Articles by Chuck Stanion | Smokingpipes Daily Reader

P.G. Wodehouse: World-Class Pipe Smoking Humorist

August 20, 2021 by Chuck Stanion

11 Comments

P.G. Wodehouse was a craftsman of the English language, his grasp of humor evident in flawlessly constructed sentences and hilarious, character-driven plots. Perhaps the most admired humorist of the 20th century, he experienced challenging times but brought delight to millions, all while maintaining a childlike glee, his goal always to bring happiness into the lives of his readers. ... Read More

J.B. Priestley: Literary Giant, Enthusiastic Pipe Smoker

August 13, 2021 by Chuck Stanion

17 Comments

A prolific writer, dramatist, poet, novelist, critic, political theorist, and pipe smoker, John Boynton Priestley is among the most highly regarded names in English literature. He wrote 26 novels, 39 plays, and multiple volumes of criticism and essays for a total of almost 200 works. He reinvented himself as a writer ... Read More

Robert Service: Yukon Pipe Smoker and Poet

August 6, 2021 by Chuck Stanion

34 Comments

Poets seldom achieve widespread popularity and wealth, but Robert William Service did. His humorous and accessible poetry reaped a worldwide audience and made him famous — so famous that the Yukon cabin he lived in from 1909-1912 is a tourist attraction and historical site, preserved to this day. Movies and animated films have been made from the yarns he wove throughout his poetry and novels. ... Read More

Johan Wolfgang Dobereiner, Inventor of the First Lighter

August 4, 2021 by Chuck Stanion

7 Comments

The first friction match was invented in 1826. Obviously, matches were a quantum leap in technology for smokers, who before that time used tongs to hold small coals against the tobacco in their pipes, or carried flint and steel, or used "spills," which were shavings of wood specifically used for lighting one's pipe or cigar. So popular were spills that a number of woodworking planes were ... Read More

The Legendary Tom Eltang

July 30, 2021 by Chuck Stanion

7 Comments

A gangly, six-year-old Tom Eltang, all arms and ears, eyes and skinny stick-legs, stood in the rain on a sidewalk in Copenhagen in 1964, peering into a kiosk at a laminated poster displaying photos of pipes — artisan pipes like none he'd seen in his young life. Even at age six, Tom was familiar with pipes. He had carefully examined his father's pipes and figured out how they worked. ... Read More

The Fascinating Development of Sun Bear: Black Locust

July 16, 2021 by Chuck Stanion

22 Comments

Sun Bear, among Cornell & Diehl's most popular Small Batch compositions, is returning. It's a blend of Bright and Red Virginias balanced by Basma from 2014 and Izmir from 2013, with the subtle, whispered notes of silver tequila, elderflower, and honey. The original Sun Bear featured honey harvested from the hives of ... Read More

Fine Art, Cartooning, and Pipe Smoking: Jim Amash

July 9, 2021 by Chuck Stanion

62 Comments

Pipe enthusiasts who read reviews of tobaccos are likely to recognize the handle JimInks. In the nine years he's been actively reviewing, JimInks has reviewed more than 2700 tobaccos. He not only writes reviews ... Read More

Gerald Ford, the Pipe Smoking President

July 2, 2021 by Chuck Stanion

19 Comments

President Gerald Ford was an anomaly. Most prominently, he was the only president not elected nationally. There have been vice-presidents who found themselves elevated to the presidency, of course, but Ford was an appointed vice-president who became president and did not experience the nationwide election process for his position. He didn't aspire to the office and was about to ... Read More

The Histories, Writings, and Pipe Smoking of Shelby Foote

June 25, 2021 by Chuck Stanion

15 Comments

Shelby Foote found himself elevated to celebrity status following his multiple appearances in Ken Burns', The Civil War in 1990. In that 11-hour documentary, Foote was seen in 89 segments, dominating substantial screen time. ... Read More

C.S. Lewis: Inventor of Worlds, Smoker of Pipes

June 18, 2021 by Chuck Stanion

30 Comments

Brilliant, imaginative, creative, scholarly, and a pipe smoker who loved Capstan and Three Nuns, C.S. Lewis has made an indelible contribution to literature, Christian apologetics, and world culture. He is the author of more than 30 books that continue to enthrall readers almost 60 years after his death, including the highly influential Mere Christianity, exploring the logical ... Read More

Chuck Stanion