"Life of the Party Bibs", cheap novelty item for adults. From the 1950's
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| "Life of the Party Aprons", cheap novelty sister product |
http://www.amazon.com/Cheap-Laffs-Art-Novelty-Item/dp/0810955997
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Life of the Party Bibs
http://www.amazon.com/Cheap-Laffs-Art-Novelty-Item/dp/0810955997
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Sister Kathie Lee-Semple McPherson
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| Sister Kathie Lee |
"SCANDALOUS" the new musical about the life of the 1920's and 30's evangelist and media celebrity Aimee Semple McPherson is poised to open on Broadway, with the book and lyrics by the bewildering TV personality Kathie Lee Gifford. So when Ed Johnson, the design director at the NY Observer asked me to create a cover image to run with their interview with Ms. Gifford and an article about the show, morphing Kathie Lee into "Sister Aimee" made the most sense to me.
Sister Aimee sermonizing to an admirer
Read the full Observer article here:
http://observer.com/2012/10/praise-be-kathie-lee-delightfully-ditzy-daytime-queen-puts-the-fun-back-in-fundamentalism-with-preacher-feature-scandalous/ |
| My rough sketch placed in the layout |
the finished cover
Monday, October 22, 2012
MAD' LY YOURS...
To help celebrate MAD Magazine's 60th anniversary this year...
... I've been fortunate in receiving several personalized drawings from some of the legendary cartoonists (the "Usual gang of Idiots") who've worked for MAD over the years, including the above drawing by the great Harvey Kurtzman, the creator of MAD. This drawing is from 1980 (where I was most likely the main instigator in the weekly chaos that ensued during his class at the School of Visual Arts. Harvey privately thanked me on several occasions for keeping the class "lively') and was used in the class publication Kar-Tunz, before Harvey's personal inscription was added.
Read all about my memories of Harvey Kurtzman and his SVA class here:
Jack Davis sent me this inscribed drawing recently as a thank you for interviewing him last year at the Brooklyn Comics festival and for writing a tribute to him for the recent anthology of his work from Fantagraphics:
Sergio Aragonas drew this for me during my 1974 visit to the MAD offices. Read about it here:
In 1990, Don Martin and I struck up a phone friendship. I sent "Mad's Maddest Artist" a copy of my new book, "Warts & all", co-written by my brother Josh, and this was the thank-you drawing I received in return.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Jack Davis and A Guide for the Married Man
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Newspaper ad for A Guide for the Married Man/art by Jack Davis |
"A Guide for the Married Man" was a 1967 "Sex Comedy/"Bedroom Farce", based on a popular book by Frank Tarloff, directed by Gene Kelly and starring Walter Matthau and Robert Morse, featuring cameos by an amazing line-up of comedians (and Jayne Mansfield in her final role)
The prolific cartoonist/illustrator Jack Davis was originally commissioned to create the poster art but for some reason his artwork wasn't used on the poster but instead used for the newspaper ads
This is Jack Davis's (rare) original poster pencil sketch featuring the entire cast:
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| Click to enlarge |
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| The Davis art was used on a Spanish poster for the film    |
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| And yet another poster, this time drawn by Playboy artist Dink Siegel and also used for some foreign posters for the film. Seems the producers just couldn't make up their minds. Click to enlarge |
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| Finally, this was the poster used for the film's initial American release The Turtles perform the film's theme song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf9Ua9RGPEI |
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Portrait of Bernard Krigstein
New portrait of comics artist Bernard Krigstein (1919-1990)
1955's "Master Race" from the debut issue of EC's "New direction" comic book Impact was Bernard Krigstein's memorable and groundbreaking masterpiece of sequential storytelling. The psychologically suspenseful narrative, written by Al Feldstein but expanded and graphically designed by Krigstein, took place in a New York Subway station with flashbacks to the nazi Germany death camps and was the first mainstream comic story to deal directly with the still painful memory of the (then) decade old Holocaust.
Bernard Krigstein would illustrate 47 stories for EC, including several pieces for MAD working with it's brilliant editor Harvey Kurtzman, before becoming a full time painter and teacher, and what he created was innovative and startling, especially in the 1950's world of comic books.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Krigstein
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| Bernard Krigstein |
1955's "Master Race" from the debut issue of EC's "New direction" comic book Impact was Bernard Krigstein's memorable and groundbreaking masterpiece of sequential storytelling. The psychologically suspenseful narrative, written by Al Feldstein but expanded and graphically designed by Krigstein, took place in a New York Subway station with flashbacks to the nazi Germany death camps and was the first mainstream comic story to deal directly with the still painful memory of the (then) decade old Holocaust.
Bernard Krigstein would illustrate 47 stories for EC, including several pieces for MAD working with it's brilliant editor Harvey Kurtzman, before becoming a full time painter and teacher, and what he created was innovative and startling, especially in the 1950's world of comic books.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Krigstein
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| Master Race opening page |
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| Closing page |
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| From MAD # 12, opening page |
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| Closing page. Krigstein was equally deft at at caricature & humor |
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| Lifelong New Yorker Bernard Krigstein, waiting for the subway. The latest in my series of portraits of "legends of comic books" |
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| For more on B. Krigstein's life & work: |
Thanks to John Benson & art spiegelman
Sunday, September 23, 2012
THE COMIC
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| Mickey Rooney & Dick Van Dyke |
-- Billy Bright, narrating The Comic from his funeral casket
When I posted my blog on the movie posters of Dick Van Dyke, I included several versions of the poster for his 1969 film The Comic...
Now I'd like to expand on that particular film.
The film premiered in 1969 to little notice and several mixed to negative reviews. It soon wound up playing on a second bill with "The Desperados", starring Vince Edwards and Jack Palance (which is when, at age 10, I first saw and loved The Comic. In fact, I returned to see it another five times that week. And... The Desperados wasn't bad!) but over the years it's become a cult favorite.
It's flawed for sure, much of the tone and dialog between Dick Van Dyke and his co-star Michelle Lee sounds like re-scripted Rob and Laura Pertie banter (Michelle Lee's character is even named "Mary" and she even looks like Mary Tyler Moore. I've wondered if the part was first offered to MTM?). The reviewer in The New York Times wrote that "Dick Van Dyke and Michelle Lee seemed like Rob & Laura Petrie gone sour".
Another of the film's drawbacks (and a pet peeve of mine), is that the actors appear in what is supposed to be the mid to late twenties, yet they sport late sixties hair styles and sideburns. (I have a "sideburn theory": By the late sixties, in an effort to remain hip and with-it, the majority of adult male Hollywood actors sported sideburns. Directors simply didn't have the nerve to ask them to suddenly shave them off, even for a twenties period film).
Billy Bright's erratic, self destructive behavior is confusing and never fully explained, and the film's color can be overlit, harsh and garish. Aside from the costumes and automobiles, you never really get a sense of the film taking place back in the twenties (unlike say, "The Artist" which successfully takes you back to that same Hollywood era). Also, the lead actors in their aged makeup, especially Cornel Wilde and Michelle Lee are unconvincing (their hair is basically whitened), only Mickey Rooney and Dick Van Dyke in his final, post- heart attack scenes seem truly old.
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| Dick Van Dyke & Michelle Lee |
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| Billy Bright tests a Chaplin mustache |
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| The film's writer & director Carl Reiner also appeared in The Comic playing Billy Bright's nasty agent Al Schilling |
Yet in spite of those drawbacks, the film is a classic. "The Comic" was Carl Reiner's second film as director after "Enter Laughing", two years before, which was based on his hit play. Without the restrictions of network TV, he was clearly looking for darker, edgier material, and "The Comic" fit that bill. His next film (in his original trilogy), "Where's Poppa?" with George Segal and Ruth Gordon, would be his darkest comedy yet.
"The Comic" has more than a few truly memorable and even haunting sequences. The opening credits feature nothing but blaring music and a vintage Billy Bright tin toy, wound up yet constantly tumbling over, an analogy to Bright's troubled life. Dick Van Dyke and Carl Reiner lovingly recreated many inspired and truly funny vintage silent screen comedy scenes (in B&W).
And there's a very funny sequence with an aged Billy Bright attempting a comeback (ala Buster Keaton), on the late sixties Steve Allen show surrounded by several clueless guests, screening a hilarious Billy Bright TV commercial for "Whitey White" laundry detergent (with a cameo by Isabel Sanford).
TCM on The Comic: http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/353393%7C0/The-Comic.html
There is also a beautifully played and subtle performance by Mickey Rooney as Billy Bright's long suffering movie comedy co-star and (for some unexplained reason), only loyal friend "Cockeye". Then there's Dick Van Dyke himself, Oscar-worthy as Billy Bright, particularly in the sad final scenes as an old, forgotten man, slowly roaming down Hollywood Blvd with Cockeye, eyes covered in their feeble game of attempting to identify the Hollywood walk of fame stars. Finally, Billy alone, comb-over bald, unloved and forgotten, sitting in his tiny Hollywood apartment, mouth agape, blankly staring at one of his old movies ("Forget Me Nots") on the late show while eating and dribbling a soft boiled egg down his chin, wondering what went wrong. Harrowing and still funny stuff. Despite it's flaws, "The Comic" is Carl Reiner's finest and finally most poignant film.
Several film clips from The Comic:
http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/360670/Comic-The-Movie-Clip-Love-Honor-And-Oh-Boy-.html
Dick Van Dyke was in his mid-forties when he made The Comic and he looks a bit old as the young and eager Billy Bright, arriving in Hollywood after his success as a Vaudeville comedian, but his sad, drawn face works perfectly in the later scenes of Billy Bright in decline. Van Dyke, who also struggled with alcohol problems, was the perfect choice for Billy Bright. He had appeared in several turkeys leading up to The Comic ("Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" was his only late-sixties hit), and sadly, The Comic would also flop at the box office. He'd star in just one more film (the very funny "Cold Turkey") before returning to television. Yet in this film he achieved something he had never actually pulled off before. Van Dyke, always likable, in "The Comic", he made himself almost completely unlikable. He's simply note-perfect in this tailor made role and It's by far my favorite performance of his.
Read about the 2011 "The Comic" reunion with Carl Reiner, Dick Van Dyke and Michelle Lee: http://www.newsfromme.com/2012/11/21/the-billy-bright-film-festival/
"The Comic" has more than a few truly memorable and even haunting sequences. The opening credits feature nothing but blaring music and a vintage Billy Bright tin toy, wound up yet constantly tumbling over, an analogy to Bright's troubled life. Dick Van Dyke and Carl Reiner lovingly recreated many inspired and truly funny vintage silent screen comedy scenes (in B&W).
And there's a very funny sequence with an aged Billy Bright attempting a comeback (ala Buster Keaton), on the late sixties Steve Allen show surrounded by several clueless guests, screening a hilarious Billy Bright TV commercial for "Whitey White" laundry detergent (with a cameo by Isabel Sanford).
TCM on The Comic: http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/353393%7C0/The-Comic.html
There is also a beautifully played and subtle performance by Mickey Rooney as Billy Bright's long suffering movie comedy co-star and (for some unexplained reason), only loyal friend "Cockeye". Then there's Dick Van Dyke himself, Oscar-worthy as Billy Bright, particularly in the sad final scenes as an old, forgotten man, slowly roaming down Hollywood Blvd with Cockeye, eyes covered in their feeble game of attempting to identify the Hollywood walk of fame stars. Finally, Billy alone, comb-over bald, unloved and forgotten, sitting in his tiny Hollywood apartment, mouth agape, blankly staring at one of his old movies ("Forget Me Nots") on the late show while eating and dribbling a soft boiled egg down his chin, wondering what went wrong. Harrowing and still funny stuff. Despite it's flaws, "The Comic" is Carl Reiner's finest and finally most poignant film.
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| Mickey Rooney as Cockeye presents Billy Bright (recovering from a stroke) with a Billy Bright tin toy |
http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/360670/Comic-The-Movie-Clip-Love-Honor-And-Oh-Boy-.html
Dick Van Dyke was in his mid-forties when he made The Comic and he looks a bit old as the young and eager Billy Bright, arriving in Hollywood after his success as a Vaudeville comedian, but his sad, drawn face works perfectly in the later scenes of Billy Bright in decline. Van Dyke, who also struggled with alcohol problems, was the perfect choice for Billy Bright. He had appeared in several turkeys leading up to The Comic ("Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" was his only late-sixties hit), and sadly, The Comic would also flop at the box office. He'd star in just one more film (the very funny "Cold Turkey") before returning to television. Yet in this film he achieved something he had never actually pulled off before. Van Dyke, always likable, in "The Comic", he made himself almost completely unlikable. He's simply note-perfect in this tailor made role and It's by far my favorite performance of his.
Read about the 2011 "The Comic" reunion with Carl Reiner, Dick Van Dyke and Michelle Lee: http://www.newsfromme.com/2012/11/21/the-billy-bright-film-festival/
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| The original one-sheet poster for The Comic. The working title for the film was Billy Bright, but the studio chose the inevitable bland, nondescript title "The Comic" and created this equally bland poster |
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| Dick Van Dyke as Billy Bright poses as a mannequin in one of the films early silent comedy film recreations (notice the sideburns) |
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| Carl Reiner as Billy Bright's agent discuses Billy's faltering career with Van Dyke |
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| Another early silent comedy bit |
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| 49 year old Mickey Rooney played Billy's best friend, Martin "Cockeye" Van Buren. This is Rooney as the younger (bewigged) Cockeye |
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| Filming at Paradise Cove in Malibu. Mickey Rooney, Michelle Lee and Dick Van Dyke. The girl in the bikini doesn't appear in the film. |
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| Billy Bright, drunk and passed out, with drinking partner Ginger (Barbara Heller) |
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| Billy Flirting with Sybil (Nina Wayne) and admiring a statue of her |
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| An ad for the film from a Canadian newspaper |
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| Billy Bright and Mary Gibson first meet |
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| Cockeye driving the just- married couple |
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| Billy once again attempting to make up with Mary |
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| After their divorce, Billy brings a gift for their son who he's never met |
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| Cornel Wilde as film director Frank Powers discovers Billy in bed with his girlfriend Mary Gibson until She explains to him that they're "just married" |
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| Billy pushes a cream puff into his agent Al's face explaining "That's funny" |
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| Mary, Cockeye and Billy attend a film premiere |
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| An older Billy Bright (with combover) appears on the Steve Allen show. Notice the sideburns |
Carl Reiner directing the cast and posed stills of Mickey Rooney and
cast member Pert Kelton, were taken by a Columbia studio photographer
on the set of The Comic...
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| The Comic was released on video cassette with yet another bland cover for the VHS box |
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| in 1993, Entertainment Weekly reviewed the videos of both The Comic, and the newly released Billy Crystal comedian bio "Mr. Saturday Night", and asked me to supply the illustration. I posed both washed-up comedians as guests together on the late-night Joe Franklin show in 1968 |
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| One of Dick Van Dyke's Billy Bright costumes recently went up for auction |
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