1950 when he completed 3 1/2 years of study at the Los Angeles County Art Institute. Before that he had attended Ventura College for a year studying some art. He gradu­ated from Oxnard Union High School in 1944.

Little Sculpturing
"The funny thing about my art education," Rotsler commented, "is that I never studied any sculpturing. It was always some other phase of art.

"I started doing sculpture work five years ago," he said, "but its been only during the past three years that I've been earning most of my income from it."

Beginning with sculptures in both wire and metal, Rotsler now specializes solely in metal work.
Most of his past work has been metal wall murals. Only few have been in wire. He also has several smaller fountains to his credit.    His work adorns facades in Chicago, New York, Florida and in the Los Angeles area.

His work was all done at the Ventura County ranch.  He will ship the parts to the site with full instructions for assembly.
SURROUDNED by Giant Bronze "Balls" to be used In the construction of a sculptured fountain, is William Rotsler, artist of Santa Rosa Valley. Behind him is a storage shed used as his workshop on his father's walnut and citrus ranch,

How They're Made
In constructing the giant "balls" for the towers Rotsler began with smooth sheets of one-eighth-inch thick bronze. The sheets were then cut into strips about six inches wide and tapered at the ends where they were welded together to form the "balls."

Roister then used hot torches to "puddle" the bronze to build up the surface to form an illu­sion of depth. Heat applied to the top side of the strips melted the bronze and splattered the metal to produce a rough sur­face pattern.

He expected to complete the project this week and send it down to Los Angeles by truck.  It will take a week to assemble it there.

Rotsler noted that he spends an average of seven hours a day at his sculpture work. Assisting him with the project is a friend, John Irving of Los Angeles.

Living with Rotsler at the ranch is his wife, Abney, who is an artist in her own right. Using the professional name of Abney Stevenson, she has done dancing and singing in the mov­ies. They have a six-month-old daughter, Lisa,

Also preparing artwork for the hotel is Bernard Rosenthal, creator of the recently complet­ed controversial statue at the Los. Angeles Police Building. He is preparing a sculptured 11-foot wide star-type piece for the hotel's lobby. He has visited Rotsler at the ranch on numerous occasions to confer with him on the fountain. 

William Rotsler ...Artwork and Tableware

Courtesy of the great William Rotsler site comes these sweet images of William Rotsler's playfulness: "Rotsler art from the collection of Ken and Aileen Forman. Presented with their permission. These pictures were originally submitted to Michael Bernstein's Rotsler.com (Archived on the Wayback Machine)  The plates and cups of hotels hosting conventions were not safe from being drawn on."








Sheryl Birkhead Fondly Remembers Five Time Hugo Winner William Rotsler

Here's a wonderfully sweet reminiscence of William Rotsler by Sheryl Birkhead from A Mimosa Fanthology Part 2 (2002):


Vintage Rotsler

by Sheryl Birkhead

"Some wines are ageless!"

"And some just turn to vinegar."

Um...er...well, I consider Rotsler to be one of fandom's priceless assets. When I first got into fandom, way back in the Dark Ages, it took a while to figure out the fannish patois. A Neofan's Guide helped with the written word, but there was never any doubt illo by Ian Gunn and William Rotslerabout the content of the simplistic Rotsler cartoons. Don't ever confuse simple with simplistic. The man is about as chary as they come with lines, but packs a deceiving wallop in content.

Alas, I cannot do much more than appreciate the man and, sadly, I don't have any juicy anecdotes to relate. I have never even been privy to one of his legendary dish renditions, when he mystifies all, waiters and mundanes alike, by turning innocent and unsuspecting dishes into fannish 
illo by Teddy Harvia and William Rotslermementos. However, I have seen the man at various conventions and watched in awe as he participated in fanartist duels. He wields his felt tip as he would a sword, and has an economy of motion that is a beauty to behold. Few can keep up with him in sheer volume, and none can match his contributions to fan publications over (literally) decades.

I have never seen a biography of this phenomenon, but in bits from various articles have gleaned a bit of understanding of just how versatile and diverse an individual Rotsler is. But he's more than just that. Bill Rotsler has been a delight to fandom for over a half century that he's been in fandom. And there's only one word that adequately describes such a person of lasting, superior quality...

Vintage!

illo by Joe Mayhew and William RotslerLots of readers commented on the feature, with the most amusing one from David Bratman: "It's like reading Partners in Wonder, only shorter and funnier." It was all a surprise to Rotsler, who had no clue we were planning this stunt. He wrote to us: "My God, what egoboo! What a conspiracy! It is unique, fun and flattering!" And then he was gone, dead of cancer just a few months later. Living a continent-width away from him, we had no real idea that his condition had been so dire. And we also didn't know that within three years, two of the artists who contributed to the article would also be gone.

And that wasn't the end of it. Fandom is now into its ninth decade, and the unfortunate truth about the aging of fandom is that every year brings depressing news of the deaths of more and more of those who, in previous decades, were the shapers of what fandom is today. One such person was Lynn Hickman, active in fandom from the 1950s onward, collector extraordinaire and friend of all. Here's more about him:

Top illustration by Sheryl Birkhead and William Rotsler
Middle left illustration by Ian Gunn and William Rotsler
Middle right illustration by Teddy Harvia and William Rotsler
Bottom illustration by Joe Mayhew and William Rotsler

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