George Booth: A Signed Omnibooth Promotion

Who could pass up an opportunity to enjoy some of George Booth's work? A print promotion for his collection Omnibooth (1984) signed by the cartoonist turned up on eBay where it was sold this summer for $45 despite some prominent sunning at one of the folds on the unsigned side. The eBay seller calls this item a poster, as one side can be displayed unfolded as a banner advertisement for the book. The other side, though, can best be appreciated at reading distance. The small print and the even folds indicate that this was meant to be a promotional brochure which could double as a wall display.

George Booth's signature

An encounter between a cat and an English bull terrier in four panels

"If you ask me, this thing is going to get a whole lot worse
before it gets better."

"You got here just in time, Mr. Lundquist. The boys are ready
to give your transmission the gang gong."

"I have a stuffed chair and a rag rug that are going out
in the spring sunshine today, Elsie!"

George Booth
eBay listing ended July 28, 2021

https://www.ebay.com/itm/324730228988?hash=item4b9b6e10fc%3Ag%3AXqEAAOSwvN9hAFSk&nma=true&si=WEtIFz5%252FkfY9UxP8WWeB%252FCaqeVQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

George Booth
eBay item description

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My Entries in the Moment Cartoon Caption Contest for September/October 2021

Reveille it ain't. The ram's horn is called a shofar and it is traditionally blown during Jewish synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah and at the end of Yom Kippur. Moment magazine's Cartoon Caption Contest for September/October 2021 provides a needed wakeup call. My entries are shown below. The rousing drawing is by Benjamin Schwarz.

"What makes you think it's in tune?"
"It sounds more like a Ricola gadola."
"Does he have to practice every day for a once-a-year gig?"
"He sounds great on the side I can still hear."
"You had to tell him no bagel breakfast until he practices."
"Guess who forgot to take out his hearing aid?"
"Is this what you meant by unconditional love?"

November 21, 2021 Update:  The Finalists

January 30, 2022 Update:  The Winner

(And I voted for it.)

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #776

Last week I worked from home on The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #776 from the issue dated October 18, 2021. My caption is shown below. The drawing is by Mort Gerberg.

"I wish he knew as much about fixing a relationship."

October 27, 2021 Update:  The  Finalists

November 7, 2021 Update:  I voted for the caption from Macomb Township.

November 13, 2021 Update:  The Winner

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My Copy of Inked by Joe Dator

The full title of Joe Dator's funny and informative new book is Inked: Cartoons, Confessions, Rejected Ideas and Secret Sketches from The New Yorker's Joe Dator. The official release date is Tuesday, October 19, and my personalized copy just arrived in Friday's mail. The inscription is inspired and, come to think of it, says much about my reason for keeping this blog going all these years. The original sketch features Joe's character Walter—the one on the cover wearing a tie—rising brilliantly over the serene landscape. 

Joe Dator and Inked

Note:  Inked is a terrific read. I found the book to be very humorous as well as insightful about the creative process, striking a balance that is rarely seen in cartoon books. I don't hesitate to recommend Joe Dator's Inked to all the readers of this blog.

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My Copy of The Elements of Stress by Bob Eckstein and Michael Shaw

I wish to thank snowman expert and New Yorker cartoonist Bob Eckstein for a signed copy of The Elements of Stress (2020), which he cowrote with fellow New Yorker cartoonist Michael Shaw. The book is the Strunk & White of stress reduction, only with lots of cartoons and humor. And in the unlikely event the book doesn't help me to achieve "the pursuit of happy-ish," Bob provided me with a stress-reducing promotional squeeze toy as well. Now I'm ready for anything.

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Personna Advertising Art by Whitney Darrow, Jr., Part 2

As we have seen previously, New Yorker cartoonist Whitney Darrow, Jr., created advertising art for the client Personna, maker of fine razor blades. The illustration shown here depicts an ancient man complete with sandals, robe, and a long, white beard. Perhaps he is an anachronistic candidate for the premium shaving gear being promoted here. His stool appears to be the capital of a column and the steam from his cooking pot reveals the head and tail of a tiger. Presumably some slick advertising copy pulled this all together.

"He also invented the house cat . . ."

Whitney Darrow, Jr.
eBay listing ended August 5, 2021

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144131868686?hash=item218eedc80e%3Ag%3A5RkAAOSw06NhAwx2&nma=true&si=WEtIFz5%252FkfY9UxP8WWeB%252FCaqeVQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Whitney Darrow, Jr.
eBay item description

Whitney Darrow, Jr.
eBay bid history
It's the last bid that wins, with nine seconds to spare.

Note:  This is the second original Personna illustration by Whitney Darrow, Jr., to appear on this blog but I have yet to hear from anyone who can tell me something more about the ad campaign. Fortunately, I can be patient.

I'm waiting...

January 7, 2023 Update:  I have come to believe that this artwork may actually be an illustration for the column "On Campus with Max Shulman" rather than advertising art for Personna razor blades.

April 8, 2023 Update:  Or it could be both.

https://www.industrydocuments.ucsf.edu/tobacco/docs/#id=ztvv0004

That led me to this much better image:

"How to Get A's in All Your Final Exams"
Max Shulman on Campus
The Winonan
Winona State College, Winona, MN
May 11, 1967, p. 3

https://openriver.winona.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1131&context=thewinonan1960s

"He also invented the
house cat . . ."

"He also invented the
house cat . . ."

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The CartoonStock Caption Contest #140

Admittedly, it was slow going for me these past weeks, as it was for the two diners in the CartoonStock Caption Contest #140, which I never even got to. Although there are now two weeks to work on each contest, I did not manage to write even one caption, let alone the three permitted. And I don't even feel remorse. The drawing is by Phil Witte.

"————"

October 27, 2021 Update:  The Winner

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Vic Mizzy: The Addams Family Theme

It seems almost inexplicable today, but an autograph musical quotation, signed, of Vic Mizzy's iconic theme song to "The Addams Family" television show based, of course, on the classic New Yorker drawings of Charles Addams, did not find a buyer in 2014 at RR Auction. As a result, the presale estimate has been deleted from the auction house's website, so it's hard to say whether the lot was offered at a reasonable price. Whatever the case, though, there's no disputing that series has one snappy theme:

Vic Mizzy
RR Auction
June 26, 2014

https://rrauction.com/PastAuctionItem/3325019

"The Addams Family" Theme

Season 1 (1964-1965)

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