Mario Lanza artist leaves plaque honour at pub

The notorious artist who haunts pubs with drawings of opera singer Mario Lanza has struck again in the Black Country - and has left a new calling card in the shape of a blue plaque.

The mystery figure, who usually draws the same cartoon image of Lanza on beermats and always includes a fact or a quote, has sent a hand drawn plaque to the Cleveland Arms in Wolverhampton.

The blue plaque, similar to the ones found on houses or landmark buildings of historical significance, announces that the "Mario Lanza ghostwriter haunts here".

The pub in Old Stowheath Lane, Willenhall, was recently sent six beermats by the artist.

That visit also prompted a professional documentary maker, Barney Snow, to visit the pub to make a film about the legendary ghost who has "haunted" the region since the late 1970s.

The documentary is still being made and is awaiting a broadcaster to show it.

Will Adamson, aged 38, assistant manager of the pub, said: "He sent us the plaque through the post.

"We regard it as a great honour that he wants to haunt us.

"Whenever he visits anywhere it's a real talking point.

"No-one knows who he really is or why he's so keen to draw pictures of Mario Lanza.

"It's got everyone interested."

The plaque is being displayed on a wall in the bar by the coffee machine.

The Ghost almost always signs his work AJW.

He currently has 87 fans on a page set up in his honour on social networking site Facebook.

People who have found the beer mats scan them in and post them online.

The Ghost has targetted people's workplaces including The Public arts centre in West Bromwich. Facebook user and English teacher Mike Steven, aged 34, from Wollaston said recent visits by the so-called Ghost have referred to the mystery of cats going missing in the village several years ago.

His mats now include pictures of cats and refer to Wollaston as the "Bermuda Triangle" because around 50 pets have been lost from the area.

Documentary maker Barney Snow, from London, has worked on Channel 4's Cutting Edge as well as BBC projects like Trawlermen and Bailiffs.

The 45-year-old said: "I heard of the story and thought it was not the usual subject for a documentary.

"It's a long-running mystery but completely meaningless so it's the kind of story that appeals to me."

Mr Snow is currently looking for a broadcaster to take the documentary on and show it.

The Express & Star has helped by providing access to stories from our archive and giving an insight into the popular mystery of AJW.