Not Bobby Short

It must be a terribly exciting thing for a celebrity suddenly to find himself favorably mentioned in a New Yorker cartoon. Take the example shown here regarding the highly-esteemed pianist and singer Bobby Short (1924-2005). Short, of course, was a regular performer at the Cafe Carlyle in New York City. J. C. Duffy cleverly has a mediocre lounge pianist drop Short's name in this 2001 drawing. Short was a class act, and he obtained the original artwork for himself. It was sold at auction with other effects from Mr. Short's estate in the year following the cabaret singer's death.

J.C. Duffy (b. 1934)

"This next one goes out to everybody who wishes I were Bobby Short"

Signed Duffy (lower right)
ink and watercolour on paper
11x8¾in. (27.8x22.2cm.); accompanied by a typescript letter of authenticity on The New Yorker headed stationery, dated 15 August, 2001; and a page from The New Yorker magazine depicting the cartoon in an issue dated 20 & 27 August, 2001 (2)

Price Realized 

$1,320
• Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and do not reflect costs, financing fees or application of buyer’s or seller’s credits.

Estimate

$400 - $600

Sale Information

Sale 1672 Lot 86

The Personal Property of Bobby Short 

16 February 2006

New York, Rockefeller Plaza

http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=4658608&sid=73e8998e-68df-4db5-8007-49a2bb1df7b0

J. C. Duffy, The New Yorker, August 20 & 27, 2001

J. C. Duffy, The New Yorker, August 20 & 27, 2001

OK, here's the real Bobby Short:

Bobby Short at the Cafe Carlyle, 1979

Video added February 14, 2014

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