? ? ? ?

I couldn't think of a really snazzy title for this LONG overdue Monthly Muse. The topic concerns magic and my fascination for it. Presto! Alakazam! .. . .and other incantations just didn't seem to fit. So-------we're stuck with ? ? ? ? !

No secrets will be revealed here; only reflections on a lifetime love of the art of legerdemain and prestidigitation. . . undoubtedly nurtured by a special Santa Clause gift. See it below. (That's the exact Mysto Magic Set by A.C. Gilbert. There were five sets in that particular series. Eventually, I owned them all.) And a career was born. Actually just an--on again--off again interest in magic which never completely abandoned me.

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My cousin, Betty, who also gave me my first book about cartooning, Draw Comics! --Here's How-- A Complete Book on Cartooning by George Carlson, married Jack, a very professional amateur magician—forgive the oxymoron. Jack pointed me to the Abbott's Magic Manufacturing Company catalog. From that point on, there was no looking back. He also introduced me to a young magician in a nearby town, with whom I visited; we had fun practicing our tricks, sharing ideas. Here's Ted Blau.

During a two year hitch in the Navy, while stationed in New Orleans we visited the Rex Magic Shop; Bernita bought me Greater Magic. The tome of more than 1005 pages of text pulled back the shroud of mystery from cabalas, hundreds in number; from small pocket tricks to large scale illusions. Dr. HarlanTarbell--himself a polished magician--drew more than1150 illustrations! A dozen or so years later I met Tarbell. He autographed his own first volume of The Tarbell Course in Magic which I'd purchased. 

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High school years were the soil where the seeds of both magic and cartooning germinated, masking feelings of inferiority. Folks find that a condition, in me, difficult to entertain.

But, many birthday parties, service club meetings, class reunions and family gatherings were subjected to the perspiring performances of VALDARO, the Magician. I chose the name Valdaro because the letter “V” was prominent on each of 52 cards in a deck someone had given me. Think I'm kidding about being shy? When elected president of my sophomore class I passed out cold.

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Ultimately I joined IBM, the International Brotherhood of Magicians. During that time I was elected President of the Ithaca, NY Ring.

I didn't pass out.

It was a treat and a delight to meet a number of childhood magi-heroes; Blackstone, Sr., Gene Gordon (one of the founders of IBM) and Lou Tannen, proprietor of Tannen's Magic Shop in New York City to name a few. Got to chat with David Copperfield back stage . . . and Harry Blackstone Jr.

***************************

Some years before moving to San Diego from hometown Watkins Glen, NY,teacher/author Frank Steber and I posed for a library publicity shot. I think Frank is trying to show me how to do a trick.

What a privilege to be asked to design a logo for two IBM conventions held in San Diego.

Here is the most recent one.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Rabbit Under the Hat, a book for which Ellen Friedman and I are responsible, is a collection of magic inspired cartoons. Most of them were originally published in the IBM Ring 76 newsletter MagiCurrents over the past nine years.

 

It should be available within a couple of months. It's been fun for us. I know you'll like the finished product.

wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

We're almost to this blog's vanishing point. I'm hoping that Jim Williamson's picture (shown as if he were contemplating a floating grapefruit) will be seen by someone who remembers him. Aka LEN, the Magician, Jim was a friend and member of the Ithaca magic club. Where ARE you, Jim??

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

The predicament depicted in our final picture could conceivably reflect my own confusion. Let's leave it at that til next time.

 

SIM SALA BIM!

Jim

A BOAT TO REMEMBER

Build Your Own Sailboat! 

BLUEPRINTS 

Only $15!

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It was something like that, the small teaser in Family Circle magazine in the year 1973. David is the youngest of our five children, youngest of three boys. We sent for the plans and were soon embarked on an exciting adventure.

The pictures for the most part tell the story.

Checking over the blueprints.

Ready to set sail . . . . . . . . not quite.

Dad lends a hand.

Dave thinks things over.

Dave thinks some more.

===================

Working for the hull of it.

Making sure she's water tight.

 We're getting there . . . 

 . . . Slowly.

Hey, it's beginning to look like a boat!

Sister Andi lends a hand.

OUT TO LAUNCH!

SPLASHED!

Bending the sails
 

Reeving the main halyard

Reeving (detail)

Prepare to raise the main!

And  he's off!

All we need is wind.

Dad's doing his best.

It would be nice to think that my mentoring during this project is greatly responsible for the amazing talents that blossomed later in David's life. Seems as if he can fix most anything, build anything; much like his two older brothers Jim and John. However, those who are aware of my expertise in all but one or two* areas, would soon have great difficulty in suppressing giant guffaws and super size sniggles. (* better limit that to one.)

*********************

I only wish we had pictures showing Andi and me, sitting on the underside of the scuttled D&D, being towed to shore by the kindly skipper of a passing power boat. Talk about humiliation.

All hands involved in this caper had fun. Hey, we did, didn't we?

The Magic of Cartooning

By now, if you've been more than a casual visitor of Jim's Muses you're aware of my penchant for cartooning and magic. The former has allowed me to put bread on the table since the early 50s. The latter, a few crumbs, by virtue of doing many shows for children's birthday parties, service clubs and Farm Bureau dinners during approximately the same period. The Morris talent agency never called me.

Although a real job (twenty-nine years at a radio station) almost derailed me from my first love—cartooning-- I continued drawing and submitting my work to many of the major magazines of the day. There were occasional sales, enough to keep the passion at least warm if not red hot. It was not until Bernita and I moved to San Diego from Watkins Glen, NY that things began to click for me as a freelance cartoonist. What I'd wanted all along.

Enough background.

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During the past few years I've read two great autobiographical books by cartoonists whose work I admire. Coincidentally, both books commemorate twenty-five years in the careers of these talented artists.

First:

Isn't that a great cover? It's only a teaser to the captivating chapters within, beginning with the excitement of Borgman's winning of the Pulitzer Prize in 1991 for editorial cartooning. He was 37 years old, had been The Cincinnati Inquirer's cartoonist for 15 years.

The topics covered in 14 chapters touch upon Jim's early years—growing up, education, his early interest in . . . just about everything. Chapter 5 features his favorite Borgman cartoons; turns out, they pretty much mirror my choices in the book too.

There is so much to be enjoyed within the 208 pages of M25YATCE! Amazing art, revealing articles written by the author's co-workers, and through this book you'll meet one of America's best editorial cartoonists.

*********************

The other book celebrating 25 years is by Greg Evans whom I've had the pleasure of knowing--- and counting as friend--- a like number of years. In fact, it was Greg who introduced me to Jim Borgman at one of the National Cartoonists Society's annual conventions. How could I have been so lucky?

LUANN 25 YEARS is a treat, cover to cover; it covers not only the title character's genesis, but the life story of her creator as well. (Both narratives are “fascinating” beyond comprehension, as the word on the cover would indicate) We see the very first drawings of the some-day-to-be famous cartoonist and a photo of Evans when he was about the same age as Luann when the comic strip began in newspapers in 1985. There's no dearth of Luann comic strips, beginning with the initial Sunday page and daily strip. Those two entries portray her as a pre-teenager. By page 273--- a few hundred strips later--- Luann is totally grown up . . . and so is Greg.

I enjoyed this book so much and recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone; aspiring cartoonists especially, will find it inspirational and motivating.

Final word about these two excellent artists: Each is the recipient of the Reuben, which is the Oscar of the National Cartoonists Society, signifying Cartoonist of the Year. Jim in 1993; Greg in 2004.

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Originally, the plan was to chat some about the second of my passions: magic. But I'll have to save that for next time. You see, all the material I had put aside for that posting-----suddenly vanished!

I'll wait right here 'til I remember the magic word to bring it all back.

Thanks for looking in and I appreciate your sharing the link.

monthlymissive-jimvtoons.blogspot.com

Jim

LISTEN UP, BELLA !

         

“I say, Bella . . .”

“Yes, Jim?”

      












“I've been meaning to talk with you about something.”

“Yes, Jim?”

“Let's talk a walk. We'll talk outdoors.”

“YES, Jim.”

“The agapantha blossoms are a bit past prime, but they're still pretty, aren't they?

“Mmm-hmm.”

“And you have to love that jacaranda color!

“Right.”

“OK, let's cut to the chase. No, wait! Wrong metaphor. Let's talk about your difficulty when you meet people—-and other animals, if you'll pardon the expression.  You get so excited! You want to jump up to greet them--- lick their faces.”

“Well, don't YOU, Jim?”

“I'll ignore that remark, Bella.

“It was long before your time, but years ago, Bernita and I lived with another dog;   Frankie was his name—short for frankfurter, or wiener dog. One of his best friends (and ours) was Dishes, a CAT, Bella. A CAT!  Dishes and Frankie got along together exceptionally well. Imagine that.

“I just want you to consider how much more pleasant it would be if you would aspire to emulate the Dishes and Frankie relationship as you go about your daily routine. Think about it Bella.”

“I'm thinking.”

“All right. Shall we go home now, enjoy a snack on the balcony?”

“Sounds like a winner to me, Jim.”

“I'm glad we had this little talk. Good to get things straightened out, eh? There won't be any more scenes when folks come to visit, or when you see a cat, a crow or creature of any sort, will there, Bella?”

“I'm thinking. I'm thinking.”
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Next time:  Boat building in the garage.


Thanks for stopping by.
Jim

Potpourri . . . for sure.

 This edition of Jim's Muses was to have related to--in ole fren Paul Gringle's words-- “This, that, and other thing.”

So, let's relate.

 

This: a picture of me when I was Tom Mix (circa 1936)

That: The song I sang when Tom Mix was on the radio.

When it's Ralston time at breakfast, then it surely is a treat to have some rich full flavored Ralston
made of golden western wheat! Wrangler says it is deeeeelicious, and you'll find so 'fore you're through;
with a lot of cream, it sure tastes keen.
It's tops for breakfast too!
Ask your mother in the morning,serve you up a steaming plate. It's a grand hot whole-wheat cereal
And the cowboys think it's great.
Once you try it, you stay by it, Tom Mix says its swell to eat. Jane and Jimmy, too, say it's best for you
Ralston cereal can't be beat.

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The other thing(s): This great picture from my mother's photo album. Uncle Arthur (we called him Bucky), Aunt Margaret, and my cousin Marjorie—who used to baby sit my brother Dann and me. They sure look like the hardy homesteaders don't they? Love that 

image

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Three outstanding men died within the past few weeks. One, Jim Unger, a cartoonist possessing unusual style and humor. He drew the unique newspaper panel Herman.

Ray Bradbury, he took science fiction aficionados to depths and heights never before experienced between the covers of a book or a magazine, a TV or movie screen,or-- back to radio—prophesying, as he often did in a scary manner. I think of Fahrenheit 451

Finally, Dick Beals, whose voice was Speedy Alka-Seltzer's. (Plop, plop, fizz, fizz –oh, what a relief it is) Dick was 4' 6”, but a giant talent. I bought his book Think BIG in 1992; we became friends, I had him talk to our cartoonists' club twice.

Nothing seemed beyond his capabilities. He was an instrument rated pilot, coached high school baseball/football, partnered in an ad agency. I'm happy to have had Dick as a friend. Raise a glass to all three for how they each enriched our lives!

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The prerequisite VINCENT strip reveals that one of his problems is similar to mine: his hearing gives him grief.

Hope you'll stop by again soon. And Thanks.

JIM

PS: Large type, at no extra cost - - - for those of us who appreciate nice niceties.

Ole Fren

Often, Paul Gringle used that phrase. Ole Fren.              

He scribbled it on notes, letters, his wonderful
personalized birthday cards; he used it sometimes 
to sign off the column he wrote for A Slice of Wry, 
the newsletter for ourSouthern California Cartoonists Society.

Those of us in this business, especially the old timers, remember Paul's work on Out Our Way, one of the most popular newspaper features in the late 40's and 50's.

Families in small towns and rural America, their various activities and regular routines; that was the stuff of Out Our Way, and it introduced a cast of characters, including The Willetts, The Worry Wart and myriad popular themes so well portrayed that clippings of the cartoon were posted on more refrigerators than Carter had Little Liver Pills. (Again, you have to be an old timer to get the analogy.) Why Mothers Get Gray, Born Thirty Years Too Soon and Heroes Are Made, Not Born were classics that mirrored many of our insecurities, aspirations and frustrations. 

When J.R. Williams, who created the panel died in1957 Paul was one of the artists to pick up the pen and carry on. Out Our Way continued another twenty years. They done good.

*********************************

For the better part of 26 years I've been happy to have been one of “derGringle's” Ole Frens. On the SCCS web page enumerable emails have used the word “upbeat” to describe Paul's perennial attitude. I can't remember a time when he didn't have a project in mind: a new comic strip, a class he'd be teaching (teaching, he loved), a book about some aspect of cartooning. Always optimist--always enthusiastic.

                  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

One event Paul enthused about was the Annual SCCS day at the SDBB (San Diego Blood Bank.) Blood donors were caricatured by a host of cartoonists, resulting in much fun, many laughs and nary a libel suit. Frequent rewards for their efforts involved food - - - yet another favorite of our pal Paul.

  Here, fellow artist John Wismont and he partake.

                                 &&&&&&&&&&&

A little background on our man:

A School of Visual Arts reunion 

  Jim,  Bernie Lansky, Harry Lampert, (Cartooning Instructor) Paul

!      !      !      ! 

Paul looks over another             classic comic.    

"To m'FREN, Jim, with Best Fishes." This fun-gem might have been doodled on a napkin by Paul.  

 

                                               Farewell, ole fren.