Tony Polito: Rough Rider, Old Calcutta & Tattoo’s Ban-Era Legend
Skin & Story
6,618 views
Tony Polito was one of Brooklyn’s most unforgettable tattooers. His shop, Tony’s Tattoos — better known as Old Calcutta — ran through the NYC tattoo ban years, cranking out 40–80 tattoos a day. He didn’t invent the famous cowboy skull design, but he made the Rough Rider legendary.
In this episode of Skin and Story, we set the record straight on:
How Tony started tattooing in Brooklyn in the 1960s
The truth behind the “Crazy Sal” misnaming
His high-volume production style
Why his shop became known as Old Calcutta
And why his legacy still matters today
📅 Premieres Thursday, September 11th at 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET
🎨 Special thanks to Rich Fie for his time and stories:
Archive IG: @tonypolito1959
Personal IG: @richfie
YouTube: @richfienyc
WordPress: richfie.wordpress.com
Shop: richfie.bigcartel.com
👉 Subscribe to follow the series: @skinandstory
The legacy of American traditional tattooing lives in our skin and in our story.
17 Comments
Top 5: Tim Hendricks, Luke Wessman, Chris Garver, Chris O'Donnell, Mike Rubendall🤘
Tony Polito: Rough Rider, Old Calcutta & Tattoo’s Ban-Era Legend
Skin & Story
6,618 views
Tony Polito was one of Brooklyn’s most unforgettable tattooers. His shop, Tony’s Tattoos — better known as Old Calcutta — ran through the NYC tattoo ban years, cranking out 40–80 tattoos a day. He didn’t invent the famous cowboy skull design, but he made the Rough Rider legendary.
In this episode of Skin and Story, we set the record straight on:
How Tony started tattooing in Brooklyn in the 1960s
The truth behind the “Crazy Sal” misnaming
His high-volume production style
Why his shop became known as Old Calcutta
And why his legacy still matters today
📅 Premieres Thursday, September 11th at 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET
🎨 Special thanks to Rich Fie for his time and stories:
Archive IG: @tonypolito1959
Personal IG: @richfie
YouTube: @richfienyc
WordPress: richfie.wordpress.com
Shop: richfie.bigcartel.com
👉 Subscribe to follow the series: @skinandstory
The legacy of American traditional tattooing lives in our skin and in our story.
He didn’t invent the Rough Rider, but he made it famous.
Huge thanks to Rich Fie — check out his work & archives here:
Archive IG: @tonypolito1959
Personal IG: @richfie
YouTube: @richfienyc
Store: richfie.bigcartel.com
What’s your favorite piece of classic flash — and do you know who first drew it? Drop it below 👇
The legacy of American traditional tattooing lives in our skin and in our story.