Who are the three gentlemen in the painting on the back cover of the
Grateful Dead's album Skeletons From The Closet?

Hello childofnature,

As I mentioned in the comments section, I had contacted the artist for
this work, John Van Hamersveld. He was kind enough to reply:

"...The date was 1973 and I had the job of doing the drawing for
"Skeletons From The Closet" cover. Note Jesus (modeled after the
likeness of Gordon Mc McClelland (Rick Griffin's agent at the time
both Rick and Gordon had become Christians) is in the middle of the
composition.  He's playing cards with Marlon Brando, as rebel biker
(Hell's Angels) and the old actor Cesar Romero from the 50s,
representing the Jerry Garcia nation, all sitting at a diner like
cafe, outside the window is Buckmister Fuller in the Dymaxian (three
wheeled bus) Car and the Frank Loyd Wright, Johnson Wax Building in
the distance and above in the sky is the saucer from the "The Day The
World Stood Still".  The trophy in the center, chrome like sculpture
is a globe as what they are betting on. The sun is on the back of the
cards symbolized a hope.  The ecology sign is on the match book,
implying they were smoking pot.

I really dedicated it to Rick Griffin at the time..."

So now we know! Thanks for a great question that baffled the Deadhead experts.


Regards,

-=clouseau=-

Excellent research--going to the artist himself for the definitive
answer.  I learned so much about the origin and inspiration of the
painting. Thanks so much!

Here's the image:

http://members.aol.com/fng02/music8.jpg

The guy on the left definitely looks like the young Marlon Brando as
he appeared in the movie "The Wild One":

http://www.ozebook.com/cpotw/potw1.jpg

The guy on the right might be Warner Baxter, as "The Cisco Kid":

http://www.thecolumnists.com/miller/miller184art1.jpg 

The guy in the center looks a bit like Kris Kristofferson, who was a
Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University.

I wish it were as easy as Tennesee Jed, Jack Straw and August West....but it isn't.

It is defintely Brando. But I remain unconvinced just yet on the
others. Perhaps a bad image of Tim Leary in the center?

I even emailed my friend David Gans from the Deadhead Hour and he
doesn't know. Nor does the editor of the Grateful Dead Almanac.

I shall keep investigating though. You have caught my curiousity.

-=clouseau=-

The artist is John Van Hamersveld. I have emailed him.

His web site is www.vanhamersveldmuseumofart.com .

More as I find it.

-=clouseau=-

Astounding sleuthing, Clouseau!!! 

I'm very glad you found a definitive answer, since I might have stayed
up all night fretting about this otherwise. So the dude in the middle
represents Jesus? Amazing. I might play cards with Brando and Cesar
Romero, but I wouldn't want to play cards with Jesus. How could you
possibly bluff?

If we had an award for "Answer of the Day," I would give this one the prize.

Why thank you Pinkfreud!

With 500 some odd Dead shows under my belt and the works of Stanley
Mouse and Alton Kelley adorning my walls, this was a matter of pride
to answer :) It's not often we get Deadhead related questions and I'm
afraid I would have been sharing your insomnia had my research not
panned out.

And should I have ever found myself in this card game, I would just
have to pause to ask WWJD - what would Jerry do?

Best always,

-=clouseau=-

Thank you so much for your answer, Clouseau! I knew it was Brando, and
thought it was Jesus, but I wasn't quite positive.  My friend and I
were going crazy trying to think of film icons who could possibly be
represented by the middle figure--and it turns out to be the ulitmate
icon Himself! :)

Thanks again for your help.  I'll sleep tonight!

My pleasure!

And thank you for the stars and tip.

-=clouseau=-