Dale Campisi, co-founder of the Melbourne-based publishing pearl Arcade Publications, has just told The Graceful Taylor why he’s so fascinated by the past. It’s “the story of now, you know; it’s the reason why.”
Clearly a fan of time travel, Dale quotes the early 1990s TV show Quantum Leap, with Scott Bakula in the role of a time-travelling Fonzie, as part of the inspiration for Arcade’s focus on the stories of Melbourne’s past. Launched in 2007 with a biography of EW Cole and his book arcade, this divine small press has found a growing niche market for its beautifully designed A6 books and related must-attend events that bring the history of Melbourne to glorious life.
Dale began Arcade Publications with fellow publisher/editor Rose Michael after they’d both spent years in the publishing industry. Keen to find their own path, they brought in designers Michael Brady and Peter Daniel and the distinguishing characteristic of Arcade’s titles took shape; their size.
Like the little gems of stories told within their pages, the A6 size of each book is a testament to the enduring pleasure and attractiveness of small things. They’re fit for devouring. And The Graceful Taylor is partial to the odd devouring...
... We digress. The size is of course a point of difference. “We ... wanted to challenge established publishing norms,” says Dale. “It’s an interesting editorial and design challenge.” The associated events also set this press apart, especially the walking tours of Melbourne that link to their published stories.
With so many fabulously quirky characters populating Melbourne’s past, The Graceful Taylor is keen to know: does Dale have a favourite? EW Cole rates a strong mention, and so does the devilishly handsome and possibly narcissistic choccy maker Macpherson Robertson. Anyone who makes chocolate gets our vote too. And, just to show that history can also be recent, the singular Don Dunstan, former South Australian Premier, appeals to Dale for the delightful fact that he resigned after sleeping 40 hours straight. And because he wrote a cookbook while being Premier.
At least it wasn’t called Sh*t on my Hands, the aptly named parenting guide which is a recent publication. We’re keen to learn what’s afoot in 2012 and excited to discover that there’ll be a title by culinary author Charmaine O'Brien on Melbourne's nineteenth century cafe scene, a verse history about a baby farmer by the inimitable Judith Rodriguez, and a biography by Jenny Sinclair about Edward Oxford, a man who tried to assassinate Queen Victoria, then moved to Australia after 20 years in an insane asylum. We did attract the right sort of people to our shores, didn’t we?
If you’ve not discovered Arcade Publications, The Graceful Taylor respectfully suggests that you hot-foot it to the website now. As Dale says, “...history for me is vivid and fun and memorable - as life should be. “ Bless.
