Italian tenor Mario Lanza died in 1938 but a mystery ghostwriter has been leaving distinctive drawings of the legend in unique locations all over the Black Country ever since.
Hundreds of the strange scribblings have appeared on beer mats in pubs and in public phone boxes for almost 50 years and now one has appeared to have materialised on The Big Draw wall at Dudley Museum and Art Gallery.
The Big Draw is an exhibition currently on display at the St James’ Road venue featuring watercolours and other drawings.
As part of the exhibition, which runs until September 20, a blank wall has been erected for visitors to add their own artwork. And the ghostwriter is among those people brave enough to showcase their artistic talents.
Staff discovered the drawing, entitled Mario Lanza Fan, along with the trademark sketch of the Italian tenor.
The artist also left a sketch entitled Modigliani, the name of the Italian painter and sculptor.
Dudley Museum and Art gallery is open Monday to Saturday from 10am until 4pm and admission is free.
4 Comments
Funny! I thought Mario Lanza starred in the 1954 musical ‘The Student Prince’although having fallen out with MGM during production, only his voice was used.
He died in 1959 aged 38 and he wasn’t even Italian he was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA!!
mario lanza…I am sure mario, did not die in 1938,I saw him in a film at the criterion in dudley in 1954 and several more, many years later
regards Gerald Bradley.Rustington West Sussex
I was surprised to find one of the beer mats in a Gornal pub recently. I forget the exact date, but it was at the beginning of July.