You’re such a card!

After a three weeks hiatus I’m back with new resolve; there shall not be such a protracted interval before our next visit. So there!


Should someone comment, “You’re such a card!” don’t be offended. I googled the phrase and truly, more than anything else, it’s meant to be a compliment.  If you accept the definition: A witty or eccentric person as complimentary . . . Be glad.


Neatly segueing from that sort of card to another, while running through a whole bunch of business cards-- accumulated over many years, I was amused to note that more than a few are amusing, or novel in some manner beyond their primary purpose. “Hey,” I thought, “Maybe some of the MM blog readers would be as amused as I!”  Or not. 
In any case it won’t take long to peruse a pack of personal cards. 
I’ll start off with a card used by a friend I’ve known for at least twenty-six years. It introduces us to maXwel, the Robot, available for birthday parties, reunions, stock holders’ meetings, weddings, and other gatherings which might be happier events if for the presence of  maXwel.  Some of you know the owner of this card. (circa 1985 or ’86) 

I’ll let you in on the secret before we sign off today

? ? ? ? ? 

But first, the latest of VINCENT’S adventure at the big Magic Convention. He had just realized that IBM stands for a rather large company which is holding ITS convention at the same time as the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Wha’ hoppened?  See here.    

     ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 

I did mention that Tarzan would be a feature next time here on the MM blog, didn't I? Will you forgive me if I take another Next time?

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This card I made for our son, David . . . years before he became an award winning wine maker in Hector, NY.  Red Newt Cellars and Bistro is only eleven miles north of Watkins Glen, where David, back then, was probably the only chimney sweep in town.

In 2001, the same winery mentioned above hosted a cartoon art exhibit; thirty-two artists were represented. A hundred and twenty-three cartoons were displayed to the delight of the many attendees, who also enjoyed the generous offerings of food and wine. Happy to be among that favored group were Rosemary and Wally Littman. Here are their delicious and  humorous cards.

Our final (almost) business card reminds us that Schuyler County historian Barbara Bell wrote a fascinating book in 2008 which captures the many attractive attributes of the county I called home for more than half a century. Schuyler County Days Bygone is the book; it's a treasure and I treasure my autographed copy. (Schuyler, by the way is pronounced Sky-ler.)

The book's cover art is the work of Wendy Lee Black. It displays much of what old time Schuyler was known for. A much smaller version graces the flip side of Barbara's business card.

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And now, the last wurd . . . From one of our Li’l Ones.

I don’t do much better if I don’t have Spell-Check.

Oh . . . The owner of maXwell is cartoonist Greg Evans, creator of the Luann comic strip.

Another Oh: My updated business card: You may not have known that I'm using g-mail now. The MM blog URL is noted.

Catch you later this month.

Jim 

BACK ON THE JOB

Much has been going on with the Encinitas, CA Whitings. (That would be Bernita and yours truly, Jim.) It’s been difficult to tend to this blog; so much so that the entire month of July passed without a posting. I hope you noticed that. In any case, I endeavor to improve my track record. 

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VINCENT, at last report, was en route to the big magicians’ convention. Let’s see how he, his long suffering spouse Wanda and their domestic witch, Agnes are coping with the complexities of such an escapade.

I know . . . I've used that gag countless times, but maybe you haven't seen it before; besides, it fits in nicely here. I'll give it a rest now. Promise.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Kid Remembers

Some years before our teens, my older brother, Dann and I were privileged to board southbound passenger trains in Watkins Glen, NY. Our destination--a journey of perhaps fifty miles--was Canton, PA, birthplace of both of us. Grandpa Sterling Dann worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad, so we probably enjoyed free rides on the old PRR. Or I could be imagining that. After all, 1936 or thereabouts was long ago. After a few carefree summer days spent at our grandfather’s “farm” (it wasn’t really that, but it was in sort of a rural area) we’d take the return trip to Watkins Glen; another two hours on board a noisy sometimes smoky, gritty day coach. 

I remember how wonderful it was to be arrive home on the afternoon train and walk a few blocks to our home where Mom would always have something special for our evening meal. Often the day would conclude at the only movie house in town, the Glen Theatre. We walked to that magical bastion as well. And what ecstasy it was if Laurel and Hardy--a short--or feature film--happened to be on the  program. Stanley and Oliver were favorites of our younger brother, Billy too.

I was thirty-six when I finally got around to writing a note of appreciation to Stan Laurel. I told him much the same as I’ve told you just now: How much delight he brought to the Whiting boys so many years prior.

Imagine, if possible----no, I don’t think you can----how thrilled I was to receive Mr. Laurel’s response to my long overdue fan letter. 

It’s now in a special place in my file cabinet. The picture, framed, hangs on a wall near our kitchen; Uncle Laurel and Uncle Hardy right there among other revered family members. 

Can you look at these gentlemen without smiling?   

             What a gift they gave to us all!

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Next time: 

TARZAN!

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Thanks for your comments. They help me feel connected.

Jim

Were we having fun yet?

There's no way of knowing if anyone noticed: it's been more than two weeks since the previous posting here. Vacation!


Bernita and I had a grand time in the fabulous Finger Lakes Region of upstate New York . . .enjoyed to the utmost amidst clan and cronies. Those moments were "the most" but other incidences must be indexed. For example--on the tennis court one morning, I spotted 4 pennies! Moments later, more money . . . 4 pennies. Wait----! within five minutes, two dimes, at different locations revealed themselves. Who cares that I lost the tennis match?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$

On the flip side, we had a  long rather difficult flight home; over 19 hours from our son John, Mary and Jane's home in Odessa, NY to our home in Encinitas, CA! But we're recuperating nicely now . . . back into routine. 

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VINCENT, is headed to the magic convention. Before we join him en route, let's check with Pete, his assistant.

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Meanwhile at the airport:

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Children, in one way or another, are the topics of these three syndicated panels of long ago. Probably the cartoons are as relevant today as back then.

Hope you're enjoying the summer which just got under way last week. I hope too that you'll continue to like what's offered here on a more or less regular basis---at least a couple times a month. 

I'm having fun, yet.       . . . . . . I mean, I'm still having fun

I'm not asking you to "friend me." I figure you're already mine.

Jim

Silence is golden

That's true in many cases: Silence IS Golden.


Doing some minor investigation we came
upon other perceptions regarding Silence.


Muhammad Ali is reputed to have said,
"Silence is golden . . . when you can't think of 
a good answer."


"Silence is not only golden, it is seldom
misquoted." (Bob Monkhouse)


For this Monthly Missive blog we'll take our cue from
Robert Benchley's "Drawing on my fine command of the
English language, I said nothing."


So, after a quick peek at what VINCENT is up to this 
time, we'll present a dozen captionless cartoons, with 
minimal comments from me.

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Starting off with some kid stuff.

Subsequently . . .sports of sorts.

Some street scenes.

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                      FINALLY:

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I will make no sound . . .  'til next time around.


Please add a comment in the box below. I think it helps.
Thanks,
Jim

VINCENT and Miscellanea

Yes, VINCENT really does get to go 

to the convention, after a few blunders 

along the way. Next week we’ll see what

 mess the magician can manage. 

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Meanwhile, from the antediluvian photo albums of my mother we present one of the Super Heroes my day; circa 1937 or earlier. No pictures of me were taken during my Tarzan mania stage. Thank your stars for that


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The obligatory L’IL ONES and WEE WOMEN, courtesy of the Los Angeles Times 

The syndicated AD Libs was distributed by General Features during the period I was illustrating Len Bruh’s gags. Larry Hurb was his nom de plume.

0000000000000000000000000000000

Below, one of the first covers for North County Pages, a short lived weekly, published--where else, but in North County, San Diego. It depicts the Best and the Worst of lotsa stuff around the area. If I ever locate the lower half of this effort, I’ll offer it also.

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Finally, from the popular weekly online magazine ComputorEdge, here’s the current cartoon.

Incidentally, more than 150 cartoons which were published there have been compiled into two e-book formats, one for iPad, NOOK and most others, and another for Amazon Kindle. They are available at     http://www.computoredge.com

There is a free download of a sample e-book on the same site for people to test with their e-readers. Name of the book: 

That Does Not Compute!  Jack Dunning did the hard work of coming up with the gags. I drew the pictures.

Hope you’ll check it out and let us know what you think. 

Another post within a week.  Promise!

Til then,

All best to you.

Jim 

MISCELLANEA to the MAXIMUM

Honestly, one might say that this whole blog thing is an exercise in vanity. Indeed, you could even go so far as to say that folks who post these boasts exemplify narcissism to the most. If you do any surfing around the Internet you will discover untold numbers of blogs; their proprietors, the majority of them, earnestly offering their exciting lives and unquestioned wit and talent in a frenzy of self-absorption and egotism. 


Other blogs display a low key, withdrawn, reserved--even introverted approach.
It’s a safe bet that you have the acuity to discern the rubies from the rubble. I recently had an email stating ---this is true--- “Jim, you’re a gem!”  Or words quite similar. Take your cue from there.

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Let the magic begin with two fleeting looks at VINCENT, at home.

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From the Syndicated Folder: This round in the ongoing battle of the sexes is won by Cleo in yet another put down of  Claude . . . poor soul

And can a mother be this unreasonable?                                                                                 

The classified ads never had a better friend than Len Bruh, AKA Larry Hurb. We collaborated on the newspaper panel AD LIBS for about thirteen years before the drawing chores were passed along to the able hand of Joe Daley.

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Back again to the magazine rack where one of the two pictured gag cartoons focuses on what is obviously one of our favorite topics: food. The other, targets more on drink.

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Finally, allow me to share a small pleasantry enjoyed at the CBS* Thursday night dinner. It happened to be my birthday and Millie Bobleter was responsible for creating the card you see here. It was signed by the five others in the group. How can one not love them?

<<<<<<<<<<INSIDE>>>>>>>>>>>

IT'S AN OLD OLD SENTIMENT

       BUT A SINCERE ONE!

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The large type used in the MM blog is for the benefit of those who have difficulty reading the smaller type type. Including myself.

Coming attractions: Cartoons that are, for SOME reason, Out of Date.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Til soon!

Jim

Oh . . . .* Creative Breakfast Club

VA-VOOM! Here’s the vigorous, versatile, and venerated VINCENT

In pursuit of knowledge, Wanda and VINCENT are inventive if nothing more.

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Gag cartoons, syndicated, and from magazines

      

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At one point, the New Yorker magazine was where I fervently wished to see my cartoons published. I was not alone in that hope. Passing through the portal to this revered publication is an extremely difficult task. For years I submitted pencil sketches--they’re called roughs in the business; occasionally I would sell one . . . but only the gag, the idea, the joke. Then it would be assigned to a staff artist. Richard Taylor and George Price each did a finished drawing based on an idea for which I was paid. Sam Cobean, to whom I owe so much, did one also.


In due course the door opened slightly. Jim Geraghty, at the time, New Yorker Cartoon Editor suggested that I try drawing one of the gags I’d submitted instead of selling it. I did my best . . . three times, striving to create a masterpiece worthy of a page in the magazine. Ultimately the effort came to an end without the goal achieved. 

The New Yorker did not buy the drawing. I took it to Park East, virtually across the street, where I was paid the princely sum of $15.  (Not big bucks, even in 1952)

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This MM blog would appear to include everything but the kitchen sink. Wrong. This spot I did for a garage sale many years ago. See----there it is: The Kitchen Sink.

Hope you’ll see us again next week.
Jim