Modern generations like to prtend that they invented cartoon journalism, although we all know (as Joe Sacco probably does) that Harvey Kurtzman perfected the genre. When he did his cartoon reports in Esquire, The TV Guide and Help, he was probably inspired by Shel Silverstein's work at Playboy in the late fifties, but there had been precursors before him as well. One is a piece on Beauty Contests by hank Ketcham (which can be found on my blog, as well as all of Kurtzman's work). I am always happy to find others. Here is a two page piece by Michael Berry for The American Legion - more of a collection of gags than an actual journalistic piece, but he did go there and sketched his own impressions before boiling it down to this.
Showing posts with label Michael Berry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Berry. Show all posts
Saturday, April 20, 2019
Observed With A Pencil
Saturday Leftover Day.
Modern generations like to prtend that they invented cartoon journalism, although we all know (as Joe Sacco probably does) that Harvey Kurtzman perfected the genre. When he did his cartoon reports in Esquire, The TV Guide and Help, he was probably inspired by Shel Silverstein's work at Playboy in the late fifties, but there had been precursors before him as well. One is a piece on Beauty Contests by hank Ketcham (which can be found on my blog, as well as all of Kurtzman's work). I am always happy to find others. Here is a two page piece by Michael Berry for The American Legion - more of a collection of gags than an actual journalistic piece, but he did go there and sketched his own impressions before boiling it down to this.
Modern generations like to prtend that they invented cartoon journalism, although we all know (as Joe Sacco probably does) that Harvey Kurtzman perfected the genre. When he did his cartoon reports in Esquire, The TV Guide and Help, he was probably inspired by Shel Silverstein's work at Playboy in the late fifties, but there had been precursors before him as well. One is a piece on Beauty Contests by hank Ketcham (which can be found on my blog, as well as all of Kurtzman's work). I am always happy to find others. Here is a two page piece by Michael Berry for The American Legion - more of a collection of gags than an actual journalistic piece, but he did go there and sketched his own impressions before boiling it down to this.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Monday Cartoon Day.
Despite the fact that American Legion was an ultra rightwing magazine aimed at WWII veterans, which seemed to pave the way to the repressive McCarthyism of the fifties, I really love going through their monthly magazines in from 1948 to 1952, since they used many of my favorite cartoonists. Including quite a few liberal New York Jews, who didn't mind where they were published as long as it paid. Or at least,m that's what Jack Mendelsohn told me. In this lot you'll find Hank Ketcham, Dave Garard, Reamer Keller, Henry Boltinoff, Jack Mendelsohn and Disney gag writer Roy Williams. As a bonus there is an early cartoon journalism sample by Michael Berry (who did more of this sort of thematic spreads in the fifties, long before 'comic journalism' became a thing) and a full page illustrated feature by Otto Soglow. The only one missing is Mort Walker and that is because I have already shown all of his contributions.
Despite the fact that American Legion was an ultra rightwing magazine aimed at WWII veterans, which seemed to pave the way to the repressive McCarthyism of the fifties, I really love going through their monthly magazines in from 1948 to 1952, since they used many of my favorite cartoonists. Including quite a few liberal New York Jews, who didn't mind where they were published as long as it paid. Or at least,m that's what Jack Mendelsohn told me. In this lot you'll find Hank Ketcham, Dave Garard, Reamer Keller, Henry Boltinoff, Jack Mendelsohn and Disney gag writer Roy Williams. As a bonus there is an early cartoon journalism sample by Michael Berry (who did more of this sort of thematic spreads in the fifties, long before 'comic journalism' became a thing) and a full page illustrated feature by Otto Soglow. The only one missing is Mort Walker and that is because I have already shown all of his contributions.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Be Berry Berry Quiet
Thursay Story Strip Day.
Last Monday I promised you a newspaper strip by Michael Berry. I knew I had it somewhere, but I hadn't remembered that is was realistic strip. This was at the start of his career as a cartoonist and it makes for an intereting comparison. I also had in my files one tier that was dated 1943 and not signed by Berry. I will have to go back and see where that came from...
Thursay Story Strip Day.
Last Monday I promised you a newspaper strip by Michael Berry. I knew I had it somewhere, but I hadn't remembered that is was realistic strip. This was at the start of his career as a cartoonist and it makes for an intereting comparison. I also had in my files one tier that was dated 1943 and not signed by Berry. I will have to go back and see where that came from...
Monday, January 28, 2013
Thank Heavens For Michael Berry
Monday Cartoon Day.
Michael Berry was a respected cartoonist in the forties and fifties. Although he worked for all major magaiznes, his love for pretty girls got him a regular place at Esquire, where he fitted right in with the pin-up styles of his collegues. In the fifties, pin-ups were less in fashion and he shifted to the Humorama books with slightly racier stuff and got a regular position as cartoonist and frequent cover illustrator for The Sunday Pictorial Review. In fact, I have a huge lot of those which I might scan and share at a later date. When Playboy came, he immeadiately joined them, although his style and his girls may have been a bit too old-fashioned. Very little is known about him, not even when he died. I must have a newspaper strip he did, which I will dig out for tomorrow.
Monday Cartoon Day.
Michael Berry was a respected cartoonist in the forties and fifties. Although he worked for all major magaiznes, his love for pretty girls got him a regular place at Esquire, where he fitted right in with the pin-up styles of his collegues. In the fifties, pin-ups were less in fashion and he shifted to the Humorama books with slightly racier stuff and got a regular position as cartoonist and frequent cover illustrator for The Sunday Pictorial Review. In fact, I have a huge lot of those which I might scan and share at a later date. When Playboy came, he immeadiately joined them, although his style and his girls may have been a bit too old-fashioned. Very little is known about him, not even when he died. I must have a newspaper strip he did, which I will dig out for tomorrow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)