Robert Day: The Trouble With Harry

An original Robert Day cartoon that appeared in The New Yorker in October of 1961 was sold at Heritage Auctions on May 2. Heritage's caption is not as tightly worded as the published one; possibly the auction house copied it from somewhere on the artwork in Day's hand. Or it could be just sloppy transcription as the auction house got the date of the issue wrong too. Day's drawing takes us to a Manhattan construction site where things just aren't going well.

"Look, Harry, you bumped into the subway again!"
Published as "Watch it, Harry! You've hit the subway again!"
Robert Day
Original art
The New Yorker, October 14, 1961, p. 48

Day produced a fine composition here. Way up above on the right, a bishop's crook lamppost indicates where street level is. Down below, our eye is skillfully directed from left to right. The construction site is convincingly rendered so that we are all the more surprised to see what the crane has excavated. The worried expressions of the construction crew contrast nicely with the obliviousness of the seasoned subway riders. We can enjoy the laugh knowing no one has been hurt—or even mildly disturbed.

Now, in order to ascertain Day's original caption, I'd prefer to see here not the matte, but whatever may be concealed underneath:

"Look, Harry, you bumped into the subway again!"
Published as "Watch it, Harry! You've hit the subway again!"
Robert Day
Matted original art
The New Yorker, October 14, 1961, p. 48

Robert Day
Heritage Auctions sale of May 2, 2025

https://fineart.ha.com/itm/mainstream-illustration/robert-day-american-20th-century-look-harry-you-bumped-into-the-subway-again-new-yorker-cartoon-/a/8199-71131.s?ic16=ViewItem-BrowseTabs-Auction-Archive-MyTrackedLots-101116#

Robert Day
Heritage Auctions item description

[End of Heritage Auctions listing]

Here's how this cartoon first appeared in print:

"Watch it, Harry! You've hit the subway again!"
Robert Day
The New Yorker, October 14, 1961, p. 48

"Watch it, Harry! You've hit the subway again!"
Robert Day
Original art
The New Yorker, October 14, 1961, p. 48

With a cartoon by Robert Day

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1961-10-14/flipbook/048/

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Edward Sorel and Bruce McCall at "Covering The New Yorker"

"Covering The New Yorker," the exhibition now hanging at L'Alliance New York, spans some three decades of original New Yorker cover art. Edward Sorel and Bruce McCall are represented by two covers each. All works in the show are loaned by the artists or their estates unless other wise noted.

Crush Hour
Edward Sorel
The New Yorker, January 31, 1994

Sorel's I ♥ Babel, from the issue of October 2, 1995, includes a depiction of the Alliance Française at the lower left. Now renamed L'Alliance New York, it is the institution hosting this show.

I ♥ Babel

Edward Sorel

The New Yorker, October 2, 1995

Bruce McCall's 2014 cover turns the tables on the horse carriages of Central Park.

The Cart Before the Horses
Bruce McCall
The New Yorker, April 28, 2014

McCall's Lost Times Square appears in the show courtesy of David Remnick and Esther Fein.

Lost Times Square
Bruce McCall
The New Yorker, May 31, 1999

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #905

The mice are commuting by rail in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #905 from the issue of July 22, 2024. My caption is shown below. The drawing is by Ellis Rosen.

"You should have called me before rush hour."

These captions hit the third rail:

"I can't do anything without a timetable."
"It's too late for traps."
"I'd hate to shut it down—it's right on schedule."
"That's the problem with basement apartments."
"You never heard of mouse transit?"

August 3, 2024 Update:  The Finalists

August 11, 2024 Update:  I voted for the caption from Woodside.

August 14, 2024 Update:  The Winner

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My Entries in the Moment Cartoon Caption Contest for Fall 2023

Moment magazine's Cartoon Caption Contest for the Fall 2023 issue depicts an older Orthodox Jewish man reading the Torah on the subway. The woman sitting next to him is speaking. My seven submitted captions are shown below. The drawing is by Benjamin Schwartz.

"Again, you're menschspreading."
"Isn't that out yet in paperpack?"
"Check if there's a law against what you're doing."
"Then your subway map must be in what you call the aron kodesh."
"Here we prefer doomscrolling."
"If I chant Etz Chaim, will you put that away?"
"May I offer you something with vowels?"

November 24, 2023 Update:  The Finalists

January 17, 2024 Update:  The Winner

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The Third Avenue El: Anatol Kovarsky Proposed New Yorker Cover Art

Service on the IRT Third Avenue Elevated line was cut back  starting in 1950 and the Manhattan tracks were demolished by 1955. Anatol Kovarsky's vibrant cover proposal for The New Yorker shows the El where it passes over a crosstown street, possibly 23rd Street. The view is facing west after dark. Below the El, the image includes the city's bustle, the traffic, and the illuminated signs. The skyscrapers above the El stand majestically over the chaos. One can only speculate as to why the magazine wasn't interested. Perhaps, in 1950 or so when everyone knew the elevated tracks were slated for demolition, the editors wanted their cover art to be more forward-looking. The original art is available from Honey & Wax Booksellers priced at $3,600.

Detail of the Third Avenue El

Detail with the No. 15 bus heading east

Anatol Kovarsky
Honey & Wax Booksellers listing accessed May 31, 2023

https://www.honeyandwaxbooks.com/pages/books/1003385/anatol-kovarsky/elevated-subway-train-at-night

June 29, 2023 Update:  Sold (on or before June 20)!

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #827

I took the uptown local to The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #827 from the issue of November 14, 2022. My caption is shown below. The drawing is by Lars Kenseth.

"Has anyone ever tried drawing on these walls?"

These captions couldn't beat the timetable:

"Say, I could use a good wingman."
"If you think you see something, you're supposed to say something."
"But where do you keep your MetroCard?"
"How do you aerate your junk?"

November 21, 2022 Update:  The Finalists

November 28, 2022 Update:  I voted for the caption from Greenville.

December 10, 2022 Update:  The Winner

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #706

Stand clear of the closing doors and enjoy my entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #706 for April 20, 2020. The drawing is by Ellis Rosen.

"They seem so peaceful in the wild."

These captions derailed early:

"They only come here at rush hour."
"So that's why the MTA couldn't track them down."
"We go home on separate trains."
"I'd give my knapsack for a transit map."
"Quiet. It's mating season."
"Keep an eye on your knapsack at all times and no riding between cars."
"I couldn't hear the announcement either."
"I don't suppose you brought your MetroCard?"
"Not wild. Feral."
"I'd say the line is due for an upgrade."

April 27, 2020 Update:  The Finalists

May 4, 2020 Update:  I voted with Montclair, which was similar to one of my unsubmitted captions, but that wasn't the only reason for my choice. I didn't think Brooklyn's worked with the two trains headed in opposite directions. Tyler's caption had too many commas for my taste.


May 11, 2020 Update:  The Winner

Note:  In last week's Caption Contest, cartoonist Julia Suits took us to a well-equipped campsite out West, especially if espresso is your cup of tea. Me, I was a bit too jittery to write a decent caption. Nevertheless, Contest #705 is worth a visit, just like a dude ranch.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives

Ellis Rosen

The Subway

Hiking

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 Express Index

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #697

Stand clear of the closing doors on my career entering The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #697 for February 10, 2020. The drawing is by Jeremy Nguyen.

"Soon you'll be wishing for shark-infested waters."

This one was not entered:

"Say farewell to the Argh train."

February 24, 2020 Update:  The Finalists

March 2, 2020 Update:  I voted with Mount Horeb.


March 9, 2020 Update:  The Winner

Note:  In last week's Caption Contest, cartoonist Hartley Lin took us to a restaurant where they serve up dinner in a trough. Even I couldn't stomach my caption. Have a taste of Contest #696.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives

Jeremy Nguyen

The Subway

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

Attempted Bloggery's Rapid Transit Index

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #622

Fire up my entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #622 for July 2, 2018. The drawing is by P. C. Vey.

"At the game this costs $20."

These captions were not approved by the MTA:

"I'd like to see your phone do this."
"Hot enough for ya?"

July 16, 2018 Update: The Finalists

July 23, 2018 Update: I voted for the second caption.

July 30, 2018:  Winning Caption

Note:  Last week cartoonist Kaamran Hafeez sent a knight to a tailor. My caption didn't quite thread the needle. Step up to the mirror and take a look at Contest #621.

Then add some lighter fluid to my older posts about P. C. Vey.

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My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #609

Bite into my footlong entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #609 for March 26, 2018. The drawing is by Michael Maslin.

"It's an express to the Canyon of Heroes."

This one didn't pass mustard:

"Well, where did you think it got its name?"

April 2, 2018 Update:  The Finalists

April 9, 2018 Update: I voted for the first caption.

April 16, 2018: Winning Caption

Note:  Last week cartoonist Drew Dernavich steamed up the old church organ. My caption was better-suited to a Wurlitzer. Join in the chorus to Contest #608.

Grab your MetroCard and take a ride through my posts about Michael Maslin.

Attempted Bloggery supports net neutrality.

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My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #533

Here is my latest entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #533 for August 22, 2016. The drawing is by Joe Dator.

"I call this Fred's of Paris because Subway is already taken."

August 29, 2016 Update: The Finalists

August 30, 2016 Update: The Rankings

Here are this week's top 52 captions as ranked by the online voting, now sorted by number rather than alphabetically. This week the three finalists have been chosen by the editors from the top four captions by rank. (Last week they went as high as 79 to get the three finalists.) You have to feel bad for whoever submitted the overlooked second-ranked caption. Note also that bus-boy has been edited to busboy. View all the rankings here. 

My caption ranked 805 out of 5005, placing it in the top 17%. It seems unlikely that a caption would be chosen by the editors that was not crowdsourced in the top 2%.

Here are the bottom 52, if you dare:

September 5, 2016 Update: I forgot to vote again. I like the second caption best.


September 12, 2016 Update: Winning Caption

Note:  Last week, cartoonist Danny Shanahan reminded us that no man is an island. I decided to prove John Donne wrong and not submit a caption. Break out of your self-imposed solitude and check out the results of Contest #532.

Cartoonist Joe Dator has been spotted about town as well as on this blog. In other words, he isn't always underground.

Why can't we bungle in the jungle with Joe? Songs You're Sick Of, Joe Dator's indispensable classic rock podcast, has yet to feature any Jethro Tull, my number one band from back in the day.

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