SURPRISED by JORY John R

SURPRISED BY JORY John R. Neill’s daughter and granddaughter open up a new book by Greg Hunter Browsing through antiques one day, Greg Hunter was startled to come across a near-perfect copy of The Bride, Her Wedding Book. Designed and illustrated by John R. Neill in 1914, this handsome book kindled an interest in finding out more about the man who created it. Researching biographical and bibliographical articles published in The Baum Bugle and Illustration in recent years, Greg was directed to Jory Neill Mason, who—it turns out—is quite an interesting individual, and someone we’ll all enjoy learning more about! NITIALLY, Jory Mason did not know relocating to Halifax, Massachusetts, where she currently if an article about her would be of much resides. There, she started her own business, Pheasant Hill interest when she was approached to Creative, where she works as a freelance art director. “I feel participate in an interview. What Jory did like a bit of a black sheep,” she confesses, “since I have not realize at that time was that there are gone into advertising. My father, Paul Sutton, was a sculptor, fans of John R. Neill the world over who my mother a painter, and of course my grandfather was would be thoroughly and pleasantly surprised to learn such an incredibly creative and talented illustrator.” something about the granddaughter of the man who brought Events in Jory’s life sculpted the person she has the world of Oz visually to life; and in addition, become. “My childhood was very happy until learn a little more about her famed grandfather. my teen years when my dad went through a Through Jory—along with some help from her pretty extreme mid-life crisis, and my parents aunt Natalie, who also participated for this later got divorced. My father was charming, article—we have a living, contemporary link brilliant and explosive.” to Oz history and to the life that was John R. Turning her focus upon her mother, she Neill. His legacy includes not only his noted, “My mother was Annrea Neill, enduring artwork, but his doting family as John R. Neill’s second daughter. She was well. a very fine pastel painter. She was my Jory Neill Mason spent the first best friend. She was very supportive thirteen years of her life in Saddle River, of all of her five children. My mom New Jersey. After her father won the was an optimist, and the most gentle Guggenheim Sculpture Award for a and kind person I have ever known.” year’s study in Europe, he moved the Annrea Neill was in her twenties when family to Italy, where they spent an her father died, and sadly, Jory never additional year. Upon returning to the got to meet her famous grandfather. United States, she lived in Cape Cod, “Her adoration for him was Massachusetts, for a year. Jory spent contagious,” notes Jory, thinking upon the next several years in New England, her mother’s affection for her father. then a year at the University of Iowa “She often got teary-eyed just speaking studying fine art, and later attended the about him.” New England School of Art and Jory did not know her Design. grandfather. He died in 1943 when his After art school Jory went oldest daughter Natalie was 23 years through a career change, and over the old. Jory was kind enough to extend next twelve years worked for several the interview to include her aunt. When ad agencies in Boston before Jory Neill Mason poses with the infamous asked what her favorite childhood Anything of Oz cover art. 14 The Baum Bugle “Elephant Tears,” graphite drawing, from the collection of Jory Neill Mason. Publisher unknown. Spring 2008 15 memories were of her father, Natalie gladly reminisced. “The John R. Neill was an accomplished actress. Even then, as wonderful bedtime stories he told.” now, John wasn’t the only talent in the family. John R. Neill had another passion besides drawing. “He Jory has a lovely portrait of her grandmother, Moy, loved the opera and turned the volume on the radio up and one of her mother, hanging on her wall. Both were high every Saturday. It could be heard throughout drawn in pen and ink by her grandfather. “They are the entire house.” When asked about her father’s very dear to my heart,” she said. “I have one heritage Natalie explained, “John’s father was pencil drawing of my mother that looks Robert Rea Neill. He came to this remarkably like a pen and ink of country from Ireland in 1846 when Jenny Jump! I am convinced he was a year old. His mother’s that she posed for that one.” family, the Snedekers, came While Jory is readily here from Holland in 1646.” embarrassed to admit that Natalie revealed that her she did not read the Oz father had three brothers and books as a child, she says four sisters. Neill’s father died almost all of his great when he was ten, leaving his grandchildren have. She is mother to raise eight children proud, however, to say her on her own. walls are filled with her Reflecting up on her grandfather’s works and father’s life, Natalie recalled “they continue to inspire me an interesting memory. “He with their beauty and sense had lots of friends who were of wonder.” She has a illustrators. Fred Gruger and beautiful collection of all the Percy Crosby were lifelong original Oz books and a few friends, along with Joe Coll, contain John R. Neill’s with whom he shared a personal bookplate. While studio during the early years.” she isn’t as familiar with the When asked about John’s Oz stories themselves she relationship with Ruth does know the Oz Plumly Thompson, who characters drawn so wrote nineteen Oz books eloquently by her after L. Frank Baum’s death, grandfather. “I just love she said, “They were good Kabumpo,” she professes. friends, met on several “He made that big elephant occasions and had long and appear to be light and humorous correspondence.” graceful and so expressive.” Natalie also recalled a She praised her grandfather’s nickname her father had for style of drawing by adding, her mother. “My parents met “I drool over his preliminary when my mother Margaret pencil sketches that show the Carroll was a young actress. character developments. She played the part of Plum They are so loose and free Blossom ‘Moy Fah Loy’ in and his mastery of human, The Yellow Jacket. After that, animal and imaginary my father always referred to anatomy amazes me.” her as Moy, a name she used Jory grew up feeling the for the rest of her life.” Mrs. utmost pride for—and Margaret Carroll as Moy Fah Loy (Plum Blossom) in The Yellow Jacket, the unique play of Chinese life which attained a run of more than 100 performances on its recent New York Revival. From Munsey’s Magazine, April 1917. 16 The Baum Bugle John R. Neill at his writing desk. His illustration for Treasure Island hangs John R. Neill with his wife Margaret Carroll Neill and two of their children, on the wall. Natalie and Annrea found it easy to boast about—her grandfather’s talent. It who had been greatly influenced by her grandfather’s work has amazed her, though, that the vast majority of people at a young age. “I was treated like I was famous just by she has talked to about him over the years never even knew being his granddaughter. It was great fun!” there were more Oz books beyond the first one illustrated There is absolutely no doubt that Jory is a fan of her by W. W. Denslow. “Visitors usually stop in front of each grandfather’s work. When asked what her thoughts were on illustration hanging on our walls and are mesmerized.” The the comparisons between Denslow’s illustrations in the very love for her grandfather is just as strong as it would be if first Oz book and John R. Neill’s depictions of the Oz she had known him, for it is through his art that his spirit still lives, and that spirit is just as vibrant, jolly and friendly as John R. Neill is known to have been. Jory once had hoped to continue in her grandfather’s footsteps and become a children’s book illustrator herself, but decided against it as she felt her grandfather was an impossible act to follow. “So I took a different path, heading in a similar direction,” she explained. “I grew up watching my mother struggle with her substantial artistic abilities. She worshipped her father’s genius and was always critical of her art because of this. I used to go to drawing and painting workshops with my mother while she was still alive. I learned a great deal from her and surprisingly, she would usually ask for my critique before framing a piece for an upcoming exhibition. The artistic bond between father and daughter, and the next generation with mother and daughter is enormous.” Jory is a member of the International Wizard of Oz Club and has been to four Oz Conventions. “I was a presenter at the Ozmapolitan and Winkie conventions a few years ago,” she said. “I created a PowerPoint presentation showing a large sampling of the depth of my grandfather’s work. I was blown away by the things the attendees told me.” She was quite pleased to hear from so many people Conté pencil drawings of John R.

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