The Universe of Discourse

David McShane's mural with 18 Franks, revealed

Yesterday I offered Gentle Readers a chance to identify the 18 famous Franks in David McShane's mural.

1. Benjamin Franklin
2. Frankie Avalon
3. Detail of ornament from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts building, designed by architect Frank Furness
4. A frankfurter
5. Aretha Franklin

I did not recognize the PAFA architectural detail myself, I had to find out from the Mural Arts website. I have sometimes looked for this detail on the PAFA building, but I have never found it.

6. Barney Frank
7. Frankenstein's monster
8. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
9. Frank Zappa

10. Frank Lloyd Wright
11. Major Frank Burns, as played by Larry Linville
12. Frank “Tug” McGraw

13. French 20-centime coin, representing the Franc
14. Frank Oz
15. Frank Perdue

I think these pictures might be so old that they predate the European currency union.

16. Frank Sinatra
17. Frank Morgan, in his role as the Wizard from The Wizard of Oz. (The book was written by L. Frank Baum.)
18. St. Francis of Assisi, with bird friend. The model is the artist's brother Frank.

Not depicted: Frank Rizzo, who is burning in Hell.

I was certain that Tim Curry was there somewhere, in his role as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, but if he ever was I can't find any evidence of it. I even emailed the muralist, who confirmed that Frank-N-Furter had never been there. Still, he is in all our hearts, forever.

The mural was restored in 2015, at which time two more figures were added:

19. Pope Francis, who had visited the city that year, and
20. Frank Sherlock, noted poet and longtime employee at Dirty Frank's

My pictures are at least that old.

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