William Steig: Coming Home Late

It's late at night in Apartment 3K. Seventy years ago, the readers of Collier's were treated to a wonderful cartoon by a wonderful cartoonist: William Steig.

William Steig
Orignal art
Collier's, May 11, 1956

Evidently rejected by The New Yorker which would have had first crack at it, the drawing presents us with a couple uniquely suited to each other.

William Steig
Framed, orignal art

Collier's, May 11, 1956

The framed original art was listed some two months ago by Honey & Wax Booksellers of Philadelphia and it remains available at the time of this posting. 

William Steig
AbeBooks listing accessed July 21, 2026

https://www.abebooks.com/signed/Original-gag-cartoon-Colliers-magazine-Steig/32452863076/bd

William Steig
AbeBooks item description

The published cartoon is in Dick Buchanan's clip files and appeared on the blog Mike Lynch Cartoons. 

William Steig
Collier's, May 11, 1956

https://mikelynchcartoons.blogspot.com/2018/01/from-dick-buchanan-files-william-steig.html

William Steig
Orignal art
Collier's, May 11, 1956

05304

Gardner Rea: A Moving Christmas

Dick Buchanan just dropped off an old Christmas cartoon by Gardner Rea. It was printed in two colors, black and green, in the December 23, 1939 issue of Collier's. Consumption was conspicuous, apparently, even during the Great Depression.

"Just the same, I'd feel better if I saw somebody."
Gardner Rea
Collier's, December 23, 1939

Note:  My thanks to Dick Buchanan for dipping into his amazing Cartoon Clip Files just for us. This is Dick's 63rd contribution to Attempted Bloggery, a new world record I'm sure the Guinness people will soon be noting. Dick also contributes to Mike Lynch Cartoons. His latest effort there is a post related to this one entitled "From the Dick Buchanan Files:  More Wiggly Rea Cartoons 1938-1953." Be sure not to miss it. Wiggly, by the way, referred to the erratic quality of Rea's line.

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Charles Cartwright: Starving Artist?

Dick Buchanan, the curatorial whiz behind the eponymous Cartoon Clip Files, is a man for all seasons—and that includes tax season. Here he provides us with a scan of a 1941 Collier's cartoon by Charles Cartwright, a cartoonist who has not previously appeared on this blog. The gag is set in an artist's garret where the artist's wife has learned of a new reason to possibly distrust him.

"Income tax? Paul! Have you been up to something?"
Charles Cartwright
Collier's, March 22, 1941

Scan by Dick Buchanan

Note:  My thanks go once again to Dick Buchanan for maintaining the celebrated Dick Buchanan Cartoon Clip Files and for sharing thereof. Dick has made a brand new contribution to Mike Lynch Cartoons, a post entitled "From the Dick Buchanan Files: Entertaining Company 1940 - 1966." This is Dick's 62nd contribution to Attempted Bloggery, a new record.

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Perry Barlow: Toys Have Consequences

Even seven decades ago consumers were evaluating potential Christmas toy purchases by criteria other than simply how much pleasure they might give. Perry Barlow's cartoon for the December 10, 1949 Collier's shows a somber couple contemplating a purchase that could have ramifications throughout the household. In contrast, the woman trying out the trumpet, which can have its own widespread effects, seems to be lost in the moment. One wonders whether the recipient will be as pleased.

Perry Barlow
Collier's, December 10, 1949

Scan by Dick Buchanan

Note:  You can always tell a scan from the Dick Buchanan cartoon clip files. It's crisp and sharp and seems to look better, if possible, than the cartoon did in the original magazine. This is Dick's fifty-seventh appearance here on Attempted Bloggery. I am honored to have him contributing. Dick also contributes regularly to Mike Lynch Cartoons, most recently a post entitled "From the Dick Buchanan Files: Gag Cartoon Clichés Part 7 1937 - 1963," the seventh installment in the wonderful series. Me, I avoid clichés like the plague. (Oops, I used that one already.)

My wife tells me our fax machine can make scans too, but that seems pretty farfetched to me.
  

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Ringing in the New Year with George Booth, Gahan Wilson, and Robert Weber

Scans of three vintage New Year cartoons come to us courtesy of Dick Buchanan's Cartoon Clip Files. Each of the three cartoonists represented here was eventually to become a major New Yorker contributor, but at the time these were published George Booth and Gahan Wilson were still years away from having their first cartoons accepted by the magazine. Robert Weber, though, had been in the New Yorker for a couple of years at the time the cartoon of his shown here was published.

Dick writes that George Booth's silhouette art was published as a "spot drawing which appeared on the last page of the magazine. This page included jokes, humorous verse (what ever happened to that?) and two cartoons. Booth did these spots for, I think, 3 years—1953 to 1955. Long ago I posted all 12 from 1953 [at] Mike Lynch [Cartoons]. Have yet to uncover enough from 1954 & 1955."

George Booth

The American Legion Magazine

January 1954, page 64

Scan by Dick Buchanan

Dick has posted the following Gahan Wilson cartoon to Mike Lynch Cartoons not once but twice now. Still, it's worth a third look to point out just how unconventional Wilson's approach was. The key here is to take special note of the date of publication and then the year of the calendars. Who else would even think of this?

Gahan Wilson
Collier's, January 7, 1955

Scan by Dick Buchanan

Finally, Robert Weber's cartoon has the look of a gag created specifically for the New Yorker but very likely rejected by the magazine, perhaps because the gag is just a little bit forced. Anyway, in this era cartoons were published in a great many venues and cartoonists could peddle their rejects to other downstream magazines and those magazines that were selective enough and paid enough could give their readers humor very nearly on a par with that in the New Yorker. It was what we today would call a win-win for both the cartoonists and for the magazines. To quote the nostalgic Dick Buchanan, "Whatever happened to that?"

Robert Weber
Look, December 31, 1963, page 41

Scan by Dick Buchanan

Note:  Boy, that Dick Buchanan sure knows his way around a scanner! This is Dick's fifty-first contribution to Attempted Bloggery. One more and I'll finally be playing with a full deck. Dick, of course, maintains the matchless Dick Buchanan Cartoon Clip Files. He also regularly contributes to Mike Lynch Cartoons, most recently a post entitled "From the Dick Buchanan Files: All In Fun: Gag Cartoons 1949 - 1968." Me, I just can't double up on colons in a post title like that.

By the way, you can find George Booth's aforementioned 1953 silhouette gags at "1953 George Booth Drawings for American Legion Magazine." It's all there in black and white.

As mentioned above, the Gahan Wilson calendar cartoon appeared twice, both in "Dick Buchanan's Cartoon Files: Gahan Wilson: Early Gag Cartoons 1954 - 1964" and in "Gahan WIlson 1930 - 2019."

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Happy New Year!

George Booth

Gahan Wilson

Robert Weber

Collier's

Look Magazine

Dick Buchanan

Attempted Bloggery's Auld Index

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Gahan Wilson: The Unquiet Coven

Don't you hate when this happens?

"Could you please make a little less noise?"
Gahan Wilson
Collier's, October 29, 1954

Scan by Dick Buchanan

Note:  You can help support cartoonist Gahan Wilson's medical needs here.

I want to thank Dick Buchanan for once again dipping into his Cartoon Clip Files and finding the perfect cartoon. This post is his 47th contribution to Attempted Bloggery.

03068

Hank Ketcham: Lincoln's Birthday

How does one honor Abraham Lincoln on his birthday? In 1946, five years before he began the comic strip "Dennis the Menace," Hank Ketcham published a cartoon in Collier's that offers at least a suggestion of how one should celebrate. The gag is cute in its way, but the caption just doesn't deliver the Gettysburg address.

"This is nothing. You should see the fuss he makes over Washington's Birthday[.]"
Hank Ketcham
Collier's, February 12, 1946, page 35

Scan by Dick Buchanan

Note:  My thanks go once again to Dick Buchanan for contributing the scan of Honest Abe for today's post. This is his forty-second contribution to the blog, but who's counting? Dick maintains the renowned Dick Buchanan Cartoon Clip Files from which he also contributes regularly to Mike Lynch Cartoons, most recently a post entitled "From the Dick Buchanan Files: More Vintage Gag Cartoons 1947 - 1962." Go take a look. Trust me.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Hank Ketcham

Dick Buchanan

Abraham Lincoln

Collier's

Presidents' Day

Attempted Bloggery's Log Cabin Index

02833

John Ruge: Radio Daze

Before television came on the scene, the living room radio console was a major fixture in home entertainment. Times may have changed, but at least one thing hasn't: people still can't agree on which station to tune in to.

"What say we try one Sunday evening without him?"
John Ruge
Original cartoon art
Collier's

"What say we try one Sunday evening without him?"
John Ruge
Original cartoon art
Collier's

Detail

Detail

John Ruge's signature

Detail

Collier's label

Collier's label

John Ruge
eBay Listing Ended December 16, 2018

https://www.ebay.com/itm/John-Ruge-Listed-Artist-1948-Colliers-Cartoon-Illustration-Drawing-3-/123530592762?hash=item1cc2ff41fa%3Ag%3AMcYAAOSw3T5cCaAy&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

John Ruge
eBay Item Description

John Ruge
eBay Bid History
Three bids double the initial offering price.

Note:  This cartoon was no doubt published in Collier's, but when and on what page? Anyone?

Of the four works of reportedly original art by John Ruge listed and sold by eBay seller mika-1234, the cartoon labeled #1, above, is actually not by John Ruge. Read all about it and its cartoonist here.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

John Ruge

Original Cartoon Art

Collier's

Attempted Bloggery's Sleepless Index

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Ted Key: The Whoopee Party

It is the morning of New Year's Day eighty years ago as seen in the pages of Collier's. Cartoonist Ted Key's young master has returned home from a night on the town. His gentleman's gentleman, it would seem, has also been busy celebrating.

"On behalf of the staff and myself, sir—whoopee!"
Ted Key
Collier's, January 7, 1939, page 44

Scan by Dick Buchanan

Note:  A New Year's toast to Dick Buchanan for providing this scan of a long-forgotten Ted Key cartoon. What Ted Key is best remembered for, of course, is the panel strip Hazel. Today marks Dick's forty-first contribution to Attempted Bloggery, not that I'm keeping track or anything. Dick maintains the celebrated Dick Buchanan Cartoon Clip Files. He also contributes regularly to Mike Lynch Cartoons, most recently a post entitled "From the Dick Buchanan Files: More Vintage Gag Cartoons 1947 - 1962." Go have a look. Share them with your valet.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Ted Key

Dick Buchanan

Parties

Collier's

Happy New Year!

Attempted Bloggery's Formal Index

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Perry Barlow: Sizing Up the New Year

It is New Year's Eve eighty years ago in the pages of Collier's. Perry Barlow's older couple has not quite gotten into the spirit of the festivities. Note how deftly Barlow sets the scene and contrasts the impassive couple in the foreground with the energetic partygoers everywhere else.

"Now, let's see, I take about a seven and three eighths[.]"
Perry Barlow
Collier's, January 7, 1939, page 43

Scan by Dick Buchanan

Note:  Hats off to Dick Buchanan for sending along this scan of a festive Perry Barlow cartoon. This is Dick's fortieth contribution to Attempted Bloggery, but then I have been known to undercount. Dick's claim to fame is that he keeps the monumental Dick Buchanan Cartoon Clip Files. From these he contributes regularly to Mike Lynch Cartoons, most recently a post entitled "From the Dick Buchanan Files: More Vintage Gag Cartoons 1947 - 1962." Go visit. You won't find these anywhere else. Yes, you can wear your party hat.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Perry Barlow

Dick Buchanan

Parties

Collier's

Happy New Year!

Attempted Bloggery's Heady Index

02784

George Sixta: Rivets at the Thanksgiving Table

For the Thanksgiving holiday, Dick Buchanan dipped into his cartoon clip files and found a long-forgotten panel by George Sixta. It is a 1949 example of the Rivets feature he created for the Saturday Evening Post back in 1944. It was later to become a syndicated newspaper feature. Here Sixta provides us with an accomplished overhead view of the Thanksgiving table. Rivets alone fails to appreciate the solemnity of the moment.

George Sixta

Rivets

The Saturday Evening Post, November 29, 1949, page 103

Scan by Dick Buchanan

Note:  My thanks to Dick Buchanan, who today makes his thirty-seventh contribution to the blog just one day after his thirty-sixth. Dick maintains the superb Dick Buchanan Cartoon Clip Files. He also contributes regularly to Mike Lynch Cartoons, just this week a new post entitled "From the Dick Buchanan Files: Gag Cartoon Clichés Part 8 1946 - 1956."

Dick also notes that John Ruge had a competing dog panel in Collier's called Clancy, about an Irish Setter. 

For those keeping score, this is George Sixta's first appearance on the blog.


Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives: 

Dogs

Turkeys

Thanksgiving Day

The Saturday Evening Post

Dick Buchanan

Attempted Bloggery's Dogged Index

02747

Gregory d'Alessio: Get Out and Vote!

Ike or Adlai? The voters will get to decide in this 1952 color cartoon page for Collier's by Gregory d'Alessio. Our polling place is a barber shop!

Get Out and Vote!
Gregory d'Alessio
Collier's, November 8 ,1952, page 53

Scan by Dick Buchanan

One of many interesting details may be seen in the copy of Collier's shown held by the policeman sitting in the barber's chair. The cartoonist has managed to include a rough image of the current issue's cover by Birney Lettick of—what else?—a policeman carrying out his unusual duties in a polling place.

Birney Lettick
Collier's, November 8 ,1952

ttps://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Colliers-November-8-1952-Perry-Como-combat-soldiers-fail-to-shoot-/132685438564

Note:  Many thanks to Dick Buchanan for providing Attempted Bloggery with the superb scan of the Get Out and Vote page. This is his thirty-fifth contribution to the blog, if I'm counting right. Dick, of course, is the sole proprietor of the renowned Dick Buchanan Cartoon Clip Files. He also contributes regularly to the blog Mike Lynch Cartoons, most recently a post entitled "From the Dick Buchanan Files: Gag Cartoon Clichés Part 6 1945 - 1956."


Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives: 

Gregory d'Alessio

Election Day

Collier's

Dick Buchanan

Attempted Bloggery's Clean-Shaven Index

02730

Barney Tobey: The Cynical Voter

The 1948 Presidential campaign saw incumbent Democrat Harry S. Truman take on Republican challenger Thomas E. Dewey. Barney Tobey's 1948 campaign cartoon from Collier's depicts a more local city election. The composition is a simple diagonal emphasized by light and shadow. The candidate appears at the upper right while a woman comments at the lower left. The caption delivers an obvious truism, obvious that is to everyone but the speaker.

"Sometimes I feel all they care about is our votes—"
Barney Tobey
Collier's, October 9, 1948, page 50

Scan by Dick Buchanan

Note:  This year my vote is going to Dick Buchanan, whose platform includes providing Attempted Bloggery with never-before-digitized scans like the one seen here. Dick is the only candidate who supports the world-renowned Dick Buchanan Cartoon Clip Files. His campaign war chest also contributes regularly to Mike Lynch Cartoons, most recently a post entitled "From the Dick Buchanan Files: Gag Cartoon Clichés Part 6 1945 - 1956." Me, I avoid clichés like the plague.


Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives: 

Barney Tobey

Election Day

Collier's

Dick Buchanan

Attempted Bloggery's Index of Broken Promises

02728

Frank Beaven: A Voter Decides

Before television, people kept up with the news through the press, radio, and newsreels shown in movie theaters. In the latter way, at the very least, getting the news was more of a communal experience. Welcome to Election Day of 1940 as depicted in a Collier's cartoon by Frank Beaven. The voter registry, it will be noted, is a ledger signed with a dip pen sitting in an inkwell.  All of the voters shown here are white. Four of the five are men, and their various social standings can be read in their clothes or even in their hats alone. When her memory slips, the lone woman, the voter in the booth, is shown relying on her husband to be the knowledgeable authority figure.

"Which one was it that was so witty in the newsreels?"
Frank Beaven
Collier's, November 9, 1940, page 28

Scan by Dick Buchanan

Note:  I am ever grateful to Dick Buchanan for providing Attempted Bloggery with the election-themed scan here straight out of the awe-inspiring Dick Buchanan Cartoon Clip Files. Dick also contributes regularly to Mike Lynch Cartoons, most recently a post entitled "From the Dick Buchanan Files: Gag Cartoon Clichés Part 6 1945 - 1956." Not to worry: you'll find links to Parts 1 through 5 there as well.


Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives: 

Frank Beaven

Election Day

Collier's

Dick Buchanan

Attempted Bloggery's Well-Informed Index

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