Peter Arno: A Signed Publicity Still for "Artists and Models"

Peter Arno is one of six illustrators who appear together in a scene in the 1937 comedy "Artists and Models." The artists appear at a ball and draw Sandra Storme, "England's most famous model," supposedly to benefit a charity.

A publicity still from the movie is currently listed on eBay. It shows Arno pretending to draw Storme; his pencil point doesn't actually make contact with his sketch pad. The photo is signed by Arno and includes a small doodle of a woman's face.

Peter Arno and Sandra Storme

The photograph is priced at $4,000, although best offers will be entertained by the seller.

Peter Arno
eBay listing accessed July 4, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/167431008348?

Peter Arno
eBay item description

I have added a detail of the inscription to someone named Joe taken from a previous eBay listing:

"To Joe
Best wishes
Peter
Arno"

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/peter-arno-artists-models-1937-1790188922

In the movie, the scene with the illustrators sketching Storme on stage at the ball begins at 1:18:37 and runs for five or six minutes through 1:23:50.

"Artists and Models" (1937)

"America's Leading Artists and Illustrators"

Peter Arno's drawing of Sandra Storme surrounded by artists

Peter Arno and Jack Benny

Later on during the day I posted this, the eBay seller made me an offer but—alas—it didn't move the needle.

February 23, 2026 Update:  The price has climbed a bit higher, an unfortunate sign of the times.

04992

Press Photo: Raoul Walsh and Peter Arno on the Set of "Artists and Models"

"Artists and Models" is a 1937 movie starring Jack Benny and Ida Lupino. Raoul Walsh directed the film. Several popular artists made cameo appearances as themselves, including Peter Arno, McClelland Barclay, Rube Goldberg, and Russell Patterson. A press photo stamped Movie Star News shows director Walsh, left, with cartoonist Arno. Hooray for Hollywood!

Raoul Walsh and Peter Arno
eBay listing ended September 22, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186687943085?_skw=Peter+Arno+Press+Photo&itmmeta=01JC9V50M4T51QA25S5YDDCWM5&hash=item2b7777f1ad:g:ZQIAAOSwF2Zm5HiI&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKmOu4txOl9pgtWiTeKffZX6Yse2QnoHcPKEvhh4uiw6o3XJsF%2Fv0j2DGUCa2kxzJ%2FDdVCS56xh1d4w8S6rpRFV5P9O

SWb1X%2Bv4bCt8eOuQLcm4BJovGCoeFDJ%2FeHkLjhXO6Rp9e6ydx3J%2FhPex6naHtuudXm9DTtAxeLunTJM3h0FclEUC7SSQ9jK6YbVBRKvbIV6a8IWwZK0ySo%2F6puMpkm8lrs9AzAANG0Dt0zrAtLNuKIP0OgkUBVRCGy%2FGMXFxa2CMqsP1ZN59rEjFYPwGwyRxpSKkqYFXRqPgzsulmkA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9qKlLviZA

Raoul Walsh and Peter Arno
eBay item description

Raoul Walsh and Peter Arno
eBay bid history
It looks as if a single bid was placed in the last two seconds.

04796

Coming Soon: Three Issues of College Humor

The math is straightforward. Each issue of College Humor magazine that included cartoonist Peter Arno's work, circa 1936-1937, contained three cartoons in a popular, I assume, feature called "Side-Show." Of the Arno originals that were either purchased by or consigned to the Nicholls Gallery in 1985, I have yet to account for nine of them in any of the various copies of the magazine I've either collected or else examined at Columbia University. This means I still need to acquire, or examine, at least three more issues to document their content and check it agains the remaining cartoons in the Nicholls consignment. See, it's simple.

I found a couple of the sought-after issues on Etsy, readily available but, to my mind, overpriced. The first of these, from October 1936, announces its Arno content boldly on the cover (as do virtually all of them so far with the artist's work).

Sam Berman
Photographed by Dudley Lee
College Humor, October 1936
Etsy listing accessed July 27, 2024

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1659863570/college-humor-vintage-magazine-oct-1936?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga

_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=%26quot%3BCollege+Humor%26quot%3B+magazine+1936&ref=sr_gallery-23&content_source=ebba064e252980c92f9aef91927ba7ade3366724%253A1659863570&organic_search_click=1

College Humor, October 1936
Etsy price accessed July 27, 2024

The 25% discount from $67.08 to $50.31 is supposed to encourage potential buyers on Etsy. I was encouraged instead by finding a different copy on eBay with a 30% discount, from $35.99 to $25.19. I did not bother to make an offer; I just bought the thing.

Sam Berman
Photographed by Dudley Lee
College Humor, October 1936

College Humor, October 1936
eBay listing accessed July 27, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/166052997036?itmmeta=01J3VMY9FSS8V386N52442NSX9&hash=item26a987a7ac:g:~9kAAOSwotFkSEzm&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8Pmf2chRikk%2Br0EZpoXmV%2FFaBg4FUjgEk6VMZdS%2FeaavC4un8pD%2FJ9naogKKdaERfc0DUJomZg%2Fq4tRWu6M4pbFrQD5lzGlSqVC%2BzwVKVQolHyx%2Fr0W%2BdC5

KM98vYXz9m%2FoAu1Q%2F2xs8wPMsXmz%2FqgOPNLD3zG7IZxBD3MM2wUpwKfqX3OMotqCCBKs9cJ7bcwfC%2BZOP6VFa7wFPyqETP0QQPAcD0VY5Mo8Nn6tgubB3Dne2NSBxdZbsQl44xXNqjt7zbE4xxFWXIsJQQqXuoJH26Lly4iEo9lLOjoJBMpMM4%2F%2B%2BNFa3foxi9vZnUZgXmg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_yX-fSeZA

College Humor, October 1936
eBay item description

Next up, a copy of the March 1937 number, again with its Arno content proclaimed on the banner, was priced at $60.37 on Etsy; this a purported 25% discount.

Bil Baird
Photographed by Dudley Lee
College Humor, March 1937
Etsy listing accessed July 27, 2024

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1659920526/college-humor-vintage-magazine-march?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=

College+Humor+1932&ref=sr_gallery-1-2&pro=1&ret=1&content_source=7f58c0071063af1848d1888f70de676437f7f3e6%253A1659920526&organic_search_click=1

College Humor, March 1937
Etsy price accessed July 27, 2024

But a little research on my part identified a copy of the issue priced at $30 on eBay, shipping included. I know a deal when I see one.

Bil Baird
Photographed by Dudley Lee
College Humor, March 1937

There's one thing the skiing wizard and the girl bronc buster both agree on:

The conscientious seller addressed condition issues I was not really concerned about.

College Humor, March 1937
eBay listing accessed July 27, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/204793063743itmmeta=01J3VGCXVJF41T2KAE63MBQRXZ&hash=item2fae9e293f:g:os4AAOSwIsRmRjsh&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8Kt

KTrg0XwG2keMzuiBDi%2Fr7GmGxlbB6%2B%2F5O3%2FMx2%2BeXu9eCGzVZJVqnYwAG%2BQzLoR71vt6EfQ7zL9U6EM2O8taFT85mj3PhE%2FbHBwC7eZVkAIQI

Rpo%2FH%2FaHC2iKKDi%2B8WPQ6hUfG0ffncXVared1B67mvZ%2F6HouGRbGc6N0Q%2Bh0BP8Cae%2BtyGBLCuH6xl1JDCLf3FN%2FMo25UBNtis5JkrXXPSVjD

L%2B2lhbZt1n0YpENe8xR%2FWI2tMvXvNkSK%2F0ITVNGlC3sk6moDbNNXsvj3MejdmB1oCJVb%2F1Qyknq3ssufvu7Dy3tNExv8sMpyuroCg%

3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-zds_CeZA

College Humor, March 1937
eBay item description

Finally, the December 1934 issue also boasted some Arno drawings. At $14.44, it was the best buy of the three.

Lay off, you mugs

Russell Patterson

Photographed by Eugene Hutchinson

Clothes designed by Gladys Parker

College Humor, December 1934

"Have you tried this enjoyable way of heightening energy?" The Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Health is almost three decades in the future.

College Humor, December 1937
eBay listing accessed July 27, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/232074727358?itmmeta=01J3VGCXVJ1XE1CRHK9ZK0DBQQ&hash=item3608bb4fbe:g:ilcAAOSwgmJXxV~o&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8NstgEut9crxjiXGCPFJ2Y5o1GSW%2Fer5s7RT%2BGkqzrjypMu%2B8NPsyjqbc2vkH6LEmf6oxkJNW4O9%2BVioqwNVyPs773T4zPY4vO1ERfPnaFSRROuJdfTKwibR9yvGOfW

%2FsZ6eACNt9FP9SajpNWw0u25zv3OKz%2FSs7L1P61E6AAm4LcU7Qp7d0hnoCc%2BE8iZVkQSfsro0SlxNbQIF18E1EgMMlp6jxO0qANYkFwUrEelg10RkwvYhCk7ChVpilhz9KhlPUMrSDgCOOnuKqOfJ1XgxVzwv23THHKig5bMzwYf2dx8XxDqVFH6dJhxNqitqVA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_Dds_CeZA

College Humor, December 1937
eBay item description

As you can see, a certain blogger has been quite busy. I spent more than I wished to, but I have a feeling I'm now familiar with at least most of Arno's run in College Humor. And anything remaining may be harder to find and therefore more expensive.

August 3, 2024 Update:  The December issue arrived and, despite the higher 25 cent cover price, it is dated 1934, not 1937 as in the eBay listing. It has two full-page Arno cartoons which predate his "Side-Show" feature. The cover sculptor, Russell Patterson, is now identified. I have updated all this information so the magazines are not presented in the chronological order I had originally intended.

Note:  I'd still like to hear from anyone with Peter Arno rarities, either obscure published cartoons or original art. I'll even do the math.

04704

Russell Patterson: Stage Design for Saturnalia?

Russell Patterson (1893-1977) was a cartoonist and illustrator who specialized in rendering the independent-minded and attractive women of the Jazz Age. He was famous for creating the Patterson Girl of the 1920s which did much to define the flapper. He also worked on set designs for Broadway. Patterson's "Suggestion for Production," apparently an unrealized one, is dominated by the ringed planet Saturn amidst stars and clouds. His scenic design incorporates dancers and their costumes as well. The original art was sold on Tuesday by Weiss Auctions.

The presale estimate was $200 to $400.

Even so, the stage design sold for an anemic $120 plus the 18% premium. All bidding was from the floor.

Russel Patterson
Weiss Auctions

https://weissauctions.nextlot.com/auctions/1497215/lots/22686896

Note:  It occurs to me that I don't have much original art by Russell Patterson on the blog and that this scenic design is anything but a typical example of it. Enterprising Patterson collectors are invited to help me out by submitting scans or photos of his artwork for potential inclusion in future posts.

04505

A Russell Patterson Autograph

Illustrator Russell Patterson recognized E. Simms Campbell's talent early and it was he who suggested that Campbell specialize in drawing women. In a 1944 letter to a fan, Patterson, a prolific cartoonist who himself specialized in drawing women, states that he has no originals on hand, and agreeing to send one along when it becomes available, in the meanwhile provides an autograph drawing of a woman's head in profile.

Russell Patterson
AbeBooks Listing Retrieved March 30, 2018

https://www.abebooks.com/ORIGINAL-ART-DECO-COLOR-SKETCH-American/22817821956/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&cm_ite=readmore

Note:  Russell Patterson (1893-1977) is not the current subject of the blog. It is E. Simms Campbell (1906-1971) whose work we have been surveying. Readers with access to original art by either artist are encouraged to submit high-resolution scans or photographs.

At press time, the letter is available on AbeBooks.

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