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The Anti-Permanent Pearlman Poster League
of the East (APPPLE) was an early (1979-1984) example of grass-roots
political satire performed to generate media coverage. It employed tactics
now known as culture jamming and guerilla communication that have been
widely popularized by Billionaires for Bush, Greene Dragon, Code Pink, and
other organizations.
Named after Al Pearlman—a Philadelphia Democratic City Councilman at Large
elected in 1975, 1979, and 1983 and unsuccessful candidate for a Democratic
State Senator nomination in 1982—its purpose was protest Pearlman's practice
of campaigning through wooden signs, nailed to telephone poles far taller
than any person and not removed after elections.
The sign issue was symbolic of the "in your face" attitude of both Pearlman
and his political friend, ally, and mentor, Philadelphia Mayor Frank L.
Rizzo. The posters were generally constructed and installed by members of
the Philadelphia Building Trades, strong political allies of both Pearlman
and Rizzo.
The Pearlman posters generally featured pictures of Pearlman, which the
Anti-Pearlman Permanent Poster League would decorate with creative new
designs in the wee hours of the morning. They would then call Philadelphia
Inquirer columnist Clark DeLeon, who would month after month reveal their
latest exploits to his readers with stories and pictures. This did not seem
to deter Pearlman and his backers (some Philadelphians, Pearlman supporters
and opponents alike, thought the saga was helpful to Pearlman), but it did
deter other candidates from following suit.
Members always stayed anonymously in the background, letting their artwork
and commentary speak for itself. The group ceased its activities after
Pearlman, fatally stricken with cancer, committed suicide at the age of 54
on June 10, 1984, in his hospital room with a gun brought by a former wife. |
