My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #980

In The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #980 from the issue of March 2, 2026, a king's robe doubles as a red carpet for the Oscars. The king's attendant speaks. The drawing is by Tyson Cole.

"They don't recognize you without your new clothes."

These captions didn't win any awards:

"I'll make sure the photographers don't cut your head off."
"You can't throw them in the dungeon for being photogenic."
"You can't chain them up for pleasing the crowd."
"Face it, Sire, benevolence just isn't box office."

March 15, 2026 Update:  The Finalists

March 21, 2026 Update:  I voted for the caption from Princeton. 

March 24, 2026 Update:  The Winner

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James Stevenson: Flush Royals

"It's good to be the king."

—Mel Brooks

History of the World, Part 1 (1981)

And queen, I might add. New Yorker cartoonist James Stevenson (1929-2017) demonstrates that there might be a better word to describe royals than flush:

"Don't you love being upscale?"
James Stevenson
Original art
The New Yorker, July 28, 1986, p. 35

Stevenson's caption, like Brooks's above quotation, relies on understatement for its comic effect. It looks to have been written with a felt tip pen. Unlike the rest of the cartoon, it is quite faded although still legible. The original art was sold at auction two weeks ago, in Norwalk. 

The faded caption

The king and queen stand out. The perspective of the composition makes them the two largest figures. The contrasting shading distinguishes them from all the others, and from each other. The perspective also creates a potential problem: we could be looking at the royals from behind. Stevenson solves this by having the king, who is speaking, turn toward the queen—and also toward our vantage point. Thus we get to see his face in three-quarter view.

Detail of the royal couple

The attendants are drawn loosely and indistinctly. There is even a sameness to their shading.

Detail of the attendants

Detail of the minstrels' gallery

Detail of the rafters

James Stevenson's signature

Copyright notice

Verso

James Stevenson

Westport Auction listing accessed October 26, 2022

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/james-stevenson-1929-2017-original-new-yorker-75-c-422448ebeb?objectID=174756141&algIndex=upcoming_lots_prod&queryID=d67e9e7db94dc45b6792afa12092de92

Sold!

"Don't you love being upscale?"
James Stevenson
Original art
The New Yorker, July 28, 1986, p. 35

Cartoons by Bob Mankoff and James Stevenson

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1986-07-28/flipbook/034/

Note:  This blog thrives on original art. I'd like to receive images of original work by James Stevenson for future posts.

Dots all, folks!

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Joe Dator: Throne Room Upgrade

The original art to Joe Dator's New Yorker cartoon of March 15, 2021 was sold by the artist on January 8 for an eBay best offer somewhere under $750. That's a royally good deal.

"How do you like the standing throne?"
Joe Dator
Original art
The New Yorker, March 15, 2021, page 53

The composition makes use of many diagonal lines from the upper left to the lower right, emphasized by strong shading. 

Detail

Joe Dator's signature

On the back is an unfinished drawing. Is it the beginning of a desert island cartoon?

Verso

Joe Dator
eBay listing ended January 8, 2022

https://www.ebay.com/itm/284599135758?hash=item42436e2e0e%3Ag%3Ax70AAOSwzDxh2JqS&nma=true&si=64J6TuENCQvl%252FEQuIbsoMEcDQlw%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Joe Dator
eBay item description

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Ronald Searle: Royalty Reading the Times

In the mid-1980s, readers of the Sunday Times Magazine section were treated to a delightful full-page color ad campaign illustrated by Ronald Searle. With the recurring slogan  "There's no Times like the present," a page from June 1986 features royalty reading the Times and the single adjective "Peerless." Indeed.

Ronald Searle
There's no Times like the present.
Peerless
The New York Times Magazine, June 22, 1986

Searle chooses not to include the rear chair legs on the ornate royal throne, probably because they might be distracting or confusing in this head-on view. He is clearly not afraid of ornament, but Searle does nevertheless strive for clarity.

Ronald Searle
eBay listing accessed November 8, 2021

https://www.ebay.com/itm/373775072303?hash=item5706bafc2f:g:4voAAOSwaY1hfkjN

Ronald Searle
eBay item description

March 25, 2023 Update:  Sold!

Note:  The page described as Gripping from this ad campaign by Ronald Searle may be seen here. (It's about tennis, remember?) Another hilarious page, Elevating, was published in the Times Magazine on February 2, 1987. It also appears on page 92 of Ronald Searle's America (2016), compiled by Matt Jones. Has it already been five years?

These selfsame pages may also be seen on Perpetua, the Ronald Searle Tribute blog, which is also the brainchild of Matt Jones. The post is called "Advertising Part 2" and today's king will no doubt eventually find his way there. Just scroll down to the end.

There's more. My archived Attempted Bloggery post here shows Searle's original watercolor art for two unpublished Times ads.

There are definitely other published Searle ads for the New York Times in glorious color. If you have any of these, please forward scans or photos. Sometime's it's hard to fathom the extent of the Times's efforts to advertise the paper to its own readers.

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The CartoonStock Caption Contest #125

I tried not to lose my head over the CartoonStock Caption Contest #125. I wrote four entries this week and submitted three, below. The drawing is by Robert Leighton.

"It beats what became of the four and twenty blackbirds."
"I meant fly to the Sun KING."
"Is it too late to confer with Your Grace's animal trainer?"

This caption didn't make the cut:

"Sire, shall I save time and call for the headsman?"

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #729

Lie back and enjoy my entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #729 for October 19, 2020. The drawing is by Michael Maslin.

"I'm exhausted. Let's go to bed."

These captions weren't regal enough:

"Where should we put the petitioners?"
"Who says I'm not the King of Swing?"
"I'm not getting my steps."

October 26, 2020 Update:  The Finalists

November 2, 2020 Update:  I voted late for Perth, but could my ballot still arrive by Election Day?

November 9, 2020 Update:  The Winner

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eBay 101: The King's Diary by Henry Martin

It's hard to believe that some people still can't rotate photographs, but the eBay seller offering a New Yorker original by cartoonist Henry Martin in 2015 presented three of the five photographs sideways. That would constitute an insult to potential online buyers under ordinary circumstances, but this is an especially wordy cartoon to be asked to ponder on one's side. I have taken the liberty of turning the three images upright, a little trick I learned in blogging school.

Photo orientation seen on eBay

The original New Yorker art by gives us a glimpse into the king's diary, revealing his majesty's innermost thoughts. A low-key, introspective cartoon from 1984 remains delightful today, especially right-side-up.

"Dear Diary: Parades, concerts, dancing, banquets, gala balls, fireworks. Today is my birthday, and the whole kingdom is making quite a fuss over it."
Henry Martin
Framed and matted original art
The New Yorker, October 8, 1984, page 116

"Dear Diary: Parades, concerts, dancing, banquets, gala balls, fireworks. Today is my birthday, and the whole kingdom is making quite a fuss over it."
Henry Martin
Original art
The New Yorker, October 8, 1984, page 116

Henry Martin's signature and caption

Copyright notice

A screenshot of the eBay listing shows that three of the photographs were presented on their sides:

Henry Martin
eBay Listing Ended June 20, 2015

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Cartoon-Illustration-by-Henry-Martin-from-New-Yorker-Magazine-/161733642472?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25a81388e8&nma=true&si=MY%252BVlM1DDf4MNMNGGnCdh3m%252FHQQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Henry Martin
eBay Item Description

"Dear Diary: Parades, concerts, dancing, banquets, gala balls, fireworks. Today is my birthday, and the whole kingdom is making quite a fuss over it."
Henry Martin
Original art
The New Yorker, October 8, 1984, page 116

Cartoon by Henry Martin

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1984-10-08/flipbook/116/

Note:  Attempted Bloggery seeks properly-oriented scans and photos of original art by Henry Martin.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Henry Martin

Kings

eBay 101

Original New Yorker Cartoon Art

Attempted Bloggery's Intimate Index

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