Description: On December 23, 1956, NBC's Wide Wide World filmed a live broadcast of hundreds of thousands of ducks at W. H. Claypool's, Wild Acres Reservoir, in Weiner, Arkansas. The top image in this layout has been falsely "sold" for years to duck hunters around the world as having been taken that famous day of the TV broadcast by the late George Purvis of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. This scene marked the end of an era; the last of the mass duck congregations in America. Read on to find out the story of who REALLY took the photo, and when. Then keep reading to find out how I know. This sale is for a colorized 24x36" giclee print compilation of two images taken by W. H. Claypool on Jan 13, 1956; about one year prior to the famous TV broadcast.** The images were professionally reproduced from original photographs that were hanging on Mr. Claypool's wall. The original images were black and white. These have been painstakingly colorized. Image quality is excellent. The top image is a color version of the famous one that has been seen around the world. The bottom image is one rarely seen outside the Weiner area. The two colorized duck images are approximately 12x16" inside a teal colored pseudo mat. The print is professionally printed using the latest Giclee print and pigment ink technology from Canon. The 24x36" print is reproduced on heavy 90 gsm poster stock, ready for framing. Giclee print technology is known for producing prints of museum archival quality. (This is NOT a low quality offset printed piece!) The print will be delivered rolled in a poly wrapping, and shipped in a cardboard shipping tube. Makes a great gift for the duck hunter in your family. The 24x36" size makes it easy to find inexpensive poster frames at places like Hobby Lobby or Wal-Mart. ** Here is some shocking information about the authorship of this original photograph; information that goes totally against everything we have ever been told about this iconic and famous Claypool Ducks image: I have strong photographic evidence that proves that the famous photograph shown here, the same one that has been printed on posters, tee-shirts, etc., was actually taken by the late Mr. Claypool himself almost a full year prior to the date of the Television airing of the Wide Wide World broadcast of December 1956. (In a more recent discovery, I have found additional concrete evidence that appears to back up this information.) We have been led to believe that the late Mr. George Purvis of the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission is the one who snapped the photo during the TV broadcast, but at best, it seems that Mr. Claypool simply allowed Mr. Purvis to use an existing photo that Mr. Claypool had snapped during the previous 1955-1956 duck season. Or heaven forbid, Mr. Purvis falsely claim that he actually took the photo. After all, who would know? The photo did not surface publicly with Mr. Purvis's photo credit until after the death of Mr. Claypool. It is only natural that Mr. Purvis would not have taken the photo during the live TV broadcast anyway; he would have been too busy coordinating the event that day to be taking pictures. Does this take away anything from the historical value of the famous Claypool Ducks image? Definitely not! If anything, it makes it even more compelling. If the photo wasn't made the day of the TV broadcast, then it means that the ducks seen in the photo were there by their own natural choosing, not driven into the hole by a bunch of guys slapping paddles on the water and trees of the surrounding property. Where did I see these original signed photographs? About twenty-five years ago one of the members of the Claypool family (don't remember who, I didn't think it was important at the time) brought the photos into my photo lab to have it copied. At the time, I had no idea what Claypool's Reservoir was. I wasn't a duck hunter. The family member gave me a short exposé of the Claypool story. I was fascinated and expressed my concern about a possible copyright infringement, but upon examining the print, I determined that they were indeed public domain since the photos didn't have a copyright notice anywhere on them. I even asked if I could make a copy negative for my records. As the years went by, I gathered more and more information on the Claypool story. Some of it in direct conflict with what I had been told and what I had seen on the original photo inscription. I still have those images that has the TRUE date it was taken and the REAL photographer's name; W. H. Claypool. And, As I stated earlier, in a more recent discovery, I have found another signed copy that appears to back up this information. Shame on George Purvis! You were supposed to be Claypool's friend. I have included a detail photo of the original image that was brought to me by the Claypool family depicting that Mr. Claypool was the photographer and that the date was Jan 13, 1956.
Price: 39.95 USD
Location: Jonesboro, Arkansas
End Time: 2025-01-24T15:41:51.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Type: Photograph
