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Jump to Part 1
In Part One of our feature on the mysterious ‘Toynbee Tiles’, we
looked at how bizarre messages relating to British Historian Arnold
Toynbee, filmmaker Stanley Kubrick and a theory concerning the
resurrection of dead people on Jupiter have been cropping up all over
America, as well as examining a few of the suspects, including
playwright David Mamet.
In the concluding part of this feature, we explain why we’re convinced
Mamet is the guilty party, question whether a railroad worker has
anything to do with the mystery, and discuss the possibility of a second
‘Toynbee Tiler’.
 Conspiracy
Theory
Personally, we’re fond of the David Mamet , and though we’re no
conspiracy theorists, we’re going to throw our own,
quite-possibly-way-off, theory into the mix anyway, which is this:
Mamet claims he thought up the idea of resurrecting the dead on Jupiter
through an idea in Arnold Toynbee’s writings and the film ‘2001: A Space
Odyssey’. He’s also known for either working under a pseudonym, or not
taking any credit for his work at all.
Could it be that David Mamet, James Morasco and the Toynbee Tiler are
all one and the same?
To be honest, we doubt it, but wouldn’t it be fun if it was?
Working on the Railroad
The third and final suspect is a man known only as ‘Railroad Joe’.
In Santiago, Chile, a tile was placed that made reference to an address,
a very real address, based all the way back in Philadelphia.
Those who wrote to the address received no reply, whilst those who
plucked up the courage to visit the place were disappointed to learn
that it belonged to a man who, to quote an essay by Toynbee tile expert
Justin Duerr, ‘seemed quite sane, and claimed to have absolutely no idea
[about the tiles].’
“Indeed,” adds Justin recalling his visit to the house, “if anyone
looked crazy, it was me.”
However, these brave detectives’ efforts were not totally in vain.
Though the chap currently residing at 2624 S. 7th St. Philadelphia, may
not have been the Toynbee Tiler, that’s not to say that the chap who
lived there before him wasn’t either.
Those who spoke to residents in the area discovered that the house used
to belong to a man named Joe, ‘Railroad Joe’ to be exact.
Now this was interesting.
Think about it. A railroad worker, especially if he was a conductor or
such like, would easily be able to travel up and down the country,
visiting towns and cities across America at will, and gluing tiles en
route.
There’s more.
Walking around the neighbourhood, some came across ‘experimental tiles’,
tiles that slightly resembled Toynbees, only made up of random shapes
and letters, with the odd phrase such as ‘This idea’ added in. It seemed
as though someone had been working out how to lay a tile, practicing if
you like before setting off to tile America..
This has lead most people to believe that the tiler had definitely lived
in the area once upon a time.
Anonymous
Yet whoever it is, they’re keeping quiet about it, and as far as we can
tell, nobody has even claimed responsibility out of jest or even just to
make a name for themselves.
In an age where everybody is trying to make a name for themselves by any
possible means, this is very strange, though it doesn’t mean that the
infamous tiler will remain anonymous forever, especially if the team
behind the ‘Resurrect Dead’ documentary have their way.
“We try and play devil’s advocate with all suspects,” says producer
Colin Smith, who like all the team, refuses to give too much away about
their discoveries, “But we do have a definite theory as to the identity
of the original tiler.”
Copycats
It’s interesting to note that Colin says ‘original’ tiler. Does that
mean there could be more than one? Quite possibly.
Over the last few years, tile fans have noticed huge differences in new
tiles. From the extra messages placed near the tiles sounding less
genuine, to a change in the artistic style, these differences have
convinced many that tiles which have been laid since 2003 are the work
of a ‘copycat’. Though not everyone can make their mind up as to whether
they are or not.
“This is the biggest remaining question for us,” says tile enthusiast
Steve Weinik. “I’m split between the firm belief that they are copycats
and an almost as firm belief that they aren’t.”
This is obviously something he’s given a good deal of thought to, and
Steve offers us arguments for and against the idea of a ‘copycat’.
“Arguments for: They’re made of a different material and are
stylistically inferior, showing far less skill and craftsmanship. The
font is completely different, they’re placed differently in the street,
and some of the new messages seem more contrived, like a younger, sane
person trying to sound like ‘a crazy old tiler’.
“Arguments against: Maybe the tiler ran out of the material and couldn’t
find any more, which is why he started using something different.
“The new font might be an attempt to make the tiles more legible, whilst
differing placement might be an attempt to shift to a different target
audience since new tiles are more pedestrian-friendly and follow public
transport routes.
“Over a hundred ‘new-school’ tiles have been laid in Philadelphia;
that’s the entire output of the past twenty years in less than five. Add
to that the fact that first examples of new tiles are some of the nicest
and most intricate in design, and it’s possible that the lack of
craftsmanship and increasing output is due to a switch in focus to
quantity over quality.”
“We have no idea at all who the ‘new-school’ tiler is, making them more
of a mystery to us at this point than the original tiler,” adds Justin.
‘Conspirital Nonsense’
Again, it’s strange that nobody is taking any credit for this. Yet if
people are holding back on the tiler’s identity, they’re certainly not
shy about coming forward with their theories on the meaning of the
tiles’ cryptic message, most of which Colin Smith dismisses as
‘conspiratal nonsense’.
“People have tried to tie the tiles into all sorts of silly things that
they’re simply not related to,” he says “Hindu mysticism, the bombing of
the world trade centre, the bible, Pink Floyd, Castro, all sorts of
things. Someone claimed that they’re linked to the assassination of JFK,
which is ridiculous.”
Yet though the message may seem bizarre to us, according to the
‘Resurrect Dead’ team, ‘silly things’ were never the original tiler’s
intentions.
A Deeper Meaning
“The things we’ve discovered have deepened my respect for the creator of
the tiles in that I know for certain that the message is sincere and not
some sort of ‘art prank,” says Justin. “It points to a firmly held
belief on the part of an individual about the most ultimate concepts of
which we can conceive as humans.
“It’s a totally sincere and desperate plea for the actualisation of the
‘Big Promises’ which were made by God, but which are kept locked away
from us.”
So, deep stuff then, rather than some “I wuz ere b4 u” scrawled on the
door of the chippy. It seems there can be more to street art than meets
the eye, which again is what amazes us the most about the Toynbee Tiles.
We’ve been talking for quite some time about these things now, haven’t
we? And all because somebody had a pretty unique idea and turned it into
a pretty unique form of art.
And we’re not the only ones. Justin, Colin, Steve and scores of other
Toynbee Tile enthusiasts have spent hours engrossed in the phenomenon,
sucked into this exciting journey by the art that triggered the whole
thing.
“This is a totally unique form of art,” says Steve. The original tiles
were beautifully constructed, and the whole process of creating and
embedding them into the asphalt is astounding.”
Justin agrees:
“The tiles are art of the highest order,” he says. “It’s not often that
someone devises an entirely new form of self expression, actualizes it,
shrouds the content in mystery and doesn’t try to take any credit. Not
often, if ever!”
Preservation
Yet though fans may appreciate the artistic merits of the tiles, not
everybody does, with some city officials in the US seeing them as little
other than graffiti or vandalism. As a result, tiles are rapidly being
paved over.
“Of the 150 old tiles that were reported, only 25 still exist that we’re
aware of,” says Colin. “Nothing is being done to preserve them as all
the officials we’ve spoken to don’t see eye-to-eye with us on the
validity of the tiles as art.
“The oldest tile left in Philadelphia is due to be paved over this
spring. We’re trying to fight for its preservation, but we haven’t
received a single response.
“The tiler’s accomplishments need to be respected. The messages are
utterly fascinating and cryptic, and while I’m open to the possibility
that there could be something deeper in these ideas, my main concern is
that their artistic implications are recognised.”
So the next time you come across something unusual in the street, take a
closer look. It maybe the catalyst for a world-wide enigma more
fascinating and intriguing than you could ever imagine.
‘Resurrect Dead’, the documentary which promises some fascinating
revelations about the mystery of the Toynbee Tiles is currently in
post-production. Justin and Colin are hoping for a release later this
year. For more information, visit the website below.
Recommended Links:
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www.resurrectdead.com – official website for ‘Resurrect Dead’, with
photos of the tiles, writings, a messageboard and more.
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www.dovate.com/toynbee.htm - website of Steve Weinik, with lots of
information on the tiles.
 Toynbee
Tiles: A World Wide Enigma (Part 1)
To kick off our series of features on the weird and wonderful world of
street art, The LINC take a look at how mysteries, conspiracies and the
guy who directed ‘Clockwork Orange’ combine to create a truly unique
piece of art in the first of our two-part feature on the mysterious
‘Toynbee Tiles’.
Ever wanted to create an enigma? Here’s how:
Take one British historian known for having some pretty unique ideas.
Then, add one classic Sci-Fi film and bizarre theories about bringing
dead folk back to life on another planet.
Next, douse the lot in paranoia, desperation and conspiracy, soak with
intrigue, coat in a thick layer of mystery and serve in an extraordinary
form of art that will baffle and amaze people the world over for years
to come.
That’s the method one individual, still unknown to the world at large,
used when he first embedded a linoleum tile into a road in Philadelphia,
USA that contained the following cryptic message.
‘TOYNBEE IDEA IN KUBRICK’S ‘2001
RESURRECT DEAD ON PLANET JUPITER’
Since that first tile was laid in what most believe to be 1983 (though
earlier, unconfirmed tile sightings date back to as early as the
mid-70s), ‘Toynbee Tiles’ as they have come to be known, have been
cropping up all over the United States and beyond.
Some tiles vary, whether it’s by size, colour, the word ‘Kubrick’
exchanged for ‘movie’ or a series of paranoid messages referring to the
creator’s fear of the media, the Soviet Union and a group known only as
‘The Cult of the Hellion’. On the whole however, Toynbee Tiles are
completely unique, very distinct pieces of art that have appeared in as
far out places as South America, though Philadelphia is widely regarded
to be their birth place and spiritual home.
“I noticed the tiles in the early nineties when I first moved to
Philadelphia in the early 90s and always found them intriguing,” says
Justin Duerr, a leading expert on the tiles.
“But when I later discovered via the internet that they weren’t just a
Philadelphia phenomenon, my interest in them became really intense.
“I find pretty much every aspect of the tiles fascinating. So much art
strives to generate mystery, but the tiles are an art form that
absolutely embodies mystery.”
Toynbee Idea in Movie 2007
Justin, together with fellow tile enthusiast Colin Smith and filmmaker
Jon Foy, is currently working on a documentary which attempts to solve
the mystery of these strange and wonderful tiles.
“When we started making the movie, my obsession [with Toynbee Tiles]
really took firm root,” says Colin Smith. “I just had to know what they
were, what they meant, how they got there and who put them there.”
Through hours of research and detective work, that’s exactly what the
trio, along with friend and dedicated tile enthusiast, Steve Weinik,
aimed to find out, and though the group are obviously remaining
tight-lipped about exactly what they’ve discovered, they promise that
‘Resurrect Dead’, the fruits of their labour, will ‘bowl people over’.
Global
Phenomenon
“But what does any of this have to do with anything?” we hear you ask.
Well to be honest, where us Brits are concerned, probably very little.
Though in an infamous ‘Manifesto Tile’ (a large rant, again riddled with
paranoia, about US newspaper publisher John Knight and how journalists
were going to bash the tiler’s head in), the mysterious man behind the
tiles claims to have fled to Dover, as yet, no tiles have been reported
on British shores.
Which is exactly our point.
“It’s so interesting that the story reaches people overseas in places
were no tiles have ever appeared,” said Justin Duerr when we first got
in touch with the ‘Resurrect Dead’ crew to set up our transatlantic
interview, and we couldn’t agree more.
The fact that some individual created a piece of mysterious art that
years later would have curious folk across the globe trying to
understand is quite simply, amazing.
Yet more amazing than this is the fact that once you start searching for
answers to the many questions the tiles raise, you find yourself in the
throes of an immense journey, with more mystery at every twist and turn.
In an article by Steve Weinik, he describes mulling over the tiles as ‘A
feeling of peculiarity eventually ceding to uncomfortable
confrontation’.
Though we haven’t looked into this mystery nearly as much as Steve,
Colin and Justin, we reckon we know exactly what he means.
With every new piece of information we’ve come across, there comes a new
wave of creepy curiosity and excitement, and though we doubt we’ve come
anywhere close to the sort of revelations the film crew have, our own
research has been a fascinating adventure. One that started with a brief
newspaper article in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Unusual Suspects
In 1983, Clark Deleon, then a staff writer at the paper, wrote a short
article based on a phone-interview he conducted with a man by the name
of James Morasco.
In the article, infamous amongst tile fans, social worker Morasco told
Deleon about his theories that the dead could be brought back to life on
Jupiter by changing the planet’s atmosphere and that, even though he
didn’t know how it could be done, a way was sure to be found by studying
the work of historian Arnold Toynbee and director Stanley Kubrick.
Morasco also talked of an organisation he had set up dedicated to
getting his bizarre theories out to the masses.
Little is known of his group, the Minority Association, other than its
roster which according to Morasco consisted of ‘Me, Eric, Eric’s sister
who does the typing’ and ‘Frank’, and it seems that after some time,
this group disappeared from public view.
However, their theories regarding Toynbee, Kubrick and resurrecting the
dead on Jupiter continued to make their presence known on weird linoleum
tiles embedded into the road.
So, that’s the mystery of the Toynbee Tiles solved, right? It was this
crazy James Morasco bloke, spreading his crazy theories throughout the
land.
Maybe, but then again, more than likely not and here’s why:
First of all, Morasco denied it, telling Deleon that he wasn’t the tiler,
but knew who was, meaning there’s a chance it could have been Eric or
Frank. Not Eric’s sister though, she just did the typing remember.
Then again, denial never really proved anything did it?
There is more conclusive evidence against the James Morasco theory,
however. Long after the only James Morasco in Philadelphia, were the man
who contacted Deleon claimed to be from, passed away, Toynbee tiles
continued to appear. His widow claimed that he had never heard of the
things and had never been involved.
There are other suspects though, one being award-winning
playwright/screenwriter and director, David Mamet (responsible for the
script for 2001’s ‘Hannibal’, amongst many more).
Curiously, suspicion of Mamet has everything, and apparently nothing, to
do with our old friend Morasco and his gang.
Before the Minority Association vanished without a trace, supposedly to
start planting tiles in roads across America, they were known for making
short-wave radio broadcasts at four in the morning, whilst documents
unearthed by the ‘Resurrect Dead’ crew show that the topic of Toynbee,
Kubrick and resurrection was discussed on a late-night radio talk show
hosted by American broadcaster, Larry King.
Somewhere along the way there’s a very good chance that Mr. Mamet heard
at least one of these broadcasts, inspiring him to write the one-act
play, ‘4AM’. The play, which premiered in Philadelphia, involves a radio
host conversing with a caller about, wait for it, Toynbee, Kubrick and
resurrecting dead folk on Jupiter!
Strangely, in 2006, Mamet was eventually tracked down for an interview
about his play and its connections to the Toynbee Tile phenomenon and
claimed to have came up with the idea all by himself.
As Steve Weinik speculated in a post on his website, this could mean any
number of things. Either he’s telling the truth and this is the biggest
coincidence since god knows when, he thinks he’s telling the truth and
simply forgot where he got his inspiration from, or he has something to
hide and is ‘a dirty liar’.
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