Crazy Philadelphia Eddie

Crazy Philadelphia Eddie

Tattooing: The Life and Times of Crazy Philadelphia Eddie, My Vida Loca; Volumes 1-7 Crazy Philadelphia Eddie is one of the godfathers of American tattooing, and he is missed by the tattoo community. There are more than fifty tapes of Eddie telling his life story, so it will take some time to upload all of the recordings. Mix yourself a couple drinks, hit play, and enjoy the ride. This story is a roller coaster!

Episodes

September 10, 2019 8 mins

.

Mark as Played

.

Mark as Played

.

Mark as Played

This podcast episode was published on 8/22/2019, which would have been Crazy Philadelphia Eddie's 83rd birthday!  I will be raising a two glasses for you, my good friend!  We sure do miss you!

Mark as Played
August 14, 2019 15 mins
Crazy Philadelphia Eddie had so M e gypsy blood pumping through his pirate heart. If he had some spare supplies, extra flash, and e bit of bank roll, he would stake a claim anywhere. This time, it was San Francisco.
Mark as Played
Eddie was willing to explore new areas to open a shop. Some of them made a mint, some of the shops struggled.
Mark as Played
Crazy Philadelphia Eddie explains that the ground he built his business shifted on him. It is hard to compete with the oldest profession in the world.
Mark as Played
This is the second half of Eddie's story about sitting in at Bob Shaw's tattoo shop in Long Beach, California.  Eddie's experience at Bob's shop was a turning point in Eddie's career.  Eddie used to say that when he walked with Bob Shaw, tattooers would always stop him and ask Bob questions.  Eddie pointed this out to Bob, and Bob replied, "One day, Eddie, they will be stopping you when you walk by, and they will ask you the same q...
Mark as Played
Crazy Philadelphia Eddie had older tattooers in New York City that taught him what they knew about tattooing, and he and friends would experiment with the techniques they learned.  Through trial and error, and with pure enthusiasm, they pushed themselves to be better tattooers.  However, upon meeting Bob Shaw, Eddie found a mentor who helped him foster a professionalism that elevated his tattooing skills.  
Mark as Played

Even if everything in your life looks perfect, be very wary of the ones close to you that may want to pull the rug out from under you.  When they start to pull the rug, grab your hammer and start swinging!  Check for rattles!

Mark as Played
This episode is a continuation of Sharon's Name Game. Crazy Philadelphia Eddie went through the ringer with his second wife, Sharon.  It seems that the only place he found solace in this marriage was at the tattoo shop or when he went over the top to make things work things with Sharon.  Sometimes a trip to Vegas is a breath of fresh air.
Mark as Played
Crazy Philadelphia Eddie was always bewildered by his second wife, Sharon. Even the naming of his kids was a confusing issue, and that was just the surface of the problem. Pandora's box was merely a perplexing puzzle compared to his marriage with Sharon.
Mark as Played
June 6, 2019 11 mins
At the cashier's cage at most casinos in Las Vegas, there is a pamphlet titled, When the Fun Ends.  Crazy Philadelphia Eddie and his friends definitely tried to beat the odds at the ponies and the tables.  The sporting life introduced him to a lot of interesting characters like Bernie.  Bernie wrote a book called, Green Fever.  It was never published, but talking with him on the phone, he told me about the time Sharon chased him ar...
Mark as Played

The Greek Pantheon was graced by Zeus's three daughters: Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrosyne. The daughters embodied elegance, beauty, and joy.  As Eddie tells it, Philadelphia had three legendary brothers around Chinatown: the Cheety brothers.    

Mark as Played
May 21, 2019 11 mins

Crazy Philadelphia Eddie was always one to defy the courts or buck the system.  In this episode he packs up the family and heads west to keep everyone together.  Exploring San Francisco, he meets Lyle Tuttle for the first time.  I imagine they are both having drinks right now at some celestial bar.  

Mark as Played
Crazy Philadelphia Eddie was in his element in Chinatown.  His brothers-in-laws were boxers and jockeys from South Philly, he was among a group of gamblers, and there were I creative hustlers hanging around the shop that kept his social life interesting.  Eddie was in the center of the sporting life in Philly, but it was exactly the opposite at home.
Mark as Played

As Crazy Philadelphia Eddie continued to establish himself in Chinatown, he reached out to the younger tattooers that showed promise.  He was in a position to offer young kids a job just as Max Peltz and Brooklyn Blackie broke Eddie into the business. 

Mark as Played
April 18, 2019 14 mins
Crazy Philadelphia Eddie explains that he expected sabotage and covert attacks from the enemies he kept at a distance. He could never prove anything, but he could speculate who was the source of his aggravation. However, if his enemy was in his intimate circle, the attack was right in front of him and very close to the heart.  This time it was point-blank on Race Street.
Mark as Played
Crazy Philadelphia Eddie takes a short respite from his Chinatown stories to reminisce about his Coney Island and 8th Avenue shops.  His grandmother used to tell him that life was a roller coaster.  Eddie's life was a bit more.  It was a roller coaster, a casino, a carnival, and an amusement park wrapped into one.  If you really listen to what Eddie is reflecting on, there are some real pearls of wisdom: respect those with an iron ...
Mark as Played
Sharon becomes Eddie's girlfriend, and the chaos that ensues was a vexing tornado that left him confused on many occasions.  Coupled with the city's desire to gentrify skid row, Crazy Philadelphia Eddie was a pirate in uncharted territory....again.
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Joyce Sapp, 76; Bryan Herrera, 16; and Laurance Webb, 32—three Miami residents whose lives were stolen in brutal, unsolved homicides.  Cold Case Files: Miami follows award‑winning radio host and City of Miami Police reserve officer  Enrique Santos as he partners with the department’s Cold Case Homicide Unit, determined family members, and the advocates who spend their lives fighting for justice for the victims who can no longer fight for themselves.

    24/7 News: The Latest

    The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.