A who’s who tally of tattooing from Utah’s past goes on display in the present

In researching his history of tattooing in Utah for his Look Look Tattoo shop and museum — recently relocated to a larger space in Salt Lake City — CJ Fishburn discovered these notables:

Bert Grimm

Fishburn was shocked to uncover a Utah connection to one of the most famous American tattooers of the 20th century: Bert Grimm.

A 1924 article in The Salt Lake Tribune titled “Tattoo Artist Quits; Youths Are Forlorn” documents Grimm’s departure from a two- or three-month stint at a shop dubbed “Fort Bert Grimm” on 200 South in downtown Salt Lake City.

Someone interviewed in the story said Grimm made $2,000 to $3,000 in those months — the modern equivalent of $40,000 to $55,000.

Ed Horton

A Utah-based railroad worker, Ed Horton went on to tattoo with Bert Grimm for decades.

The two almost likely met during Grimm’s first stint in Salt Lake City, Fishburn says. A vintage photo at Look Look portrays a shirtless Horton proudly displaying his tattoo-filled chest.

“Ed Horton, tattoo artist from Salt Lake City” is written across the photo’s backside in Grimm’s handwriting.

Horton was also a fiddle player and at one point owned a music store in Salt Lake City.

[Read more about how this Salt Lake City tattoo shop/museum came about.]

Basil Bartlett

Fishburn is particularly proud of the trunk of belongings on display from Basil Bartlett, a Utah tattooer whose career was cut short by World War II.

The trunk holds his machines, drawings, tattoo stencils, even letters from other tattooers mailed to Bartlett’s Salt Lake City address.

“It’s one of the most complete trunks of its kind,” says Fishburn.

A. A. Traders

Run by husband and wife Richard Geyer and Doreen Mae “Duchess” Sadler, A.A. Traders operated on 5th Street in Ogden for more than 30 years.

A strong community was formed around the shop. An Ogden veterinarian even oversaw the American Tattoo Club out of A.A. Traders, swapping photos and letters with other enthusiasts.

Sadler also appeared on the popular game show "What’s My Line?" talking about her profession as a tattoo artist.

Alvin N. Hale

In 1933, the Salt Lake Telegram called Alvin N. Hale “Salt Lake’s only tattoo artist.”

While that wasn’t true, he was still remarkable for the scale of work he did by hand rather than with an electric tattoo machine. His shop occupied a rooming house near present-day Pioneer Park.

According to Fishburn, Hale currently lies in an unmarked grave in the historic Salt Lake City Cemetery. He hopes to raise funds to give Hale a headstone, creating a monument for Utah tattooers and enthusiasts to visit.