Anti-Pearlman Permanent Poster League

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 to protest Pearlman's practice of campaigning through masonite signs, 2x4 feet, nailed to telephone poles fifteen feet off the ground and not removed after elections as required by law. Some stayed up for several elections and were simply modified with new lever pull instructions from one election to the next.

APPPLE makes the cover of city-wide Philadelphia Daily News - Sep 28, 1979[1]

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 featured pictures of Pearlman, which the Anti-Pearlman Permanent Poster League would decorate with creative new designs in the broad daylight wearing white coveralls with a large apple on the back. They would often call Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Clark DeLeon prior to the redesign jobs who would month after month reveal their latest exploits to his readers with stories and pictures. Most of the posters were removed by Pearlman's people within days of the changes.

Humor was a large part of APPPLE's MO. Their leader, McIntosh, noted that they started with "fewer than one thousand members and soon grew to fewer than two thousand members".

APPLERs used pseudonyms such as Winesap, Turnover, Streudel, Crab etc. and remained anonymous, 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.

Known Posters/Design Influences
Name First Public Display
Mouse Ears[2][3][4][5] Sept. 18, 1979
Clown[6] Oct. 8, 1979
Gangster[7] Nov. 28, 1979
Nose Thumbing[8] Dec.12, 1979
Mouse Ears (ayatollah)[8] Dec. 14, 1979
Santa[9] NA
Apple on Head[10] Feb. 1, 1980
Bubblehead[11] Feb. 21, 1980
Puppet May 19, 1982
Joker[12] Jun. 5, 1983
Litter Basket[13] Sept. 18, 1983

Media Reference Chronology

APPPLE Core Media References
Title Description Date Author Publication
Terrorism: Is no poster safe from these fiends?[2] First known APPPLE article September 18, 1979 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Terrorism: A real Mickey Mouse outfit[3] First Poster shown in Print - Mickey Mouse September 21, 1979 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Pearlman Posters Given a Facelift[4]

Al Pearlman A Marked Man[5]

 First known photos of APPPLE members, and only known APPPLE cover story. September 28, 1979 Kit Konolige Philadelphia Daily News
APPPLE STRIKES AGAIN[14] First reference to SWARM October 1, 1979 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Update: APPPLE meets SWARM[6] First Clown Poster October 8, 1979 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Politics: Is nothing sacred to APPPLE?[7] First Gangster Poster November 28, 1979 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
ANGER: Acronyms Never Get Enough Recognition[15] Councilman Pearlman's office reports that Pearlman campaign posters are coming down all over the city December 3, 1979 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
CALLING MSSRS. MacINTOSH, Winesap and Big[16] Call to act on other signs December 7, 1979 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Posters: Yes, Virginia, there is an Al Pearlman[17] Satirical comparison of original "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus"[18] December 25, 1979 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Posters: The APPPLE of Pearlman's eye[19] First Annual Awards Night at APPPLE headquarters January 18, 1980 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
APPPLE STRIKES AGAIN - again[10] "Less flattering all the time" new poster February 1, 1980 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Al the APPPLE Of His Eye[20] Additional reference to 5th design February 1, 1980 Unknown Philadelphia Daily News
APPPLE: United Nations split over Pearlman[21] Satirical UN debate over APPPLE February 12, 1980 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
APPPLE: How about laying off poles for a while[11] First Ken T. Lopehead poster February 22, 1980 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
People: How many posters? Let us count the poles[22] First direct response from Pearlman regarding campaign signs: "Aren't they down yet?" February 29, 1980 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
BEAT IT PEARLMAN, THIS IS MY GIG[23] Mickey Mouse sign tells Pearlman "Beat it Al, this is my Gig" March 24, 1980 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Politics: APPPLE scores a victory - sort of[24] APPPLE leader claims credit for fact that Pearlman "didn't get one vote" in recent election April 28, 1980 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
BIRDS OF A FEATHER[25] Picture showing both Pearlman and 1975 Rizzo campaign signs in close proximity May 28, 1980 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Monsters: At least he'll have plenty to eat[26] Alchu debut (a.k.a. a one-eyed, one-horned, flying Pearlman Poster eater) June 20, 1980 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Posters: Is APPPLE branching out?[27] DeLeon questioning whether APPPLE may be embellishing other signs as well September 5, 1980 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Update: APPPLE celebrates a birthday[28] First Anniversary recap of APPPLE and yearbook publication September 18, 1980 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Posters: Hmmm, that leaves 492,800 on the street[29] Sun Co. attempted campaign poster buyback and proposed merger of APPPLE and Sun November 12, 1980 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
On the Street: A Christmas story[30] Second Annual Christmas spirit tribute to APPPLE - this time via a modified version of the classic "A visit from St. Nicholas" ('Twas the Night Before Christmas)[31] December 24, 1980 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Politics: Your duty is clear, APPPLE[32] Pearlman declares for State Senate run and DeLeon calls on APPPLE to save us from the posters February 16, 1982 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
MACINTOSH COULD BARELY control himself[33] While attending a campaign rally, Macintosh (sic) is asked what he does for Pearlman; he claims he helps "design his campaign posters" March 5, 1982 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Campaigns: Pearlman is struck again[34] Copycat group defaces signs during election process. APPPLE disavows actions (while still noting their humor) April 14, 1982 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Campaigns: Uncle Sam to Al: Cut that out[35] Pearlman goes to new low - sticks ads on pennies; competing group PEARL-MAN (Poster Embellishment And Rearrangement League - Mostly At Night) claims responsibility for new sign treatments April 22, 1982 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
GREAT POLITICAL MOMENTS II: MAYBE HE NEEDED A NEW IMAGE[36] Additional PEARL-MAN coverage in annual New Year's review of news January 2, 1983 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Politics: It's starting again[12] APPPLE debuts new Joker poster noting that the "[j]oker is the most meaningless card in the deck." June 7, 1983 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Terrorists: APPPLE meets SCRAPPPLE[13] Society Created to Rebuff APPPLE (SCRAPPPLE) tries to convince APPPLE to leave signs unadorned September 18, 1983 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
APPPLE: Rush your order to Post Office Box[37] Poster Improvement Kit referenced again November 14, 1983 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Campaign Posters: Sun scores record cleanup[38] APPPLE does not participate in Sun Co.'s record campaign sign buyback because they are "not into this to make a buck" and are "a civic-minded terrorist group" November 16, 1983 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Pearlman: APPPLE calls it quits[39] APPPLE ceases activity respecting Pearlman's serious cancer diagnosis June 14, 1984 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Posters: Pearlman deserves better than this[40] DeLeon notes that the remaining posters should be removed out of respect for Pearlman's memory February 14, 1985 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer
Posters: Will one of Al's friends take care of this?[41] In the last known media reference to APPPLE, DeLeon again calls for someone to remove all remaining signs, noting the irony in a recent street name change where the street signs were changed but the Pearlman poster was left up on the same pole. February 21, 1986 Clark DeLeon Philadelphia Inquirer

Additional APPPLE Media References
Title Description Date Author Publication
IN THE NET[42] August 8, 1980 DeLeon Inquirer
The Countryside: This way to our leader[43] DeLeon suggests target for APPPLE September 10, 1980 DeLeon Inquirer
Junk: If neatness counts, I'm a zero[44] Reference to "Poster Improvement Kit" December 30, 1981 DeLeon Inquirer
The Election: Of Republicans and CABBAGE[45] Candidate pays to have his own signs returned May 18, 1983 DeLeon Inquirer
Peeves: Times like these deserve better[46] Reference to APPPLE re: pet peeves July 28, 1983 DeLeon Inquirer

References
  1. "Pearlman Posters Given a Facelift". Philadelphia Daily News. 1979-09-28. p. 1. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
  2. DeLeon, Clark (1979-09-21). "Terrorism: Is no poster safe from these fiends?". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 2. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  3. DeLeon, Clark (1979-09-21). "Terrorism: A real Mickey Mouse outfit". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 2. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  4. "Pearlman Posters Given a Facelift". Philadelphia Daily News. 1979-09-28. p. 1. Retrieved 2019-02-24.
  5. Konolige, Kit (1979-09-28). "Al Pearlman A Marked Man". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 6. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  6. DeLeon, Clark (1979-10-08). "Update: APPPLE meets SWARM". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 18. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  7. DeLeon, Clark (1979-11-28). "Politics: Is nothing sacred to APPPLE?". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 14. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  8. DeLeon, Clark (1979-12-14). "Update: The ayatollah meets Al Pearlman". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 42. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  9. DeLeon, Clark (1979-12-25). "Posters: Yes, Virginia, there is an Al Pearlman". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 38. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  10. DeLeon, Clark (1980-02-01). "APPPLE STRIKES AGAIN - again". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 2. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  11. DeLeon, Clark (1980-02-22). "APPPLE: How about laying off poles for a while". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 14. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  12. DeLeon, Clark (1983-06-07). "Politics: It's starting again". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 18. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  13. DeLeon, Clark (1983-09-18). "Terrorists: APPPLE meets SCRAPPPLE". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 26. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  14. DeLeon, Clark (1979-10-01). "APPPLE STRIKES AGAIN". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 12. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  15. DeLeon, Clark (1979-12-03). "ANGER: Acronyms Never Get Enough Recognition". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 14. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  16. DeLeon, Clark (1979-12-07). "CALLING MSSRS. MacINTOSH, Winesap and Big". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 28. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  17. DeLeon, Clark (1979-12-25). ""Posters: Yes, Virginia, there is an Al Pearlman"". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 38. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  18. "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus" | Newseu". Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  19. "Posters: The APPPLE of Pearlman's eye". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 1980-01-18. p. 2. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  20. Unknown (1980-02-01). "Al the APPPLE Of His Eye". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 10. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  21. Walsh, Clark (1980-02-12). "APPPLE: United Nations split over Pearlman". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 16. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  22. DeLeon, Clark (1980-02-29). "People: How many posters? Let us count the poles". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 14. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  23. DeLeon, Clark (1980-03-24). "BEAT IT PEARLMAN, THIS IS MY GIG". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 10. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  24. DeLeon, CLark (1980-04-28). "Politics: APPPLE scores a victory - sort of". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 14. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  25. DeLeon, Clark (1980-05-28). "BIRDS OF A FEATHER". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 5. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  26. DeLeon, Clark (1980-06-20). "Monsters: At least he'll have plenty to eat". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 14. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  27. DeLeon, Clark (1980-09-05). "Posters: Is APPPLE branching out?". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 38. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  28. DeLeon, Clark (1980-09-18). ""Update: APPPLE celebrates a birthday"". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 2. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  29. DeLeon, Clark (1980-11-12). "Posters: Hmmm, that leaves 492,800 on the street". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 18. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  30. DeLeon, Clark (1980-12-24). "On the Street: A Christmas story". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 2. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  31. en:A_Visit_from_St._Nicholas, oldid 881600198
  32. DeLeon, Clark (1982-02-16). "Politics: Your duty is clear, APPPLE". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 2. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  33. DeLeon, Clark (1982-03-05). "MACINTOSH COULD BARELY control himself". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 22. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  34. DeLeon, Clark (1982-04-14). "Campaigns: Pearlman is struck again". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 2. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  35. DeLeon, Clark (1982-04-22). "Campaigns: Uncle Sam to Al: Cut that out". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 2. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  36. DeLeon, Clark (1983-01-02). "GREAT POLITICAL MOMENTS II: MAYBE HE NEEDED A NEW IMAGE". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 352. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  37. DeLeon, Clark (1983-11-14). "APPPLE: Rush your order to Post Office Box". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 14. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  38. DeLeon, Clark (1983-11-16). "Campaign Posters: Sun scores record cleanup". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 10. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  39. DeLeon, CLark (1984-06-14). "Pearlman: APPPLE calls it quits". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 2. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  40. DeLeon, Clark (1985-02-14). "Posters: Pearlman deserves better than this". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 30. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  41. DeLeon, Clark (1986-02-25). "Posters: Will one of Al's friends take care of this?". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 26. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  42. DeLeon, Clark (1980-08-08). "IN THE NET". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 14. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  43. DeLeon, Clark (1980-09-10). "The Countryside: This way to our leader". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 2. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  44. DeLeon, Clark (1981-12-30). "Junk: If neatness counts, I'm a zero". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 12. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  45. DeLeon, Clark (1983-05-18). "The Election: Of Republicans and CABBAGE". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 2. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  46. DeLeon, Clark (1983-07-28). "Peeves: Times like these deserve better". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 20. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
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