Very Rare Hard Signed 25" x 18" 1977 Vintage Hawaiiana Poster by John Bain for La Pietra Hawaii Olde World Pleasure Renaissance Faire La Pietra School for Girls Hawaii. The sale includes an additional rare drawing by Len Piper signed 1977 which has images on both the front and back which are maps of the Old World Pleasure Fair showing the locations of theatres, shops, jousting, food, fortune telling, and garden areas. The posters are both 25" by 18.5" and in good condition. John Bain's signature is an original, hard signed autograph. Len Piper's signature is part of the prints of the maps.
It is not clear why the two versions of the map for the fair are printed on one sheet of poster paper, back to back. The previous owner (Rick Ralston) said this particular map print was a work in progress on one side and the final version on the other side.
Len Piper was famous for being the appointed, official Santa Claus for the well-known Honolulu Ala Moana Shopping Center for several years circa 1990. He was also well-known for making and producing marionette shows (like Pinocchio) using life-size marionettes. John Bain was known as a fixture of aloha and surf art on the north shore of Oahu at Waimea point. He was also known concert and event posters he created for The Diamond Head Crater Music Festival in 1975, and other events. He died in 2016. You can find memorials for John by searching John Bain memorial or John Bain remembered, or go to the blog of Nanci Hersh. I have attached one such memorial for your information. Also posted is a brief news report on Len Piper.
I bought these two posters at an auction sponsored by Rick Ralston of Crazy Shirts fame that was for the Historic Hawaii Foundation in 1984. They have been in storage ever since.
In consideration, I first offered these posters to the Hawaii La Pietra School for Girls in December 2023. They declined. That allowed me to feel comfortable in offering this rare authentic vintage piece of Hawaiiana to a general audience.
Thank you for viewing! Aloha!