DESCRIPTION: Scarce and fun 1000 piece pictorial puzzle titled LA Shake and Bake, created in 1992 by illustrator John Holladay and published by F. X. Schmid. Puzzle is unopened in original shrink wrap as issued.
The puzzle presents a satirical pictorial view of Los Angeles shattered by a massive quake, with districts sliding toward the Pacific Ocean in a dense and humorous cartoon style. The image plays on long standing California earthquake lore. It was also issued by Schmid as an uncut poster. When assembled, the puzzle measures 26.5 by 17.25 inches.
Holladay's theme draws on the popular misconception that California might someday break off along the San Andreas Fault, an idea that traces back to public misunderstanding of Andrew Lawson's 1906 report describing lateral motion after the San Francisco earthquake. His phrasing that the Pacific side moved northward relative to the American side echoed for decades, inspiring exaggerated public fears and giving artists like Holladay fertile ground for satirical disaster scenes. The puzzle captures that cultural myth with vivid color and a chaotic, engaging layout.
LA Shake and Bake also reflects the long publishing history of F. X. Schmid, founded in Munich in 1860 and best known for toys, cards, and later board games and puzzles. By the 1970s and 1980s the company had expanded internationally, including a U.S. division that produced widely distributed puzzles like this one. Financial pressures in the mid 1990s led to a 1997 merger with Ravensburger, marking the end of Schmid as an independent maker. This puzzle stands as one of the imaginative late period Schmid releases, combining contemporary humor, geological lore, and striking packaging design.
Box size roughly 15.5" x10".
John Holladay
John Holladay, an artist hailing from the Quad Cities region of Iowa and Illinois, discovered his talent for entertaining others through his cartoons at a young age. After attending Marycrest College in Davenport, Holladay began painting watercolors and exhibiting his work throughout the Midwest. A pivotal moment in his career occurred when he incorporated Mickey Mouse into one of his landscape paintings, garnering both positive and negative attention from show-goers.
In 1975, Holladay's sports-themed cartoons, particularly his depiction of the Nebraska Cornhuskers celebrating in Lincoln's Memorial Stadium, skyrocketed in popularity. He formed Holladay Prints in Davenport in 1976, and his artwork began to sell locally before rapidly expanding throughout the Midwest. Over the next two decades, Holladay created posters for over 40 colleges and universities, as well as professional teams in the NFL and NBA, selling over five million posters in total. In 2000, seeking a change in his artistic direction, Holladay moved to Cape Cod, where he now focuses on landscapes and continues to work in various media, including watercolors, oils, and acrylics.
PUBLICATION DATE: 1992
GEOGRAPHIC AREA: United States
BODY OF WATER: Pacific Ocean
CONDITION: Excellent.
Like new. New old stock. Unopened with original shrink wrap.
COLORING: Process color.
ENGRAVER:
SIZE: 26
" x
17 "
ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION:
PRICE: $385
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