Thursday, August 14, 2025

Back Soon

 



I am busy and so I may miss posting here for a day or so. Back soon. 

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

"Tony and the Tree House” (1963) by Edna Walker Chandler, with Illustrations by Don Chandler



SELLING: “Tony and the Tree House” by Edna Walker Chandler, with illustrations by Don Chandler. First edition, 1963. Hard to find children’s book with grand UPA-inspired midcentury modern illustrations. Some crayon marks on end pages. Intact. Asking $15 plus postage. First to claim it gets it.




















Tuesday, August 12, 2025

“My Father Can Fix Anything” Illustrations by Bonnie and Bill Rutherford

 

“My Father Can Fix Anything” by Mabel Watts, illustrations by midcentury greats Bonnie and Bill Rutherford. This Whitman Big Tell-a-Tale was published in 1965. Some wear here and there, staples have rusted a bit. This is a grand example of children’s book illustration. There is sadly little information about the Rutherfords on the web, who illustrated a lot of kids' books. Take a look at the color and composition here. 


















Monday, August 11, 2025

Flickr: Volk Clip Art Book Covers 1954-1984


The Harry Volk, Jr. Studio produced a lot of clip art during the middle of the last century. There is a tremendous collection of them on Flickr and here are just a few to peek at. 


Via Wikipedia:

"Volk Clip Art, Inc., better known as the Harry Volk Jr. Art Studio, was an advertising art studio specializing in artwork meant to be sold for commercial use in print. Using a subscription based service, designers and journalists had the option to be sent monthly booklets of free-to-use artwork to use within their own publications.[1] With the purchase of the service (or any specific booklet) came the permission to use the artwork included for any purpose, personal or commercial.[2] This opened the doorway for many smaller news outlets, designers, and businesses to add artwork to their print without having to hire their own illustrators. Volk booklets were available both by mail and in print shops"

 













 

Friday, August 08, 2025

Mary Blair: “Ceramic Mural” (1965)

 


From the Keeping Walt in Disney channel:

 

"Walt Disney and artist Mary Blair meet with Dr. Jules Stein and his wife Doris to create a ceramic mural that would grace the examination room entrance at the Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA. Walt Disney suggested a mural be made, instead of a simple monetary donation. With the talent of the amazing Mary Blair, Disney artists made it happen. This 16mm educational film gives a step-by-step account of the design and construction of this unique ceramic mural." 

 


 



More:

More On Mary Blair: “Ceramic Mural” (1965)

 


Wednesday, August 06, 2025

Dick Buchanan's Cartoon File: Funny Vintage Magazine Gag Cartoons 1946 - 1963

Dick Buchanan, whose trove of great old gag cartoons has been featured here before, has some of what he calls his "funny ones:" sixteen magazine cartoons that were just funny to him.

Here's Dick: 

Greetings once more from Greenwich Village. As chance would have it, while cleaning up after the holidays, I found a folder marked “Funny Cartoons” stuffed under the cushions of my couch. I was skeptical, but after leafing through them I found that quite a few pretty funny at that.

Thanks to the miracle of digital technology beyond my understanding, here are some of my favorites from Funny Cartoons. 


AL JOHNS. The Saturday Evening Post February 9, 1963



HAL HUBBARD. JUDGE June, 1947 




HARRY MACE. American Magazine. March, 1951



BORIS DRUCKER. Drucker’s cartoons began appearing in major magazines in the 1940’s. Collier’s. December 14, 1946


  
JACOBSON. The Saturday Evening Post. June 14, 1947


JOHN DEMPSEY. Either you think this cartoon is funny, or you don’t.1000 Jokes Magazine, December,1956-February,1957



JOHNNY HART. Hart was a top gag cartoonist before his comic strip B.C. debuted in 1958. American Legion Magazine. July, 1958



DAVID LANGDON. Punch stalwart Langdon often contributed to American publications over the years. A clever gag from The Saturday Evening Post. 1950’s. 



AL KAUFMAN. American Legion Magazine. August,1958



GAHAN WILSON. Early Gahan Wilson at his best. Look Magazine. April 16, 1957


JOHN GALLAGHER. Colliers. January 7, 1957



VAHAN SHIRVANIAN. Shirvanian’s cartoons appeared everywhere from Highlights for Children to Playboy. American Legion Magzine. December, 1958




ALI. (ALFRED ISLER) Isler’s cartoons first appeared in the 1930’s. The Saturday Evening Post September 29,1962



GARDNER REA. Colliers. March 28, 1953


JERRY MARCUS. American Legion Magazine. November, 1958