Documentary Archives - Tony Ward Studio

Bob Shell: The Perils of Prison Life and the First Amendment

man writing a letter from a prison cell — Image FX

The Perils of Prison Life and the First Amendment

I made my living for more than thirty-five years from writing and photography. In my current circumstances I am blocked from doing photography, but I haven’t been blocked from writing — until now.

A bit of history first: I grew up in a media family. My father was a TV news reporter for WSLS TV, the NBC affiliate in Roanoke, Virginia. He also wrote short stories for magazines. My mother worked for The Roanoke Times newspaper and became an early computer expert. I literally grew up in TV studios and newspaper offices. So I guess it was natural that I’d gravitate to the media.

In 1971 I started working for WRFT TV, the ABC affiliate in Roanoke. My boss there was Adrian Cronauer, the real man Robin Williams portrayed in ‘Good Morning Vietnam.’ While working for Ade, I was also writing a monthly column on UFOs for Gnostica magazine, my first paid writing gig.

In 1973 I invented the Harley Stone Detective Agency and wrote a number of genre detective stories. I didn’t have much luck in getting them published, but several did appear in limited-circulation ‘fanzines.’ I put the characters and story ideas aside and didn’t think about them much for years.

In 2018 I learned that it was possible to self-publish books through Kindle Direct Publishing, a division of Amazon. com . I wrote my philosophical/scientific book ‘Cosmic Dance’ between then and 2019, when I published it. Considering that I had a zero promotion and advertising budget, it has sold reasonably well worldwide, and has been positively reviewed.

In 2021, with a lot of time on my hands, I decided to return to the Harley Stone Detective Agency characters, so I started working on my first novel, titled ‘The Adventure of the Abducted Actress.’

I finished the book in near final form in 2024 and only needed to review the author’s proof for final editing and correcting. Then I hit a brick wall. When the proof arrived

in early March at Dillwyn Correctional Center where I’m currently housed, it was confiscated. It was sent to the Virginia Department of Corrections’ Publication Review Committee. In spite of the fact that it has not been published, and obviously isn’t yet a publication, they put it on the VDOC’s Disapproved Publications Listing. That listing is many unnumbered pages long with twenty or more items per page, hundreds of books and magazines.

I’m in good company. Dr. Anthony Fauci’s latest book is on there, as is a magazine banned for containing a recipe for sauerkraut!

Like most detective stories, my book has some sex scenes. But I was very careful not to include anything beyond what could be found in multiple books in the prison libraries, books by well-known authors, including a Nobel Prize in Literature laureate.

After fighting for months to get my proof back so that I may publish my book, I’ve exhausted all of my institutional remedies, and must now take the issue into court.

We all know that the First Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees us freedom of speech. Beyond that, I am in Virginia. Article One, Section Twelve, of the Virginia Constitution says “Any citizen may freely speak, write, and publish his sentiments on all subjects.”

I may be in prison, but I am still a citizen, and I have that right. But the Virginia Department of Corrections is interfering with my right.

The problem with taking this issue into court is that I am not a lawyer and have no money to hire one, while the Virginia Department of Corrections would be represented by the Virginia Attorney General.

I need help to defend my right to publish my book. If you watch TV, you’ve probably seen the commercials for the ACLU in which they beg for donations and say they defend freedom of speech. So far, the Virginia ACLU hasn’t even had the common courtesy to answer my letters.

If anyone reading this blog can help, or has suggestions on who might help me, you may email me via JPay.com

by using my name, Robert Shell, and my state ID number, 1201280, or write me at Dillwyn Correctional Center, P. O. Box 670, Dillwyn, VA 23936-0670. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

About The Author: Bob Shell is a professional photographer, author, former editor in chief of Shutterbug Magazine and veteran contributor to this blog. He is currently serving a 35 year sentence for involuntary manslaughter for the death of Marion Franklin, one of his former models. He is serving the 17th year of his sentence at Pocahontas State Correctional Facility, Virginia.

On September 16, 2024 Shell’s release date got moved up six years due to new “mixed charges” law to February 2, 2030. It was 2036.

To read additional articles by Bob Shell link here: https://tonywardstudio.com/blog/bob-shell-nova-nonsense/

Great Locations: History of Fonthill Castle

STYLISH woman seated in the yard at Font Hill Castle in Doylestown Pa. — Glamour at Fonthill. Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 2025

History of Fonthill Castle

Model: Gina Iannece

Photo: Tony Ward

Stylist: KVaughn

Hair & Makeup: Michael Connor

Lighting Grip: Anthony Colagreco

Nestled in the heart of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Fonthill Castle stands as a testament to the creativity and vision of one of America’s most eccentric and influential figures, Henry Chapman Mercer. Built between 1908 and 1912, this unique structure is not a traditional castle in the medieval sense but rather a sprawling, concrete mansion that reflects Mercer’s passion for history, art, and innovation.

Henry Chapman Mercer (1856–1930) was an archaeologist, anthropologist, and tile-maker who sought to preserve the craftsmanship of the pre-industrial era. Disillusioned by the rapid industrialization of the late 19th century, Mercer dedicated his life to creating works that celebrated handmade artistry. Fonthill Castle was his personal residence and a canvas for his artistic expression. The castle’s design is a whimsical blend of Gothic, Medieval, and Byzantine architectural styles, featuring 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces, and over 200 windows, each uniquely shaped and placed.

The construction of Fonthill Castle was groundbreaking for its time. Mercer insisted on using reinforced concrete, a relatively new material in the early 20th century, to create a durable and fireproof structure. The castle’s interior is adorned with Mercer’s handmade tiles, which depict historical scenes, literary quotes, and personal motifs. Every corner of the castle tells a story, from the intricate tilework to the hand-carved wooden furniture.

Fonthill Castle was more than just a home; it was a living museum. Mercer filled the space with his vast collection of artifacts, including prints, books, and tiles, which he used to educate visitors about history and craftsmanship. He often hosted guests, offering them tours of his eclectic creation and sharing his passion for preserving the past.

After Mercer’s death in 1930, Fonthill Castle was bequeathed to the Bucks County Historical Society, which continues to maintain and operate the site as a museum. Today, visitors can explore the castle’s labyrinthine halls, marvel at its artistic details, and gain insight into Mercer’s remarkable life and legacy.

Fonthill Castle remains a beloved landmark in Doylestown, attracting thousands of visitors each year. It stands as a symbol of Mercer’s dedication to art, history, and innovation, offering a glimpse into the mind of a man who dared to dream differently. The castle’s enduring charm and historical significance ensure that Mercer’s vision will continue to inspire future generations.

Glamorous woman on the grounds of Fonthill Castle — Gina at Fonthill. Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 2025

Bob Shell: Nova Nonsense

Illustration_Roswell_lab-Nova — A.I. simulation of Roswell Lab.

Nova Nonsense

I was excited when I saw the announcement that the PBS science series NOVA was going to devote a program to UFOs. There have been several very good recent programs on NEWSNATION, so I had high hopes for PBS taking the subject seriously for a change.

Unfortunately, the NOVA program was a bunch of poorly researched nonsense. They ignored most of the good research done since at least the 1950s.

As just one example, Major Jesse Marcel, the man who first collected some of the debris from the Famous Roswell event, said on numerous occasions late in his life that the debris he was holding in the famous press conference photo was not the material he recovered from the Foster Ranch near Roswell, New Mexico in the summer of 1947. There was a coverup by the government, which was later admitted. But NOVA repeated the long debunked nonsense that what crashed was a Mogul Balloon Array.

I knew Jesse Marcel, Jr. He wrote the foreword for the 1997 book ‘Beyond Roswell,’ of which I was the coauthor.

Jesse Jr. was twelve years old when his father excitedly came home one night to show his wife and son some of the debris he’d collected on the Foster Ranch. It was not debris from a weather balloon, with which Marcel was quite familiar, nor was it debris from a Mogul Balloon train, which Marcel would easily have recognized.

Marcel Senior had been involved in balloon recoveries, and would never have confused balloon debris with exotic material. There was material that looked like tinfoil, but when crushed and released, returned to it’s original shape. (We are just learning to make such ‘memory materials.’) There were I-beams with ‘hieroglyphics’ on them that were as light as balsa wood but could not be bent or burned.

In that photo, taken by James Bond Johnson, General Ramey is holding a telegram. Image analysis has shown that it refers to ‘victims’ of the crash. Weather/Mogul balloon victims?

It was a disservice to PBS viewers to present long disproved material as factual and irrelevant pseudoscience about the videos taken by fighter pilots, the famous ‘TikTak’ and ‘Gimbel’ videos and others.

The program was essentially another tired old attempt to debunk the whole UFO phenomenon, attempts to explain the extraordinary as misinterpreted ordinary. We’re long past that.

Toward the end of the program, they repeated the old ‘They can’t get here from there’ mantra, because the universe is just so big. This reminds me of Lord Kelvin saying that heavier than air flying machines were impossible. Yes, they were — within the technological framework that Kelvin understood. Just because we can’t build faster than light (FTL) craft with our current technology does not mean that it is impossible. NASA is, in fact, exploring the possibilities of warp drive technology in Houston. A civilization even a hundred years in advance of ours probably has solved the problems of FTL travel, or might be using quantum teleportation to instantaneously jump from place to place in the universe. Physicists have already done quantum teleportation on a molecular level.

The argument that ‘they’ can’t get here is specious.

I have been researching the UFO phenomenon since the 1960s. In the early 1970s I wrote a regular column on the subject for Gnostica magazine. I have watched numerous feeble attempts to debunk the phenomenon over all of those years, but the UFOs ignored the nonsense and just kept doing their thing, and people worldwide kept seeing and encountering them.

It’s long past time to stop the silliness and admit that they are here, we don’t know what they are or where they’re from, and they’ve been here a very long time.

On September 16, 2024 Shell’s release date got moved up six years due to new “mixed charges” law to February 2, 2030. It was 2036.

To read additional articles by Bob Shell link here: https://tonywardstudio.com/blog/bob-shell-ancient-aliens/

Behind The Scenes: Racquel Ward’s Baby Shower in LA

Behind The Scenes in LA

Racquel Ward, was invited to have a baby shower in LA and invited me and several other family members to enjoy the occasion. She booked us a fabulous place on AirBnb located at 336 Main Street in Venice. We checked in with Racquel’s partner Ryan and his son Roman who was planning to visit USC and UCLA, colleges he’s interested in attending after high school. The four of us got settled and took a walk down to the Venice Beach Skate Park where skateboarders were practicing their tricks while a magnificent sunset unfolded in deep red tones due to the fires recently in Malibu. It was a breathtaking moment for what would be a joyous few days in celebrating my daughter’s pregnancy. The shower took place in Baldwin Hills, at a lovely home hosted by Racquel’s friend, mentor and colleague .

This would be the first time I visited Los Angeles since 2018. I had mixed feelings about visiting in that this would be the first time I landed in Los Angeles since my friend and assistant Ed Simmons passed away. Every time over the past decade or so that I visited the West coast, Ed would be the first person I’d call. He was my eyes and ears on the ground in planning shoots, finding models and taking me to places I hadn’t visited in the past. The last time we spent quality time together in 2018 was when we took the train to Pasadena to see the Chambers Brother’s perform. We had a blast. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to drive by his old address in West Hollywood to pay my respects, but I did visit the Pacific Ocean where his ashes were dispersed along Venice Beach, just two blocks from where we were staying for a few days leading up to the day of the celebration on December 14, 2024.

The shower took place on a beautiful day in Baldwin Hills, at a lovely home hosted by a friend and colleague . Racquel started a tutoring business when she lived in LA and specializes in educational therapies for children who are neurodivergent. To learn more about Racquel Ward’s business and services, link here: https://thelearningspecialist.org/the-learning-specialists

Skateboarding: From Sidewalks to Skate Parks

Venice Beach Skate Park Los Angeles California — Skate Park, Venice Beach. Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 2024

From Sidewalks to Skate Parks

The History of Skateboarding and Its Evolution in Venice Beach

Skateboarding, a sport born from surfing’s spirit of rebellion and freedom, has traveled a remarkable journey from its humble beginnings in the 1950s to the cultural phenomenon we know today. Few places are as central to this journey as Venice Beach, California—a mecca for skateboarding culture and innovation. The story of skateboarding, and its evolution in Venice Beach, is a tale of creativity, persistence, and community.

Skateboarding began in California during the 1950s when surfers, looking for a way to replicate the sensation of riding waves on land, attached roller-skate wheels to wooden planks. Dubbed “sidewalk surfing,” the activity quickly gained traction, particularly in Southern California, where the laid-back surf culture thrived.

By the 1970s, advancements like urethane wheels and specialized boards transformed skateboarding into a legitimate sport. This era saw the rise of legendary figures such as the Zephyr Skate Team, or the “Z-Boys,” who hailed from the Venice Beach and Santa Monica area. Using the empty swimming pools of the drought-stricken region, they pioneered vert skating and pushed the limits of what was possible on a skateboard.

The Venice Beach skate park at dusk — Venice Beach Skate Park at Dusk. Photo: Tony Ward, Copyright 2024

Venice Beach, with its bohemian vibe and gritty streets, became the epicenter of skateboarding culture in the 1970s. The Z-Boys, led by icons like Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta, used the neighborhood’s urban landscape as their canvas, redefining skateboarding as not just a sport but an art form. Their influence helped popularize skateboarding globally, and Venice Beach became a pilgrimage site for skaters worldwide.

However, as skateboarding grew in popularity, challenges emerged. Public spaces once used for skating, like parking lots and empty pools, became harder to access due to legal restrictions and gentrification. By the late 1980s, skaters in Venice Beach were advocating for dedicated spaces where they could practice their craft without interference.

The journey to establish the Venice Beach Skate Park was a community-driven effort. Local skaters, activists, and community members united to demand a safe, legal space for skateboarding. Politicians, initially skeptical, eventually recognized the cultural and economic value of skateboarding in Venice Beach.

After years of lobbying and planning, the Venice Beach Skate Park was completed in 2009. Located steps from the Pacific Ocean, the 16,000-square-foot park features bowls, ramps, and rails that pay homage to the area’s skateboarding legacy. It was designed to echo the curves of the waves and the pools where the Z-Boys first made history.

Today, the Venice Beach Skate Park stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of skateboarding. It is a symbol of the sport’s evolution from counterculture activity to global phenomenon and a reminder of the power of community collaboration.

Skateboarding has come a long way from its origins, but Venice Beach remains its beating heart—a place where the art of motion, rebellion, and creativity continues to inspire future generations.