Charles Addams for "Anniversary Waltz"

"Anniversary Waltz," a comedy by Jerome Chodorov and Joseph Fields, opened on Broadway in 1954. It starred Macdonald Carey and Kitty Carlisle, and was directed by Carlisle's husband Moss Hart. Reviewers criticized the play for its crude content, but it was a hit. The New Yorker's lukewarm capsule review some seven months into the show's two-year run suggests there may have been better things to see. 

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1954-11-13/flipbook/002/

Why seven months? It was in the "7th hilarious month" that the show's producers began to promote the play with a Charles Addams drawing:

"They laughed their heads off!"
Charles Addams
Promotional art for "Anniversary Waltz" (1954)

The original art shown here was in the collection of the actor Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. It was sold at auction by Doyle New York earlier this month.

Addams worked on Whatman Water Color Board which must have taken his washes well. Affixed to the back of this board is a closely-trimmed, printed clipping of the advertisement showing how the marquee signage had been at some point reworked.

Verso

The printed caption and Charles Addams's signature

The sale took place on November 5. The estimate was $8,000 to $12,000. The art sold for $23,040 including the buyer's premium.

Charles Addams
Doyle New York listing of November 5, 2025

https://www.doyle.com/auction/lot/lot-21---a-charles-addams-theater-advertisement-they-laughed-their-heads-off/?lot=1449814&so=0&st=&sto=0&au=9114&ef=&et=&ic=False&sd=1&pp=96&pn=1&g=1

When the play traveled to Chicago with a different cast, the Addams art was still in use. The writing on the marquee had been further modified.

Peter Arno and Charles Addams theater art

https://www.ebay.com/itm/166881861066

Note:  For Christmas of 1982, Charles Addams personalized a copy of his collection Creature Comforts (1981) to Mary Lee and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. It's in the archives in a post called "Charles Addams: The Flashing Festers." What could such a title portend?

05124

Richard Taylor and Robert Day for the United States Playing Card Compnay

"How long since you've bought new cards?" asked the United States Playing Card Company back in 1941. Each of their six brands could provide players "with fresh, clean cards" according to their print advertising. Cartoonists Richard Taylor and Robert Day set the scenes. But why are there no women at the card tables?

"It's the only way George can shuffle
those old, limp cards of his."
Richard Taylor

"Fred isn't sure, but he thinks
they're all hearts."
Robert Day

The source for these ads is eBay. Here are the sales details on the Taylor:

Richard Taylor
eBay listing ended April 13, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/316520030353?_skw=%22Richard+Taylor%22&itmmeta=01JYZ7YMESDQD5F1EYA6271DWM&hash=item49b2106091:g:JEgAAOSwLPVj8lDX&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1fmde%2B3OLxHR9JKFuRGuUujc%2F2b4CS3ad%2BrbfzJSKkJUWGCw1q0DhE%2F9cAZbXRG6%2FktgLgbpQAIdvUzUlGvCCk8ECGjR6wg4HEs0jkJyROy%2FxyBG7scHOGB3c7tsOdXWOebLIyChEjLK%2BDhv11jXZmNlFIgzD6uzwkJhm5GPd4zJBmE%2Bkaf6YNQSchmOcN6UbjTbgVadrzaYHSmCoInmpdc1RyaMmnAK00stH3QM7mzCNSD7r66QZimkjcYHhhrlpk%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8LH-uf3ZQ

Richard Taylor
eBay item description

And the same for the Day, as yet unsold:

Robert Day
eBay listing accessed June 6, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/306362328650?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160811114145%26meid%3D0a3061dfe1a24b8886daee44fa09b650%26pid%3D100667%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D8%26sd%3D187261465167%26itm%3D306362328650%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2351460&_trksid=p2351460.c100667.m2042

Robert Day
eBay item description

04994

Ronald McRae for Clio et Claire

Ronald McRae created one and only one New Yorker cover for the issue of May 15, 1926. The cover is a bit tantalizing in that it does not show us any faces. 

McRae was active in the Toronto theater scene providing stage and costume design. An advertisement by McRae for Clio et Claire perfume was published the same year as the New Yorker cover. The illustration is a circular art deco design and we do get to see a face. The ad is currently on offer on eBay.

Ronald McRae
eBay listing accessed May 28, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/275058574965?_skw=1926+Clio+et+Claire+Perfume&itmmeta=01JWD0BDYXT1HKVRDMEC2AAZKJ&hash=item400ac4c675:g:qmMAAOSwsoNhslne&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAABAFkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1cYojS6X9soLGibxfSylLKLdUIn%2BIOjfC2o08ptxVOsoQc%2FmdYnXVULv05SGwgFreRnn2H7EfVbQ%2BYRUr17%2F9A6iSVNU6yUKomCE2WvLfVKRWRnnD

YQK8I8d%2BY%2FS4RXewdR9QKAmKeI5iDVolKjhO2%2F%2BmzI054Romrvv5cLFdSeFXROVJ9uiwtdYsomxcMXIQYIHSU%2Fnm4S6%2B7%2FMyLL9tAxxA3hsnh0yYQjrKMSvPEctTpzVgx%2FKqdgiucSwQ1AsZ5z%2Fn7A40CzZLfXJHaAUVs%2Faa%2B5lS5TPtS6Mh%2BqJOcDxICiDmp0WUsq5UhVq74hqSg%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8zfraDjZQ

Ronald McRae
eBay item description

Note:  Collectors who wish to share images of original Ronald McRae art can contact me for blog support.

McRae's New Yorker cover and its original art were previously discussed here.

04965

James Montgomery Flag for Quaker State Motor Oil

An advertisement for Quaker State motor oil appeared in the October 13, 1941 issue of Life magazine. It looked back on the unhappy road travelers of a quarter century earlier, reminding us how "crude" some early cars—and their engine lubricants—were. The splendid illustration of the miserable motorists of yesteryear was by James Montgomery Flagg. 

It shook us up . . . in more ways than one!
James Montgomery Flagg
Life, October 13, 1941, p. 13

https://books.google.com/books?id=uk4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA8&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=2#v=onepage&q&f=false

Note:  Please contact me with any other illustrations that James Montgomery Flagg may have created for Quaker State.

04829

Dr. Seuss: Charity Ball 1966

Charity Ball 1966 is a softcover book issued for an event benefitting the San Diego Society for Handicapped Children. It honors Dr. Seuss for his contributions to the community. The book is quite scare. A copy just sold on eBay in a listing that provided us with generous photographs. The advertising in the program is illustrated with Seuss images. Many of these are apparently repurposed from his children's books.

Dr. Seuss
eBay listing ended November 3, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/296472726101

Dr. Seuss
eBay item description

An even rarer signed copy is currently available on AbeBooks, although we don't get to see the signature:

Dr. Seuss
eBay listing accessed November 5, 2024

https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/CHARITY-BALL-1966-UNIQUE-First-Edition/19693378751/bd

Dr. Seuss
AbeBooks item description

04792