Wallace Wood for Portage Porto-Ped Shoes

"The Abominable Squeaks." So reads the copy of a 1960s-era magazine advertisement for Portage Porto-Ped Shoes. Four vignettes by the formidable Mad magazine artist Wallace Wood depict the untold embarrassment of being the man whose shoes make too much noise. The bridegroom advancing nervously down the aisle, the doctor making night shift rounds on the hospital ward, the game hunter stealthily seeking his prey, even the zookeeper failing to mind his oversized charge—none are spared the indignity of these "abominable squeaks."

The shoes are now priced from $29.95 to $34.95, with the lower-end shoes more expensive than what was quoted in the, presumably earlier, 1967 pair of ads we saw in yesterday's post. Those, of course, were illustrated by The New Yorker's William Steig. Wood is the only cartoonist I have found other than Steig who contributed to these Porto-Ped ads and this single page is the only example I have located for him. But there could be others.

Wallace Wood
The Abominable Squeaks.
1960's-era advertisement for Portage Porto-Ped Shoes

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265845343823

Note:  As my sneakers silently convey me through the lands of vintage advertising and illustration, I am eager to hear of additional cartoon ads by Wallace Wood, William Steig, or perhaps others from this Portage Porto-Ped Shoes campaign.

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Gahan Wilson: On the Steps of the Reptile House

Cartoonist Gahan Wilson is known for his macabre sense of humor. Nevertheless, his drawings can have some charm as well. An original drawing from his collection "...and then we'll get him!" (1978) was sold last year on eBay for $275. It is set on the steps of a city zoo's reptile house and features a guard encountering an old friend.

"So that's where you got to!"
Gahan Wilson
Original cartoon art
"...and then we'll get him!" (1978)

Detail

Gahan Wilson's signature

"So that's where you got to!"
Gahan Wilson
Original cartoon art
"...and then we'll get him!" (1978)

Gahan Wilson
eBay listing ended September 3, 2021

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255119426195?hash=item3b664d8293%3Ag%3A8R0AAOSwsLlhMS1m&nma=true&si=64J6TuENCQvl%252FEQuIbsoMEcDQlw%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Gahan Wilson
eBay item description

Note:  As this gag was reportedly published several times, including in "...and then we'll get him!" (1978), it would be remiss of me not to put out a call for any and all known publication information. Once something's on the blog, I need to know everything. Images of other original cartoon art by Gahan Wilson would be welcome as well.

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The Punning Otto Soglow

For the May 1948 issue of The American Magazine, cartoonist Otto Soglow ventured into the fraught world of animal puns. In point of fact, the cartoon gives us not one  pun, but two. We don't get to see a lot of punning cartoons on this blog. Maybe this will explain why...

Otto Soglow
"How do you expect to get any attention, deer? You haven't got the gnu look."
The American Magazine, May 1948, page 107

Scan by Dick Buchanan

Note:  A tip of the hat goes to Dick Buchanan for providing Attempted Bloggery with a superb scan from the legendary Dick Buchanan Cartoon Clip Files. Truth is, I never heard of The American Magazine until Dick mentioned it to me and sent a few scans. Dick contributes regularly to Mike Lynch Cartoons, most recently a post entitled, "From the Dick Buchanan Files: More 1960s Cartoons from PUNCH."

Ambitious readers with access to original art or other published rarities by Otto Soglow are encouraged to contribute scans or photos to this blog. Let's keep this unique cartoonist in the public eye.

Not counting my Caption Contest submissions, today's cartoons contains probably the most outrageous pun ever to appear on Attempted Bloggery. Readers are invited to dig into their own archives and submit other examples of punning cartoons with an equal or if possible greater groan quotient.


Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Otto Soglow

Dick Buchanan

Puns

Attempted Bloggery's Gnu Age Index

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Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Last week we stayed at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge in Walt Disney World. Here are a few photos from the hotel.

The lobby of Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Antelope Couple

Beaded Bird Headdress, Bamileke People, Cameroon and Equestrian Figure, Ewe People, Togo

We stayed in Jambo House. This is our balcony view. The Kidani Village is visible across the way.

Reticulated giraffes

African spoonbill

Image added September 14, 2014

African spoonbill

Image added September 14, 2014

Flamingoes

Flamingoes

Flamingoes

Note:  See more from Walt Disney World.

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Barbara Shermund at the Zoo

A Barbara Shermund color cartoon is dated August 1955. The New Yorker, of course, was published weekly at the time and Esquire, with which Shermund was then associated, was a monthly magazine. The monthly date is  just one reason such a cartoon should not be identified as having been published in the New Yorker, not even by an enterprising eBay seller. The other reasons are the use of color, which never appeared in the New Yorker's 1950's gag cartoons, and the fact that Shermund did not publish in the weekly magazine after 1944.

The cartoon itself gives a jaded young woman's comically-exaggerated view of the kind of man one might encounter on a blind date. If this is indeed from Esquire, I'm a little surprised this gag would resonate with the editors and readers of a men's general-interest magazine, but I suppose they were interested in seeing an available woman's perspective. My parents themselves met on a double blind date back in this era. The other couple with them couldn't stand each other.

The other possibility is that this cartoon appeared in Pictorial Review, a weekly syndicated Sunday newspaper supplement.

"I'm going on a blind date tomorrow night--did I tell you?"
Barbara Shermund
Framed original art
 Pictorial Review[?], August 1955

"I'm going on a blind date tomorrow night--did I tell you?"
Barbara Shermund
Framed original art
 Pictorial Review[?], August 1955

Barbara Shermund
eBay Listing Ended February 27, 2014

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Barbara-Shermund-Original-New-Yorker-Cartoon-/161233218669?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item258a3fac6d&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Barbara Shermund
eBay Item Description

January 12, 2019 Update:  This cartoon does not appear in Esquire's online database, so I am provisionally reassigning it in the above caption to Pictorial Review. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who can document its complete publication history.


Note:  A related post on Barbara Shermund appeared here yesterday.

Older posts about St. Patrick's Day may be seen here. St. Patrick is said to have driven the snakes out of Ireland. They could use him in Guam.

01086

Chon Day: Roo at the Zoo

A color cartoon by Chon Day has just found its way onto eBay. I've been blogging about Chon Day quite a bit this past week, which leads me to wonder whether I've had some influence on the posting of this item. My guess is, probably not.

Chon Day, "Great Heavens! Junior!" Inscribed "To Lee-- Best wishes from Chon."

Chon Day, "Great Heavens! Junior!" Inscribed "To Lee-- Best wishes from Chon."

Chon Day Signature

"To Lee-- Best wishes from Chon."

"To Lee-- Best wishes from Chon."

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chon-Day-Original-Watercolor-Cartoon-Inscribed-Signed-Brother-Sebastian-creato-/200942569971?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item2ec91c49f3

Add caption

Chon Day, "Great Heavens! Junior!" Inscribed "To Lee-- Best wishes from Chon."

Octoer 5, 2013 Update:  Sold!

eBay Bid History
The last bid gets it.

Note:  If anyone out there knows of this cartoon's publication history, if any, you know what to do.

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