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The poster for the show, designed by Monte Beauchamp. The
poster is available for purchase for $25 via the Society of
Illustrators by ordering here:
http://www.societyillustrators.org/Product.aspx?id=11363
This art will also be featured on the upcoming DVD box set fron SHOUT! Factory, The Marx Brothers TV Collection |
The Society of Illustrators presented a 2-floor gallery showing in their museum of illustration of my "Old Jewish Comedians" artwork, curated by Monte Beauchamp. The opening reception was held on March 5th and the show ended May 3rd. The show featured all of my original artwork from my three OJC books, edited by Beauchamp, as well as early rough sketches and additional Jewish comedian-related artwork created for books, magazines, prints and DVD covers. This was the most comprehensive display of my original artwork to date, containing over 115 illustrations, plus biographies of each comedian. Also on display was over one hundred of pieces of rare comedian ephemera from my collection, books, magazines, comic books, records, sheet music, advertisements, brochures, toys, games, buttons, cigar boxes, shoe laces and playing cards, some featuring art by Al Hirschfeld, Jack Davis and Norman Rockwell. Illustrator Stephen Kroninger loaned many rare Jerry Lewis pieces from his collection for the "Jerry Lewis shrine" and Ben Fentington loaned several OJC comedy records for display.
http://www.societyillustrators.org/The-Museum/2014/Jewish-Comedians/Drew-Friedman-s-Old-Jewish-Comedians.aspx
Boing Boing announces the OJC show:
http://boingboing.net/2014/01/09/drew-friedmans-old-jewish.html
The following is a photographic recap of the show, the opening reception, and the two panels held in conjunction with the show, the first at the MoCCA arts festival with Joe Franklin, the second "From the Borscht Belt to Seinfeld" at the Society of Illustrators on E. 63rd St, moderated by Dr. Eddy Portnoy and featuring myself, famed comic Larry Storch and writers Bill Persky and Tom Leopold. Special thanks to Mark G. Parker, Monte Beauchamp and Anelle Miller and the entire staff of the Society of illustrators for making this show happen.
Stephen Kroninger's
Drawger blog on the
then upcoming show:
http://www.drawger.com/kroninger/?section=articles&article_id=14754
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| this large banner was created for the entrance of the show, designed by Monte Beauchamp |
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| books, posters and postcards for sale |
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the main gallery, pre-opening...
Society director Anelle Miller and young, older Jewish comedian Gilbert Gottfried, pre-opening
downstairs gallery
two of the framed pieces (photos by Jeff Cuyuamba)...
the opening reception (photo by Jeff Cuyuamba)
Greeting the crowd with talk show legend Joe Franklin (photo by Jeff Cuyubamba)
introducing Joe to the audience
Watch Joe Franklin at the opening reception as he drops the F-bomb:
(via Kevin Dougherty) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsLeqTo_lQs
with Gilbert Gottfried and Joe Franklin
with Gilbert Gottfried and Paul Shaffer...
Handsome Dick Manitoba and MAD legend Al Jaffee
Front row: Becky Hall, DF, Paul Shaffer, show curator Monte Beauchamp
behind: unknown, smiling photo-bomber
Michael Townsend Wright, Liz Belmont, Owen Kline
Tom Leopold, Craig Bierko (photo by Liz Belmont)
Handsome Dick Manitoba, Ellen Abramowitz, Joe Franklin
Joe Coleman, Joe Franklin, Larry (Ratso) Sloman
old school chums, Mark Newgarden, Dave Dubnanski
Mad art director Sam Viviano, Eric Reynolds, illustrator Steven Guarnaccia
Michael Wright, Gilbert Gottfried
Robert Klein posing with his portrait
Robert Klein, DF, Abe Vigoda
Klein, Vigoda and Gottfried
the Society director Anelle Miller greets Joe Franklin and Abe Vigoda
with illustrator Joe Ciardiello, Anelle Miller and Abe Vigoda
Fantagraphics co-publisher Eric Reynolds and Abe Vigoda
cartoonist Mark Newgarden and Abe Vigoda (photo by Liz Belmont)
Tom Leopold, Abe Vigoda
Abe Vigoda and my father Bruce Jay Friedman
Bruce Jay Friedman talks with Robert Klein
Al Jaffee and Joe Franklin
illustrator Tim O'Brien and Abe Vigoda
Al Jaffee
(the following B&W photos by Ken Farrell)
Joe Franklin
Paul Shaffer
illustrator Sanford Kossin
Gilbert Gottfried
Abe Vigoda
Jeff Ross visits the show, with the Society director Anelle Miller
J.R. and friend pose with Buddy Hackett, Jeff's mentor
On April 10th, As part of the MoCCA Arts Fest at the Lexington Ave Armory, and in conjunction with the OJC show, legendary talk show host Joe Franklin and I held a panel to discuss everything Old Jewish Comedians. I also gave a visual preview of my upcoming book "Heroes of the Comics". The panel was filmed and will posted here soon.
WNYC: http://www.wnyc.org/story/weekend-staff-picks-cartoons-birds-herbs/
Bleeding Cool on the MoCCA panel:
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/04/10/what-you-missed-at-mocca-old-jews-telling-jokes-and-drew-friendmans-heroes-of-the-comics/
Watch the entire MoCCA panel here;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyaxgJlL7jc
the following panel photos were taken by Bob Greenberg:
comedian/actor Michael Townsend Wright introduces the panel (cartoonist Neil Numberman in the center, moderated the powerpoint presentation)
the panel
discussing Jerry Lewis
Joe Franklin
On April 24th, The Society of Illustrators hosted a panel to coincide with the show, "From the Borscht Belt to Seinfeld, the evolution of Jewish Comedy", moderated by Yiddish theatre scholar/P.hd Dr. Eddy Portnoy, and featuring comedy legend Larry Storch, famed comedy writers Bill Persky and Tom Leopold, and myself. The sold-out SRO panel was made possible by a grant from the New York Dept of Humanities.
http://www.societyillustrators.org/Events-and-Programs/Lectures/2014/Old-Jewish-Comedians/From-the-Borscht-Belt-to-Seinfeld—The-Evolution-of-Jewish-American-Comedy.asp |
Jewcy on the panel:
http://www.jewcy.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/from-the-borscht-belt-to-seinfeld
Trav SD:
http://travsd.wordpress.com/2014/04/25/from-the-borscht-belt-to-seinfeld-the-evolution-of-jewish-american-comedy/
The entire panel can be watched here:
http://www.societyillustrators.org/VideoArchive.aspx
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Larry Storch holding the book containing his portrait in the Society's shop
Larry arrives and poses with a print of his portrait
posed with Larry (whiping off his portrait)
photo by Suzanne Grossberg
The following photos were taken by the panel coordinater Suzanne Grossberg (unless otherwise noted):
audience members including Joanna Persky and TV comedy writer Bob Ellison on the right
panelists Friedman, Persky, Leopold, Storch
with Bill Persky and Tom Leopold
photo by Liz Belmont
Larry Storch tells a joke in front of a photo of himself from the early fifties
the panelists including modorater Eddy Portnoy and Society director Anelle Miller...
Larry Storch and Anelle Miller
Larry Storch by illustrator Victor Juhasz, drawn during the panel
Persky by Juhasz
Larry Storch and Victor Juhasz
Stephen Kroninger and Larry (photo by Aviva Ebstein Kroninger)
DF & JR (photo by Jillian Schienfeld)
The Jewish Daily Forward:
http://blogs.forward.com/the-shmooze/197619/comedian-tales-its-all-in-the-timing/ |
interview about the OJC show with
Jewcy:
http://www.jewcy.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/spotlight-on-drew-friedman-legendary-cartoonist
