Attempted Bloggery

Saturday, July 27, 2024

More Issues of College Humor from 1936 and 1937

My reason for pursuing old issues of College Humor magazine is simple. I am looking to document the cartoons that Peter Arno contributed. His work for The New Yorker is legendary, of course, but his contributions to College Humor are largely forgotten except, perhaps, to readers of this blog. The other great cartoonists in each issue are just a wonderful bonus.

On July 12, I picked up three issues with fresh Arno content—August 1936, November 1936, and January 1937—in addition to the four copies I just bought in June. I have already posted the "Side-Show" feature from them, each with three Arno cartoons.

The August 1936 number has pin-up art on the cover by R. Schabelitz. How else would one sell a humor magazine? Oh, right, by listing some of the prominent contributors on the cover.

R. Schabelitz
College Humor, August 1936

R. Schabelitz's printed signature

Would you like to come up to my dormitory and see my etchings? New Yorker cartoonist Peggy Bacon is one of the artists.

"Life's big question" and maybe not just in 1936:

Campus cartoonists ape the style of the pros:

The eBay seller who chose not to photograph the Arno spread did choose to include this:

The subscription ad, right, is illustrated by Jefferson Machamer:

We see cartoons here by Gregory d'Alessio, Lawrence Lariar, and Syd Hoff. I should be able to get better pictures. It's ironic that I won't use a scanner.

Victor Hugo approves of Camels. No, not that Victor Hugo.

Let me offer a little insight into my negotiating technique. The magazine was listed on eBay for $10.00. But there was writing in marker on the cover, for crying out loud, so I felt it was fair to offer $7.00 instead. My offer was not accepted and there was no counteroffer from the seller. After moping for a couple of weeks, I eventually came up to $8.00 and that offer was accepted.

College Humor, August 1936
eBay listing ended July 12, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/385547176220?itmmeta=01J3RW8HZG2YYTJM8T4M4ETSGZ&hash=item59c467091c:g:fKgAAOSwBahkOU9l&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4LLmNsqbYKWMAXj5Lo3ONezetrYnPswpcXRIFSEQHG6j%2BT8rv9sEN1YRIHj%2B5m78ENRjVrlnutDDF%2ByNfE5Gz8ZDAiGlCAL7Ysgx8ErtInnOjnZtTJF5Kmbzc

kJCRRmeEQo9lrAfsc8MIQVwaJCHaoGORpNmAJPb6QQlGe5Hgy%2BlB0GLfQUqIFOs32HaLpraot31r0J%2BjdM4LLh23JA25wPs1xOvy2lmBbuiz27%2BiZ2K9TH%2FlKrsrvecVFMaSslgTVp0npt7XPcxtGRy9foY3noG5DOqhtjzf9Nus1WwWbee%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-ifopyeZA

College Humor, August 1936
eBay item description

The second issue I found was November 1936. The cover is by Sam Berman. His football scenario requires a convoluted explanation on the contents page.

Sam Berman
Photographed by Dudley Lee
College Humor, November 1936

Camels: golfers, bowlers, and busy homemakers swear by them.

College Humor, November 1936
eBay listing accessed July 12, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/135108696360?itmmeta=01J2J454NMYZHDAGJ3DC3Y7NZY&hash=item1f751b1928:g:dgwAAOSweGtmcKbo&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8OPmRqGWMhj3ATZ9ozm6IkIXMI6HyFnSEhYa%2BPBAKPitsqJqA19sGVyzEeUxaNiLm033xBw2%2BZSC%2FAKcNPUy3WgunAA5ZSYm9dsb47FkeNJ%2Fi0ScOOEo

NBXLg37zR1Ebrz4ucvEe8SWAgnrcFWxIuPNKs8Itz75XukoGvhFEoHoxfnpgcdGfeLrUpWov%2FOTuNEAQ5QlH%2BLn72%2BJ%2FahlHjHl8Pt2uBCpa6FoRVEe9%2Brs5zGKFXwZ%2FXK4nSfOxX5cJgEww7FMoGbS8LOciqTaB8hzeJJuKHPE7rGce9t2XBtWDdD57tHP%2BcjS8LUxXDVjDxw%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBM-MqUxJRk

The January 1937 cover is by Samuel Berman. You can read the expression on her face—or you can read the writing in the ice.

Samuel Berman
Photographed by Dudley Lee
College Humor, January 1937

Do you have Prince Albert in a can?

College Humor, January 1937
eBay listing ended July 12, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/315446601252?itmprp=cksum%3A3154466012524e5f0289a17f4ffe829ccad0f8caf898%7Cenc%3AAQAJAAABUCk%252BEYkE9MwKlxrUayjKrhLhBNc6OvLPrg34zQdvwtva%252FYyT1Rws7v7DAH8aow6919Myv274JEQnLymIrPbYDth8dZ8o3PrLSVjeDVAdVjlkmv5RL6Pkr8CgCyYO5d3CAeqaAAEZso0vtBCDrhs%252BDUm6Vmwt23hO8P5x5TRWWRdP4PWbl04GC4JQXs3LGxYueJO2g%252BIzwXpwWVku8HUyZPnSDl

qujMxwnU8yGaaZttZMGH5ebgpKKOtwfgUDckpKAbQyQlBlbGsk8AucN1cKxan4Zkv9nUrYQTwHek%252FH%252FmhhAyqVHxFIGqwBtMLRiuTxICjlc%252FyWbsZZdIU2Ko%252F0XOle0IPl84U4myDpanNt7WzpnW3S%252BIFF3zOtIH6qNiagWgxZExCbCneWiiuZMCl9rq8dVEw2fZXfKXF2TC%252BUqaBCamG2HVrGhRAswP6IxjxWng%253D%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A4429486&itmmeta=01J2M3598BKK5YRY6JXJMH6MYZ

College Humor, January 1937
eBay item description

There is actually a fourth issue from the same seller as the November 1936 and January 1937 issues. The magazine from September 1937 was one that I had already photographed at Columbia University in the Steven Boss Collection, so this was not a part of any Arno quest. For a mere $2.70, I figured, why not add it to my own library?

The cover is by puppeteer Bil Baird. Life is a sort of merry-go-round, isn't it?

Bil Baird
Photographed by Dudley Lee
College Humor, September 1937

"Camels never get on your nerves!" Just ask the aquaplane expert.

College Humor, September 1937
eBay listing ended July 12, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/315550091119?itmmeta=01J3RW8HZGP31A7YGQVP8CZRBQ&hash=item497840476f:g:MP4AAOSwtMpmkZDG&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwOx0cSf%2BJ%2BY7R7ZRjP9IV2q8JdV3IEVUDpuqkgeUcalYEmdU3oTYaYpZuRcpIJZroCH4U6VLGQ6Iqzx1pPKltKbdnb3ff7faj

w1xPKv722Z98qHR2uspzKQOdhXd8rJryTwCgISLka7dQ6pe4iDUgf%2FBKOqVSLW7mn6LBwNwEGJXEHVKsW%2BGxrTIwgrMhaSJrHT%2FBCuQWT8trCq5yQZeS%2BPMJCkla%2Bx3jlIz%2BxjVWPSuTbeZrFJ%2FVG46QZDyfq2npg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-ifopyeZA

College Humor, September 1937
eBay item description

04703

Friday, July 26, 2024

Peter Arno's Side-Show for January 1937

The final two pages of Peter Arno's "Side-Show" currently in my possession come from the January 1937 issue of College Humor. What do you suppose all those clever undergraduates found amusing during the Great Depression?

"By gad! I wish I were you father for about five minutes."
Peter Arno
College Humor, January 1937, p. 18

"Anything she does now will be an anti-climax."
"See here, Prentice—it's all right to look, but you needn't cheer them on!"
Peter Arno
College Humor, January 1937, p. 19

"Side-Show"
Peter Arno
College Humor, January 1937, pp. 18-19

Barbara Nicholls handled the original art for the full page cartoon. A photo of it appeared on a 1985 contact sheet from her New York gallery provided to the seller.

"By gad! I wish I were your father for about five minutes."
January 1937

Eventually she sold the piece not in her gallery but at a Guernsey's illustration art auction:

"By gad! I wish I were your father for about five minutes."
January 1937
Guernsey's March 1986 illustration art auction catalogue, Lot A726

Nicholls also handled the original art for the biology lab cartoon:

"See here, Prentice—it's all right to look, but you needn't cheer them on!"
January 1937

The original art was later sold at auction, but I don't have any idea where or when:

"See here, Prentice—it's all right to look, but you needn't cheer them on!"
Peter Arno
Original art at auction
College Humor, January 1937

http://www.artnet.com/artists/peter-arno/gag-cartoon-teacher-admonishing-adult-students-at-c2gIAc6HbdUwh3VSJ7EDeQ2

Note: So where is the original art for "Anything she does now will be an anti-climax?" Perhaps Peter Arno sold that one himself. Some say a decent blog can never have enough original Arno art. Share yours here and I'll be sure to cheer you on.

04702

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Peter Arno's Side-Show for November 1936

Chances are, if you didn't catch Peter Arno's "Side-Show" cartoon feature when it first appeared in the November 1936 issue of College Humor, you didn't get a second chance. Until now, that is.

"Here's a hot one, lambie—'Dear sir: As an old friend, I feel it my duty to warn
you to keep an eye on your new chauffeur.'"
Peter Arno
College Humor, November 1936, p. 18

"Now?"
"She keeps asking for you! She's delirious."
Peter Arno
College Humor, November 1936, p. 19

Peter Arno's "Side-Show"
College Humor, November 1936, pp. 18-19

The original College Humor artwork for that third cartoon appeared on a contact sheet prepared by the Nicholls Gallery back in 1985.

"She keeps asking for you! She's delirious."
November 1936

Note: I'd like to hear from the current owners of Peter Arno's original art for College Humor. Now? Yes, now.

04701

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Blog Post No. 4700: Peter Arno's Rebecca and the Wounded Ivanhoe

In finding herself once more by the side of Ivanhoe, Rebecca was astonished at the keen sensation of pleasure which she experienced, even at a time when all around them both was danger, if not despair.
Ivanhoe
—Sir Walter Scott

Sir Walter Scott's novel Ivanhoe was published in December of 1819. In Chapter 29, Rebecca, the Jewish daughter of Isaac of York, tends to the wounded Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe after his injury in a tournament. Through the castle room's window she sees a violent battle raging just outside as the castle is stormed and, aghast, she relates what she sees to the bedridden knight.

But cartoonist Peter Arno's illustration of the scene is a lighthearted take on the adventure, with a smiling Ivanhoe appearing to be well on his way to recovery thanks to the gentle ministrations of Rebecca. Whatever fierce battle may be raging about the castle walls, there is no indication of it in this serene rendering.

According to a fraying label on the back, the drawing was published in a February issue of The American Magazine. The original art came recently to eBay from the estate of American painter Harry Shoulberg (1903-1995).

Arno's illustration is related in style and subject matter to his depiction of "Cyrano de Bergerac," which came to light at auction late last year. The levity of the piece may very well link it to a humorous series of one-page condensed classics written by Munro Leaf (of Ferdinand the Bull renown) that were illustrated by Arno. These include Robinson Crusoe, the only full example we've seen in these pages. There are also four atypical Arno drawings in his 1944 collection Man in the Shower, illustrations of literary classics that just might be part of this selfsame series. This is all a conjecture at this point but, I hope, not an unreasonable one.

Peter Arno's signature

Peter Arno
eBay listing ended May 18, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/116180986010?itmmeta=01J13JXTTBVTNFP5KZADY0QVDB&hash=item1b0ced289a:g:yOoAAOSwtipmNFTC&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwHnPPUXHk8%2FJSE1wQ1MqFhwm3Bt%2FFDXaNC47RRDyjT%2FXR5V5WubxmR1NmhcoM%2BUFcZ7Tv0m8JJNaH%2B9%2F843gaS

2YTzGoOA7C65XKEZyjdYU0umVw%2By3zcAdLT3cNtDZl6ZmWZYmHekJLfxlBz3nai0u%2FHCVTS6CVt%2FK7m3CBpfuKmIhkaX1jQStJuXmvtgR44frOmyUdmaZWjYgkVd0kKk2BiBN9XsxwDfLRcYqObopa%2BshKKvUnwFQwzRKLuDe1ng%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR6Ct9_KIZA

Peter Arno
eBay item description

After a lowball best offer of $250 was refused, the seller's counteroffer of $400 was accepted.

Eugène Delacroix handled the same subject back in 1823, just four years after the novel's publication. Today his painting is hanging at the Met. Like most artists who depict the scene, Delacroix focuses on Rebecca describing the battle to Ivanhoe, just as Scott did.

Note: Anyone with access to printed magazine illustrations of major literary works by Peter Arno, or original art of the same ilk, please get in touch. I am eager to gather as many of these as possible to see whether they can indeed be linked to the humorous writings of Munro Leaf and to The American Magazine. There is still much to learn and much to read.