It's a Bust

Meet John G. Bullock, founder of Bullock's Department Store. For people of a certain age, you might remember shopping here, especially those in Southern California. I don't have memories of Bullock's, per se, but I do remember it as an option at the mall. It closed its doors forever in 1995, but when it opened in 1907 it was glamorous. 

Here is in an inside joke: When my husband and I go out to antique stores in search of Brad Keeler Artwares, if we don't find anything, my husband will declare it "a bust" to which I unfailingly reply, "no, it's a torso". I'm the one in the family who makes the dad jokes. But in this case, it really is just a bust, not a torso. 

Yes, there's a Brad Keeler connection.

Brad graduated high school in 1931. Upon graduation, and even before, he lucked into some industry jobs thanks to his famous father, Rufus Bradley Keeler, whether that be cleanup work on the Malibu Potteries after a fire, or in the case of this bust, working for Phillips Bronze Bushing Works.

Rufus and a man named Rae Warren Phillips became acquainted circa 1909, the year that Rae Warren married Rufus' first cousin Jennie. Despite being in different fields--metallurgy and ceramics-- the two men occasionally worked together on projects, even going as far to apply for and receive a patent for a tile making apparatus. 

Both men, now married and both with sons, continued to make their way in life. Eighteen year old Brad, having demostrated a gift for drafting and modeling, began working for Rae as a modeler. There are large bronze parrots (as in, 5' tall!) that have been attributed to Brad, but which are signed simply Phillips. We can only make assumptions based on the similarities between Brad's later ceramic parrots and these early bronze ones. However, there's more data when it comes to the bust of John G. Bullock.

Here is a photo from the family album: Brad Keeler leaning casually on the bust. My mom remembers, after her father died, while her brother Pat was engaged to his second wife, Judy, going with her mom to Bullocks Wilshire in Los Angeles and seeing the bust in person. And she remembers that it is signed Brad Keeler on the back.

It has occurred to me to wonder from time to time where that bust wound up, considering how long its been since Bullocks closed its doors. Google is not always helpful, until it is. You have to have the exact right search terms. And I have tracked it down. It's housed within a former Bullocks which is now a Macy's, on Lake Ave in Pasadena, down a hallway to the bathrooms. The store itself is a museum of sorts, with its original furniture and fixtures and artifacts from the golden age of Bullocks Department Store, including the bust.

Pasadena is about an hour away from house and its one of our regular haunts for looking for Brad Keeler Artwares. Next time we're in the area, I plan to make a pilgrimage to the bust. Sure, it's up against the wall now, so I may not be able to see his signature.

But I will know its there.

For next time: Brad Keeler and the 1935 Oscar statuettes.