1973 National Cartoonists Society Reubens Dinner Placecard

The National Cartoonists Society has awarded its Reuben Award every year to the "Cartoonist of the Year" since 1946. It was, for the first eight years, called the Billy DeBeck Memorial Award. Beginning in 1956, it was named after NCS founder Rube Goldberg.

The Reuben Awards are a fancy occasion. It's a black tie event and is held in the ballroom of a hotel. The NCS used to be New York-centric, but nowadays the annual event is held in different locations around the country: Boston, Las Vegas, New Jersey, Hollywood, New Orleans, Orlando, and so on.

Here's the placecard that was on the table at The Plaza on April 23, 1973, in New York City, with self-portrait caricatures of all of the winners to date.

Emilio Squeglio 1927-2012

 Above: a 2007 photo of Emilio Squeglio with an issue of ALTER EGO Magazine #64, which has an interview with him about his days at Fawcett.



Golden Age comic book artist Emilio Squeglio has died. He passed away during the night of March 12, 2012. No further details at this time.

Born in May 19, 1927 in Brooklyn, NY, Emilio attended the High School of Industrial Art. This is the same high school that fellow cartoonists and fellow Berndt Toast Gang members Joe Giella (BATMAN, MARY WORTH), Sy Barry (THE PHANTOM) and Al Scaduto (THEY'LL DO IT EVERY TIME) attended.

Upon graduation, he worked in the comic book division at Fawcett Publications assisting Mr. Beck (He always called C.C. Beck "Mr. Beck.) on its flagship Captain Marvel titles.

Within a year, National Periodical Publications (DC Comics) won its court case against Captain Marvel, essentially shutting down the Fawcett superhero line. Young Emilio went from the comic book division to the advertising promotion department. 

He eventually wound up in the art department for TRUE Magazine, where he worked with the many artists and cartoonists. In 1955, he became Art Director for American Artist Magazine. He also aided in designing art instruction books for publisher Watson-Guptill. In addition to his full time position, during the 1950s and 60s, he studied design at NYU and Pratt. 

In 1962, he began an 18 year stint designing books for Reinhold Publishing. He continued doing freelance book design after leaving Reinhold in 1980.

I knew Emilio these past dozen years through the National Cartoonists Society get togethers. Although in not the best health, he would arrive at the monthly Berndt Toast Gang lunches to talk shop with colleagues. Unable to drive, several members would regularly call him at his Floral Park home asking if they could drive him. 

Above: Emilio Squeglio's NCS autobio.

My thanks to Jim Amash for letting me know the news of Emilio's passing -- and for those great interviews with Emilio in ALTER EGO Magazine.

Related: Jerry Ordway talks about the cover of ALTER EGO #91, which features a jam cover by both Ordway and Squeglio.

National Cartoonists Society Newsletter September 1965

Above: cover photo features "Charlie Schulz, the Reuben, Mayor John F. Shelley of San Francisco and the Mayor's Proclamation of 'Peanuts' Day!"

Some highlights:




 Here's Henri (the JUMBLE!) Arnold, Jackie Gleason, Mrs. Al Smith, a grandson of Al Smith, and Fred and Virginia Waring.

Bob Dunn, Bob Barnes and Eldon Dedini.

 

Hank Ketcham at the board in his Switzerland home.

1.) Al Wiseman receives Hatlo Trophy from Jimmy Hatlo, Jr. (holding papers). 2.) Wiseman keels over.

Harold Gray, Mrs. Harold Gray and Arthur Laro, Executive VP and Editor of the Chicago Tribune-New York New Syndicate.

The 1965 Connecticut Cartoonists Gold Tournament: Ben Thompson, Jeff Keate and Mort Walker.

Here's a complete 22 page scan of the National Cartoonists Society Newsletter, the September 1965 issue. It was edited by Jud Hurd.

My thanks to Don Orehek for this copy of the newsletter! Thank you, Don (and Suzanne too)!

Above: Suzanne and Don Orehek at the 18th annual party for cartoonists hosted by Fred Waring at his Shawnee Inn.