American Trad Pt 2: Bert Grimm
Bert Grimm is an important figure in American Traditional tattooing who lived from 1900-1985 and spent nearly 70 years tattooing. Grimm got into tattooing at a young age, he started hanging around shops in Portland around 11 and had his first tattoo machine in 1912. When he was 15 years old Bert ran away from home, this is when he really got into tattooing. During this time, before tattooing became as mainstream as it is today, tattoos were mostly worn by sailors, sideshow performers, soldiers, and circus performers.
In his early years (late teens/early 20’s) tattooing Bert mainly tattooed as a sideshow artist at carnivals, during the summer he’d travel and tattoo on the carnival circuit. In the winter he tattooed in amusement parks and arcades. This nomadic lifestyle meant that in his early tattoo years most of his learning about the art came from chance encounters with other artists in the area, though these encounters may have been short lived he did grow his skills from their knowledge. As a result of not having a steady mentor Bert’s tattoo work from his 20’s is said to have been inconsistent and un-uniform. Grimm learned from artists during this time such as: Percy Waters, Moses Smith, Joe Darpel, Jack Tryon, Hugh Bowen, Shorty Schultz, William Grimshaw, Frank Kelly, Anton & Frank Kamarit, Long Andy Libarry. Some of the more notable people he worked alongside includes: Domingo Gulang, Charlie Barr, Tatts Thomas, Red Gibbons, Walter Torun, Bob Shaw, and Col Todd. In 1923 Bert realized he had some growth to do as an artist and he left the carnival lifestyle to pursue tattooing more seriously.
Staying in Portland Bert secured an apprenticeship under Sailor George Fosdick but his journey with Sailor George didn’t last long. Less than a year later he moved to Los Angeles and started what would be a 2 year mentorship with Sailor Charlie Barrs, well known as: “the Granddaddy of tattooing.” Both of these mentors are now considered some of the greats of American Traditional tattooing as is Bert himself.
Sometime after this in 1928 Grimm set up a shop in St. Louis close to the Mississippi River docks, this is significant because the dock workers and sailors that worked the boats and docks daily were keen on getting tattooed. Also nearby his shop were the Jefferson military barracks that many military men called home, another demographic that was big into the tattoo scene. This clientele allowed Grimm to build his business and reputation quite quickly especially with the formal training in L.A. now under his belt. In addition to often tattooing 7 days a week Grimm ran an arcade and photo studio that were attached to his tattoo shop. Bert worked in St. Louis for 26 years tattooing the hoards of military men and dock workers moving through the area. Grimm tattooed through some hard times in the U.S he managed to keep making a living tattooing through: the Great Depression, World War II, the Korean War, and the post war slow downs.
People would travel hundreds of miles to get tattooed by the self made man, he worked on many notable names of the time. He even tattooed Infamous criminals, Pretty Boy Floyd as well as Bonnie and Clyde.
Grimm went on to keep tattooing, setting up shops over the next 30 years in: Long Beach (where he tattooed Pretty Boy Floyd), San Diego, Portland; and when he “retired” out of his home, in Gearhart Oregon. Bert’s shop in Nu Pike, Long Beach that he ran in the 1950’s and 60’s was probably his most famous. Nu Pike was a colossal amusement park that was first established in 1897 and ended up hosting many tattoo artists over the many years of operating. Bert Grimm’s World Famous Tattoos has become a monument as one of the longest operating tattoos shops in U.S history. It is well known for tattooing many generations of soldiers on their way to being shipped out to war.
Over his 70 years of tattooing Grimm developed his unique style of traditional that was described as bare bones. He focused on those thick lines and limited colour palette that was curated over all his years, it reflected the cumulation of all the skills he learned through his life. His tattoos were sought after, because they kept it simple while also giving dimension. Grimm played a huge role in cultivating professional tattooing today. Even retired, Grimm said he did about 10 tattoos a week out of his home in Oregon. He continued to tattoo until just 2 weeks before his death in 1985. Grimm’s family has continued his legacy with 4 more generations of tattooing and numerous shops opened in the Grimm name, proudly maintaining an exceptional standard of tattooing.
Sources:
- C.W. Eldridge, Harriet Cohen. Bert Grimm, 2017, www.tattooarchive.com/history/grimm_bert.php.
- Nyssen, Carmen. “Bert Grimm.” Buzzworthy Tattoo History, 6 Feb. 2021, www.buzzworthytattoo.com/tattoo-artists-tattooed-people/bert-grimm/.
- Staff, New York Historical Society. “A Short, Incomplete History of American Traditional Tattooing.” New-York Historical Society, 7 July 2015, blog.nyhistory.org/a-short-incomplete-history-of-american-traditional-tattooing/.
- Tattoo, Grimm. “Bert Grimm: Tattoos: Kansas City: Westport: Grimm Tattoo®.” Grimm Tattoo® | Tattoo Shop in Kansas City – Westport, 25 June 2019, grimmtattookc.com/bert-grimm/.
Photos:
“Grimm History: Tattoo Shop: Kansas City: MO: Grimm Tattoo®.” Grimm Tattoo® | Tattoo Shop in Kansas City – Westport, 25 June 2019, grimmtattookc.com/bert-grimm-history/.
