ME TARZAN . . . YOU JANE.

Way long before Superman, Batman and others of their breed were saving girl reporters or police commissioners’ daughters, Tarzan was rescuing one particular damsel from myriad menaces in the steaming African jungle. The Ape-man, as his creator Edgar Rice Burroughs had christened him, had a twenty year head start over the modern day comic book heroes. And Tarzan was the man I admired most in my pre-teen years.
I was fifteen years old before I stopped clipping the Sunday comic strip Tarzan from the Elmira Sunday Telegram and pasting it into what would eventually become a four-scrapbook series. It constituted part of the Jimmy Whiting Tarzan Collection. You might say I was a true Tarzan aficionado. That weekly full page, full color dosage, the work of writer/artist Burne Hogarth not only transported me to places both exciting and vicariously dangerous; the drawings were spellbinding. Hogarth was in his prime in the early 40s and I worshiped his artwork. Many years later, it was such a treat to meet this comic art icon and to be on the staff of Cartoonists & Illustrators School in New York City with him.


Each Christmas I received a Tarzan book to add to the Collection. I joined the Tarzan Clans of America; my Official Guide is #90. In it I learned how to form a Tarzan Clan; what the Duties of Officers --including the Medicine Man, Scribe, and High Priest are. I even learned, by virtue of the guide’s English-Ape Dictionary, how to use words just as Tarzan did in talking with apes from the tribe of Kerchak.  How’s this? Tand-ramba! po! Popo ut! That means: Get up! Hungry! Eat corn!

By the way, several years ago I saw this booklet listed in a price guide. 1939, Mint condition: $1000. Mine could be described more accurately, Tattered and Torn

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Never, ever missed a Tarzan movie starring Johnny Weissmuller, the champion Olympic swimmer who is still the most identified player of the jungle man. I wrote to him--Weissmuller--not Tarzan, and received a nice picture.

A lesser known celluloid Tarzan sent an autographed picture AND a nice hand written letter which encouraged me to work hard in school and keep physically fit. The letter almost made up for the disappointment I felt upon seeing Glenn Morris’s leopard slippers. Look at this. Can you imagine?!

Every once in a while I’m pleased to see a magazine article or watch a special TV program devoted to some aspect of the Tarzan phenomenon; we’re only five years from his 100th anniversary. 
One last thing:  I really think that--in my youth--I did a terrific Tarzan yell. (More correctly, I should say “victory cry of the bull ape.”) Yes, I’m confident it was even better than Carol Burnett’s rendition. 


But the pipes are old now and the cry is more like that of a baby’s than an ape-man.


Swing by on your vine to my wala (house) next time, OK?


Jimmy Whiting

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.

+++++++++++++++++

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