Here are some gag cartoons from YOU'VE GOT ME IN THE SUBURBS, edited by Lawrence Lariar, who edited many, many gag cartoon collections. This is copyright 1957 by Mr. Lariar. The above title page cartoon is by Al Kaufman. The hardcover was published by Dodd, Mead and Company in NYC.
Part 2 is here.
Part 3 is here.
Stan Fine draws a 53 year old gag that still is prescient today. Sadly. (Except, of course, people don't wear ties and hats around the house these days.)
Al Kaufman reminds us that "play" is a homonym. The fun bit in this drawing is that each kid has a big, oversized instrument.
I like the line work that Bram employs. He very deftly suggests a suburban setting with the couple of house floating in the upper right.
Brad Anderson with the typical 1950s twin-bedded couple. The thing that makes this funny to me is (a) it's true and (b) that expressive, blissful smile on the fellow's face.
Hank Baeb draws soot in a way I have never seen: little inky dots, with a slather of grey wash over them. Wonderful! The great thing about cartooning is that there is always new knowledge out there.
I like Ali's drawing of the woman with the little frilly apron and Little Lulu style bow in the hair.
Brad Anderson with with another good one. In his composition our eyes easily follow the man's line of sight to the damaged light pole at the end of the driveway.
Bernardt's spectacular detail -- the open box, the large, unfolded complex sheet of instructions and the little lines detailing the shiny goodness of the swing set juxtapose the easy slopey lines of the tree and the tire swing.
Another cartoon that rings true no matter the decade.
Mel Millar reminds me of those sub class of Texas cartoons with men in ten gallon hats driving big cars with oxen horns jutting out of the grill. I can't help but wonder if these 2 women are not necessarily in Texas, but merely somewhere along the route of the pipeline.
Al Kaufman has a wordless, foreboding cartoon that made me laugh out loud.
These are great. It's interesting to see what still resonates all these years later, eh? That train soot is awesome.
ReplyDeleteI picked up an old 1952 "Best Cartoons from Punch" book and the stuff blows me away. You've given me a good idea: maybe I'll post some.
P.L. Frederick (Small & Big)