The history of The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest is pretty straightforward. The magazine published an annual Cartoon Issue from 1997–2012. The caption contest began in the 1998 Cartoon Issue and continued annually until 2005 when it became a regular weekly feature. Yet there was at least one earlier contest that did not appear in print, perhaps the magazine's first caption contest, held in June of 1990 at an event sponsored by the Beverly Hills Hotel. The cartoonist was Edward Koren. The hotel is featured in the drawing.
The only knowledge I have of this contest is from an artifact spotted on eBay, the framed award for the winning caption. That caption seems to be a response to Koren's signature manner of drawing faces. I don't know whether the drawing framed under glass is an original or a print. The piece was listed on eBay three times in late 2018 and early 2019 but it failed to attract even a $25 bid. I lost track of it after this.
Note: I would like to hear from anyone with something to add to this admittedly incomplete story. Was this the only sponsored caption contest with a New Yorker connection?
 |
| Edward Koren eBay listing ended December 31, 2018 |
 |
| Edward Koren eBay item description |
Note: I would like to hear from anyone with something to add to this admittedly incomplete story. Was this the only sponsored caption contest with a New Yorker connection?
Editor Harold Ross had his own caption contest at Judge before he started The New Yorker. Read all about it on Ink Spill here.
The Attempted Bloggery Centennial Posts 💯
Blog Post No. 100
Blog Post No. 200: A Shaggy Dog Story
Blog Post No. 100
Blog Post No. 200: A Shaggy Dog Story
Blog Post No. 2900: My Copies of The Ultimate Cartoon Book of Book Cartoons
Blog Post No. 3000: The Vatican Museums 2019
Blog Post No. 3100: Frank Beaven's Dickensian Christmas
Blog Post No. 3200: St. Patrick's Day 1938—Will Cotton Original New Yorker Cover Art
Blog Post No. 3300: "Give Up?" by Whitney Darrow, Jr.
Blog Post No. 3400: The 1942 Navy Relief Show Program
Blog Post No. 3500: William Steig's "What is Art?"
Blog Post No. 3000: The Vatican Museums 2019
Blog Post No. 3100: Frank Beaven's Dickensian Christmas
Blog Post No. 3200: St. Patrick's Day 1938—Will Cotton Original New Yorker Cover Art
Blog Post No. 3300: "Give Up?" by Whitney Darrow, Jr.
Blog Post No. 3400: The 1942 Navy Relief Show Program
Blog Post No. 3500: William Steig's "What is Art?"
04200
No comments:
Post a Comment