From the Dick Buchanan Files: Gag Cartoons In Living Color 1949 - 1954

It's mid-September in New England, and just this week the fall colors are beginning to appear. Mostly reds, here and there, and a little orange. It will be a colorful Autumn season.

Here to bring color to your gag cartoon viewing experience, is Dick Buchanan, who, diving into his Cartoon Clip File like it's a big pile of fall leaves, has pulled out some wonderful vintage gag cartoons to share. Happy Fall and take it away, Dick!

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GAG CARTOONS
IN LIVING COLOR
(1949 – 1954)

Tradition dictated that the single panel cartoon would be rendered and published in black and white. Both Collier’s and The Saturday Evening Post would only occasionally publish a cartoon in color. After WWII, more gag cartoons were published but the simple black and white cartoon remained the standard.

That’s why color examples of the work of the 20th century’s leading gag cartoonist are few and far between. Luckily, your friendly Cartoon Clip File curator managed to find some of them. And so here, for the first time in a long time, are gag cartoons in living color . . .


1. BARNEY TOBEY. Collier’s May 10, 1952.

2. KATE OSANN. Collier’s February 19, 1954.

 

3. AL ROSS. Collier’s June 7, 1952.

 

4. GREGORY d’ALESSIO. Collier’s February 19, 1954.

 

5. DAVE GERARD. Collier’s March 26, 1949.

 

6. FRITZ WILKINSON. Collier’s February 5, 1954.

 

7. LARRY HARRIS. Collier’s February 19, 1954.

 

8. REAMER KELLER. Collier’s November 4, 1950.

 

9. CHON DAY. Collier’s April 5, 1952.

 

10. MICHAEL BERRY. Collier’s November 4, 1950.

 

11. MARTY LOWENSTEIN. Collier’s February 25, 1951.

12. CORKA. (Jon Cornin and Zena Kavin) Collier’s June 5, 1954.

 

13. GEORGE WOLFE. Collier’s March 28, 1953.

 

14. STAN FINE. Collier’s June 25, 1954.

 

15. HANK KETCHAM. Collier’s March 22, 1952.