Otto Soglow in College Humor, May 1937

In the May 1937 issue of College Humor, cartoonist Otto Soglow chronicles a frightening occurrence.

Otto Soglow, College Humor, Vol. 5, No. 1, May 1937, page 17

Note:  This copy of the May 1937 issue of College Humor is part of the Steven Boss humor magazine collection at Columbia University, one of some 5,600 humor magazines proudly housed in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library. That makes at least one leading university making good use of its shelf space. For more information on accessing the collection, contact Curator for Comics and Cartoons Karen Green, Columbia's secret weapon in the war on boring library stacks.

Help me give Otto Soglow his due. Help me make Attempted Bloggery a leading showcase for scans or photographs of original cartoon art by Soglow and other artists whose work appeared in the likes of College Humor or The New Yorker. Clippings of rare, published cartoons are also desired.

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Otto Soglow

College Humor

Attempted Bloggery's Ethereal Index

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My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #590

When I'm not spelunking, I'm posting my entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #590 for October 30, 2017. The cave drawing is by Tom Cheney.

"Ten thousand years from now, who's gonna care?"

These captions were too anachronistic.

"Well, I don't have time to decorate, what with all the
hunting and gathering."
"I told you the graffiti wasn't mine."
"All he thinks about is food."

November 6, 2017 Update:  The Finalists

November 13, 2017 Update:  I voted for the second caption.


November 20, 2017 Update:  Winning Caption

Note:  Last week cartoonist Christopher Weyant served up quite a menu. My caption had food poisoning, but you can still feast on Contest #589.

Check out the prehistory of my posts on Tom Cheney.

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The Pointless Book Signed by Edward Gorey

Edward Gorey produced many of his quirky works under various anagrammatic pseudonyms. He used Garrod Weedy only once for The Pointless Book in 1993, assigning the copyright to the pseudonymous author as well. Gorey has dutifully signed the book Garrod Weedy. The book has Gorey's characteristic hand-lettering and even without a Gorey cover illustration or Gorey's name, it does look every bit like a Gorey book, albeit a "pointless" one.

Garrod Weedy is an anagrammatic pseudonym

Edward Gorey's signature as Garrod Weedy

Edward Gorey
Abe Books Listing as of October 29, 2017

https://www.abebooks.com/Pointless-Book-Nature-Art-Two-Volumes/22605891610/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&cm_ite=viewbook_low

Note:  See Brainpickings for a post on "Anatomy of Anagrammatic Pseudonyms: The Many Incarnations of Edward Gorey."

I am always looking for scans or photos of rare books and original art and eccentricities by Edward Gorey including any created in the name of his pseudonymous alter egos.


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Edward Gorey

Attempted Bloggery's Pointless Index

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Claude Smith's Haunted House Upgrade

The house depicted in Claude Smith's New Yorker cartoon of March 8, 1958 turns out to be more than just your typical fixer-upper...

Claude Smith, The New Yorker, March 8, 1958, pages 44-45

Claude's original artwork to all eight panels was sold last year on eBay:

Claude Smith, original art
The New Yorker, March 8, 1958, pages 44-45

Claude Smith's signature

Claude Smith
eBay Listing Ended July 27, 2016

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Yorker-Comic-Art-by-Claude-Smith-8-Panels-signed-/172286176522?hash=item281d0e6d0a%3Ag%3AyV8AAOSw-YVXmRah&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Claude Smith
eBay Item Description
"Shows some age." Don't we all?

Claude Smith, original art
The New Yorker, March 8, 1958, pages 44-45

Claude Smith, The New Yorker, March 8, 1958, pages 44-45

http://archives.newyorker.com/?i=1958-03-08#folio=044

Note:  Boo! Do you know what I wish for on Halloween? How about scans or photographs of original art by Claude Smith and other New Yorker artists.


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Claude Smith

Original New Yorker Cartoon Art

Halloween

Attempted Bloggery's Haunted Index

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The Water Flowers Signed by Edward Gorey

It seems superfluous to speak of oddities where the published work of Edward Gorey is concerned. Even so, The Water Flowers (1982) doesn't seem especially typical of the artist. The water flowers convey an unearthly menace with their spearlike form and subtle undulation in the current. Although they occur together, they each appear very much isolated. Compositional monotony is averted through variations in flower height on the cover (and depth in the interior illustration), and by Gorey giving each group a single flower that curves away from the vertical. Even the irregular spacing of the lettering on the cover across the flower stalks is unsettling. This signed copy is currently available on Abe Books.

Edward Gorey, The Water Flowers, 1982

Edward Gorey's signature

Edward Gorey
Abe Books Listing as of October 28, 2017

https://www.abebooks.com/Water-Flowers-GOREY-EDWARD-Congdon-Weed/22584663114/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&cm_ite=viewbook

Note:  I seek scans or photos of rare books and original art and oddities by Edward Gorey,


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Edward Gorey

Attempted Bloggery's Flowery Index

02348

A Dog's Life: George Booth Original New Yorker Cover Art

The original artwork to George Booth's New Yorker cover of February 4, 1974 is included in the exhibition "George Booth—A Cartoonist's Life" at the Society of Illustrators. The illustration evokes a time—can it already be so far gone?—when working people with 9-5 jobs could be expected home before six. (See how the hands on the clock not only indicate the time but also point to the expectant dog.) It's a static but charming image in one-point perspective bursting with sumptuous color and ecstatic in its attention to detail; just look at that luminescent wallpaper! This cover also contains a rarity in Booth interiors: a tidy throw rug without a single fold or wrinkle. Note that the New Yorker's required strap along the left-hand border of the cover is a paste-on, apparently added as an afterthought.

George Booth, original art
The New Yorker, February 4, 1974

George Booth
The New Yorker, February 4, 1974

Note:  The artwork shown here is from the George Booth Collection via exhibition curator J. J. Sedelmaier. Thanks, J. J.

Right now it's George Booth's moment. But even when it isn't, I'm looking for scans or photos of original art by the cartoonist. Published rarities are also welcome.

I hope to be in attendance at the opening reception tomorrow night at the Society of Illustrators in New York. Don't be shy about saying hello. You can't miss me; my iPhone cover bears the very image in this post!


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George Booth

Original New Yorker Cover Art

The Society of Illustrators

Attempted Bloggery's Timely Index

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George Cruikshank: Giles Scroggins' Ghost

When standing all by the bed post,

A figure tall her sight engross'd

And it cri'd, "I be Giles Scroggins' ghost," 

Fol lol de rol de rol de ra.

The ghost it said, all solemnly,

Fol lol de rol de rol de ra.

"O Molly you must go with I,

Fol de rol de rol de ra.

"All to the grave your love to cool,"

Says she, "I am not dead, you fool."

Says the ghost, says he, "Vhy that's no rule,"

Fol lol de rol de rol de ra.

"Giles Scroggins' Ghost"
—Charles Dibdin, Jr.

George Cruikshank's illustration of the theatrical ballad "Giles Scroggins' Ghost" was offered for sale at Illustration House in 2007. It's ghoulish humor apparently did not resonate with any potential buyer and the artwork went unsold.

George Cruikshank, Giles Scroggins' Ghost, c. 1830

Illustration House
June 2, 2007
Lot 111

 http://www.illustration-house.com/recent/a35/a35pages/a35_111.html

http://www.findartinfo.com/english/list-prices-by-artist/1/16370/george-cruikshank/page/3.html

For publication, Cruikshank's watercolor was handed over to an engraver. So why was a color original needed at all?

"Giles Scroggins' Ghost" illustrated by George Cruikshank
The Bodleian Library

http://ballads.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/search/title/Giles%20Scroggins%20ghost

Shepley Singers
"Giles Scroggins' Ghost"
Lyrics by Charles Dibdin, Jr.
Music by William Reeve

"Giles Scroggins' Ghost"

http://www.americanantiquarian.org/thomasballads/items/show/85

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George Cruikshank

Halloween

Attempted Bloggery's Rule-Breaking Index

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My Entries in the Moment Cartoon Caption Contest for September/October 2017

Feast upon my entries in the Moment Cartoon Caption Contest for September/October 2017. The drawing is by Benjamin Schwartz.

"Kosher style my rump."
"And this you call assimilation?"
"Never mix meat slop and dairy slop."
"Why don't you come over for a real
Shabbos dinner?"
"Do you know when I'll eat that? When people fly!"

Jewish Humor Glossary:  Kosher style is a catering term, not a religious term, with reference to food that may appear to be in the Jewish tradition without being certified kosher. Dietary law strictly separates meat and dairy. Shabbos is one way of saying the Jewish Sabbath.

December 2, 2017 Update: The Finalists

Hog Sameach is a pun on the Hebrew greeting Chag Sameach, a way of wishing someone a joyous holiday or festival. Please vote for your favorite caption here. The deadline is December 20, 2017. While you're there, why not enter the current contest yourself? It's super.

January 23, 2018 Update: Winning Caption

Note:  Benjamin Schwartz creates the caption contests for Moment magazine. I now have more than four years' worth of Moment Cartoon Caption Contests in the archives. How many bloggers do you suppose can make that claim?

But why stop there? I just might be compulsive enough to have preserved all the cartoon caption contests I ever entered. 

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My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #589

Have a taste of my entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #589 for October 23, 2017. The drawing is by Christopher Weyant.

"The chef has an encyclopedic vision of meatloaf."

These captions just didn't fit on the menu:

"Would Monsieur care to hear tonight's specials?"
"Don't forget to save room for dessert."
"Would you prefer the large-type?"

October 30, 2017 Update:  The Finalists

November 6, 2017 Update:  The finalist captions are all good. I never got to choose which I would vote for because the Caption Contest ended an hour earlier than I expected. Someone at the New Yorker forgot about turning the Caption Contest clock back an hour when daylight saving time ended.


November 13, 2017 Update:  Winning Caption

Note:  What hump? Last week cartoonist David Borchart rang some bells. Claim sanctuary in Contest #588.

Christopher Weyant has been on this blog in a big way.

Try these gags on for size.

02344

George Booth—A Cartoonist's Life

This week George Booth is coming to the Society of Illustrators! Curated by animator J. J. Sedelmaier, the show "George Booth—A Cartoonist's Life" opens on October 24 with an opening reception on the 27th. "This is the first exhibit exclusively dedicated to George Booth's work," according to the Society's website. That represents a tremendous oversight on the part of the art world, even though technically it isn't true. In 1978, Mr. Booth had a monthlong solo exhibit at the Nicholls Gallery.

"George Booth—A Cartoonist's Life"

George Booth, 1996
Absolutely No Pets

Three issues of Leatherneck with contributions by George Booth

George Booth
"Mister Berghwin is not himself lately. And the cat hasn't been acting right, either."

"George Booth—A Cartoonist's Life" at the Society of Illustrators
"This is the first exhibit exclusively dedicated to George Booth's work."

https://www.societyillustrators.org/exhibits/george-booth-cartoonists-life

Meanwhile, forty years earlier...

Art
The New Yorker, February 13, 1978, page 8

http://archives.newyorker.com/?i=1978-02-13#folio=008

Booth exhibition ad
The New Yorker, February 13, 1978, page 126

http://archives.newyorker.com/?i=1978-02-13#folio=126

What do you suppose became of those $20 signed posters? As a matter of fact, there's one available on eBay right now!

George Booth, signed exhibition poster for the Nicholls Gallery, 1978

George Booth's signature

George Booth
eBay Listing as of October 21, 2017

https://www.ebay.com/itm/CARTOONIST-GEORGE-BOOTH-SIGNED-FRAMED-PRINT-NICHOLLS-GALLERY-1978-NEW-YORKER-/311853083463?hash=item489be46b47:g:JzwAAOSwBOtY-njH

George Booth
eBay Item Description
"Reframing wouldn't be a terrible idea." Yup.

* * *

George Booth
"Very good, Leon."

https://www.societyillustrators.org/events/opening-reception-george-booth-cartoonists-life

Note:  All original artwork shown here is from the George Booth Collection via the Society of Illustrators website.

It's George Booth's moment. As always, I'm looking for scans or photos of original art by the cartoonist. Published rarities are also welcome.

I hope to be in attendance at the opening reception Friday. Don't be shy about saying hello.


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George Booth

The Society of Illustrators

Attempted Bloggery's Nitpicking Index

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