ISSUE 410 – JUNE 2008 TheThe Jester Jester

FLASH CARTOONIST’S ISSUE!

GET READY TO WALK LONDON’S “STREET OF SHAME”

OUR MAN IN MOSCOW

CINEMA STORIES GALORE

YOUR CHASTITY

CARTOONS TOM WILLIAMS

CLIVE COLLINS’ RECOMMENDED READING

TheNewsletter Newsletter of of the the Cartoonists’ Cartoonists’ Club Club of Greatof Great Britain Britain THE JESTER ISSUE 410 – JUNE 2008 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK The Jester

The CCGB Committee The Chair Issue 410 - June 2008 Published 11 times a year by The Cartoonists! Club Dear Members, arm and wrist. Of course he (It was of Great Britain General Jumbo: Ed!) was the hero Hope the sun!s been reaching the Chairman: Terry Christien of the hour for catching burglars and right parts! bully boys by sending all these rug- 020-8892 3621 After a splendid Shrewsbury Car- ged little toys into action typically for [email protected] toon Festival last month, there was example, rolling ball bearings in Secretary: Jed Stone a regional gathering of members in front of a swag laden criminal on the 01173 169 277 Bristol earlier this month organised run "- "rich illustrative material! But it by Tim Harries. It certainly seemed [email protected] just shows you even though they to go down well judging from the can come up with the weird and the Treasurer: Anne Boyd photographs on the forum. wonderful, the comic cartoonists 01173 169 277 As I write, a bunch of us will be have been there before. Not so [email protected] meeting in Stoke on Trent to cele- crazy to involve the likes of Membership Secretary: brate the late Dave Follows!s us scallies to draw up the front lines! Jed Pascoe: 01767-682 882 retrospective exhibition of Three What about Thunderbirds type Decades of Cartooning. Dave was [email protected] bases strategically positioned an avid member of the Club and a around the globe ready for action superb exponent of the art they call wherever or a super monorail sys- Clive Collins: 01702-557 205 cartooning "- "so it will be a joy to tem with lines over and under each [email protected] see his family again. other avoiding points and other twin Neil Dishington: 020-8505 0134 Steve Willis (esteemed Ed of this rail catastrophes? organ) is recommending a bunch of [email protected] How I loved receiving The Topper, us follow a trail of suitable hostelries Beano and Film and TV Fun comics Ian Ellery: 01424-718 209 in Fleet Street for the June “Street of at boarding school. I was frowned [email protected] Shame” meeting. Sounds good for a on for such supposed illiterate mate- Graham Fowell: 0115-933 4186 change. So there will be no official rial but boy there was a queue to [email protected] committee meeting on June!s first borrow them after I!d done with Helen Pointer: 01883-373 202 Tuesday. them! And it looks like a Midlands gather- [email protected] I!d be interested to hear from any- ing in July in Birmingham "- "so it one who recalls this young fella Roy Nixon: 01245-256 814 seems all go on the socialising front. m!lad. Mike Turner: 01206-798 283 Who says we don!t? """""""" [email protected] Now here!s a thing "- "I was inter- Stay bright! Steve Bright: 079 5270 3845 ested to see a report in the Sun- Terry Christien days! a few weeks back [email protected] about the development of Pete Dredge: 0115 981 0984 mechanical #bugs! "- "size mobile: 0788 421 1322 about a foot long being [email protected] sent, at the press of a but- Noel Ford: 01974 831468 ton, behind enemy lines to [email protected] gather vital enemy info and buzz it back to front line Tim Harries: 01633 780293 troops. What will they think [email protected] of next? Well not surpris- ingly the comic cartoonists! Jester Editor mind had it all sorted back Steve Willis in the fifties "- "and I!m sure it was in the Topper comic 01235 833 414 but I haven!t allowed [email protected] enough time to research it on the net. But it featured a young school lad who had Front Cover: Tom Williams armies of soldiers, tanks and vehicles of all sorts, Back Cover: Anthony Hutchings all electrically controlled from a gizmo worn on his

2 THE JESTER ISSUE 410 – JUNE 2008 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK NEWS

CCGB hospital exhibition

The CCGB!s own cartoon exhi- bition is now hanging in Whipps Cross Hospital, East London. Apparently it!s proving to be a great success with staff, patients and visitors. There has been a suggestion from the hospital that we might like to pay a visit indi- vidually or as a small group. Any takers? Above: Dave Brown coming An Independent R.I.P. Humphrey soon to the PCG Line Lyttelton The Political Cartoon Gallery Humphrey Lyttelton, the jazz Royston wins present an exhibition of cartoons musician, radio broadcaster and competition from "The Independent! by Dave cartoon collaborator with Wally Brown, Peter Schrank and Tim Fawkes has died aged 86. Last month!s Jester competition Sanders from 18 June until 18 Hugely talented and leader of featuring a cartoon by Clive October 2008 his own band, he was a giant of Goddard has been won by # Taking a walk along Tobacco jazz. Perhaps these days, he is Royston Robertson. Road, Tim Benson at the PCG remembered by a wider audi- The cartoon asking for the describes it as “From the fag- ence as the sharp-witted radio identity of a film star showed end of the Major years to New host of “I!m Sorry I Haven!t A Tim Harries being given a pig- Labour!s smoking ban and be- Clue”. gyback by Noel Ford...so Harri- yond, this is a king-size pack of One shouldn!t forget though that son Ford was the answer. unfiltered satire from the political it was while he was at Camber- Royston!s entry proved to be cartoonists of The Independent. well Art School that he met the first correct answer. He was Clinton!s cigar, George Dubya Wally Fawkes. The friendship so keen to win that the answer striking a light under the Middle resulted in “Humph” for a time was received on a postcard the East, Blair!s pants on fire, the writing the storyline for Flook, very next day after publication. damp matchbox of Gordon!s Fawkes! comic strip that graced Rumour has it that if he lived premiership and an ashtray of the pages of the Daily Mail. closer, he would have hand de- other smouldering issues are livered it the same day! the butts of their humour.” # Before anyone shouts “What a Drawing on the best of over 12 Giles Exhibition fix” that the previous editor years of material, this exhibition should be the winner, it!s also will be accompanied by a fully- Announced fair to say that the number of illustrated hardback book with a entries was a little on the low foreword by Mark Steel. London!s Cartoon Museum have side...two to be precise. The Political Cartoon Gallery is announced a Giles exhibition of Lucky Royston wins a bumper at 32 Store Street, London over 100 original cartoon. More selection of new books by Glen WC1E 7BS. Open Monday to details to follow in the fulness of Baxter, Giles Pilbrow, Jim Unger Friday 9.30am – 5.30pm and on time but for the moment, the and Enzo Apicella. Next time, Saturdays between 11.30am – dates to put in your diaries are we!ll try and make the competi- 5.30pm. Phone 020 7580 1114 5th November 2008 until 8th tion easier! for further details or email February 2009. [email protected]

3 THE JESTER ISSUE 410 – JUNE 2008 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Ever considered being a flasher?

All this talk about computers mated cartoons for TV in our industry stirred me to in the 1950s. They had write about how a wonderful to produce cartoons as software package called long as other TV shows, Adobe Flash opened a new where they had previ- world for me as a cartoonist. ously worked on short, I!m sure many of you are already 5 minute pieces (most familiar with Flash and no doubt notably Tom and Jerry). lots of you already use it in your Worse, the budget was work. For those of you yet to a mere fraction of what discover its wonders, let me tell they had previously en- you a little bit about it. joyed. No longer could Flash began as a tool to allow they afford the luxury of web designers to animate ob- animating every single When I first began to learn Flash jects around their sites. This was frame of action. So they devel- using tutorials I found on the possible before, but Flash!s ap- oped “limited animation”. This web (there are lots, but I!d rec- proach had a crucial advantage involved only moving the parts of ommend www.cartoonsmart.com over other methods in that it kept characters that actually needed or Adobe!s www.adobe.com), I file sizes small – essential at a to move. The necktie was intro- remember reading that it was time when most people were duced to many animal charac- possible that I might never draw using slow dial-up connections ters to allow for the head to be with a pen again. Unthinkable, I to access the web. moved independently of the thought. However, amazing The secret to these reduced file body. A walk or run cycle could though it may sound, whilst get- sizes lay in the use of “vectors” easily be reused by swapping ting together images for my own instead of “bitmaps” or “raster” the background. Emphasis was website a few months ago, I re- images. No! Don!t go. Come on strength of pose rather than alised that I hadn!t created a back and let me explain. movement. Flash uses the same “drawn” piece of artwork for over Most pictures on the web are idea. Characters are built piece- two years. Of course, I still do made up of lots of little dots or by-piece with each limb or fea- the odd pencil sketch to visual- “pixels”. These are “raster” im- ture being saved as a separate ise a pose or character design, ages (including JPEGs, TIFFs, symbol. This allows the animator but other than that it!s all been GIFs, PNGs and more). Your to move or swap body parts created by pulling around lines computer needs to know where without having to redraw the and shapes, rather than drawing every single dot is as well as character. What!s more, reusing (Cue another “Is this real car- what colour it is. So a simple symbols doesn!t significantly add tooning” debate). straight black line might need to file size. You can add extra Having started in this profes- hundreds or even thousands of legs, arms or whatever to your sion as a spot gag and comic bits of information in order for heart!s content. strip cartoonist, I now spend the PC or Mac to draw it. That all The ability to add interactivity to about 99% of my time working in adds to the size of the file. A Flash animations (ie; animations Flash. I always get a little thrill vector image is different. In or- react to user!s mouse clicks or from seeing my cartoon crea- der to draw that same straight keyboard presses) meant that tions come to life. line, it only needs a few bits of before long it was used for the Whilst the printed cartoon mar- information – the starting point, creation of entire websites, ket is arguably shrinking the end point, colour, thickness and games, banner advertisements, Flash market is growing. And (if necessary) curvature. That!s eCards and Messenger content. with your own website and sites only 5 bits of information. The It didn!t take long for animators like YouTube or MyToons result – one happy computer. to realise that as well as a web www.mytoons.com it!s easy to I won!t bore you with too much tool, Flash could be used for the get your work to the public. technical stuff, but Flash has creation of TV cartoons. Sure Flash is not for everyone, but one more crucial feature; that is enough, a great many of the se- why not give it a whirl? You can its “object oriented animation”. ries one now sees are created in download a trial version for free This is very similar to the ap- Flash as well as idents, adver- from www.adobe.com. proach that Hanna-Barbera in- tisements and title sequences. troduced when producing ani- Paul Solomons 4 THE JESTER ISSUE 410 – JUNE 2008 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK

• There!s a Dan Dare exhibi- • If you haven!t yet paid your tion at the London Science annual CCGB subscription, NEWS Museum in South Kensing- our secretary Anne Boyd will ton running now until Sun- be delighted to hear from day 25th October 2009. For you! Her contact details are EXTRA! more details take a virtual on the inside back cover of trip to the website at The Jester. www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

5 THE JESTER ISSUE 410 – JUNE 2008 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK

Below: Tim Harries at

Left: Alex Noel Watson!s recent exhibition reported by Press News. Centre: DC Thomson soar up the Sunday Times rich list table to No. 121. Right: Ex-Beatle Ringo has a nose for comic action from The Daily Star. BRISTOL SOCIAL SUCCESS Gerard Whyman reports that together in the Commercial Rooms, a Weth- trying it out. A great time was had by with Tim Harries and artist chum, erspoon!s Pub which was attended all including a few non CCGB mem- John Tobin, he headed to Bristol for by Bren Romans, Roger Penwill, bers who were invited via the public what has now become an annual visit Noel Ford, Spencer Hill, Jed Stone, web forum. Another Bristol event is to the Comic Expo. Anne Boyd, Alex Hughes and a few planned for the future. This was followed by a get together others. Spencer!s portable “Motion PC” tablet turned out to be the star Below: Front of pic, Bren Romans, Below: Tim Harries at the Comic Expo. of the evening with most people Spencer Hill, Tim and Roger Penwill.

6 THE JESTER ISSUE 410 – JUNE 2008 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK JUNE CCGB MEETING IS A “WALK OF SHAME” Two Tuesday 3rd June meet- Who else but your Editor to Stragglers who arrive later ings but you can only attend take you on this trip to view than 7.00pm and find the party one! The Cartoonist Pub will the former home of the gutter has already set off can call the be open for CCGB members press and beyond? To enter Editor!s “Walkline” on 077 963 as normal. But for those of the competition, you may find 158 96 to catch up. you with a thirst for drink, a it useful to bring a marker or The Cheshire Cheese is in an desire to know more about the two with you. Paper will be alley at Wine Office Court, 145 oft-maligned Fleet Street and supplied! Fleet Street, London, EC4. the added bonus of a super prize or two thrown in...there!s a guided walk starting at the Cheshire Cheese pub from 7.00pm. After a sociable start to the evening at the pub!s ground floor bar (it!s a warren of a pub, so this ensures that we!re easier to find), “The Street of Shame” walk will visit one or two more hostel- ries and see a few newspaper related sights, before ending up at The Black Friar, one of London!s architectural gems at nearby Blackfriars. A com- petition will offer press-related prizes.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS Tuesday 3rd June Until July 5th October - December CCGB Walk/Drink !The Street of Donald Rooum cartoons since Tory Blues. Cartoon History of Shame". Meet Cheshire Cheese 1980, Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion The Conservative Party @ The off Fleet Street @ 7.00pm Square, London WC1R 4RL. PCG.

Until 7th June Until 27th July 5th Nov - 8th February 2009 The Best Of Low at the PCG. Pont & The British Character @ Giles at the Cartoon Museum. The Cartoon Museum Until 29th June Until Sun 25th October 2009 Dave Follows retrospective at 11th June - September Dan Dare & the birth of hi-tech the Potteries Museum & Art Cartoons from The Independent Britain Exhibition at the London Gallery. Highly recommended! @ The PCG Science Museum.

30th July - 2nd November Please send details of future Beano and Dandy Birthday Bash events to The Editor at @ The Cartoon Museum [email protected]

7 THE JESTER ISSUE 410 –JUNE 2008 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK The last hope? Plus film star stories.

Two articles in the last issue must certainly have raised a roles in the other films that were of the Jester caught my inter- laugh because, reading them produced in Ceylon at the time, est. The first was a 'straight didn't half tickle my funnybone! excepting Elephant Walk. Apart from the shoulder' dig at our When I was in Ceylon, I was from gibberish entering the dia- esteemed Club, the title of able to visit the sets of many logue, there was a great error in which, said it all - Why join the British films that were made the continuity which would have CCGB? Ian West must be there. I watched the making of been noticed by Ceylon Cinema thanked for his frank observa- films such as Outcast of the Is- audiences. Vivien Leigh was tions. I surely agree with his lands, Laughing Anne, Purple replaced by Elizabeth Taylor who points of view. Plains, The Bridge over the never actually came to Ceylon. The first thing, however, for the River Kwai and Elephant Walk All her close-ups with Peter impending newcomer to con- and liased with the actors - Finch and Dana Andrews were sider, is the nature of the Club. Trevor Howard, George Coulo- shot in a Studio in England. The Is it a commercial enterprise, or ris, Robert Morley and an Egyp- distance shots were made on a a Social outlet? I'm sure that if tian actress called Kerima. set in Ceylon and involved using the answer is to be found in the Laughing Anne brought me in a 'double'. latter, new memberships will not conctact with Forrest Tucker and One of the scenes in Elephant be readily forthcoming. Margaret Lockwood. Then I met Walk shows Dana Andrews I believe that the CCGB and Gregory Peck (one of the nicest welcoming Miss Taylor at the The Jester are the 'last hope' of of individuals), and his co-stars Colombo Airport. They get into a the aspiring cartoonist who is Lyndon Brooke and Maurice Rolls Royce to go to Peter faced with an ever diminishing Denham. Finch's Tea Plantation and the market. I believe that a cartoon- The Bridge over the River Kwai next minute, Dana is pointing to ist's primary aim is to see his/her gave me the opportunity to see the ancient ruins of Ceylon. The work in print. Once the initial jolt and speak to Bill Holden, Jack amusing fact is that the ancient passes, so does the interest, Hawkins. Alec Guinness and ruins are about two-hundred especially in the case of those Sessue Hayakawa. When Ele- miles away from the Airport. brave few who rely on their phant Walk was scheduled for I tried to avoid the subject of cartooning talent for a decent filming, I went to Colombo Air- cartooning in writing this article, income. Hands up, if you do!! port and met the stars, Peter but in order to be fair, perhaps I Thankfully, I'm past all that. Finch, Dana Andrews, a Ha- ought to recount an incident that Being 79 years of age has its waaian actress named Mylee happened at the airport when advantage. I can shout it from Haulani, Vivien Leigh and Sir the cast of Elephant Walk ar- the roof-tops, in the words of Laurence Olivier who were on rived. In those days, Dana An- Rhett Butler in 'Gone with the their way back to the UK. Vivien drews was considered to be a Wind' - I don't give a damn! - Leigh was to be the female lead Star. I had drawn a caricature of which leads me onto the next in the film, but she sustained a the guy and wanted him to sign article that I found interesting - nervous breakdown and had to it. He took the caricature from "May - Dish of of the Day". leave the cast. Sir Laurence, me and held it aloft, pointing it Thanks, Neil, for getting away who was married to her came to towards Peter Finch. from the subject of cartooning take her back to England. "Did you do this, Peter ?" he for a while. I notice you have Talking of film gaffes, if you asked laughingly. Obviously, made just a passing reference to were born in Ceylon, as I was, I did not comprehend the signifi- the CCGB AGM. There are you would have found it very cance of Andrews' action at those who would aver that a funny listening to the dialogue. the time. A few months later, I Newsletter from the CCGB Every time a Sinhalese actor read in a British magazine that should contain only cartoons appeared on the screen, the Peter Finch, an up and coming and written stuff about cartoons, language was Sinhalese which I film actor, was also a very com- but I for one, welcome the break. understand. As soon as, say petent Australian artist. Who as I too, am a film buff! George Couloris who played a knows, he could have been an Thanks to Neil Dishington's native took over, the dialogue able cartoonist too! keen observation, certain film became a load of gibberish! No gaffes have come to light. They natives were given speaking Rex Juriansz

8 THE JESTER ISSUE 410 – JUNE 2008 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK End of the line or in the sidings? Thanks. Bill Ritchie for men- drawing. We then attach humour Ronald Searle!s wonderful draw- tioning me in your “Is it Art” and/or social and political view- ings work for his particular sense piece for April!s dispatches. points to the drawing so we can of the ridiculous. Giles! art was The Home Counties! self- sell our ideas and thus avoid the in capturing the ordinary and appointed experts rarely call nasty business of having a everyday with drawings bristling me or my tabloid colleagues proper job. We all use artistic with mischief amongst superbly to mind when earnestly con- techniques in this pursuit. Some crafted locations familiar to us sidering matters cartooning better than others, some worse. all. Locations and situations that (political ) But that!s a beef Some will devise a style that no longer exist in today!s for another time perhaps. masks any inadequacies in harsher and more violent Britain. Art according to one of the dic- drawing ability and indeed which And with the passing of the Gile- tionary!s definititons is “any field can be the most suitable means sian world goes his particular using the techniques of art to of conveying that humour. “Dil- type of cartoon and most at- display artistic qualities.” Does bert “ springs to mind. This strip tempts to reproduce it simply do that rest your case? disobeys just about every rule not and cannot work. I think most of us become car- that “How to Cartoon” books So we all beaver away produc- toonists because we initially like endorse. ing our individual forms of car- toon art in an attempt to amuse at least ourselves if not editors. Some of it will be brilliant yet rejected, some awful but ac- cepted. And we must accept that in Britain we have a country whose attitude to cartoons com- pares very unfavourably with that of most of Europe, the States and the Antipodes. Bit like our pub grub really. So we like to think it!s art but the sniffies of the “real! art world turn away. We have to admit some of it is poor but even so we can all make our beds better than does our Traaycee And as for pickled cartoonists in aspic attend an AGM to view us at our most avant-garde. Yes, Bill we are ART but not as some know it. We can be great at times, crap other times, not always rewarded according to our talents (just like REAL artists ) and moan all the way to the pub. But beware with the likes of Madonna, Geri Halliwell and others of that ilk becoming authors how long before we are all pushed out by talentless un- artistic Celebrity Cartoonists. You have been warned.

Dave Gaskill

9 THE JESTER ISSUE 410 - JUNE 2008 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK

10 THE JESTER ISSUE 410 – JUNE 2008 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK

Chastity Chuckles

Next month!s cartoon topic is clean, wholesome, unambiguous and British...Summer Fetes and Festivals. Please send your cartoons to the usual Jester email or snail mail address shown on the inside back cover.

11 THE JESTER ISSUE 410 – JUNE 2008 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Charlton Heston: a personal memoir by Alex Noel Watson Charlton Heston who has just ous and friendly. He was tall, dancing or playing football. recently died was one of the athletic, and square-jawed, with Movement is so important." many Hollywood stars I got to a distinct air of heroic noble pro- But he also liked to get under know in the days when I com- priety. He was a perfect choice the skin of his characters. In- bined cartooning with film re- for "The Ten Commandments", variably he conducted his own viewing and interviewing. "Ben Hur" and "El Cid" as film- research. When he played "El The first time I was invited to dom's obvious Epic Man Mark 1. Cid" he consulted Spanish me- meet him, I was waiting in a "The vital thing about making dieval documents and for his room when suddenly the open films like these" he said, "is to role as General Gordon in "Khar- doorway was filled by a monu- survive them". toum", he learned to speak not mental figure of a man. "Hi, I'm He claimed that he was selected merely as an English gentleman, Chuck Heston" he said, holding to play "Ben Hur" because he but a Victorian English military out his hand. "Only my wife is just happened to be one of the gentleman. allowed to call me Charlie" he two men in Hollywood who could In all, Heston made over 70 added with that familiar piano- drive a chariot! "The other was films. He gave me a jocular tap keyboard grin. Francis X. Bushman" he ex- on the arm. "Maybe some day At that time (1970) he was one plained "but he was over 70". you'll teach me how to draw car- of the few stars whose name He stressed that screen acting toons for The New Yorker." alone was a box office draw. I was a physical art. "As much as found him unassuming, courte- Alex Noel Watson Simon Chadwick

12 THE JESTER ISSUE 410 –JUNE 2008 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK KomMissiya 2008, Moscow

I know what you!re thinking: the Moscow Biennale, KomMis- translated all this for me after the there!s no comics scene in siya and many other exhibitions class had ended, and I must Russia! Wrong, wrong, wrong! and concerts. Along with big at- confess that I had spent most of Actually, I too thought there was tractions such as the Bolshoi the time doodling the speakers. no comics scene in Russia until I Ballet and Kremlin, it!s very The kids enjoyed it and pro- saw an article about it, and I!ve worthwhile. Any later in the year duced some nice strips all based been living here for the best part and the 30º heat, dust and pollu- around the idea of a creature of a year. I!ve never seen a tion make it a little unpleasant. that lives under the bed. Some comic shop or even a news- I took along a Russian friend to stood in front of the audience agent that sells comics, but the translate for me as my Russian and described their idea. (Not scene is thriving and growing is still extraordinarily poor. The something I would have been every year. This was the biggest first floor of the exhibition dis- able to do at 10 years of age). comic exhibition that Moscow played the work of Russian art- The event continues with master has ever staged, with master ists. Each had a wonderful clear classes for another couple of classes, foreign exhibitors and presentation of their work as well weeks and culminates with a best of all, a whole room de- as a little about them. One was showing of Manga films. It was a voted to Moomin strips by Tøve an 8 year old girl called Zhenia! really enjoyable few hours and Jansson. The Moomins are a big She drew a charming strip about with cartoons being virtually in- deal in Russia due to the coun- a bear/cat hybrid creature and visible in Moscow, it really was try!s close ties with Finland and his existential quest to fly like a an eye-opener for me. I hope to were just about the only cartoon bird. The second floor showed get a little involved in the scene strip allowed during the Soviet some wonderful examples of out here. I just need a little more era. Russia has a relatively short European and Japanese comics, understanding of that impene- history of pop culture and looks with two rooms set out for the trable beast, the Russian sense enviously towards Europe and Moomins and for a special exhi- of humour. Hopefully, over the America. Fashion, graphic de- bition by a successful Polish art- next few years, Russian comics sign and other areas of the vis- ist, who didn!t impress me, the will go a lot more mainstream. I ual arts look mostly like Euro- humour being of a particularly think what I witnessed here was pean ideas re-hashed and misin- uninspired toilet variety. just a start, an exhibition driven terpreted and don!t really have a A lot of the humour was good by enthusiasts with the devel- Russian identity of their own. though, and although the writing opment of a full-blown comics The same is true of comics. In- wasn!t so sophisticated there culture as their goal. stead of looking back to Russia!s was some really fresh and inter- rich visual history, comic artists esting stuff. After browsing and Your Moscow correspondent, tend to veer towards Manga or snapping away for half an hour, Alex Matthews French and Spanish comics. the children!s master class was However, that is not to say that announced. We were ushered in the artists are not good. There to another room and three guys were some tremendous exam- with interesting haircuts began ples of strips that are being pro- to natter away in Russian and to duced by young artists, crusty- draw on the board in front of us. types with lank dreadlocks and a I quickly learnt that they were 3 punk ethic, who sell their work of the exhibitors and that the mainly through websites. master class was for kids, but I!ve been working out here they were happy for the adults to since September, and I!ve found get involved. They were lively Moscow to be a great city and speakers and gave a good in- this time of year it!s warm! sight into the way they go about Spring is when the visual arts creating their work. One guy festival circuit really gets going even had a very good answer to and I would recommend this as the hated question, where do the time to come and visit, with you get your ideas? My friend

13 THE JESTER ISSUE 410 – JUNE 2008 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Notes from the North. I managed to get to Glasgow!s the West of Scotland. He worked A new venture for me was a call Mitchell Library to see the from his home in Rothesay, fax- to take part in a radio pro- “Read Gall About It” exhibi- ing his cartoons to the Times in gramme “The Reunion”. This tion. To be honest I was rather Glasgow. was a get together of cartoon- disappointed by this Evening Willie Gall!s death in 2006 ists, writers and editors who Times tribute to Willie Gall, marked the end of an era in worked for D.C. Thomson with their cartoonist who died in Scottish cartooning. In the days particular interest in the Dandy 2006. when Glasgow had three eve- and Beano. The exhibition consisted of six large freestanding panels with printed information on Willie!s life, a large caricature of Willie by his friend and contemporary Malky McCormack and several prints of his cartoons. I was ex- pecting a more expansive show with Gall!s originals on display. I grew up with Gall!s cartoons first of all with his Sunday Mail work, his "Red Poppy! (An Earl Haig Magazine) and his daily cartoon in the Evening Times published 6 days a week for al- most 50 years. Born in Lanark, Willie left school to work in a grocer!s shop. Later he became a travel- ler with the biscuit firm McVitie & Price. He was also a profes- ning newspapers, each had its A group of us gathered in sional runner and won the pres- resident cartoonist with a witty Dundee...Morris Heggie, Walter tigious Powderhall Handicap comment on the day!s news Fearn, Dave Torrie, Jim Petrie (half mile race) in 1938. In the drawn in a very professional and and myself. A taxi took us to the same year he submitted sports individual style. BBC studios in Edinburgh with caricatures to the Evening Harry Smith and Daton in the Sue McGregor in the chair. The News, starting his cartoon ca- News, Bill Tait and Jimmy Mal- round table discussion covered reer. colm (Malc) in the Citizen and of the formation of the comics, their Wartime service saw him be- course, Bud Neill in the Times. recent decline and plenty of an- come a P.T. instructor in the Gall carried on the tradition, his ecdotes from life in the office! RAF. After the war he had work captions or words of wisdom It was a bit of an anticlimax for published in the Sunday Post usually coming from two gossip- me as I concentrated on the life and later became established as ping wee wimmin with shopping and work of Beano artists I had the Sunday Mail cartoonist pro- bags, putting the world to rights known and my contribution ducing a weekly 3/4 gag panel or talking about their no good seemed to get lost in transmis- on a topical theme and a half husbands who would be sitting sion! Mind you, it!s difficult to get page family strip "The McCal- at home unshaven, in their a word in edgeways when David lums! in 1950. vests, smoking a fag, can of Torrie is in full flow! When Bud Neill left The Times beer in their hand, watching the The two hours simply flew past. to join the Daily Record in 1956, fitba! on the telly. Kieran Meehan Maybe if they had recorded the Willie got a phone call to be who has taken over the Evening conversation in the taxi, it would Bud!s replacement. Willie took Times cartoon spot is quoted as have provided more of an insight up the challenge and never saying “When I think of Scottish into the business. looked back, becoming a well cartooning, I think of Willie Gall.” loved and prolific cartoonist in He!s not alone. Bill Ritchie

14 THE JESTER ISSUE 410 –JUNE 2008 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Dish of the day: Belgian starter!

Bruges is one of those places lights of the big city almost like a enthusiasm, there is no doubting you only want to visit once giant abstract painting. his genuine love of what he is (that!s my opinion). So I was In contrast, the 1952 film Mon- doing. The building of an igloo somewhat surprised to see a sieur Hulot!s holiday, is set in a was very funny, the actual con- film called “In Bruges” appear. small Brittany town. The town struction was convincing but the We went along to see it, as the makes a perfect contrast to the result looked decidedly unsuit- Guardian had recommended it mayhem he innocently inflicts on able for living in thirty degrees as a sort of “Guy Ritchie with the place. under! intellect type film”. I highly rec- I don!t think any film recently As advertised in the Jester, ommend it, despite Colin Far- has conjured up small town there are a number of cartoon rell!s eye brows almost stealing America more convincingly than shows on in London. And at the show. He and Brendan Fargo, set in Minnesota in deep Shrewsbury, Dave Brown!s stuff Gleeson are a pair of hit men winter. The shots of large areas was as ever very impressive. despatched to Bruges by a very of snowy nothingness plus the How does he do that every day, nasty Ralph Fiennes (in his ordinary people who live there, six days a week? I must admit Schindler!s List mode) to hide contrast wonderfully with the my biggest laugh was for Clive out and wait for instructions. violent action which takes place. Goddard!s Tracey Emin!s private Bruges is used as a gentle anti- It is all a far cry from Victor Ma- view gag, seaside humour at his dote for the mayhem and vio- ture pulling down polystyrene best. lence which follows. It is a bril- pillars in a made up Judea! The answer to last months liantly satisfying film, with a witty Have I Got News For You con- teaser was of course “owl”. Bar- script, some excellent acting and tinues its merry way. What a bara Streisand appeared in the a terrific soundtrack. Catch it. success that has been. I must Owl and the Pussycat and Billy This brings me neatly to the admit that Paul Merton!s surreal Bunter was the fat owl of the subject of locations in films. meanderings still make me remove. Woody Allen never used to go laugh. Since getting digital TV This month!s teaser: what con- outside Manhattan in his early BBC 4 has been a real winner nects the Rolling Stones and films. In fact one of the reasons for us. The medieval series Sydney Nolan? (Painter) we went to New York was be- (which is being repeated on BBC cause of his films and a visit to 2) has contained some real the Radio City Music Hall was gems. Stephen Fry investigating Neil Dishington the highlight of our trip (it ap- the Guttenberg peared in his film Radio Days). press and then Of course, in the early Holly- in the company wood days, Paris, Rome and of two real en- London were all created on the thusiasts build- back lot! ing a press, Nowadays, although sets are based on me- still built, locations can be any- dieval drawings, where in the world. The exhila- was terrific rating chase through Waterloo viewing. His station in the Bourne Ultimatum wonderment at film may put you off a visit to making a piece London but it certainly conjures of “hot type” up that particular part of the city, was childlike with ordinary people going about and endearing. their business. Although Dan In Collateral, the director Mi- Cruckshank!s chael Mann uses Los Angeles adventures in by night as a backdrop for the architecture fatal taxi ride from the airport. It suffer a little is beautifully done using the from his over

15 THE JESTER ISSUE 410 – JUNE 2008 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK Why join the CCGB? Why not! I was interested to read Ian "The Jester! was the best way to company of CCGB members West!s piece last month ex- keep in touch with cartoon news and regularly used the internet pressing his feelings on join- and other members and I wrote forum which, of course, is open ing the CCGB and what it many letters about my experi- to non CCGB members. With means to him. Sadly, I got the ences as a cartoonist, humour the changes at FECO turning distinct impression that it and other related topics. It must into a professional body I didn!t mean a great deal have got me noticed as about thought the time was right to though in writing to the Jester six months after I joined I was rejoin the fold last year and I am in the first place he must still mentioned in a column written glad I did. have an allegiance to the club. by a late club member. I wish I Perhaps it!s a perception of the That!s not to say I don!t have could recall the incident with af- club being a bit "cliquey! that some sympathy with what he fection. In responding to one of puts people off. Ian didn!t say wrote. Last year I rejoined the my previous letters about getting the last time he attended a CCGB after an absence of 5 a cartoon rejected by The Spec- meeting but on the occasions I years – I let my membership slip tator and seeing an identical one have been there in recent years after I joined what was once printed a year later by another (and admittedly I haven!t at- FECO (now the PCO). I first cartoonist, he wrote a piece that tended a great number) I!ve al- joined, however, as a young I took to infer that I was one of ways found a warm welcome (ahem!) and somewhat more those people who joined the club and camaraderie amongst the sprightly cartoonist way back in in an attempt to try and sell more members who do attend. The 1997. I had enjoyed my first work. Ian!s caption in his cartoon last AGM was very well attended flush of success being published put me in mind of his rather and it was great to meet up with in The Spectator, The Oldie and barbed comment. the likes of Steve Bright, Brenda the newly resurrected Punch I may have misconstrued the Romans and Royston Robertson (happy days!) and when I dis- remark entirely but at the time I who I regularly share banter with covered there was a club dedi- found it a particularly hurtful and on the forum. Only the other cated to this happy band of prac- unnecessary comment from month long serving gag cartoon- titioners I thought it only natural someone who did not know me ist Clive Goddard joined the club that I should join. personally. Indeed, it did make – whose radiant smile and quick After sending my form and me think that maybe there was a wit can brighten any get to- cheque off I didn!t hear a thing – contemptuous attitude toward gether! Hope to see you at an- that is, until I saw my name as a younger members from the other meeting Clive! Very re- new member in the back of the CCGB hierarchy and it certainly cently a mini get together of first Jester I was sent. I didn!t left a bad impression. Happily I CCGB members was held in a receive a handbook or a little like to think that things have pub (where else?) in Bristol and CCGB enamel badge which I changed and a healthier attitude was a great success and will discovered was given to new- now prevails. hopefully lead to more. bies when I first met a fellow After going to the Ayr festival in I think securing a future for the CCGB member, Tim Harries, 2001 and the convention in CCGB is important and it is up to some 3 years later! I only got the Great Yarmouth the following members to contribute in any handbook when I asked for one year I let my membership lapse. way they can. It is heartening to at the CCGB stall at the first Although I had made friends see new members joining and I Chelsea cartoon show (remem- there in my time as a member hope they don!t feel intimidated ber them?) and even then they and enjoyed their company, I by thoughts of an "us and them! weren!t sure whether or not I was a bit disillusioned with attitude as I believe it doesn!t was really a member! Later I got things, money was tight and be- exist. Perhaps Ian should come a letter of apology from Terry ing cheaper I opted out of the along to a future meeting and we Christien about that particular CCGB and into FECO! Rather can meet up for a pint and a oversight. weirdly, in the years of being a friendly chat! Oh, and can I have In my first spell at the Club I non member, I found myself go- my badge now, Terry?! didn!t attend any meetings at the ing along to a couple of monthly Cartoonist. I suppose my natural meetings accompanying Tim, I Gerard Whyman reserve and shyness dissuaded turned up at a couple of me from turning up. I found that Shrewsbury festivals in the

16 THE JESTER ISSUE 410 – JUNE 2008 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK

Clive Collins Well, Summer is icumen in once to impress when seen for the hospital in the early hours of again and I!ve selected a few first time. yesterday morning after being little treats for you – places to, Bookworms will be interested in severely beaten by Chinese visit and books to read on that a coffee-table tome entitled Guards at his home in Gravel- holiday beach, while zephyrs !Rough Banksys" a photo- hanger, Essex. Despite the grav- waft around you from far-flung graphic record of walls where ity of his injuries, he managed to outfalls. the famous graffiti artist pre- tell our reporter what happened. Pauncefoot-Mountfitchet Hall pares his roughs prior to com- “It was around midnight, and I!d in Wiltshire is well-worth straying mitting them to stonework else- been drawing some protest car- to from the warm tarmac of over- where in town. These walls are toons based on the China Olym- heated roads; home of the Victo- highly collectible, and the police pics,” he said, “when suddenly a rian illustrator/cartoonist Sir Mal- are ever-vigilant in their attempts dozen Chinese guards, all travers Pauncefoot-Mountfitchet, to prevent fans from taking the dressed in blue, burst through who was despatched to South walls away with them. Worth my front door and assaulted me Africa by the Illustrated London GBP20.00 of anyone!s money at my own drawing board.” News in order to draw the (Nobrot Publishing); The police are declining to famous Battle of Rorke!s Drift. !The Daily Telegraph Alice comment, but already there has The resulting painting some 80 ft in Wonderland Reference been a reaction from some of x 35 ft is a vivid depiction of this Book" Now seize the chance to Boyles! neighbours, though not event, and though it hangs in the become a political cartoonist in support of him. “We had no house, it is often on loan to the when you study the classic Ten- idea a cartoonist was living in Army Museum. niel illustrations contained in this our street,” said one neighbour The Zulu hordes gave special book. Simply substitute the po- who declined to be named. dispensation to P-M and took litical figures of your choice for “We!d been assured that there time out from the battle to pose the Lewis Carroll characters – would be some bail homes for in their fighting garb with their The Cheshire Cat; Tweedledum detainees, which wouldn!t have warriors while he laboriously and Tweedledee: The King and been a problem, let!s face it!” painted them. After completion Queen of Hearts and many more “No-one told us we!d be living of the painting, he was given - and your friends will soon re- near a bloody cartoonist!” safe conduct home, though it is vere you as the political cartoon- another neighbour interjected. not known what happened to the ist you never dreamed you!d be! “There are kids in our road, and troop of British soldiers who (BarclayBrothersImprints now we!re going to have to housed him during his stay. The GBP45.00) watch them every minute of the painting, entitled "Don!t throw Late-breaking news: Cartoon- day with them weirdos living bloody spears at me!! never fails ist Lance Boyles was taken to here!”

17 THE JESTER ISSUE 410 - JUNE 2008 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK

CHANGE OF ADDRESS Potted Minutes from CCGB committee meeting of 6th New member Martin Newman May 2008 (right) tells us he has moved to: 79 Crisp Road, Henley-on- Apologies: Clive Collins, Les Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 2EN. Barton, Tim Harries, Noel Ford, His email address remains: Pete Dredge [email protected] Present: Terry Christien, Jed Stone,Neil Dishington, Ian Ellery, Norman Hood!s details are Jed Stone, Jed Pascoe, Helen now: Bank House, Rosehill, Pointer, Mike Turner and Steve Market Drayton, Shropshire TF9 Willis. 2JG. Tel: 01630 638828. email:[email protected] Matters Arising: It was decided, after drawing a number of blanks Please don"t forget to send your Summer Fetes and Festivals to enquiries that the 2012 Olym- pic idea was not worth pursuing cartoons in time to meet the deadline of June 12th to the Jester further. email address at [email protected]. Snail mail address shown on page 19. Jester: Sub reminder to be in next issue. Editor, Steve Willis, was asked that the Jester should average 20 pages per issue.

New Members: Two new mem- bers in the shape of Chris Gill and Adrian Grub climbed aboard.

A.O.B: Jed Pascoe suggested that every one on the committee should have a ! Proper Job"...... Neil Dishington said he would get on his bike and look for one! A brief discussion took place about updating the member"s directory. Ian Ellery suggested forthcoming meetings should be in various venues, not just the London area. It was agreed that the next committee meeting be in Bir- mingham in July. Mike Turner voiced some of the committee"s worries that this would make things even more complicated. There would be no London committee meeting in June but a social walk of the !Street of Shame" instead. .

The committee agreed to support the Ern Shaw exhibition in Hull.

The meeting wrapped at 7.40pm.

Spencer Hill

18 THE JESTER ISSUE 410 – JUNE 2008 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK

THE JESTER DEADLINE IS THE 12th OF EACH MONTH

Contributions via email: [email protected]

Contributions via post: The Jester c/o Steve Willis Cedar Top 17 The Greenway West Hendred Wantage OX12 8RG

All articles and cartoons welcomed (especially for the front and back covers)

Email submissions are preferred, as then images and text do not need to be scanned Among the topics on the CCGB – but snail mail is still accept- able. All images sent by email must be jpegs at a resolution of web chatroom this month... 300dpi.

REMINDER: You have a • Illusionist Derren Brown revealed as a talented cartoonist. choice of Tuesday 3rd • Shrewsbury Cartoon Festival 2009 dates announced June meetings. As normal • Dave Follows Exhibition and CCGB visit a huge success at The Cartoonist Pub, • Clients to avoid...the ones who want something for nothing! Shoe Lane, London or

Membership enquiries to: Jed Pascoe (Membership Secretary), walk “The Street Of 4 Osprey Close, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 1TW Shame” meeting at the Tel: 01767-682 882. Email: [email protected] Cheshire Cheese, Wine Subscription enquiries to: Anne Boyd (Treasurer), 75 Jacobs Wells Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1DJ Tel: 01173 169 277. Office Court, 145 Fleet Email [email protected] Street, London, EC4. Both Website enquiries to: Ian Ellery, 25 Nelson Road, Hastings TN34 BRX. Tel: 01424-718 209. Email: [email protected] at 7.00pm.

19 THE JESTER ISSUE 410 – JUNE 2008 CCGB ONLINE: WWW.CCGB.ORG.UK