George Sixta: Rivets at the Thanksgiving Table

For the Thanksgiving holiday, Dick Buchanan dipped into his cartoon clip files and found a long-forgotten panel by George Sixta. It is a 1949 example of the Rivets feature he created for the Saturday Evening Post back in 1944. It was later to become a syndicated newspaper feature. Here Sixta provides us with an accomplished overhead view of the Thanksgiving table. Rivets alone fails to appreciate the solemnity of the moment.

George Sixta

Rivets

The Saturday Evening Post, November 29, 1949, page 103

Scan by Dick Buchanan

Note:  My thanks to Dick Buchanan, who today makes his thirty-seventh contribution to the blog just one day after his thirty-sixth. Dick maintains the superb Dick Buchanan Cartoon Clip Files. He also contributes regularly to Mike Lynch Cartoons, just this week a new post entitled "From the Dick Buchanan Files: Gag Cartoon Clichés Part 8 1946 - 1956."

Dick also notes that John Ruge had a competing dog panel in Collier's called Clancy, about an Irish Setter. 

For those keeping score, this is George Sixta's first appearance on the blog.


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Dogs

Turkeys

Thanksgiving Day

The Saturday Evening Post

Dick Buchanan

Attempted Bloggery's Dogged Index

02747

Ray Helle: The Thanksgiving Dinner Vote

Ray Helle's oddity of a Thanksgiving cartoon was published in American Magazine in 1950. All the family members seated round the Thanksgiving table are angry after disagreeing in a vote over what to have for the holiday dinner. The turkey, who did not get a say in the menu, seems to be the only one in the mood to celebrate. What the bird is doing at the dinner table in the first place is anyone's guess, aside from the obvious fact that the turkey is now prepared to enjoy dinner rather than be it. 

Ray Helle
"Now, Father, you know the vote was four to one and you lost.
Stop grumbling and carve the bologna[.]"
The American Magazine, November 1950, page 72

Scan by Dick Buchanan

Note:  Today's cartoon comes to us through the scanning prowess of Dick Buchanan, now making his thirty-sixth contribution to Attempted Bloggery. Dick, of course, is the mastermind behind the unmatched Dick Buchanan Cartoon Clip Files. He contributes regularly to the blog Mike Lynch Cartoons, most recently a brand new post entitled "From the Dick Buchanan Files: Gag Cartoon Clichés Part 8 1946 - 1956."


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Turkeys

Thanksgiving Day

The American Magazine

Dick Buchanan

Attempted Bloggery's No-Baloney Index

02746

My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #640

Presenting my entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #640 for November 19, 2018. The drawing is by Tom Toro.

"I'm training him to hunt for cheese."

December 3, 2018 Update:  The Finalists

December 10, 2018 Update:  I voted for the first caption, but I also like the second. And the third.


December 17, 2018 Update:  The Winner

Note:  Last week cartoonist Michael Maslin restyled the Rapunzel story. My caption got all tangled. Let down your hair and enjoy Contest #639.


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Tom Toro

Cats

Mice

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest


The Moment Magazine Cartoon Caption Contest


Each and Every One of My Cartoon Caption Contests

Attempted Bloggery's Cheesy Index

02745

The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest #1

There's a new caption contest in town. Cartoon Collections is Bob Mankoff's new cartoon rights leasing venture. The contest is going to be biweekly and three entries are permitted. There is a cash prize of $100. The first caption contest cartoon is by Benjamin Schwartz. As usual, my entries are shown below.

"As for my tax returns, there's nothing to see there either."
"Define what you mean by 'norms.'"
"Frankly, I wasn't expecting such a chilly reception."

But who says three captions is enough?

"I'm sorry you all had to see these socks."

November 20, 2018 Update:  The Winner

Note:  In an email to contestants, Bob Mankoff reports that this first contest received 2,152 entries.


Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Benjamin Schwartz

Bob Mankoff

Debates

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest

The Moment Magazine Cartoon Caption Contest

All of My Cartoon Caption Contests

Attempted Bloggery's Bare-Assed Index

02744

Barbara Shermund: Not Exactly a Gift

Do Barbara Shermund's Esquire cartoons depict attractive young ladies as sex objects in order to entertain male readers, or are they, rather, women who use their sexuality for self-empowerment? Could both ring true, possibly? Case in point is a cartoon from January of 1941.

"Well not exactly a gift—it was more of a trade[.]"
Barbara Shermund
Esquire, January 1941, page 45

Image updated February 21, 2022

https://www.ebay.com/itm/165307875826?hash=item267d1e01f2%3Ag%3A6%7EoAAOSw-tlghdyc&nma=true&si=64J6TuENCQvl%252FEQuIbsoMEcDQlw%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Barbara Shermund

Esquire

Attempted Bloggery's Trade-Off of an Index

  

02743

Barbara Shermund: Promises to Keep

Barbara Shermund's cartoons for men's magazines like Esquire often attempt to get a laugh out of her depiction of female promiscuity. Yet it is commonly the woman in these cartoons of hers who is self-empowered as the decision-maker. Such is the case in a cartoon from September of 1937. The unnamed man putting his tie back on, in contrast, is something of a nonentity. For that matter, so are Roger and Mr. Whipple, whom we know only from their mention in the caption.

The original art to this cartoon was sold on eBay in September for an undisclosed price somewhere under $625. EBay regards these best offer arrangements as private treaties and does not disclose the sale price, but I'd rather see them adopt a policy of public transparency.

"And now I've got to go back to the party—I promised Roger and Mr. Whipple that they could take me home, too[.]"
Barbara Shermund
Original art
Esquire, September 1, 1937, page 78

"And now I've got to go back to the party—I promised Roger and Mr. Whipple that they could take me home, too[.]"
Barbara Shermund
Original art
Esquire, September 1, 1937, page 78

Barbara Shermund's signature

Detail of verso with caption

Verso

Barbara Shermund
eBay Listing Ended September 10, 2018

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Barbara-Shermund-American-1899-1978-ORIGINAL-Water-color-cartoon-/183320493516?hash=item2aaec0bdcc%3Ag%3AIDEAAOSwQsdbRlb4&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Barbara Shermund
eBay Item Description

https://classic.esquire.com/article/1937/9/1/and-now-ive-got-to-go-back-to-the-party-i-promised-roger-and-mr-whipple-that-they-could-take-me-h

Note:  Attempted Bloggery seeks scans or photos of original art by Barbara Shermund for inclusion in future blog posts. I ask readers to send further examples. Roger and Mr. Whipple agree with me.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Barbara Shermund

Esquire

Original Cartoon Art (Not Including Work from the New Yorker, Mind You)

Attempted Bloggery's Index of Broken Promises

  
02742

Barbara Shermund: On Bended Knee

Mr. Dawson proposes marriage in Barbara Shermund's cartoon from the May 1953 issue of Esquire. The female object of Mr. Dawson's affection is young, pretty, well provided for, and of independent mind. In the 1950s, educated young women considered cigarette smoking a sign of their sophistication, and a cigarette belonging to this young lady burns in an ashtray at right. Her passion, on the other hand, is not burning, so Mr. Dawson will have to be content to attend to her more trivial needs instead.

"The answer's no, Mr. Dawson—but while you're down, feel around for an earring[.]"
Barbara Shermund
Esquire, May 1953, page 66

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1953-vintage-cartoon-from-Esquire-Magazine-061212

https://classic.esquire.com/article/1953/5/1/the-answers-no-mr-dawson-but-while-youre-down-feel-around-for-an-earring

Note:  Happy 27th anniversary to my wife, who knew she could say no, but didn't.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Barbara Shermund

Esquire

Attempted Bloggery's Yes or No Index

  
02741

Barbara Shermund's Prize-Winner

Not all mothers are easily fooled. A cartoon by Barbara Shermund published in the March 1939 issue of Esquire depicts a young woman coming home to her mother after a night on the town carrying an expensive necklace fresh out of its jewelry box. Her mother has seen this before; she already knows what story she's about to be told and she anticipates it with apparent sarcasm. The joke, of course, is that we all can suppose we know how her attractive daughter really obtained the jewelry.

"I know! You won it in another prize contest!"
Barbara Shermund
Original art
Esquire, March 1939, page 124

The rendition of the two women in the foyer is quite lovely, but the caption, I think, is weak. "Prize contest" just sounds wrong to the ear. Simply referring to a "contest" would have served better.

On the original art, the artist's signature is cut off by the mounting, which is inexcusable. But even more inexcusable is that the signature in the published cartoon is cut off at the same place. Eighty years ago, Esquire demonstrated a certain slovenliness in how it presented the work of its talented cartoonists. Did anyone even notice?

The original artwork has been sold on eBay twice in the past two years. The more recent listing is the more thorough one, and it makes use of Classic Esquire's new online archive.

Barbara Shermund
eBay Listing Ended December 4, 2016

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Barbara-Shermund-Esquire-New-Yorker-Fine-Large-1938-Watercolor-Illustration-/232156903131?hash=item360da136db%3Ag%3AyhsAAOSwEzxYOu9T&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Barbara Shermund
eBay Item Description

Barbara Shermund
eBay Bid History
It pays to wait. A bid in the final four seconds takes the prize.

The same piece was resold two years later on eBay, and at a profit: 

"I know! You won it in another prize contest!"
Barbara Shermund
Original art
Esquire, March 1939, page 124

"I know! You won it in another prize contest!"
Barbara Shermund
Matted original art
Esquire, March 1939, page 124

"I know! You won it in another prize contest!"
Barbara Shermund
Matted original art
Esquire, March 1939, page 124

Barbara Shermund's partially-obscured signature

The handwritten caption on the matte

Verso

Detail of verso with writing

Detail of stamp on Verso

Esquire's mascot Esky was created by E. Simms Campbell. The March 1939 magazine cover of Esky showing off on ice skates is illustrated with a sculpture by Arthur Von Frankenberg.

Arthur Von Frankenberg
Esquire, March 1939 

Esquire, March 1939, pages 124-125

Barbara Shermund
eBay Listing Ended September 30, 2018

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-1939-BARBARA-SHERMUND-Esquire-Magazine-Published-ILLUSTRATION-COMIC-ART-/263947322997?hash=item3d747c8675%3Ag%3A69wAAOSwTilbeDH5&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Barbara Shermund
eBay Item Description

Barbara Shermund
eBay Bid History
With only one bidder, bid strategy didn't matter here, but placing a single early bid still can't be recommended.

Note:  Attempted Bloggery seeks scans or photos of original artwork by Barbara Shermund for possible inclusion in future blog posts. Now how many blogs can say that?

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Barbara Shermund

Esquire

Original Cartoon Art (Not Including Work from the New Yorker)

Attempted Bloggery's Uncontested Index

  
02740

Barbara Shermund: A Penny for Your Thoughts

Barbara Shermund's redhead wears a sexy, diaphanous, dress and sits alluringly on a loveseat in Mr. Caldwell's den surrounded by his collection of erotic art. She wonders out loud what could be on the much older gentleman's mind. Is she simply naive or is she playing her cards exactly right? Many of Barbara Shermund's young women seem to know exactly how to get what they want. This particular cartoon, I think, can be read either way with pleasure.

The original framed Esquire cartoon art was sold last year on eBay with an accepted best offer of something less than $695.95. No information was provided regarding publication history, although Ms. Shermund was correctly cited in the listing's title as a "Known Esquire Artist." Indeed she is. Esquire's archive is now online allowing us to confirm that this lovely drawing was published on a full page in the magazine, during the spring of 1940.

"A penny for your thoughts, Mr Caldwell."
Barbara Shermund
Original art, Esquire, April 1, 1940, page 40

Barbara Shermund's signature is partially obscured by the matte, evidence of a substandard framing job.

Detail of the ingénue

Detail of Mr. Caldwell

Detail of the principal figures

The caption is handwritten on the matte.

A close-up of Barbara Shermund's partially-obscured signature

Detail with see-through dress

Detail

Barbara Shermund
eBay Listing Ended January 25, 2018

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Barbara-Shermund-Original-Cartoon-Signed-Known-Esquire-Artist-/282273246441?hash=item41b8cbece9%3Ag%3AwYIAAOSw44BYKf0v&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Barbara Shermund
eBay Item Description

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Barbara-Shermund-Original-Cartoon-Signed-Known-Esquire-Artist-/282273246441?hash=item41b8cbece9%3Ag%3AwYIAAOSw44BYKf0v&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

https://classic.esquire.com/article/1940/4/1/a-penny-for-your-thoughts-mr-caldwell

Note:  Scans or photos of original artwork by Barbara Shermund are welcomed here on Attempted Bloggery.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Barbara Shermund

Esquire

Original Cartoon Art (Not from the New Yorker)

Attempted Bloggery's Mindful Index

  
02739