Whitney Darrow, Jr.: The Very Rich Collector

If you've been secretly wondering what life is like for the elite art collector, this artwork by Whitney Darrow, Jr. should clear up a lot of the mystery. For one thing, the collector subscribes to a magazine called The Very Rich Collector that you can't just pick up on any newsstand. He also has a domestic staff that is quite expert at maintaining the collection without disturbing the Calder mobile.

The signature of Whitney Darrow, Jr.

EBay Listing Ended February 19, 2014http://www.ebay.com/itm/Whitney-Darrow-50s-Original-Cartoon-Important-New-Yorker-Artist-and-Cartoonist-/221371668300?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item338ac7974c

EBay Item Description

Note:  This blog has more to say about Whitney Darrow, Jr. Check out the archives.

Other works of original advertising art may be seen here as well. See how great artists sell great products.

What else is on the blog? I thought you'd never ask. It's all right here in the index. At least, I think it is.

By the way, any information about the 1960 advertising campaign that used this Darrow artwork would be most welcome.

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Whitney Darrow, Jr. for Roy Doty

"Stop, Miss!" is a 1957 collection of cartoons by Whitney Darrow, Jr. The book opens with a drawing of an astronaut carrying a sign and a hammer, a reference to the title cartoon.

Whitney Darrow, Jr. 
Stop, Miss!" (1957), page 1

In 1973, Darrow inscribed a copy to cartoonist Roy Doty. He modified the printed drawing by adding a billboard sign, some paint brushes, and a can of paint. This personalized copy was sold in March on eBay.

Whitney Darrow, Jr.

"Stop, Miss!" (1957) inscribed with a drawing of a sign and added paintbrushes and paint can "To Roy Doty—As funny as he is fast. 1/5/73 from Whitney Darrow Jr."

Whitney Darrow, Jr.
"Stop, Miss!" (1957)
Dust Jacket

Whitney Darrow, Jr.
"Stop, Miss!" (1957)
Board Cover

eBay Listing Ended March 3, 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Drawing-by-Whitney-Darrow-Jr-in-Stop-Miss-New-Yorker-Cartoonist-/391065531157?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5b0d527315&nma=true&si=Zv4PhLp6HocGRC23iqci2JeQ2LI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

EBay Item Description

eBay Bid History

The top bid is less than a full bidding increment above the other bid because the higher bid was placed first. Had the order of bidding been reversed, the $52 bid would have won because $52.52 is not a full bidding increment above it. Both bids were placed in the final 18 seconds of the auction.

Whitney Darrow, Jr.,
"Stop, Miss!" inscribed with a drawing of a sign and added paintbrushes and paint can "To Roy Doty—As funny as he is fast. 1/5/73 from Whitney Darrow Jr."

Note:  If I were in your shoes and I had a choice between reading more of my blog posts about Whitney Darrow, Jr. or more posts about signed books with original drawings, I would choose both.

Then I would check out Darrow's work on Chris Wheeler's site. Would I steer you wrong?

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My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #476

Here is my entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #476 for May 25, 2015. The drawing is by Benjamin Schwartz.

"You need to be more grounded."

I played with a lot of captions this week.

"Isn't it time you left your guilt behind too?"
"With one exception, you've made a lot of progress."
"When I said talking about it won't kill you, it was a figure of speech."
"When I said talking about it won't kill you, I didn't know you were in the Mafia."
"You've finally acknowledged your own mortality."
"There's no longer any point to thinking outside the box."
"When did you first feel they were out to get you?"
"I trust you're not taking my last payments to the grave."

June 1, 2015 Update: The Finalists

June 22, 2015 Update:  Winning Caption

Note: Last week, Frank Cotham sent a limousine around to the cave. My caption was made from stone knives and bearskins. See the primitive results of Contest #475.

Benjamin Schwartz cartoons: Yeah, we've got that.

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Rodents? Really?

My car does not sport a vanity license plate, but if it did I would not mention any sort of vermin.

"RATS-1"
New York State License Plate

Note:  What would you do with a vanity license plate?

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What You Park in Da Street

So, what do you park in da street?

"DA CAR"
New York State license plate

Note:  Click to see more blog posts about license plates I've come across in my travels.

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Matthew Diffee's Hand Drawn Joke Caption Contest

New Yorker cartoonist Matthew Diffee's brand new book is called Hand Drawn Jokes for Smart Attractive People. He promoted this book with a one-off caption contest. Here's my personal entry, with apologies to those of you who thought this was a high-class blog.

"No, I said take out the trash."

Hand Drawn Jokes for Smart Attractive People by Matthew Diffee

Matthew Diffee

Hand Drawn Jokes for Smart Attractive People by Matthew Diffee

An Evening at the Moth:  Matthew Diffee

June 5, 2015 Update:  It occurs to me that I didn't get my caption quite right. I should have said, "No, it's the trash I asked you to take out." It's still crude, but at least my intention is clear.

Note:  After you've ordered a copy or two, check out my earlier blog posts about Matt Diffee.

My entire two-year history of trying to figure out Caption Contests is right here for the browsing. No, I haven't found the skeleton key.

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Jim Dine's Art

You know that it's art if it says so. This limited edition offset lithographic poster by Jim Dine from 1968 is definitely art. See for yourself.

Jim Dine, Art, 1968, 130/144

It is being offered this week at Skinner:

Skinner Listing Closing June 1, 2015

http://skinnerlive.auctionserver.net/view-auctions/catalog/id/176/lot/79845/

Note:  There's more art by Jim Dine on the blog, although the rest of it isn't necessarily labelled as such.

If anyone knows the source of Jim Dine's photograph, just give a holler.

That edition size of 144--a dozen dozen--reminds me of a joke I first heard from high school math teacher John Titterton back in the day:  Why is the number 288 never mentioned in polite company?  It's two gross.

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Jim Dine's Short Sharp Shock

Jim Dine created an unusually disturbing poster for the New York City Center Gilbert and Sullivan Company's 1968 season. The poster's graphics recall the threatened beheading that is central to the plot of "The Mikado" (1885), although the image's tone is more chilling and less amusing than what is presented onstage. "The Mikado," set in the fictitious Japanese town of Titipu, is one of five comic operas that was performed at City Center in April and May of that year. "Yeomen of the Guard," which was also presented, has a potential beheading in its plot as well.

Jim Dine, City Center - Gilbert & Sullivan, 1968, 22/144

A limited edition copy of this poster is offered at Skinner:

Skinner Listing Closing June 1, 2015

http://skinnerlive.auctionserver.net/view-auctions/catalog/id/176/lot/79848

Of course, "The Mikado" actually deals with the morbid subject of beheading rather lightly. Here Pooh-Bah, Ko-Ko, and Pish-Tush contemplate which one of them must be sacrificed by beheading in order to comply with the Mikado's stern decree:

"I Am So Proud" from "The Mikado" (1885) by Gilbert & Sullivan

Stratford Festival, 1982

Richard McMillan as Pooh-Bah

Eric Donkin as Ko-Ko

Alan Stewart-Coates as Pish-Tush

Conducted by Berthold Carriere

This 1968 Playbill cover illustrates a scene from "The Pirates of Penzance," one of the five Gilbert and Sullivan works performed by City Center's Gilbert and Sullivan Company. In contrast to the poster, the lighthearted tone of this illustration seems more in keeping with the spirit of the plays.

Playbill, City Center Gilbert & Sullivan Company, 1968

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Playbill-Gilbert-Sullivan-Company-City-Center-Theatre-May-1968-FREE-SHIPPING-/111251546353

The five works performed by the New York City Center Gilbert and Sullivan Company in the spring of 1968:

From The Complete Book of 1960s Broadway Musicals by Dan Dietz, Rowman & Littlefield, 2014. Appendix F:  Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas

https://books.google.com/books?id=6NBiAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA555&dq=Appendix+F:+Operettas+following+chronological+list+operettas+revived&hl=en&sa=X&ei=CkxhVezzD9LLsATXyYLwCg&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Appendix%20F%3A%20Operettas%20following%20chronological%20list%20operettas%20revived&f=false

Note:  See my other blog posts about Jim Dine.

There are a few posts here about Gilbert and Sullivan as well.

Can anyone identify the photo used by Jim Dine in the poster? How about the illustrator of the Playbill cover?

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Cyrk Posters of a Walrus and a Clown with a Slingshot

Here are two more Polish Circus Posters from a past Skinner auction. Jerzy Czerniawski's poster of a walrus has interesting lettering, while Jan Mlodozeniec's poster of a clown is notable for its missing letter.

Two Polish Circus Posters
Jerzy Czerniawski, Walrus Cyrk Poster, left
Jan Mlodozeniec, Clown with Slingshot Cyrk Poster, right

Skinner Listing Closing September 12, 2012

http://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/2611M/lots/1440

Price with Buyer's Premium

Note:  Check out more posters on the blog.

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