Anti-Pearlman Permanent Poster League

The Anti-Permanent Pearlman Poster League of the East (APPPLE) was an early (1979-1984) example of grass-roots political satire performed to generate media coverage. It employed tactics now known as culture jamming and guerilla communication that have been widely popularized by Billionaires for Bush, Greene Dragon, Code Pink, and other organizations.

Named after Al Pearlman—a Philadelphia Democratic City Councilman at Large elected in 1975, 1979, and 1983 and unsuccessful candidate for a Democratic State Senator nomination in 1982—its purpose was protest Pearlman's practice of campaigning through wooden signs, nailed to telephone poles far taller than any person and not removed after elections.

The sign issue was symbolic of the "in your face" attitude of both Pearlman and his political friend, ally, and mentor, Philadelphia Mayor Frank L. Rizzo. The posters were generally constructed and installed by members of the Philadelphia Building Trades, strong political allies of both Pearlman and Rizzo.

The Pearlman posters generally featured pictures of Pearlman, which the Anti-Pearlman Permanent Poster League would decorate with creative new designs in the wee hours of the morning. They would then call Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Clark DeLeon, who would month after month reveal their latest exploits to his readers with stories and pictures. This did not seem to deter Pearlman and his backers (some Philadelphians, Pearlman supporters and opponents alike, thought the saga was helpful to Pearlman), but it did deter other candidates from following suit.

Members always stayed anonymously in the background, letting their artwork and commentary speak for itself.The group ceased its activities after Pearlman, fatally stricken with cancer, committed suicide at the age of 54 on June 10, 1984, in his hospital room with a gun brought by a former wife.