This Archive section contains stories about artists that I made over 20 years ago.

Most are from the Carmel area and in a similar way, Big Sur artists will start to fill this website’s home page. Please note that these videos were made before the widespread use of High Definition (HD) video. Some are widescreen but still Standard Definition (SD). All videos have been upscaled to HD but may still look a bit soft especially those that were made very small at the beginning of online video. As I comb through old hard drives I’ll post any other stories I find interesting. Feel free to ask questions. Thanks, Robert Franco.

Bill Bates Part 1

Bill Bates is a renowned cartoonist known for his witty cartoons based on the goings on in Carmel, California
Bill Bates Part 2

Bil Bates cartoons have appeared in the Carmel Pine Cone newspaper for decades and after his passing, still do!
Grace Slick

Grace Slick, of Jefferson Airship fame, showed her work in Carmel featuring well known music artists. Somewhere I have Grace Slick part 2 and I’ll put it up when I find it!
Robert Franco
David Ligare Part 1

David Ligare talks about his exhibit, The Pastures of Heaven, at the Steinbeck Center in Salinas, California.
David Ligare Part 2

David Ligae talks about his working methods and the inspiration he draws from Monterey County.
Joe Beck & Alie Ryerson Part 1

The Joe Beck and Alie Ryerson duo performed in Carmel delivering a big sound!
Joe Beck & Ali Ryerson Part 2

Joe and Ali were among my favorite performers because I could tell they were having a great time and engaging with the audience. Joe was a pretty funny guy. He and Ali were unassuming and master musicians.
Joe Beck Alto Guitar

Joe talks about his alto guitar, a custom version he came up with and had built for him. I was setting up to shoot the video and had my back to him while he was warming up and I turned around to look for the bass player but there was nobody there! Check it out!
Wah Chang Part 1

Wah Chang was an Academy Award winning special effects artist that not only created incredible work for TV and movies but also sculptures and poseable models. His adopted parents started the oldest film festival in the world, the Carmel International Film Festival.
Wah Chang Part 2

More incredible creations from Wah Chang such as props for the original Star Trek TV show.
Jacques Pépin Part 1

I had the pleasure of interviewing one of the most pleasant people I ever met with his gracious daughter. He talks about his life while he cooks!
Robert Franco
Jacques Pépin Part 2

Jacques talks about growing up and learning his craft.
Michael Sheehan Part 1

Could there be a more fun job as a photographer than going to concerts and shooting performers? See what Michael has to say.
Michael Sheehan Part 2

Michael tells us more about his shooting style and motivation.
Virginia Mayhew Part 1

An interview with Virginia Mayhew with Ingrid Jensen and a look at a rehearsal with her bandmates.
Virginia Mayhew Part 2

Virginia Mayhew brought her quartet to perform in Carmel. She’s a multi-talented musician and composer.
The Carmel Cartoonists - Intro

i was lucky enough to be invited to be a fly on the wall at a coffee meeting of some of the most creative and famous cartoonists. Robert Blaisdell, screen left, helped guide this impromptu gathering with (from the left) Dennis Renault, political cartoonist, Eldon Dedini, known for his Playboy artwork, Roy Gilligan, novelist, Gus Arriola, creator of cartoon Gordo, and Hank Ketchum, creator of Dennis the Menace.
The Carmel Cartoonists Part 1

The Cartoonists talk about writing, how ideas come together and what makes a great cartoon.
The Carmel Cartoonists Part 2

The Carmel Cartoonists talk about the "Business."