The CartoonStock Cartoon Caption Contest No. 168

For the CartoonStock Caption Contest #168, Joe Dator takes the story of the Trojan Horse and substitutes a giant pantomime horse with two clueless perpetrators. How on earth does one write a caption for this?

The rules of the monthly cash prize contest should be familiar by now: Five bucks buys up to three entries. Real cash prizes are $500 for first place and $100 for each of five runners up. As of this writing, I've put $65 into the first thirteen pay-to-play contests and this one brings my cash outlay up to $70. The great news is that I was lucky enough to win $200 so far along the way, so I'm playing with the house's money. Some very talented caption writers play and I don't know whether I can keep it up, but I'm going to work at it like a Trojan. My three latest entries are shown below, above the break. Below the break are my also-rans.

"Troy isn't going to fall for a pair of big boobs."
"Folks here don't have names like Shock and Awe."
"You can tell Homer this will never sell."
* * *
"It's wartime. The costume party has been downsized."
"That's the best you Greeks could come up with? We ride off bareback and leave Troy unguarded?"
"Go home and try again."

July 4, 2023 Update:  The Winner

In his Caption Contest Commentary, eight-time New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest Winner Lawrence Wood cited one of my captions. Unfortunately, he was the only one of the four judges to be amused by it.

https://www.cartoonstock.com/blog/trojan-pantomime-horse-caption-contest-commentary-with-lawrence-wood/

The judges deliberate on YouTube:

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The CartoonStock Caption Contest #138

Something funny is going on over at the Pearly Gates in the CartoonStock Caption Contest #138. My three entries may be seen below. The drawing is by David Borchart. The contest was extended an additional week after this posting, to my surprise.

"Why can't I be in front for just HALF of eternity?"
"Last name first?"
"It turns out they DO shoot horses."

September 28, 2021 Update:  Lawrence Wood, in his caption contest commentary, mentioned one of my entries. This is the thirteenth time he's done this.

https://www.cartoonstock.com/blog/horse-heaven-caption-contest-commentary-with-lawrence-wood/

September 29, 2021 Update:  The Winner

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Garrett Price's Blind Date

A pair of showgirls consider an unconventional double date prospect in an original New Yorker cartoon by Garrett Price published in April of 1939. As we "read" the drawing from left to right, and from foreground to background, we arrive finally at the butt of the joke. The editorial staff has tightened up Price's handwritten caption making it shorter, more colloquial, and a bit clearer.

Garrett Price
"Do you want a blind date for dinner?"
Published as "Want a blind date after the show?"
Original art
The New Yorker, April 19, 1939, page 20

Garrett Price's signature and inscription "To Stanley/BEST OF LUCK" with a small drawing of a horseshoe. It appears Stanley's name was initially misspelled and then whited out.

Detail of showgirls

Detail of pantomime horse

Caption

Verso

Garrett Price
eBay Listing Ended July 21, 2017

http://www.ebay.com/itm/garrett-price-original-New-Yorker-magazine-illustration-art-blind-date-/182558972786?hash=item2a815cdb72%3Ag%3AKlEAAOSwtGlZCmQ1&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Garrett Price
eBay Item Description

Garrett Price

"Do you want a blind date for dinner?" 

Published as "Want a blind date after the show?" 

Original art 

The New Yorker, April 19, 1939, page 20

Garrett Price

"Want a blind date after the show?"
The New Yorker, April 19, 1939, page 20

http://archives.newyorker.com/?i=1939-08-19#folio=020

Note:  The essential phrase blind date could have been held until the very end of the line which would have saved the payoff for last, just as the drawing does. Still, that might have made for a more awkward phrasing, no? Something like "After the show, want a blind date?" Not quite as natural.

Remember Stanley? Two days ago, this blog featured a delightful drawing by Otto Soglow from Stanley's collection via the same eBay seller. Stanley, whoever he was, had a good eye for cartoon art, although it might be said he did not always maintain his originals in the best condition.

Attempted Bloggery seeks scans or photographs of original New Yorker artwork by Garrett Price and others that someone like Stanley might appreciate.

Fun fact:  My parents met on a double-blind date. (The other couple couldn't stand each other.)

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