Jim Pearsall
- Art Department
James Pearsall came from Shingle-house, Pennsylvania to study art at Manhattan's Pratt School of Art and Design in New York City after graduating from high school. At the Manhattan campus of Pratt School of Art and Design Jim Pearsall was given the moniker and nick-name "Jimbo" by his class mates and friends that stuck with him for the rest of his life. Pearsall began his design and art career employed by advertising agencies on Madison Avenue. Jimbo moved into 115 West 71st Street around 1962, and used his rear north west ground floor apartment as his studio and living quarters. His apartment was next to the superintendents apartment, behind the mailbox, elevator, and main apartment building access staircase. Jim always was interested in theatre attending everything that was produced. Jim Pearsall's desire and ambition was to be connected with show business in any way possible. When "Leave It To Jane" opened off-Broadway, a revival in May 1959 at the Sheridan Square Playhouse; "Leave It To Jane" became a major off-Broadway show success. The producers decided to issue an original Broadway Cast album, a 12" - 33 rpm vinyl cast recording, giving Jim "Jimbo" Pearsall his first opportunity to art direct/design a record cast-album cover skin. Designing the album cover, Pearsall, during the show's performances, did many quick sketches of the cast. Pearsal became smitten by one of the male chorus-boys, a young lad who went by his actual name, Harvey Honiker. Jim did many sketches of all the performers, basing his album cover design on all the singers and dancers in their costumes. Jim always was fascinated by the New York Times Sunday theatre page sketch artist "Hirschfield". Hirschfeld always included his daughter's name NINA into his finished featured drawings. As a result, if you examine the "Leave It To Jane" record album cover design/art work, discover how Jim worked the initials "H.H.", for "Harvey Honiker", in the right hand corner of the record album design. Jim made friends with Harvey and followed his career meticulously. The show album/cover was issued in 1959, with "Leave It To Jane" moving to Broadway, an extended run, for two years.