Cartoonist Photos Part 6

Above: Walt Kelly and Edward R. Murrow in a 1953 publicity shot for "Person to Person."

Here we go with another installment of "what those creative guys really looked like," preserved in press photos of the time. Where I can, I am including a description from the photo as well. These are in random order.

More Cartoonist Photos:
Part one
Part two
Part three
Part four 
Part five



February 14, 1952: IT BEATS WORKING - Cartoonists, who are really artists with their brains knocked loose, have the softest jobs in the world -- all pay and no work. Here three of the unusual breed look over "Rick Smith" comic strips from the imagination factory owned by Hal Reyburn (left) and Kevin O'Tool (right). The Denver creators have shipped their sports comic strip here to a New York syndicate, hoping to find a market for their brainchild. Bob Bowie (center) Denver Post sports cartoonist, gets in on the act to see how the other half lives.





February 20, 1965: Fred Neher, Dik Browne, Mort Walker and Bob Bowie:

February 20, 1965: Giving cartoonist Mort Walker creator of "Beetle Bailey" (center), a few pointers are Fred Neher (left), creator of "Life's Like That" and Bob Bowie (right), Denver Post sports cartoonist. Walker's strip and Neher's panels are carried in The Post. Walker was scheduled to speak at Colorado Press Association Sunday morning.

Mordillo sometime in the 1970s:

Cartoonist "Bub" Smiley, of the Colorado Sprints Evening Telegraph, in a great self-portrait postcard, 1910s:

Larry Wright, 1981:

Don Addis, 1982:

Ralph Dunagin, 1970. Look at that desk! Now THAT'S a drawing board:

More Cartoonist Photos:
Part one
Part two
Part three
Part four 
Part five

Cartoonist Photos Part 5

Above: Chuck Jones at a showing of his work, The Pioneer Gallery, 1984.

Here's another installment in the Cartoonist Photos series, featuring some rare photos the the geniuses behind the lines. Most of these are new to me.

More Cartoonist Photos:
Part one
Part two
Part three
Part four 




January 14, 1991: Stan and Jan Berenstain go over some of their artwork in their New Hope, PA studio and home.

Hank Ketcham, 1992:

October 6, 1953: Denver Post photos: Mumbling something about great minds running in the same direction Denver Post Sports Cartoonist Bob Bowie (left) and Editorial Cartoonist Paul Conrad compare notes on their mental processes which resulted in similar cartoons in different sections of The Post Tuesday. Apparently anything can happen when the World Series comes to an end.,

Bill Mauldin in his studio, 1984:

Herblock in an undated close up:

Zack Mosley:

New Yorker cartoonist William Hamilton, 1975:

Bill Dwyer, 1948:

More Cartoonist Photos:
Part one
Part two
Part three
Part four 

Toonseum Director Joe Wos Says Goodbye

I teared up a little … and then I laughed. Watch it until the very end!

Kirby and Marvel Make Peace

Just a few days before the Kirby v. Marvel case was scheduled to be considered by the Supreme Court, both parties settled, out of court. This was unexpected and it sure feels good to write that compensation (and, I hope, credit on the movies) is on its way to the Kirby heirs.

The details, as things are in cases like this, were not disclosed. But, since Jack Kirby was the creator or co-creator of many prominent characters (Captain America, Iron-Man, The Avengers, "Groot" from GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, the Fantastic Four, and many, many more), his family sure deserve to share in their spectacular financial success, which have earned Marvel and its parent company billions of dollars.

Marvel always held that Kirby worked without a contract, that they had a work-for-hire relationship and that they (Marvel) owned 100% of what he did. And, legally, Kirby was not entitled to another penny.

I would have to believe that the offer is generous and placates the family's well placed feelings of injustice to this seminal, creative genius who died 20 years ago.

Much more at Deadline Hollywood.

Cartoonist Photos Part 4

Above: Bil Keane, 1991.


Here are some more photos of cartoonists in no particular order. Many of these were new to me.

This is part four of photos of cartoonists from over the years.

More Cartoonist Photos:
Part one
Part two
Part three






Here's Harry Hershfield in a 1931 Chevrolet Roadster:

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Barnes, 1961:

Mrs. Barnes, a closer angle:

Clifford Berryman, 1900:

Gary Larson, 1986:

Homer Davenport gives the photographer the stinkeye in this undated photo:

John Callahan, 1988:

Paul Conrad 1958:

Jules Feiffer, 1971:

Walt Frehm, of RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT, 1972:

Ernie Bushmiller, 1947:

Ernie Bushmiller, 1972:

Ernie Bushmiller at the board, 1972:

Peter Arno at the piano, 1933:

This is part four of photos of cartoonists from over the years.

More Cartoonist Photos:
Part one
Part two
Part three

Jack Kirby v. Goliath: Family of Comic-Book Icon Jack Kirby Seeks Supreme Court Intervention

(Photo of Jack Kirby via ComicVine.)


From PR Newswire:

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 29th, the Supreme Court will decide whether to hear Kirby v. Marvel, an extraordinary copyright case with enormous implications for authors, artists and creators.  

Jack Kirby had a modest upbringing and no formal training, but his insatiable mind and passion for storytelling made him the most prolific comic-book creator/illustrator of all time.  From a beat-up desk in his basement studio, Kirby created characters like X-Men, Thor, Captain America, The Avengers, Fantastic Four, Hulk—even the tree-hero Groot featured in Marvel's hit movie Guardians of the Galaxy. 

Marvel, or "the House that Jack built" to comic-book buffs, was bought by Disney in 2009 for $4.24 billion and its value has since doubled.  Kirby played an immeasurable role, yet received negligible sums for his work and not even a simple royalty.

In the 1976 Copyright Act, Congress sought to remedy these imbalances by permitting artists and their families to recapture their copyrights by statutorily terminating prior grants. This allows artists to negotiate new grants which reflect their works' true value.  The sole exception is for "work-for-hire."

In 2009, Kirby's children thus served Marvel/Disney with termination notices.  Marvel sued claiming everything was "work-for-hire," despite wide acknowledgment that Kirby worked purely as a freelancer, and that Marvel had avoided any contractual commitment to Kirby.  Nonetheless, the district court and Second Circuit summarily ruled for Marvel under a vague and presumptive "instance and expense" test roundly criticized by leading copyright experts as effectively overruled by Supreme Court precedent. 

The Kirbys, represented by attorney Marc Toberoff, thus petitioned the Supreme Court for certiorari.  And they have real momentum.  SCOTUSblog named it "Petition of the Day."  On May 14, the Supreme Court expressed interest in the case and ordered Marvel to respond.  On June 13, amicus briefs supporting the Kirbys were filed by all the Hollywood Guilds, the former Register of Copyrights, the former USPTO Commissioner, scores of artists associations, and hundreds of artists, including several Pulitzer-prize winners.  

There hasn't been a copyright case with such far-reaching implications in three decades.  Should the Kirbys prevail, their victory would be shared by creators everywhere insofar as all pre-1978 works could no longer be deemed "work-for-hire" outside of conventional employment.  Jack Kirby revolutionized the world of comics and entertainment, but the Supreme Court will write the ending of his story.

For further inquiries, contact Theodore Feder, The Artists Rights Society; (212) 420-9160; tfeder@arsny.com.

SOURCE Artists Rights Society

RELATED LINKS
http://www.arsny.com

Clean Out Your Car More Often!

Here is a collection of pens that I have tucked away in the car over the past year or so. All of them in fine working order. 

Why so many pens? 

Because there was this one time I needed a pen when I was in the car and NO PENS were to be found.  I was appalled at the situation. 

My solution was to deposit whatever pen I had in my pocket at the time and slip it into the compartment between the seats. I had no idea I had done this many, many times over the year. Yow!

Oh, I taped the little blue and yellow pieces of paper to some of the pens. It gives the date I first uncapped and used them.  

Cartoonist Photos Part 3

A grand pose of cartoonist George McManus as Jiggs from his long-running BRINGING UP FATHER.


This is part three of photos of cartoonists from over the years.

More Cartoonist Photos:
Part one
Part two

Ready? Then let's begin:

Alex Raymond labors over his board, 1949:

Alex Raymond strikes a thoughtful post, 1950:

Alex Raymond, at the board, 1950:

Bud Fisher:

Mort Walker, 1955:

Mort Walker 1972:





Mort Walker, 1976

George McManus checks the ticker:

Geoge Lichty smiles slyly, 1957:

George Lichty visits Fitzsimons Army Hospital:

November 15, 1922: Clare Briggs, artist-humorist of "Mister and Mrs" and "When a Feller a Friend" fame, with Mrs. Briggs, on S. Majestic, arriving at New York after having spent a summer vacation in Europe.

Berkeley Breathed, 1992:

May 13, 1965: SKETCHING AND SPEAKING -- President Johnson addresses a group of editorial cartoonists as they sketch the chief executive in the East Room of the White House. The President's speech, warning Communist China against trying to "discredit America's ability to help prevent Chinese domination" of all of Asia, was carried on television and radio. At right in front row, is Bill Sanders of the Kansas City Star.

"President Johnson shares a laugh with cartoonists who display a composite drawing of him as commander-in-chief." Bill Mauldin, Don Sherwood and Milton Caniff, October 6, 1965.

May 18, 1968: President Johnson greeted members of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists in the East Room of the White House. The President told the cartoonists they would miss him when he's gone. He said: "You will miss me -- all of me -- my button nose, my cute ears." While he was speaking, Bill MacDonald, NEA cartoonist (foreground) was sketching the president."

Jimmy Swinnerton looks at a painting of himself, by Peter Ilyan, 1930:

Ah, the life of a cartoonist. Milt Caniff, 1952:

Milt Caniff draws in his studio, 1947. Carol Ohmart is the model for the character Copper Calhoon.

Carol as Copper Calhoon:

Eugene "ZIM" Zimmerman, 1907:

More Cartoonist Photos:
Part one
Part two