George Booth: Calling Howard in London

A drawing sold last month on eBay shows cartoonist George Booth following his muse to unusual places. The cartoon depicts a transatlantic phone conversation in which three speakers, if that's indeed the correct term, chat with an unseen man in London named Howard.

The page is given over almost entirely to long columns of text in three conjoined word balloons. Drawings of the three speaking characters are pieced together in patches at the bottom. 

The patches impart a seeming third dimension to the drawing.

It isn't clear why the word balloons of three different speakers should be connected in this manner:

Pinholes are in each corner, apparently. There is a copyright symbol by the signature.

The ink of the unruly 1978 work has faded. The art is framed and matted.

Printer's notations are present including "Note / Do not let the line work break up." Hinges, marked Horan Engr. Co. (of Manhattan), are in place.

How commendable of the Princeton framer to use a date stamp!

The eBay listing sold on November 12.

George Booth
eBay listing ended November 12, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/267296486978?itmmeta=01KBBAC7ZQTZ948577XF2MW941&hash=item3e3c1cb642

George Booth
eBay item description

Note:  Any reader who may know just where this drawing was published should get in touch with me. Readers in possession of other George Booth drawings are invited to tell their stories and send scans or photos. Or we could have a conference call.

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Dorothy McKay in College Humor, September 1936

College Humor is what university students who were "the tops" must have been reading back in the 1930s, no doubt some of the more precocious among the college-bound set as well. I'm still reading it when I can get my hands on a copy and I'm no longer matriculating. Right now I have my hands on four new copies—well, new to me—and three of them have drawings by Dorothy McKay (1904-1974). The September 1936 issue is the earliest of this group, so it seems a good place to start.

McKay had much success at Esquire and some at The New Yorker. She appeared in many other publications as well including College Humor. In the first of her two full-page cartoons for this issue, it is after-hours in an office. An older woman, a McKay specialty, a housekeeper, has found a state-of-the-art means of imparting wisdom to a woman of the younger generation. Brava!

"I wouldn't take that boss of yours too serious, miss—he has a wife and two children."
Dorothy McKay
College Humor, September 1936, p. 29

Meanwhile in the second cartoon, an even older woman can still assess an unforeseen situation and come to the logical conclusion:

"Hello—Plaza Dog-Walking Agency?"

Dorothy McKay

College Humor, September 1936, p. 43

Note:  Obscure published cartoons by the talented Dorothy McKay would be welcome submissions to this blog. If you prefer, I can leave the message on your Dictaphone.

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Claude Smith: An Immersive Competition

A six-panel color cartoon by Claude Smith appeared in the February 1958 issue of Playboy. The original art was sold at auction in Brooklyn over the weekend by Antique Arena, Inc. The panels are numbered top to bottom, left to right, and the wordless cartoon must have been printed across two facing magazine pages:

This multi-panel cartoon shows a wealthy, middle-aged man sitting at his swimming pool while hosting a couple of attractive female companions. Over the wall, he observes his neighbor's well-attended pool party and feels compelled to outdo him. It's an example of keeping up with the Joneses while following the supposed Playboy lifestyle. The young women in bathing suits, then, are commodities the men use to compete against each other. 
There's an assumption in a great many cartoons of this type that money buys sexual success. It's a belief of which many a young and impoverished man is easily convinced. It might even be true.

Claude Smith
Antique Arena, Inc., listing of June 15, 2024

https://antiquearena.com/lot/70281

Note:  Sure I'd love to see your original cartoon art by Claude Smith, who signs his art Claude. Thanks for asking. And thanks for the invitation to your pool.

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Mischa Richter: Not Spoiled

Four original 1950s comic panels from the syndicated strip Strictly Richter were sold on eBay early in December. Of course, they are the work of Mischa Richter, today best remembered for his New Yorker cartoons. The panels convey the artist's range and versatility.

"I told him that I'm not really spoiled, I just want my own way!"
Mischa Richter
Original comic panel art
Strictly Richter, October 22, 1958

"He put me on everything he took you off of, dear.""
Mischa Richter
Original comic panel art
Strictly Richter, January 6, 1955

"What flavor?"
Mischa Richter
Original comic panel art
Strictly Richter, November 14, 1955

"Take a good look. This will probably never happen again.""
Mischa Richter
Original comic panel art
Strictly Richter, September 10, 1956

Mischa Richter
eBay listing ended December 6, 2023

https://www.ebay.com/itm/355163873807?itmmeta=01HQMB2Z4KBZZ7S3JM0S085BP1&hash=item52b16aa20f:g:PA4AAOSw9aNlRkN9&itmprp=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwG5JA6AQPo6SL09f4QLWjWU42ShtnDAU5WPA2I932nn5RJG%2F7en76tcDuGgLNcWp0EG6nmi0Tn8I1qbLT9%2FsufqfbotoHR7

PAeafaBAOzzYHK6jPkxxBFUvkKTY8SqFo7%2FEOkgR9qMUVCLr7kaW%2FwKc%2F2rmdKOXgrOL2mJd6EDfCDNLzHGZCcgAtUjK%2FClaM45JmoDDkUDkdVTYpnnmxsYHuPR%2BXI5Saq64m1XIscHl2j6qqZhlz0XFyDhaYcrFcHw%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR6zyi4u9Yw

Mischa Richter
eBay item description

Mischa Richter
eBay bid history
As I never get tired of saying, the latest bid gets it

04596

Barbara Shermund: Going Along With a Gag

Lot 271 was the second lot of Barbara Shermund original cartoon art to be offered on February 22 at Willow Auction House. Like the previous lot, it is a panel from Shermund's Sallies in Pictorial Review and it comes from the Angela Gross Folk collection. Shermund's 1951 composition gives us a glimpse of the new postwar suburban prosperity. The home is elegantly furnished, the garden is well landscaped, and the couple is fashionably dressed. But there's still a place for some good, old-fashioned sarcasm.

"Mother says she can go along with a gag, and she sends in her best too."
Barbara Shermund
Original cartoon art
Shermund's Sallies
Pictorial Review, July 25, 1951

"Mother says she can go along with a gag, and she sends in her best too."
Barbara Shermund
Original cartoon art
Shermund's Sallies
Pictorial Review, July 25, 1951

Detail of man with newspaper

Detail of woman with telephone

Barbara Shermund's signature

Handwrittern caption:  "Mother says she can go along with a gag, and she sends in her best too."

Verso

Shermund['s] Sallies
Rel[ease] July 25[, 1951]

P[ictorial] R[eview]
7/25/1951

Barbara Shermund
Willow Auction House listing ended February 22, 2024

https://willowauctionhouse.hibid.com/lot/185191943/barbara-shermund-pictorial-review-sallies-cartoon?ref=catalog

Barbara Shermund
Willow Auction House item description

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #711

Will my entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #711 for the issue of March 25, 2020 be scored as an error? The drawing is by John Klossner.

"I'm just watching baseball and being a couch potato."

These captions were foul balls.

"Sorry, we've got a home game."
"Could you call back after spring training?"
"It turns out a woman CAN coach."
"I root, root, root for the home team."
"Is our insurance all paid up?"

June 1, 2020 Update:  The Finalists

June 15, 2020 Update:  I voted with the capital. I can't find my All-Star ballot.


June 22, 2020 Update:  The Winner

Note:  In last week's Caption Contest, cartoonist Julia Suits gave us birdwatchers snooping on a bird singing the blues. My caption wasn't cool enough. Sing along with Contest #710.


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