Peter Arno: All Aboard the Elevator

A classic cartoon by The New Yorker's Peter Arno was sold on eBay this past Sunday:

"I told you we should have given them something for Christmas."
Peter Arno
Original art
The New Yorker, January 1, 1938, p. 16

True, we don't usually see manually-operated elevators these days, but they were once commonplace in New York apartment buildings. Arno extracts an awful lot of physical humor from the situation. Contrast the couple's awkwardness with the upright posture of the elevator operator.

"I told you we should have given them something for Christmas."
Peter Arno
Original art
The New Yorker, January 1, 1938, p. 16

Each of Arno's faces adds to the comedy.

The typed caption is affixed to the art, a no-no. The word told isn't even underlined.

Peter Arno's signature

Evidently the frame is not perfect.

Peter Arno
eBay listing ended May 12, 2024

https://www.ebay.com/itm/276453401977

Peter Arno
eBay item description

"I told you we should have given them something for Christmas."
Peter Arno
The New Yorker, January 1, 1938, p. 16

"I told you we should have given them something for Christmas."
Peter Arno
Original art
The New Yorker, January 1, 1938, p. 16

With a cartoon by Peter Arno and a spot drawing by Susanne Suba

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1938-01-01/flipbook/016/

A copy of this issue offered on Amazon clearly shows the cartoon to be on page 14, not 16. If the photograph looks familiar, it's because the seller used a lower-resolution version of this image as the final one in the listing. This magazine listed on Amazon is no doubt one of the regional variants lacking some of the pages in the New York metropolitan edition which the magazine kept as file copies.

Page variant

https://www.amazon.com/Jan-1-1938-New-Yorker-Midgettes/dp/B00ODDX8JK

In addition, the cartoon was collected in Peter Arno's Cartoon Revue (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1941), Cartoon Cavalcade (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1943), The Penguin Peter Arno (Penguin, 1949, 1957), and no doubt elsewhere.

Peter Arno's Cartoon Revue (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1941)

Craven, Thomas, ed. Cartoon Cavalcade (Chicago: Consolidated Book Publishers, 1945 edition)

The Penguin Peter Arno (Penguin, 1957)

* * *

Spot of a woman unbuttoning by a mirror
Susanne Suba
The New Yorker, January 1, 1938, p. 17

Note:  Original cartoon art by Peter Arno comes to eBay only when it is changing hands. We can enjoy even more Arno originals here when generous collectors choose to share their art virtually here. You may take that as a hint. Thank you, and don't forget to tip your blogger.

04651

My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #810

I had my ups and downs with The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #810 from the issue of July 11 & 18, 2022. My caption is shown below. It's hard to believe I had two weeks to work on this. The drawing is by Lonnie Millsap.

"It's a jungle in here."

These captions just weighed me down:

"Be careful what you say. He never forgets."
"I hope you won't feel suffocated by the elevator music."
"Guess my latest crush."
"Mind the gap."

July 25, 2022 Update:  The Finalists

August 2, 2022 Update:  I voted for the caption from Burke.

August 8, 2022 Update:  The Winner

04019

My Entries in the Moment Cartoon Caption Contest for September/October 2020

I submitted no fewer than fifteen entries in the Moment Cartoon Caption Contest for September/October 2020. I'd like to think that's one for every floor in the building with the elevator drawn by Benjamin Schwartz.

“I don’t require your praise for the elevator music.”

“I can’t fly you home. You’re thinking of Willy Wonka.”

“I’m feeling creative today.”

“The power to heal the cosmos. And what do you have in yours?”

“It’s a common mistake. Father Time always wears an Apple Watch.”

“Sorry, but I never interfere in caption contests.”

“Behold! Now shall I part the doors as once I parted the Red Sea.”

“Do you think you deserve to be carried up or given the shaft?”

“Well, I say it’s all right to wear white after Labor Day.”

“I’m generally benevolent, but sometimes I let loose and press every button.”

"Look, being all-seeing and all-knowing has its ups and downs.”

“Even if I already am everywhere, I still enjoy the ride.”

“No, not Santa Claus. Guess again.”

“You have free will. Pick a floor yourself.”

“I pressed all the buttons because I have to be everywhere.”

November 12, 2020 Update:  The Finalists

January 5, 2021 Update:  The Winner

03438

My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #709

Get on board with my entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #709 for May 11, 2020. The drawing is by P. C. Vey.

"Lady, does it LOOK like we're going up?"

This caption offered an alternative:

"For heaven's sake, take your chances on the next car."

May 18, 2018 Update:  The Finalists

May 25, 2020 Update:  I voted with America.


June 1, 2020 Update:  The Winner

Note:  In last week's Caption Contest, cartoonist Sofia Warren brought a medieval knight into a contemporary chef's kitchen. My caption didn't have a recipe to follow. Go to Contest #708 and stir gently.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives

P. C. Vey

Elevators

Hell

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest

The Moment Magazine Cartoon Caption Contest

The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest

All the Above Cartoon Caption Contests and More

Attempted Bloggery's Overheated Index

03255

My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #704

My entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #704 for April 6, 2020 is, as usual, going down. The drawing is by John Klossner.

"Say, you must be our new neighbor."

These captions got off at the wrong floor:

"I hope you practice social distancing."
"We could use a third."
"Are you ready for live elevator music?"
"Take the next one. We're still rehearsing."
"You can rent us until halftime."
"The co-op board won't let us practice in the lobby."
"Oops. We left our sheet music upstairs."
"We also accept tips for not playing."
"Good man, no ear buds."

April 13, 2020 Update:   The Finalists

April 20, 2020 Update:  I voted with Irvington but I liked them all.


April 27, 2020 Update: The Winner

Note:  In last week's Caption Contest, cartoonist Jon Adams took us to a restaurant at feeding time. Remember restaurants? Make a reservation to dine in with Contest #703. Perhaps we can all go back to real restaurants by summer...

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives

John Klossner

Music

Elevators

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest

The Moment Magazine Cartoon Caption Contest

The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest

All the Above Cartoon Caption Contests and Then Some

Passover

Attempted Bloggery's Tuneful Index

03220

My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #690

That's one small step for my entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #690 for December 16, 2019. The giant leap of a drawing is by Michael Maslin.

"Here we are, sir, back to 1-G."

These captions were a little too earthbound:

"The Eagle has landed, Mr. Baxter."
"Off for a spacewalk, sir?"
"Nice reentry, sir."
"Splashdown!"

December 30, 2019 Update:  The Finalists

January 6, 2020 Update:  I voted with Goleta.

January 13, 2020 Update:  The Winner

Note:  In last week's Caption Contest, cartoonist Drew Dernavich showed us the unfortunate aftermath of a contemporary jousting tournament. Find out why Contest #689 could be headed straight to traffic court.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives

Michael Maslin

Space

Elevators

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest

The Moment Magazine Cartoon Caption Contest

The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest

All the Above Cartoon Caption Contests and Even More

To Boldly Go Where Attempted Bloggery's Index Has Gone Before

03108

Mischa Richter: Elevator Travel

No caption is needed for Mischa Richter's gag cartoon of a well-traveled elevator rider that appeared in the December 1, 1986 issue of the New Yorker. The original art was sold two weeks ago on eBay for less than the price of many a business lunch. Why so little for such a unique published gag? (Yes, all published gags are more or less unique, but still why so little appreciation by the market?)

Mischa Richter
Original art
The New Yorker, December 1, 1986, page 115

Mischa Richter
eBay Listing Ended May 3, 2018

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mischa-Richter-original-published-illustration-art-New-Yorker-Ups-and-Downs-/382423226856?hash=item590a3359e8%3Ag%3Ayg4AAOSw4vJavB90&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Mischa Richter
eBay Item Description

Mischa Richter
eBay Bid History
The last bid from the most experienced bidder wins it two seconds before the auction closes.

Mischa Richter
The New Yorker, December 1, 1986, page 115

Mischa Richter
Original art
The New Yorker, December 1, 1986, page 115

Drawing by Mischa Richter

http://archives.newyorker.com/?i=1986-12-01#folio=114

Note:  Attempted Bloggery seeks scans and photographs of original published and unpublished artwork by Mischa Richter (1910-2001) and other New Yorker artists.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Mischa Richter

Original New Yorker Cartoon Art

Attempted Bloggery's Elevating Index

02549