Attempted Bloggery: Frank Case

Showing posts with label Frank Case. Show all posts

Monday, September 28, 2015

Al Hirschfeld and the Vicious Circle

In 1951, Margaret Case Harriman, the daughter of the Hotel Algonquin's Frank Case, published The Vicious Circle: The Story of the Algonquin Round Table. The Algonquin's celebrated wits were illustrated by the great Al Hirschfeld. These scans from an author-inscribed copy of the book were taken by Stephen Kroninger.

Al Hirschfeld

The Vicious Circle: The Story of the Algonquin Round Table, 1951

by Margaret Case Harriman, front cover

Scan by Stephen Kroninger

Image added August 22, 2021

Host Frank Case is illustrated over a copy of the dinner menu at the Algonquin.

Frank Case

It's a man's world, but Dorothy Parker knows the way in.

Dorothy Parker

An unusual double portrait:

George S. Kaufman, Edna Ferber

Heywood Broun takes his work home with him.

Heywood Broun

Are there two sides to Alexander Woollcott?

Alexander Woollcott

Columnist Franklin P. Adams, or FPA., writes "The Conning Tower."

Franklin P. Adams

Bob Benchley in the spring...

Robert Benchley

The New Yorker's editor Harold Ross (as we saw here yesterday)...

Harold Ross

Trio:

Robert Sherwood, Irving Berlin, Marc Connelly

Progressive but understated:

Ruth Hale, Jane Grant

Author and dog lover:

Robert Frank

Author photo of Margaret Case Harriman and Topper.

The Vicious Circle: The Story of the Algonquin Round Table, 1951, back cover

Note: Once again, all artwork from The Vicious Circle is © by the Al Hirschfeld Foundation. My thanks to Stephen Kroninger for permission to use his scans of the book. Tomorrow evening, September 29 at 6:30, he will participate in a panel discussion entitled "The Hirschfeld Century Speaks" at the Art Students League in Manhattan. Joining him on the panel will be Ken Fallin, Drew Friedman, and Bill Jacklin, while David Leopold, the Creative Director of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation, will be the moderator.

Have you seen "The Hirschfeld Century" at the New-York Historical Society? It's a stunning exhibition, but it will close October 12. Don't miss it.

Follow the aqua links to more of my Attempted Bloggery posts about the Algonquin Round Table including host Frank Case and members Franklin P. Adams (FPA), Irving Berlin, Robert Benchley, Heywood Broun, Marc Connelly, Edna Ferber, George S. Kaufman, Dorothy Parker, Harold Ross, and Alexander Woollcott. There's also more in the archives about author Margaret Case Harriman and of course illustrator Al Hirschfeld.

Let's not forget back cover portrait photographer Robert Frank.

My table at the Algonquin? It's in the boiler room.

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Sunday, April 26, 2015

Al Hirshfeld: The Algonquin Round Table

If you'd like to glimpse some of New York's literary lights of the 1920's you can't do better than this. Al Hirschfeld's famous lithograph of the Algonquin Round Table is a classic image of the celebrated literary lunchtime crowd. Present are Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, Broadway stars seated at the back, Frank Crowninshield, standing, and host Frank Case, also standing. Seated clockwise from the left are Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley, Alexander Woollcott, Heywood Broun, Marc Connelly, Franklin P. Adams, Edna Ferber, George S. Kaufman, and Robert Sherwood. The original drawing is similar, but it had a different background. The name of Hirschfeld's daughter Nina is hidden once in the image.

People came and went at the Round Table, so not all of the members are depicted. Not present here, sadly, is Harold Ross, founding editor of the New Yorker. Neither is Harpo Marx, Broadway star along with his brothers before they became movie stars. Writer Frank Sullivan isn't around either. Neither are Deems Taylor or Tallulah Bankhead. Still, it's probably as good a lunchtime crowd as you're going to find anywhere. The original lithograph is available from the Margo Feiden Galleries.

Me, I eat alone at my desk.