Take a Running Jump! Your Sport Gags Inside

! ISSUE 379 – NOVEMBER 2005! AUTUMN 2005 The Jester

ABRIDGED

TAKE A RUNNING JUMP! YOUR SPORT GAGS INSIDE

TECHNOPHILES BYTE BACK / THE CARTOONIST BOUNCERS “Whaddya mean it looks nothing like you?” PAUL BAKER PROFILES HIS FAVOURITE CARICATURISTS THE MARVEL OF BLAZERMAN / BILL RITCHIE ON FILM FUN STEVE WAY Q&A / CHAIRMAN ON, ER, SHEDS AND ONIONS

The Newsletter of the Cartoonists’ Club of Great Britain THE JESTER ISSUE 379 – NOVEMBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK The Jester News Issue 379 - November 2005 Excellence in 2003. He recently Published 11 times a year became the official artist for the arts by The Cartoonists’ Club materials maker Edding UK. of Great Britain St. Just The CCGB Committee the ticket Chairman: Terry Christien 020–8892 3621 From Roger Penwill: Just back [email protected] from another excellent weekend at the Secretary: Richard Tomes St. Just festival. Once again the 0121–706 7652 exhibitions were extensive and [email protected] excellent. Among them was a superb BOSC exhibition and one of the Treasurer: Jill Kearney innovative semi-3D work of Mougey. 020–8590 8942 The food was better than before and wine was good and plentiful. Sue Les Barton: 01895–236 732 Burleigh had made it there at the end [email protected] of Toontrek and by the time we Clive Collins: 01702–557 205 By George, he’s arrived, she was fully immersed in the whole St. Just experience. [email protected] on the telly St. Just is now the biggest and best in Neil Dishington: 020–8505 0134 the world, having grown from a very [email protected] CLUB member George Williams small start (there were just five Ian Ellery: 01424–718 209 was featured on The Paul O’Grady cartoonists at the 2nd festival). The [email protected] Show on ITV1 on September 28, whole event was just a little smaller Graham Fowell: 020–8590 8942 caricaturing the host and his guests this year because the organisers are [email protected] during the programme. He drew planning a big bash next year to O’Grady first then throughout the celebrate the festival’s 25th Pete Jacob: 01732 845 079 rest of the show, he drew Terry anniversary and the laying of the first Helen Martin: 01883–625 600 Jones, Jerry Hall, and Kelvin brick for the permanent cartoon [email protected] Fletcher from Emmerdale. museum they will be building there. Roy Nixon: 01245–256 814 George, see his devilish It would be good to have a larger Brit Jed Pascoe: 01767–682 882 self-caricature above, said: “The contingent for that. They expect 12 [email protected] brief was to produce four full-colour good quality cartoons from caricatures, live during the show, participants which is your part of the Roger Penwill: 01584–711 854 giving me around 35 minutes to deal for attending. As always, the [email protected] allow time for them to be mounted in festival will be the last weekend in Derek Quint: 01984–632 592 a large gold frame and revealed in September and the first in October, Jed Stone: 020–7720 1884 the last section of the show. That was with the Brit group usually attending [email protected] a challenge. the 2nd weekend. Pencil it in now. Mike Turner: 01206–798 283 “I came off stage from my first chat [email protected] with Paul and the crew snatched the first unfinished picture from me and Jock Williams-Davies: told me I had to finish the other three 01473–422 917 before the end of the second section. [email protected] The show just flew by and before I knew it I was onstage whipping off Jester Editor: the curtain to reveal the artwork. Royston Robertson Everyone seemed chuffed and signed the drawings for auction at 01843–871 241 a later date.” jester_magazine @yahoo.co.uk George has been a freelance illustrator and graphic designer since Front cover: Jock 1991 and has been performing live Williams-Davies caricatures full time since 1997. One Back cover: Jed Stone of the highlights of his career was More desperately needed! drawing Tony Blair at the Charter Mark Awards for Business

2 THE JESTER ISSUE 379 – NOVEMBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK The Chair

HAVE you noticed there’s been quite gave us a talk/presentation at Octo- a lot of coverage about sheds, yes ber’s meeting on how his interest in sheds, just lately? I wondered how cartooning started with Marvel com- many members have a shed as a ics [see page 13]. Thanks Simon. A studio? Hand up from me. Actually, I straw poll suggests that members call mine a chalet – it’s the sort of would like the meeting talks to con- thing we say in Middlesex you know. tinue – so we’ll give them more It’s 12ft by 12ft and is simply the best mileage. studio and inspirational source I’ve How’s had since its installation in 1986, just this for prior to me joining the Club as it r a n d o m happens. thinking ?: These days it would seem sheds are I’m doing Steve Way big business. They are used as refuges a job at the mainly by men according to the sta- m o m e n t in Q&A tistics, although the ladies are getting w i t h in on the act. I could go on about how stereotypi- STEVE WAY, cartoon editor at the it’s fitted out etc, but savour that for cal French Reader’s Digest, will be doing a talk another exciting instalment. However, characters, and a Q&A session at the November let us know if you’re a shedaphobe! with an unashamed list of accessories club meeting on what an editor looks North of the border member Jim like cheese, striped shirts, berets, wine, for in a cartoon. Towle raised the concept of installing coffee and onions. I’ve also been There will be a short intro, followed a webcam at club meetings. We batted drawing loads of onions for a wallpa- by questions from the floor. Steve, as this about in committee with mo- per background, as well as around the many of you will know, has long re than a little apprehension as to the characters’ necks. You simply must experience as a cartoon editor, having boredom threshold that voyeur mem- draw some onions in, say, just ten worked also for Punch, Maxim and bers could endure. strokes. It’s quite therapeutic. But I am The Cartoonist (the broadsheet cartoon Seriously though, that apart, the getting out more of late! paper which appeared in the early technological requirements at this November’s meet will give us the 1990s). His detailed and reasoned time on the club website are insuffi- benefit of a cartoon editor’s take on rejections are regarded by many cient. I’d rather not lumber you with receiving a wave of cartoons dropping gag cartoonists as the most the technobabble reasons, even if I on his desk, as seen through the eyes entertaining (and useful) in the biz. could. But Jim, it’s got to happen of Steve Way, cartoon editor of Read- Steve was invited by Andy Davey, eventually, or something like it – er’s Digest and formerly of Punch. who told the club forum: “I won’t be watch this webcam space. Simon Poodle tip! doing a talk, I’ll just be ‘hosting’ Ellinas (he’s from Barnet you know) Terry Christien Steve’s session, and frisking everybody on entry for rotten fruit. God forbid anyone should think I’d be standing up banging on about the usual Sporting stuff.” The meeting is at 7pm on Tuesday, sniggers November 1 at The Cartoonist pub, Shoe Lane, London EC1. MANY thanks to all who sent in cartoons on a sport/games/ Slimline Jester fitness theme for this issue. YOU may have noticed that this Jester Next month’s theme is, at 16 pages, a bit slimmer than is, with crushing usual. This is simply because I did not inevitability, get enough contributions for another Christmas! four pages. Remember folks, it’s your So get those Festive newsletter. So let’s have lots of stuff Funnies, Christmas for the next one and, who knows, Chuckles and, er, Father Christmas may bring a bumper Yuletide Yuks in now, Christmas/New Year edition. by email or post. “OK, let’s work on dodging his uppercut ...”

3 THE JESTER ISSUE 379 – NOVEMBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Dear Jester

Letters can be sent by post to: The Jester c/o Royston Robertson 20 Upton Road, Broadstairs, A tome for Mr Tomes Kent CT10 2AS AS I FAILED to find a cartoon theme for the November number, here is the Letters can also be sent result of Emma buying me The R. Crumb Handbook for my birthday via email: (see below). Enclosed is an SAE as [email protected] Emma will no doubt want to frame it, Farewell Arthur or burn it. The deadline for letters Richard Tomes SOME of our older members may and all other content for remember the cartoonist Arthur Richard was not the only person to The Jester is the 12th of Arrowsmith who drew under the name mention that he could not find the every month. Letters may be of Acken, his initials (above), and cartoon theme, which is odd as it was edited to ﬁt space Pelik, as in ink (above right). where it always is (page three). Time requirements. It’s unlikely Arthur was a former member of the for eye tests folks! Just so no one can though to be honest, as The club and a prolific cartoonist, selling be in doubt, here is a reminder that Jester gets so few letters. to most newspapers and magazines. next month’s theme is CHRISTMAS! There’s a grand total of two He died peacefully on August 31 at That’s Xmas, Yuletide, Noel, the Birth this time around folks! the ripe age of 95. of Our Lord Baby Jesus. OK? Do send Frank Holmes New Year/Hogmanay stuff too – Ed

Jesterpuz by Rex Juriansz Rearrange the pieces to form a caricature of an itinerant senior member of the CCGB. Answer on page 14

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Technophiles byte back days – I just forget to take screen breaks! You’re clearly acutely aware of Noel Ford: In the October Jester, Bill the dangers Noel, which is good. Actu- Ritchie cries, “Get away from your ally your working environment sounds computer screens and get outside. Take so great I’m green with envy. I can see a walk. Be aware of nature.” a Hello-style feature coming up in a This myth, that those of us who use future Jester ... “Noel Ford invites us computers are “stuck to our screens”, is into his lovely home ...” ;-) continually being thrown into our faces by those who don’t. Yes, I use comput- Roger Penwill: I am very touched by ers. The two screens I work on take up this concern over the health of us com- The new-look CCGB an area of 318 sq in. Next to these puter users. On the limited experience website can be found at: screens, I have a window which takes of only using computers on a daily up 7,158 sq in – nearly 23 times the basis for 25 years I didn’t realise one www.ccgb.org.uk area. Through it I have a view of open ought to look away from the screen To access the forum, click countryside, half a dozen horses and a occasionally. I have written that on a “Members’ Area” then “Enter lot of sheep. In the distance I can see post-it note and stuck it on the screen. the Members’ Forum” the foothills of the Cambrian Moun- Hazel tells me we moved into the tains. I spend as much time looking out countryside six years ago. I really must of the window as I do looking at my get out the door sometime to check it When posting messages on computer screens but I don’t leave it out. If I hadn’t been held in a hypnotic the forum, please be aware there. At least once, often twice a day, I trance in front of the monitor I would that some content may be am out there, walking with our dogs. have noticed we went blackberry reprinted in The Jester Also, in my office, along with the picking the other day. computers, I have a piano and five However, to ensure a healthy work/ The forum sections are: guitars, all of which I regularly take life balance as decreed by EU Direc- The Cartoonist Pub time out to play. tive and Neil Dishington, I have decided this winter to regularly visit our Have a chat in the I’m pretty sure most other computer using cartoonists are no more stuck to local cinema, only 35 miles away Cartoonist private-members their screens than those who use tradi- down unlit country lanes. Once there I bar about anything and tional materials are stuck in front of a can enjoy two hours in a darkened everything piece of paper. For goodness sake, can room sharing the ailments of total we lay to rest these misconceptions strangers and any distracting quirks Spittoon The place for about computer use once and for all they might like to demonstrate. uploads: images, animations, and get on with drawing cartoons in For a reassuringly expensive amount, games, cuttings, links, etc whatever way we prefer? I can enjoy a film whose visual and sound quality is far less than that I am Jester Archive Royston Robertson: Clearly you are forced to put up with on the widescreen All Jesters will be not one of them Noel, but some people telly at home. The appeal of the cinema in getting a life is clearly compelling downloadable here as soon DO spend far too long at their computers. I’d probably include myself some and so good for the health. Cont. p7 as they are published

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Dont forget: from the website home page you can also access the Q&A Forum. This is a public forum for asking questions and giving answers about all aspects of cartoons and cartooning

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LOUIS HELLMAN Mind Games

The Paranoid Cartoonist Andy Vine

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Nigel Sutherland: I couldn't have Now, a FORUM, we do have, and I people with shared interests or tastes, upped and moved to this island (Bute, must say it’s a lifeline for those of us epecially one that is exclusive of Scotland) if it wasn’t for digital car- who find it physically impossible to other people: a coterie of friends and tooning. I have fabulous sea views, get to a midweek meeting in London advisors. And that’s EXACTLY what great wildlife all around, mix with – and we did make it clear, in ad- we have been up until now. It’s us friendly local people, and am close to vance, that many of us would not be saddoes on the forum that are trying Glasgow and two major airports. able to join in the heated debate for to make us a little more inclusive, Thank you digital cartooning, Apple, this very reason. So we didn’t ignore surely? Wacom, Photoshop, the internet, the “platform” we were “offered” mobile phone technology etc etc, but (offered by whom?) Be that as it may, Andy Davey: Now stop this bad- especially my Mum! on the forum, many of us have been mouthing you whippersnappers. This suggesting ways in which the club is a nice club for nice people. No Ian Ellery: Well, I couldn’t live in could be revitalised to improve things coteries, no factions, no plots. Two Hastings if I wasn’t digital. I’m sure the for the whole membership. I’m sorry legs good, four legs good ... legless same goes for others “out in the sticks”. if trying to make a positive contribu- even better. tion to the club makes us “stroppy RR: I didn’t know you were digital Ian, arseholes” but if that’s the case, I’m Some mistake? you look so real. Amazing what they proud to be one. can do with that CGI these days. Believe it or not, far from being a Simon Ellinas: Great to see Paul “cosy coterie” we often disagree. Baker’s pen is out to produce emis- I’ll get me coterie This is one club. There are no fac- sions like that published in The Jester tions. The forum is open to all, as is [“Finding Nemethy”, last month]. “Bugger the chat-room and the cosy the monthly meeting. At the moment, However, he seems to suggest that little coterie who inhabit it.” as many, if not more, members meet Stephen Nemethy had macabre ten- Clive Collins in the August Jester on the forum as those who attend dencies. As he put it: “This, however, meetings. But wherever we meet we coincided with the illness and death Noel Ford: Bloody hell, Clive, you should be able to offer suggestions of his parents and Stephen returned to really were wearing your grumpy hat towards making it a better club with- Ealing to nurse them.” when you wrote that! Mind you, I out being called silly names. agree with you about the chat-room – See the first of Paul’s “Baker’s can’t stand ’em myself, so it’s a jolly Ian Ellery: Well, my dictionary de- Dozen”, profiling his favourite good job we haven’t got one, isn’t it? scribes a coterie as “a small group of caricaturists, on page 9 7 THE JESTER ISSUE 379 – NOVEMBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK

co-wrote but also starred in, in car- Bone toon form. But before we get to im- One Volume Edition ages, cartoons or films, we need by Jeff Smith words to define these images. And this body of work goes a long way to THE award-winning comic book mapping out Allen’s future career as Bone has finally been collected into one of the most original (and, when one large volume (apparently avail- not in his current gloomy mood, fun- able for only a short period of time) niest) film makers of our times. and anyone unfamiliar with Jeff He examines psychic phenomena: Smith’s work is in for a treat. Reviews “There is no question that there is an Set plenty of time aside however, unseen world. The problem is, how since the book comes in at more than far is it from midtown and how late is 1,300 pages, every one of which is a Complete Prose it open?” joy to look at. There’s more to it by Woody Allen He is inspired by the Dead Sea than looks however – Smith has man- Scrolls and sets about sending up the aged to combine the artistic skills of THIS combines Woody Allen’s With- Abraham and Isaac story: “The Lord Walt Kelly (Pogo), Charles Schulz out Feathers, Getting Even and Side stayed Abraham’s hand and said, (Peanuts) and many of the old Disney Effects, books that I have always re- ‘How could thou doest such a thing?’ animators, with intricate Tolkienesque turned to, time after time, whenever I “And Abraham said, ‘But thou fantasy settings and plotting. need a bit of light relief. They contain said–’ What starts out simply with the enough inspiration to keep even the “‘Never mind what I said,’ the Lord Bone cousins getting run out of their dullest cartoonist happy (and, obvi- spake. ‘Doth thou listen to every hometown and wandering into a ously, I am talking from experience in crazy idea that comes thy way?”’ mysterious valley soon leads to dan- that respect!) The invention of the sandwich re- ger and adventure with a cast of like- Before and during some of his film- ceives the Allen treatment: “After able and well-rounded characters. making career, Woody Allen was a four years of frenzied labour, he is That’s not to say it’s a po-faced tale – prolific contributor to many American convinced he is on the threshold of there are a great many moments of publications, including The New success. He exhibits before his peers silliness and slapstick humour amid Yorker. It is interesting to see the two slices of turkey with a slice of the darker moments, with Smith’s old progress of his career, from gag writer bread in the middle.” animation skills showing his impec- for comedians such as Sid Caesar, to While Allen, the writer, is often cited cable visual timing. Cow racing, rat stand-up comic, to humorous writer, in the same breath as James Thurber creatures with a taste for quiche, playwright and, finally film-maker. and Groucho Marx, his work is much plucky heroines destined for great Making films is totally logical for closer to that of the latter who, I’m things, large dragons and equally Allen as it enables him to flesh out all sure, was a major influence. large lions – this book has the lot, and his neuroses and philosophies in the This collected volume makes a valu- it’s all told in a way that makes great most expressive medium possible. All able addition to any humour aficiona- use of black and white (work has his stories and essays lend themselves do’s collection. Cartoonists will find begun on colouring all the books, but to images and cartoons; indeed, it is them a source of many ideas and, if perhaps some of the charm of the art impossible not to see the main char- you’re a humorous writer, you’ll will be lost – we’ll just have to wait acter in each piece as Allen, himself. begrudge him for having all those and see). Some people might remember the brilliant ideas first. And what a tale it is! It’s not hard to syndicated strip which Allen not only Simon Ellinas see why it took Smith 12 years to complete it and the nine Harvey awards, nine Eisner awards and countless others worldwide are a testament to its popularity with critics and readers alike. If you’re looking for something to read over the coming winter months, I heartily recommend Bone. The One Volume Edition is great value – I picked mine up from Amazon Mar- ketplace, brand new, for around £17, including delivery. Amazing value for money considering each of the original books were about £9 each. What are you waiting for? Stop reading and start ordering …

Tim Harries From Inside Woody Allen: Selections From The Comic Strip (Robson Books)

8 THE JESTER ISSUE 379 – NOVEMBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Baker’s Dozen In the ﬁrst of a series proﬁling 13 of his favourite caricaturists, Paul Baker takes a look at the paintings of Philip Burke “WHEN David Levine told me that Burke seldom makes any outright and he has a regular slot in Rolling caricature and painting will never political or personal comments in his Stone magazine. He has also had mix, I had a goal,” says Philip Burke. work; instead he relies on the face to exhibitions in New York, Beverly And for 30 years, he has certainly project character. He was once as- Hills and Rome. been proving Levine wrong. signed the job of covering a Pentagon “When I first started caricaturing, I Born in 1956 in Buffalo, New York, budget hearing on Capitol Hill, and made a determination to try and blur Burke had no art school training and his work reflected much of the per- the distinction between commercial began his life as a professional free- sonality of the senators and con- and fine art,” he says. lance caricaturist in 1977. In those gressmen he was studying. In a simi- He’s not far off. early days, he was working mainly lar way to the great 19th century for the left-wing magazine Village french caricaturist Honore Daumier, Clockwise from below: Madonna, Voice, which encouraged him to Burke was making a critical point not Sinead O’Connor, Brian Wilson produce highly distorted and gro- by placing his caricatures within a and Little Richard tesque political caricatures in the setting but by allowing just the face to scratchy pen and ink manner of Ger- tell a story. His caricatures have ap- ald Scarfe. Although this style fitted peared in Time, Newsweek, Esquire in with the readership of the Voice, other publications offering work, such as the New York Times, tended to be more wary, and required him to tone down the exaggerations. He began to experiment with straight portrait caricature, and by the time Vanity Fair discovered him in 1983 he had com- bined these influences into his own unique style. Burke’s caricatures, which have been referred to by some as being “contemporary expressionist” are big. Usually working on a canvas 5-6ft tall, he uses quick brush strokes and bold colours. They look very imme- diate, as if the idea has just come to him there and then. It seems that in a moment of inspiration he has picked up the nearest brush and banged out a painting in whatever colours hap- pened to be at hand. Skin tones can be orange, blue, green or a mixture of all three and his faces can twist and turn at all angles (see the Brian Wilson example, right). This assumption of spontaneity though is deceptive as he plans each painting meticulously with a draughtsman-like skill, relying almost entirely on the face to convey any message. By doing a series of studies of the face from different angles he gradually develops a feeling for the physiognomy. “I do a lot of preliminary work,” he says. “I could draw anywhere between 30 to 80 drawings of the subject. When I know how the face fits together, I then start doing sketches where I start to distort the features.” 9 THE JESTER ISSUE 379 – NOVEMBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK

punch as an amateur boxer!). For most of his career he worked for the Notes from the North Amalgamated Press. He had a great skill in capturing likenesses of well- I HAVE been reading a book by Eric known personalities. He was the right Sykes about his comedy heroes. In man in the right place when AP the book we get pictures and anec- launched Film Fun in 1920. He was dotes of well-known comedians that so successful with his robust, jolly, Eric had written scripts for or acted style that he became the keystone of with, and also one or two he wished the comic. Other artists were encour- he had known, like Laurel and Hardy aged to follow Bill’s style. Bill died in and his first boyhood comedy hero, May 1942 at the age of 54. Buster Keaton. Sykes’ heroes cover His son, Terry, who had assisted his the whole gamut of postwar comedi- father, took over the Laurel and ans, all well known from television Hardy strip, among others, which he and films, such as Hattie Jacques, carried on for a further 12 years, until Ken Dodd, Tommy Cooper and Spike Hardy’s death in 1957. Terry’s style Milligan – all great laughter makers. was indistinguishable from his fa- As cartoonists, we are virtually in ther’s. This proved to be his downfall, the same business: making a living as in 1959, new brooms decided his from humour. We’re not in the front style was too old-fashioned and after line, facing an audience, nor do we 32 years’ service he was made redun- become public icons and get the fame dant. He retired from comics to be- and fortune that the top comedians come an ambulance driver at West earn. We hide behind our drawing Middlesex Hospital. boards and depend on editors giving I had the great fortune to meet Terry us the space in newspapers and at the Famous Comics 101 conven- magazines to display our talent. many cases the scripts, anonymously. tion in 1976. Terry was presented Most people will not realise the time Tom Browne, Percy Cocking, Bertie with a Gold Ally Sloper award. I spent working out ideas, laying out a Brown, Herbert Foxwell, Roy Wil- found him an amiable, friendly man. drawing and inking the final work for son, the Parlett family (Harry, George He was not completely lost to the publication. A few cartoonists’ names and Reg) were among the early expo- business, as Denis Gifford, who ran become well known – the Gileses, nents of the genre. Probably the most 101, got Terry to draw a Morecambe Thelwells, Larrys and Scarfes of the successful contributors were the fa- and Wise strip in his old style for business. More likely their comic ther and son duo of Bill and Terry Reveille. Terry died in September creations will be better known – Andy Wakefield. Bill was an extremely 1989, aged 78. Capp, Fred Bassett, Beau Peep, the talented artist (he also packed a mean Bill Ritchie Perishers, for instance. Some cartoonists and caricaturists do take the bull by the horns and put on a show for an audience – from The Jester I see that they are queuing up to give talks at The Cartoonist. Of course, quite a lot of our members put on a “turn” at festivals and exhibitions, whether drawing caricatures or demonstrating their cartoon skills. Where comedians and cartoonists do get together is in the realms of chil- dren’s comics. In the golden age of comics, Film Fun, Radio Fun and TV Comic led the way in portraying the stars of film, stage, radio and TV in comic-strip form. Film Fun (1920- 1962) brought the art of caricature and cartooning together in the early days by drawing the stars of the silent screen – Chaplin, Keaton and Laurel and Hardy among them. The stars were quite happy to be depicted in this way, with no fee, for the public- ity. Many fine cartoonists of the time contributed the drawings, and in

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fun and games

“Hang on, that’s the Match of the Day theme tune.” “I can’t understand it – I’m having terrible luck these days.”

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Clive Collins

issue 146, because the founder, pub- lisher and editor, Jud Hurd, has died. The magazine had been a surprising success, considering it was only ever produced in black and white, but it was still streets ahead of Witty World despite the latter’s wall-to-wall colour. There was a gentleness about the interviews and articles that betrayed a great love of the profession, and over the 36 years that I subscribed to it, one could trace the rise and rise of a cartoonist and his/her work, and often the surprising fall when fashions changed. Arnie Roth once described the slow-moving Jud as the only man he knew who took an hour and a half to watch 60 Minutes. Jud and his magazine will be greatly missed

BREAKING NEWS: It may have escaped your attention, but ITV has been telling viewers to send in any photographs taken on mobile phones, that illustrate news stories as they are actually happening. This was used to great effect during the 7/7 bombings in London, and indicates a further shift towards DIY newsgathering. So why have cartoonists not been urged by ITN to get out there and lurk, pads and pencils in hand (sorry, laptops and Wacom tablets in hand) to record the passing show? I can think of no more enjoyable activity than sitting in a car with the radio set to a news channel, and pre- SAD NEWS 1: Cartooning lost awards. He moved to London in cious fuel being eaten up as the en- Rowland B. Wilson (1930 -2005) in 1970, where he worked as an anima- gine idles, ready, at a second’s notice, June, but the cutting only came my tor with Richard Williams, and on to roar hither and yon to cover each way recently in The Cartoonist (the many UK ad campaigns. After he and every bomb blast, Prince Harry NCS magazine). He’d worked for returned to the States he was an ani- faux pas, plane crash and hostage The Saturday Evening Post, The New mator on Disney’s The Little Mer- situation. It might just work; though I Yorker, Esquire and had been a Play- maid, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, think the one area where cameras will boy stalwart for many years, special- Tarzan and Hercules. He was also always win out is when “doorstep- ising in watercolour cartoons, and he awarded a daytime Emmy for his ping”. Doorstepping, for the few out showed the most remarkable skills of animation on Schoolhouse Rock! If there who don’t know, is when a draughtsmanship in every cartoon you can find a copy of his book The journalist, accompanied by a photog- that he drew. It may sound strange to Whites of Their Eyes (1962) you’ll get rapher, lurk outside the known resi- say it, but the correct use of white a wider view of the guy’s work. He dence of Someone Who’s Wanted, areas in cartoons was most important was a wonderful cartoonist, and for either by the press or Max Clifford, to him – you really have to see the many years he exerted a huge influ- and wait for the occupant to show work to appreciate that, and I have no ence on my work. him/herself. intention of straying into “Pseud’s The King of the Doorsteppers Corner” territory. The example above SAD NEWS 2: Those of you who (Photography Division) was one Stan is one of his ads for the hugely suc- subscribed to it will know that CAR- Jaanus, a photographer on the old cessful New England Life insurance TOONIST PROfiles magazine has Sunday People, whose life was placed campaign, for which he won many been published for the last time at in jeopardy many times in the late

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Forthcoming club talks 1950s and early 1960s when he’d ring the doorbell of the gaff in which and events some porn baron or criminal mas- termind was residing. He’d rattle a Speakers may change, or be few milk bottles to give the impres- added, so keep an eye on sion of a delivery (doorstepping al- future Jesters and the website ways took place in the early morn- forum for updates. ing, when the criminal soul was at its lowest ebb). The victim would emerge in dressing gown – or less – November: Steve Way, to find him/herself lit up by flash Reader’s Digest cartoon editor, bulbs, causing temporarily loss of on what an editor looks for in a vision, and by the time that full 20/20 cartoon. With a Q&A. Hosted by sight was restored, Stan would have Andy Davey had it away in his car. December: “Santa’s Surprise” – You can see from the above ac- this is billed by Aunty Helen as count, therefore, that to have a cari- “a fun-quiz-thing-cum - caturist doorstepping, and executing Blaze of glory: Simon’s spoof entertainment-thingy-sort-of- lightning sketches of the hoodlum, show-type-laugh”. Well, it is while shining a light in his eyes and going through the usual caricaturist The Marvel of almost Christmas! Come along spiel, could prove fatal. and do your party piece. And if Blazerman you’re feeling reticent ... there’s Caricaturist: “Morning. Lovely day. free food! Look this way.” Simon “Blazerman” Ellinas gave January 2006: Les Barton Gangster: “Wha … what he f–?” an informative and fun February: Neil Dishington Caricaturist: “Hold it! Smile, no illustrated talk at the October March: John MacInnerney from come on, look natural, I’m not taking meeting on the subject of the King Features talks about your soul!” early Marvel comics of the 1960s. syndication. Hosted by Clive Gangster: “Who the f–?” It was these classic comics that Collins. Plus Tim Harries on Caricaturist: “Come on, give us a inspired Simon to consider comic strips smile.” drawing for a living (hence the April: Paul Baker [At this point, the caricaturist’s “Origin of Blazerman” spoof breathing would have become – “Baker’s Dozen Caricaturists” comic cover, above, displayed May: Royston Robertson slightly impaired by the application during his talk) and for a while June: Alex Noel Watson of gigantic fingers pressing into his he worked for Marvel UK. The New Yorker Adam’s apple.] Pictures by Helen Martin. –“Memories of ” Caricaturist: “You’ll love it when it's done … ggaarrrgh … promise!” If you would like to do a talk, [Then the whole point of the exercise or invite a non-member to do would be lost simply because one, let The Jester or the caricaturists instinctively give the committee know. Though the victim the drawing.] list is full until next June, you may be able to squeeze in Let’s see how a recent newsworthy occurrence might have be portrayed alongside another speaker or by some young on-the-spot take the place of someone who cartoonist: drops out. Talks are informal, don’t have to be very long, and can be on any subject you think may interest members.

Club meetings are on the ﬁrst Tuesday of every month at The Cartoonist pub, Shoe Lane, London EC1, at 7pm Give them Ell’: Simon in full flow

13 THE JESTER ISSUE 379 – NOVEMBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Welcome to new members

Robert Brocksmith 21 Dumas Cul-de-Sac Brackley, Northants NN13 6LL

Tel: 01280-709 600 Email: robert@ brocksmithdesign.com Website: www. postcardsfromthehedge.co.uk

Change of address: Jim Towle would like it to be known that his new email address is [email protected]

Left: from West End Extra, Sept 16, spotted by Craig Buck. Below: from The Guardian’s G2 section, Oct 11, EARLY on in my so-called spotted by the Ed. “professional career”, I worked solidly for three days and nights on a job for a high-street stationers, pro- ducing designs for packets of stickers. After I took the finished work into the studio I was commissioned by, the chief designer decided to take me for a well-deserved drink. During the work I had sliced my left-hand thumb and I was wearing a thick bandage on it to stop the artwork from getting blood on it. I sat in the pub, barely awake, with a pint that I didn’t Jesterpuz want in front of me. I managed with difficulty to roll a solution cigarette and as I lit it with my trusty Zippo the bandage It’s Alex caught fire. Noel Watson! As I plunged it into the pint the designer, who thought I’d done it deliberately, burst into laughter and said: “What a cartoonist!”. “Ha ha, ouch.”, I replied.

Simon Kewer 14 THE JESTER ISSUE 379 – NOVEMBER 2005 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK

A word THE DEADLINE from the IS THE 12th OF Editor EVERY MONTH

A FEW club members, myself included, seem to have managed to get iPod-based gags in Private Eye. It’s funny how these themes get picked up and flogged to death. Other examples of recent years include “I’m on the train”, “men behaving badly” and, of course, Contributions via email: “does my bum look big in this”, all BBC Two’s The Secret of Drawing, [email protected] of which seemed to run and run. with Andrew Graham-Dixon. The I suppose the appeal is that they second part of this series was Contributions via post: usually just require a dodgy pun. dedicated largely to political cartoons The Jester Anyway, they also have a limited and graphic novels. c/o Royston Robertson lifespan and I feel the bubble must be It featured the brilliant Daniel about to burst on the iPod joke. My 20 Upton Road Clowes, author of Ghost World, and Broadstairs latest effort, above right, was knocked the political satirist profiled was, that Kent CT10 2AS back so I thought I’d inflict it on the man again, Martin Rowson. He’s a Jester readership. Sorry. fine cartoonist, and he certainly Tel: 01843-871 241 Cartoons appear to be have been fitted the bill in a show that profiled enjoying more of a high-profile than Hogarth and Gillray, but someone All articles and cartoons usual in the media of late. Recently should tell the Beeb that other welcomed (especially for the there was an excellent profile of cartoonists are available. This is a front and back covers). Ronald Searle on BBC Four which, quibble though, it’s great to see though it did not feature the man cartoons being given quality air time Please note: The Jester is himself except in archive footage, was on TV. Let’s hope it continues. very entertaining and informative. It produced entirely to a regular Royston Robertson included some great drawings of template so send images and events in Searle’s life, drawn by text rather than complete Martin Rowson in the Searle style. Remember: the next issue is the pages. Email submissions are For those who missed it, the Christmas and New Year issue, it preferred, as then images programme will no doubt be repeated covers two months as there is no and text do not need to be on BBC Two, as digital programmes January Jester. So send lots of scanned. But Luddite often are. Cartoons also featured in seasonal cartoons, articles etc. submissions are still accepted! When sending images by email, send as a jpeg at a resolution of 300dpi. If you send artwork in the post that you want back, please include an SAE.

Reminder: the next two club meetings are November 1 (with a talk and Membership enquiries to: Richard Tomes (Secretary), Q&A by Steve Way) and 29 Ulverley Crescent, Olton, Solihull, West Midlands B92 8BJ. December 6 (Santa’s Tel: 0121-706 7652 Email: [email protected] Subscription enquiries to: Jill Kearney (Treasurer), 18 Cliff Drive, Surprise!) at The Cartoonist Radcliffe-on-Trent, Notts NG12 1AX. Tel: 020-8590 8942 pub. Committee: 5.30pm Website enquiries to: Ian Ellery, 25 Nelson Road, Hastings TN34 Members: 7pm BRX. Tel: 01424-718 209. Email: [email protected]

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