Theatrical Cartoons: Cartoons Magazine Centennial 1913
As shown in these cartoons, 1913 was a year in which puritanical America looked at all forms of theater — Vaudeville and silent cinema — as sources of sin, moral decay, and danger. Above, from when America had a patchwork of local censor boards, controlling movies, books, publications, and shows could be shown or sold [...]
Them As Is Because, 1911 NYC Vaudeville 2: Local Vanity Cartoon Books, Part 7
It’s been awhile since we last focused a post on the Vanity Cartoon Books of the early 20th Century, in which local business people & others of import, paid to have themselves caricatured by local newspaper cartoonists. Being in such a book with other local leaders, was both a status symbol, as well as good [...]
Fred Ellis’ Oil Cartoons
With yet another major oil spill (the oil pipeline rupture spilling tar sands-derived oil, in Mayflower, Arkansas), and oil industry representatives using spin to try to deivert attention from facts, this year’s Earth Day posting returns to the theme of Big Oil. Above, “Bubble, Bubble, Oil and Trouble” by Fred Ellis, from the February 14th, [...]
Melville B. Raymond’s “Buster Brown” 1905 promotional comic, Part 3
We continue with our April Fools’ Month extracts from the 1905 promotional giveaway magazine, “Mr. Melville B. Raymond’s Buster Brown”, used to advertise upcoming performances of the touring musical stage play. Above & below, two more Buster Brown Sunday comic strips by Richard Felton Outcault, reprinted in the pamphlet. Click on the above & below [...]
Rube Goldberg’s “Foolish Questions” Card Game, 1919: Set 1, Part 3
Above, a loose flyer advertising the 1919 card game of Rube Goldberg‘s “Foolish Questions”, that came inside the game box. (Why advertise an item, to people who had already bought it? The other side of the flyer is advertising something unrelated – this piece of paper was likely placed inside both games, and perhaps inside [...]
Ohio River Flood: Cartoons Magazine Centennial 1913
From Cartoons Magazine, we have coverage of the Ohio River Flood of 1913. Last Year’s Earth Day posting, however, included the Ohio River Flood of 1883, so doing so on that day would have been repetitious. Above, from the March 1913 issue, we have cartoons by Charles “Doc” Winner, Stinson, and Billy DeBeck Click on [...]
Cartoonists’ Theatre Ads: F. Opper
A number of cartoonists have been involved in theater. One of them was Frederick Burr Opper. Above, a cartoon by Opper, from the October 4th, 1884 issue of Puck magazine. Beneath, Opper illustrated ads for the mid-1880′s play, Mugg’s Landing. These came from a folding card handout. Click on Theatrical Cartoons to find prior postings [...]
The Taxman Cometh: Cartoons Magazine Centennial 1913
Americans’ favorite day of the year has arrived – Income Tax Day!! Hurray! Above, from the April 1913 edition of Cartoons Magazine, artist W.A. Ireland’s depiction of our joy! Click on the above & below pictures, to view the cartoons in detail, and read their captions. Below, from June 1916, Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling shows [...]
Buster Brown Crashes His Own Stage Play, 1905
For today’s April Fools’ Month entry, we have some more extracts scanned from the 1905 promotional giveaway magazine, “Mr. Melville B. Raymond’s Buster Brown”, used to advertise upcoming performances of the touring musical stage play. Above, a self-referential Buster Brown comic strip by his creator, Richard Felton Outcault, poking fun at the Buster Brown stage [...]
Rube Goldberg’s “Foolish Questions” Card Game, 1919: Set 1, Part 2
For the second Friday of April Fools’ Month, we bring you part two of our presentation of the 1919 card game (set 1) of Rube Goldberg‘s “Foolish Questions”. Above is the image that appears on the back of all of the cards; below, we have cards numbers 13 thru 24 (of 52 total). Click on [...]
