Don Orehek Cartoons

Saturday Evening Post - Cartoon #25

2011-07-02T10:10:00.001-04:00

If this "dog" could bark it would be a great subject for YouTube. Of course Don drew this cartoon a long time before YouTube was invented or blogging for that matter. Saturday Evening Post printed the cartoon sometime in the 1960s.

Saturday Evening Post - Cartoons #23 & #24

2011-06-23T11:45:00.001-04:00

The cartoon above is the first one Don sold to Saturday Evening Post. The year was 1961. We don't have the issue date.

Don Sold this one to the Saturday Evening Post the same year as his "Trees" cartoon. It was published in the October 21, 1961 issue. Hard to believe that's coming up on 50 years!

Saturday Evening Post - Cartoon #22

2011-06-20T16:59:00.000-04:00

Any resemblance to Cleo is purely coincidental, besides she's a sweet (most of the time) lady. This cartoon cat could be a great, great, great . . . grandfather. How many "greats" in cat years are there in 46 human years?

Don drew this black and white cat in 1964 or '65. It was published by Saturday Evening Post in its January 30, 1965 issue.

Saturday Evening Post - Cartoon #21

2011-06-16T11:22:00.000-04:00

Published in the Saturday Evening Post, October 31, 1964. That was Halloween, of course. This isn't exactly a Halloween gag, but it is a bit scary if this woman is on the road today. Hopefully 47 years later she's a better driver -- if she ever got her license, that is!

Saturday Evening Post - Cartoon #20

2011-06-05T16:37:00.000-04:00

Wouldn't it be something if Little League players were traded like the big league players! Guess that would mean contracts and big salaries, too.

Don wasn't raised in a sports-minded family, so his knowledge of baseball only came about when son Errol became interested, first in the New York Yankees, then the New York Mets. Good thing a knowledge of the game didn't preclude Don from drawing this cartoon. It was published June 18, 1966, exactly 14 months before Errol was born.

Saturday Evening Post - Cartoon #19

2011-05-16T14:24:00.000-04:00

Since this cartoon was published by the Saturday Evening Post way back in its September 1980 issue there is probably no way to know what Don was thinking as he sketched this gag. He's always enjoyed adding detail to his drawings, and this is a good example. We have birds in the sky: So is the ship close to land? Is that smoke rising from the sinking vessel? Other passengers are bobbing about. And, are those straws in the glasses - ice cubes, too?

Saturday Evening Post - Cartoon #18

2011-05-09T11:44:00.000-04:00

I guess that dinner's been spoiled! Maybe they should go for an icy draft of Guinness.

Published by Saturday Evening Post in the October 24, 1964 issue.

Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center

2011-05-04T11:35:00.000-04:00

Don and other members of the Berndt Toast Gang (Long Island Chapter of the National Cartoonists Society) created cartoons and caricatures of Yogi Berra for a special exhibit at the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center, Little Falls, New Jersey. The fabulous sports artist John Pennisi organized a bus trip for the cartoonists to go to the museum on Sunday, May 1. The museum is still under construction though an area displaying Yogi and Yankee baseball memorabilia is about complete. Too bad poor health prevented Yogi from enjoying the day.

Above is Don's contribution to the art show.

Saturday Evening Post - Cartoon #16 & Cartoon #17

2011-05-02T16:04:00.001-04:00

It's been too long since the last posting, so we'll add two Saturday Evening Post cartoons here.

This one was in the March 23, 1963 issue. (Caption: "I hate it when it's high tide.") No date.

Saturday Evening Post - Cartoon #15

2011-04-17T15:52:00.000-04:00

No caption needed on this Saturday Evening Post gag by Don published in the July 31, 1965 issue.. Can you find his signature?

Saturday Evening Post - Cartoon #14

2011-04-12T14:14:00.000-04:00

Now if you were this young lady or even Daddy what would you do next? Maybe she should face the other way, and he should dive under the table.

This cartoon appeared in Saturday Evening Post though it could just as well have been bought by Cosmopolitan or Playboy. Publication date is probably sometime in the late 1960s.

Saturday Evening Post - Cartoon #13

2011-04-07T11:40:00.000-04:00

Here's another Saturday Evening Post cartoon from the good old days. This one from Don was published in the October 22, 1966 issue. Today the hot dog vendors are still going strong - too bad we can't say the same for the magazine!

Saturday Evening Post - Cartoon #12

2011-04-04T12:55:00.001-04:00

Some gags insist on making the reader imagine what happens next! Isn't this one of those?
No date for this Saturday Evening Post cartoon, but we can tell by the style that it's early 1960s.

Old and New: An Interesting Perspective

2011-03-31T14:40:00.000-04:00

Here is one of Don's favorite cartoons. He sold it so long long ago that his style has changed quite a bit, and he says he doesn't like the old style, so he redrew the cartoon - just because he likes the gag. The original was bought by American Legion Magazine and published in the September 1961 issue. Don tells that the editor burst out laughing when he saw the cartoon. As you may know editors tend not to laugh out loud - even if they love a gag - a result of looking at so many cartoons!
Another story about this gag happened in the Colosseum in Rome. Don and wife Suzy we on the upper level looking at the massive arena and imaging what went on there in ancient times. A young couple approached Don asking him to take their picture with the Colosseum in the background. Don said Suzy is the photographer in the family. The couple posed and just as Suzy took the picture Don said "Say mozzarella!" The couple, like the editor, burst out laughing. The result was a great picture!

Note the spelling of mozzarella in the original cartoon. Yes, that's the way it was printed.

Saturday Evening Post - Cartoon #11

2011-03-29T16:00:00.003-04:00

Don has a rather thick folder containing clips of cartoons published by The Saturday Evening Post. We've already posted ten from that well-known magazine at various times beginning in June 2009. So almost two years later we have decided it's time to show some more SEP cartoons from the 1960s and 70s. For those of you too young to remember what the cartoon business was like way back then, they will give you an idea. Some of the old subjects are taboo today though some are still with us. Either way, we hope they make you laugh.

The cartoon posted here was published sometime in the 1960s.

266. Gadgets - The Great Food & Game Invention

2011-03-24T11:49:00.002-04:00

(Click on image to enlarge.)

It's very unlikely that anyone would recognize these pages from a restaurant menu as Don's work. They are. Honest! He drew the Looney characters for a booklet called Gadgets - The Great Food & Game Invention created by Design Unlimited Culinary Concepts. It seems that "Gadgets" was the name of the establishment. The back cover offers the eatery as a location for Sunday brunch, birthday parties or even Sweet 16's, office parties and showers. Finally it says "Before You Go ... Don't forget to watch our show! Performances by Bugs Bunny and the gang change frequently, and you're sure to want an encore!" © Warner Bros. Inc. 1982.

Leatherneck - Magazine of the Marines

2011-03-22T16:44:00.002-04:00

There are still a few print magazines out there that buy cartoons. Leatherneck is one of them. This cartoon of Don's appeared in the February 2011 issue. Thank you, Marines! For buying cartoons and for everything else you do!

Another cartoon from Leatherneck is post #15 in this blog.

Caption: "Psst. . .don't argue with him. Let him think he's boss."

265. Ladies' Home Journal Diet Club

2011-03-20T17:00:00.000-04:00

Found another publication in which Don's cartoons were published. As they say in TV land, it's a spin off. The magazine was titled Ladies' Home Journal Diet Club. So naturally the cartoons had to do with women and dieting. We can't say how long this magazine lasted, not too long we suspect. Both cartoons Don sold to it were printed in 1970. This one is from the January 1970 issue.

1000 Jokes - Cartoon # 18

2011-03-03T11:04:00.001-05:00

One more cartoon from Dell's 1000 Jokes - for now! Get the feeling that Don did 1000 jokes for Dell?

We're not venturing away from Dell because we need to slow down or speed up. Just thought we'd show some of Don's creations from a different publication for a while.

We don't have the date this cartoon appeared though it must have been in the sixties like a lot of the others Dell gags we've shown.

1000 Jokes - Cartoon # 17

2011-02-23T13:17:00.004-05:00

Here in New York we had a hint of spring last Friday when the temperature hovered just below 70 degrees. It reminds us that spring is truly right around the corner, and with it lemonade stands will pop up in a lot of neighborhoods though the prices will definitely be higher than when Don did this cartoon for Dell's 1000 Jokes, published in August 1968.

Caption: "The Lo-cal is cheaper because there's no sugar in it!"

Don and Suzy had an experience with "Lo-cal" lemonade in Udine, Italy in 1974. At a breakfast bar in the hotel where they were staying a lot of dapper Italian men were ordering lemon juice. Suzy thought she would try one. The only problem was that she hadn't noticed the Italians dumping tons of sugar into their glasses. She took a big swallow, and - well - guess she looked like the man in Don's cartoon!

1000 Jokes - Cartoon # 16

2011-02-14T17:05:00.002-05:00

Don doesn't play Bridge but his wife does, so of course it's the woman with the cast on her foot!
This one was printed by Dell in 1000 Jokes in the November 1968 issue.

1000 Jokes - Cartoon # 15

2011-02-08T09:51:00.003-05:00

Caption: "Dammit, Ma . . . sit still!"
So, do you think Whistler talked to his mother like that? Who knows! Anyway, surely she has things to do -- baking pies, laundry, scrubbing, washing sonny's paint brushes -- so wouldn't it be reasonable for her to wiggle!
Published in Dell's 1000 Jokes, August 1967.

1000 Jokes - Cartoon # 14

2011-02-02T15:58:00.003-05:00

Now that the groundhog has had his say, we'll look forward to baseball spring training.
Do notice that no team is mentioned in this cartoon of Don's printed in the November 1967 issue of Dell's 1000 Jokes. Isn't he tactful!

264. 101 Rock 'n' Roll Jokes and Riddles

2011-01-29T13:24:00.005-05:00

Here's another joke book Don illustrated for Scholastic, Inc. This one in 1989. We can't help commenting that that Rock 'n' Roll is here to stay! It can even withstand the ribbing it gets in a book like 101 Rock 'n' Roll Jokes and Riddles.

263. 101 Wacky Sports Quotes

2011-01-21T15:11:00.004-05:00

Not to be confused with 101 Super Sports Jokes (posting # 250, Sept. 19, 2010). Quotes can, of course, be funny, too. Don's cover illustration conjures up all kinds of crazy possibilities - you'll have to find a copy of the book for an explanation. (We don't have one, a copy that is.)

Here's a "wacky quote" from the artist himself who is only a sports fan by coercion. He knows such a little bit about football that he asked how many halves there are! (Any similarity to the blurb on the back cover is purely coincidental.)

Scholastic, Inc. published this book in 1991.

1000 Jokes - Cartoon # 13

2011-01-15T09:57:00.004-05:00

Wow, is the groom getting off to a bad start or what?
As they say, if it can happen it will happen. So if you - or anyone you know - fell asleep and missed a date at the altar, it would be interesting to let us know about it.

This cartoon was published in Dell's 1000 Jokes in its November 1967 issue.

1000 Jokes - Cartoon # 12

2011-01-12T09:53:00.003-05:00

Here's another one that Dell's 1000 Jokes published in its May 1967 issue. It's a logical gag, isn't it?

1000 Jokes - Cartoon # 11

2011-01-09T12:30:00.004-05:00

1000 Jokes published this Orehek cartoon in its May 1967 issue. Probably readers in that year thought the guy wanted to be rescured from his eagle kidnapper. If the gag were published today, we'd say he got held up at security and the eagle is helping him catch up to the plane he missed!

262. Manhattan Savings Bank

2011-01-04T11:55:00.005-05:00

In the 1970s Manhattan Savings Bank in New York City lured in potential customers with entertainment. No ATMs in those days. Shown here is a mailer piece with several drawings by Don. You can tell what was offered by the illustrations. The other side of the card lists the schedule of entertainers and the dates they would appear. It says cartoonists Aug. 17 though Don did caricatures at the bank more than once.

1000 Jokes - Cartoon # 10

2010-12-30T14:25:00.003-05:00

We don't have a publication date for this 1000 Jokes cartoon, probably the early 60s.
If the woman getting her fortune told here is lucky the trip won't be like the one brought about by the doctor mentioned in our previous post. (See below.)

1000 Jokes - Cartoon # 9

2010-12-28T17:28:00.003-05:00

Here's an idea for your New Year's celebration . . . or maybe your summer vacation! Dell published this cartoon of Don's in the August 1963 issue of 1000 Jokes.

2010-12-23T13:42:00.002-05:00

Just a reminder . . . don't forget the milk and cookies for Santa! Don tells the story that a Christmas tree all decorated appeared magically on Christmas eve in the second floor living room of the Brooklyn house where he lived. There would be a thump on the floor while he waited downstairs with three or four of his brothers. These younger of the kids then ran upstairs to be wowed by Santa's delivery. Don adds, he never "believed" because the fireplaces were sealed and had been since his father bought the house!

Saturday Review - Ho! Ho! Ho!

2010-12-21T09:41:00.005-05:00

. . . and a Merry Christmas! This cartoon of Don's appeared in the November 20, 1971 issue of Saturday Review. (Other SR cartoons are posted in the #4 spot on May 8, 2009, on April 18, 2010, and October 18, 2010. The latter is posting # 254 a book reprint.)

1000 Jokes - Cartoon # 8

2010-12-14T12:28:00.005-05:00

Do gag cartoons have a back story? You bet they do! Here's a good example. We know the baby's Mom couldn't have been the one to trade the baby, so we can bet it was a big brother or sister. Just picture what happens next when that Mom finds out!
Dell published this cartoon of Don's in the February 1967 issue of 1000 Jokes.

1000 Jokes - Cartoon # 7

2010-12-09T17:01:00.003-05:00

This cartoon of Don's was published in November 1968 by Dell in 1000 Jokes. Remember Carte Blanche and Diner's Club? This was before Visa, MasterCard and Discover became so prevalent. We probably used more cash than credit and no one had heard of a debit card. So the idea of a credit card for the offering was pretty unique. Who would give it a second thought today?
Note: No signature on this cartoon. It was rare that Don forgot to sign, so more likely it just got cut off in the printing.

1000 Jokes - Cartoon # 6

2010-12-06T15:26:00.004-05:00

Watch out for this lady at your holiday parties. She's probably so busy sipping Champagne she didn't even know she can't chew! Dell Publishing printed this cartoon from Don in its February 1968 issue of 1000 Jokes.

1000 Jokes - Cartoon # 5

2010-12-03T16:54:00.003-05:00

This cartoon published in Dell's 1000 Jokes in the August 1968 issue certainly is timely today. Wonder if this guy is was a laid-off techie?

1000 Jokes - Cartoon # 4

2010-12-01T15:28:00.008-05:00

Here's another "smart" purchase by Dell Publications. This cartoon of Don's was published in the February 1967 issue of 1000 Jokes. . . and this was before anyone wore bicycle helmets.

1000 Jokes - Cartoon # 3

2010-11-29T17:45:00.002-05:00

Here's an idea for husbands (partners) who don't know sizes - if you dare! This cartoon appeared in the August 1967 issue of Dell's 1000 Jokes.

1000 Jokes - Cartoon # 2

2010-11-26T17:35:00.004-05:00

We posted and counted a cartoon of Don's from 1000 Jokes, Dell Publishing, way back in May 2009 when this blog was just getting going. (See posting #5.) Don has a pretty thick folder of clips from this magazine, maybe not a 1000 cartoons, but a lot. So we will share a series of them here. This one was published in the August 1967 issue.

261. 101 Wacky Kid Jokes

2010-11-22T17:10:00.002-05:00

Do read the two jokes on the back cover here. They should give you a chuckle even if you're not a kid. This book illustrated by Don was printed by Scholastic, Inc. in 1988.

260. 101 Bossy Cow Jokes

2010-11-18T14:39:00.004-05:00

These cows that Don drew for 101 Bossy Cow Jokes should be in the circus instead of down on the farm. Or maybe they belong in New York City. They certainly are cosmopolitan cows, and we don't mean the magazine. Scholastic, Inc., published this one in 1989.

259. 101 Valentine Jokes

2010-11-15T12:24:00.004-05:00

If we can be late for Halloween (see posting #258), we can be early for Valentine's day. Two of the book's jokes are printed on the back cover. (Hope you can read them.) 101 Valentine Jokes was illustrated by Don and published by Scholastic, Inc., 1994.

258. 101 Spooky Halloween Jokes

2010-11-10T09:46:00.003-05:00

A little late for Halloween, but there is no better time for a chuckle than now. Scholastic, Inc. published this joke book illustrated by Don in 1993.

257. Dolls & Gags

2010-11-07T15:19:00.005-05:00

Are you old enough to remember the Hathaway shirt ad from the 1950s? This cartoon gets its inspiration from the ad that made the Hathaway company famous. If you're too young to remember or have just forgotten google The Man in the Hathaway shirt. (Sorry, we couldn't copy the link.) The description brings thoughts of today's Mad Men, a show that Don never got started on, but Suzy loves.

256. Breezy Rider

2010-10-28T10:04:00.005-04:00

Digging deep in Don's studio we came up with Vol. 1, No. 1 of Breezy Rider, Jan.-Feb. 1971, or as the cover says "FURST FOIST [crossed out] EDITION." Don had three cartoons in this premiere edition, one of which is shown here. The magazine was published (at least once) by Colony Publishing Co., Las Vegas, Nev., with editorial offices in Encino, Calif.

Boy! Doesn't this cop have a nerve, giving the driver a ticket after asking a favor!

255. Why Marry?

2010-10-25T15:50:00.004-04:00

The full title on the cover of this 1957 booklet is: Why Marry? and other Why?'s about Weddings & Brides. Don did a few of the sketches to illustrate the questions and answers within its pages. This booklet and other Why?'s were sold to newspapers presumably for use as spots. The author lists subscribers (with 6,000,000 plus circulation) to WHY in first six months.

254. Star Sight - Visions of the Future

2010-10-18T16:51:00.003-04:00

The authors of Star Sight, Visions of the Future, certainly had a good viewpoint when they included several cartoons in their book including this one of Don's reprinted from Saturday Review. The book, published in 1977, examines "three powerful world views" which "present a panorama of alternative futures."

253. Daredevils and Dreamers

2010-10-10T16:56:00.015-04:00

Daredevils and Dreamers is an Emmy nominated film about early aviation produced by director-screenwriter Michael Laurence. The film premiered on public television August 18, 1998. It told the story with a wonderful selection of photos, film clips and some re-creation. One story about three early barnstormers - Pete Brucia, Bert Acosta and Roscoe Turner - was related with Don's illustrations shown here. A voice over by Pete Brucia provided the narrative.

252. Sextra Special -- Liberated (Kanrom, Inc.)

2010-09-30T14:02:00.003-04:00

Bet today's mini computers can't do this!

Kanrom, Inc. published a Sextra Special, subtitled Liberated in 1971. This cartoon of Don's (no signature, but no doubt it's his) appeared in Vol. 1. We don't know if there was a volume 2.

251. The Wacky Family Survival Guide

2010-09-23T14:38:00.004-04:00

If you read the blurb on the back cover of this joke book illustrated by Don and published by Scholastic, Inc. in 1991, you will know that kids really had it tough before texting and portable DVD players. How long will it be before a kid says: "I hope we're not there yet!"

We need to add that this was the only joke book Don did that the publisher forgot to give him credit. We do think you recognize his style!

250. 101 Super Sports Jokes

2010-09-19T12:16:00.007-04:00

This is one of three joke books published in 1988 by Scholastic, Inc. that Don illustrated. Looks like Don invented a new game with his cover illustration. Maybe someone should try it?!
Don't miss the joke on the back cover below the description of the book's contents.

249. 101 Ghost Jokes

2010-09-16T16:28:00.003-04:00

Thinking about Halloween yet? Here's a book of ghost jokes illustrated by Don to start getting you in the mood -- even though Halloween is a little more than a month away. "101 Ghost Jokes" was published by Scholastic, Inc., 1988.

248. The Laugh-A-Minute Joke Book

2010-09-13T17:24:00.003-04:00

One of the thirty plus joke books Don has illustrated is titled The Laugh-A-Minute Joke Book. It was published by Scholastic, Inc. in 1989. This is Don's 16th joke book in this blog, so we're about half way there! Hope you get at least two laughs -- front and back!

247. Love, Sex, and Marriage - A Jewish View

2010-09-06T17:18:00.003-04:00

This cartoon of Don's was reprinted in a paper bound book titled Love, Sex, and Marriage - A Jewish View by Rabbi Roland B. Gittelsohn, printed by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, New York, copyright © 1980.

. . . and to think that computers actually used to look like that!

Reprinted from Cosmopolitan 1978.

More French Cartoons & Cuties -- More Aliases

2010-09-02T12:20:00.008-04:00

Don says "all the cartoonists" used to make up aliases for French Cartoons & Cuties. These four cartoons are old-style, so who would guess? We'll have to take his word for it. (No reason to doubt!)

French Cartoons & Cuties was published by Candar Publications, also the publisher of Cracked Mazagine (sic). FC&C was printed in two sizes (i.e., Reader's Digest and People). We mention this because the larger size is represented by cartoon # 87 posted almost a year ago.

Now to comment on these four gags and the changing face of humor. Let us know if you agree.

1) Still makes sense

2) Clever, right?

3) Gotta look carefully, makes a lot of sense

4) Not sure we get this, Don says maybe it's because plumbers make a lot of money. Any ideas?

246. Pack o' Fun

2010-09-01T10:10:00.004-04:00

Guess this little gal had herself a "pack o' fun"!

Yet another male oriented magazine. This, too, was one of Don's early markets, probably the 1950s. We don't have the publisher's name, but the editor was Red Kirby who bought cartoons from a lot of guys giving them their start.

245. Nifty

2010-08-31T16:40:00.002-04:00

Here's another pocket-size joke book Don sold cartoons to early in his career. You can guess by the title and this cartoon that Nifty was another male oriented publication.

Be sure to check out the skaters in the background.

244. The Community Chest of Port Washington

2010-08-23T16:44:00.005-04:00

Here's an illustration Don did in 1995 for the annual Community Chest campaign. This family will, for sure, make a contribution -- if the dog doesn't chase the campaigner away first!

243. Present Concepts in Internal Medicine

2010-08-19T17:46:00.002-04:00

The best way to explain this publication is to quote from the cover letter which was sent with it to Don. "The Cardiology Symposium, 1976 of Present Concepts in Internal Medicine is back from the press." The letterhead is: Department of the Army, Letterman Army Medical Center, Presidio of San Franciso, California.

The cartoon was originally printed in Playgirl Magazine and reproduced with permission from the artist and the publishers.

LAFF-A-DAY (King Features Syndicate # 12)

2010-08-16T10:38:00.002-04:00

Couldn't she have waited at least until after the honeymoon?! This cartoon was published March 12, 1987.

LAFF-A-DAY (King Features Syndicate # 11)

2010-08-13T16:24:00.005-04:00

That's a low blow, sonny! Published Feb. 17, 1972. By the way, Don did not have any kids of school age at the time.

LAFF-A-DAY (King Features Syndicate # 10)

2010-08-11T15:52:00.003-04:00

Don't you wish you had just half her energy! Published January 30, 1987. Wonder where it's spring that time of year?

LAFF-A-DAY (King Features Syndicate # 9)

2010-08-10T12:48:00.003-04:00

Printed Feb. 12, 1987. Our advice to this husband is to eat it all quickly!

LAFF-A-DAY (King Features Syndicate # 8)

2010-08-07T10:38:00.003-04:00

Published March 18, 1971 this cartoon is part of the Hippy era. Obviously the uncle whose will is being read did not approve! Notice the guy to the hippy's left. Don't his smirk and his haircut and his suit suggest he's the beneficiary?

LAFF-A-DAY (King Features Syndicate # 7)

2010-08-03T12:20:00.007-04:00

This cartoon was printed September 25, 1971 before pre-nuptial agreements were all the rage. We're sure this mother-of-the-bride would have nixed it if pre-nups had been common. Doesn't she look like she could do it, too?

LAFF-A-DAY (King Features Syndicate # 6)

2010-08-01T18:15:00.003-04:00

This one appears a little crooked because that's how it was laid out in the newspaper from which the cartoon was clipped. Still a good gag though! (Published February 25, 1972)

LAFF-A-DAY (King Features Syndicate # 5)

2010-07-28T16:43:00.003-04:00

We sure would like to know what the chef's special was! Any ideas? Remember when this "oldie" was published: May 20, 1965.

LAFF-A-DAY (King Features Syndicate # 4)

2010-07-26T16:54:00.003-04:00

The idea for this cartoon goes way back! Not only do old T.V.s rarely get repaired any more, but surely repairmen, like doctors, no longer make house calls. Today's baby sitter is probably content to text away the time while she earns more per hour than the T.V repairman in the gag got. (Published July 14, 1966)

LAFF-A-DAY (King Features Syndicate # 3)

2010-07-24T14:49:00.004-04:00

What do you think? Would this woman lie to a poll taker? Or is her husband a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?

Published March 11, 1982.

LAFF-A-DAY (King Features Syndicate # 2)

2010-07-20T15:37:00.004-04:00

Recently we posted a series of cartoons which appeared in McNaught Syndicate's daily cartoon panel sold to newspapers across the U.S. Now we would like to show you several gags that were bought by King Features Syndicate for their LAFF-A-DAY panel. One bought by King was posted early in this blog (posting # 8). This cartoon was printed Nov. 4, 1994. Can you find Don in the picture?

Army Laughs

2010-07-19T15:12:00.004-04:00

Here's a real oldie. This cartoon is from the Oct.-Nov. 1951 issue of Army Laughs. (See post #33 for another Army Laughs cartoon.) Don's signature on the cartoon here is one of several he used before he found the one he liked best. According to Don he developed the signature he still uses today about the time he began free-lancing permanently. That was 1956.

242. Broadway Laughs

2010-07-16T15:46:00.004-04:00

Broadway Laughs was another pocket-size cartoon magazine put out by Crestwood Publishing Co. Others were Army Laughs and Laff Time (post #s 33 and 34). Sam Bierman was the editor and Don's boss from 1952-1956. Sam hired Don when he finished school at Cartoonists and Illustrators (now know as the School of Visual Arts). In 1956 Don began his free-lance career never to be "employed" again.

This cartoon was printed (or maybe reprinted) in June 1970. It is an example of Don's earlier style.

241. Paperbag

2010-07-14T16:52:00.003-04:00

This cartoon is definitely a product of the 1960s. It was published by a magazine called Paperbag which got its name from the brown paperbag-like stock on which it was printed. The front cover of the August 1968 issue which contained Don's cartoon said things like "pot laws are archaic!", "Student power will elect the next president!" and "News from the underground." So from these statements and the subject of this cartoon, you can get a good idea of what the magazine was like.

240. A Million Laughs

2010-07-11T15:03:00.004-04:00

We stumbled across an issue of A Million Laughs (Volume I, No. 2) containing this cartoon in one of Don's filing cabinets. The magazine was published by Laughs Publications, Inc., New York, in Sept. 1966. It was edited by the late gag cartoonist John Norment whose favorite subject to draw was fish.

239. Crownpoint Boarding School T-Shirt

2010-07-09T10:53:00.004-04:00

A group of eight members of the Crownpoint (New Mexico) Boarding School's "Run for Fun" Club went to Boston 1980 where four ran in that city's annual marathon. Prior to that they visited Don and Suzy in New York. Don did the front design for the T-shirt shown here commemorating the occasion. Crownpoint is a small town on the eastern edge of the Navajo reservation.

238. The Armchair Mountaineer

2010-07-06T10:13:00.004-04:00

This cartoon of Don's was originally sold to Saturday Review of Literature. It was reprinted in The Armchair Mountaineer by George Alan Smith and Carol D. Smith, Pitman Publishing Corp., 1968. The authors tell us their book, "a gathering of wit, wisdom and idolatry" is "for anyone who ever climbed a mountain or even dreamed of it---"

237. No G.O.D.s in the Classroom: Inquiry into Inquiry

2010-07-05T13:45:00.005-04:00

This unusual title is a book in the "Controversies in Education Series, Editorial Board, The University of Massachusetts School of Education." It was published by W.B. Saunders Company, 1972. The small print under the caption says: (By Donald Orehek, Reproduced by special permission of PLAYBOY magazine. Copyright © 1970 by PLAYBOY.)

This Funny World (McNaught Syndicate # 15)

2010-07-02T11:06:00.003-04:00

Published June 26, 1981.

Now we know where the little old lady got the shoe. The poem is, however, about a little old "woman." Call it cartoonist's poetic license. For the complete poem and an 1875 illustration see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_was_an_Old_Woman_Who_Lived_in_a_Shoe

This Funny World (McNaught Syndicate # 14)

2010-06-29T16:23:00.006-04:00

Published May 24, 1982.

We thought it would be fun to put this cartoon in perspective. Some movies released in 1982 were E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Conan the Barbarian, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and Airplane II: The Sequel. Imagine being in need of help -- like the couple in this cartoon -- when one of those movies was being shot on location!

This Funny World (McNaught Syndicate # 13)

2010-06-26T10:08:00.003-04:00

This cartoon was before cell phones, published January 25, 1982. The gag would still work today, in fact it may even be funnier, by changing the caption to "Never mind, dear. I got them on the cell phone."

This Funny World (McNaught Syndicate # 12)

2010-06-21T16:20:00.003-04:00

Published May 14, 1980.
Guess this kid is trying to avoid going to the dentist. Good luck!

This Funny World (McNaught Syndicate # 11)

2010-06-18T16:57:00.004-04:00

If you were this clown, would you be glad or sad that "they all laughed"?

Published December 10, 1981.

This Funny World (McNaught Syndicate # 10)

2010-06-14T15:25:00.004-04:00

So from the birds' viewpoint . . . . . .
A weekender in the hand is worth two in the bush . . . . . . People of a feather flock together.

Published September 9, 1980.

This Funny World (McNaught Syndicate # 9)

2010-06-11T17:10:00.004-04:00

If this man had been a cartoonist, he would never be bored. He would have loved his work, not retired, and instead of sitting on a bench at the beach, he would be at his drawing board . Oh, that's Don. Just give him a piece of paper and a pencil and he's happy. Add a set of color markers and he's ecstatic!
Cartoon printed December 15, 1980.

This Funny World (McNaught Syndicate # 8)

2010-06-10T18:24:00.002-04:00

This cartoon was published May 17, 1982.
Don and Suzy actually went to a costume party one time dressed as an organ grinder and monkey. Don did not, however, collect any money like the man in this cartoon, and yes, Suzy was the monkey. She didn't complain as she made the costume, and they had a lot of fun!

This Funny World (McNaught Syndicate # 7)

2010-06-08T18:12:00.004-04:00

This woman is no gaga "Twilight" dipsy doodle, and apparently she has managed to survive quite a few years with this man. Maybe she locks him in the bathroom during the full moon, or maybe he just goes a little crazy.
Don's wife Suzy worked at JFK International Airport for a few years, and, yes, some strange people always did show up when there was a full moon. For example, one full moon a woman took off her blouse at the ticket counter to get at the money in her bra for her ticket. No kidding!
Published September 24, 1980.

This Funny World (McNaught Syndicate # 6)

2010-06-07T13:54:00.005-04:00

According to sign over the door, this couple is at an antique shop. Now if it were a garage sale, The Garage Sale Handbook that Don illustrated (see post # 236) would come in handy. Either way, what would you say to a person buying the chair?
Published October 21, 1980.

This Funny World (McNaught Syndicate # 5)

2010-06-05T16:56:00.004-04:00

Hope this guy doesn't drop the bowling ball on his foot!

Published June 30, 1981.

This Funny World (McNaught Syndicate # 4)

2010-06-03T12:29:00.005-04:00

Will she choose the basic or preferred package for her repairs? What would you recommend if you were this mechanic?

Published October 22, 1981.

This Funny World (McNaught Syndicate # 3)

2010-06-02T15:41:00.010-04:00

Our first posting in this blog was a cartoon Don sold to McNaught Syndicate for its feature titled This Funny World. We started with that cartoon for no particular reason other than we thought it was funny. Over many years Don sold a LOT of gags to the single-panel McNaught feature. They bought cartoons from a variety of cartoonists, and we have no idea what percentage were Don's. We would like to show some of our favorites here (even though McNaught has already been counted in our tally of publications). For the second McNaught cartoon purchase, see posting #211.

National Enquirer: 6 Panel

2010-05-27T12:42:00.010-04:00

This six-panel cartoon was inspired by a TV ad for the Dodge Ram. "Ram tough" was the tagline. Of course there was more to it than that. Cartoonists frequently made fun of the wife with a headache, so that thought went into the mix for a switch with the guy having the headache. We have no doubt that he does, too!

National Enquirer probably bought more mulit-panel gag cartoons than any other publication Don sold. This one was a sale sometime in the 1960s we think.

236. The Garage Sale Handbook

2010-05-26T16:29:00.003-04:00

Don did 18 illustrations for The Garage Sale Handbook which was a Target Book published in two different paperback sizes in 1977 and 1979. The book combined photographs like on the cover and humorous illustrations about the advice the book offered.

235. Automotive News

2010-05-25T16:56:00.006-04:00

Sometime between 1969 and 2010 the phrase went from "call back" to "recall." Either way "fewer" can only be a selling point in a cartoon. Wonder when the first automotive recall (or call back) was issued?

Don sold this cartoon to Automotive News in May 1969; he redrew it as it appears here.

234. 101 Silly Summertime Jokes

2010-05-24T16:06:00.005-04:00

(Click on the image to enlarge.)

101 Silly Summertime Jokes was first printed in 1989 by Scholastic, Inc. This was one of four joke books Don illustrated that year and the most in a single year. In 1988 and 1990 he did three, but one or two in other years, for thirty-one in all. Reprinted by permission.

233. The Silly Joke Book

2010-05-23T17:46:00.004-04:00

Here are the front and back covers and one "silly joke" from The Silly Joke Book. The first Scholastic printing was March 1987. (Reprinted here by permission.) Don't you just love Don's silly mutts?

232. CMD

2010-05-22T15:39:00.004-04:00

CMD is the name of the purchaser of this cartoon. Based on the diploma on the wall, CMD may have been another medical publication, but we cannot say for sure. Don sold it in March 1969, and recently redrew for here.

231. Spirit of 375

2010-05-21T10:48:00.004-04:00

Spirit of 375 bought this cartoon from Don in April 1969. Sorry, we can't tell you anything about this publication, and now we even wonder how we heard about it, but then there were a lot of "little" markets in those days. (Redrawn here.)

230. Resident & Staff Physician

2010-05-19T15:45:00.007-04:00

Oops! She shouldn't have said that! What would you reply to a friendly little hospital worker who wanted you to come back? The caption is a southern expression, but obviously it is well-known. Resident & Staff Physician "hails" from the New York metropolitan area. Don sold this cartoon (redrawn here) in July 1969.

229. New Physician

2010-05-18T15:41:00.005-04:00

This cartoon (redrawn here) is one of three Don sold in August 1969 to New Physician.

Today there is a magazine titled The New Physician, a publication of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA). This organization's website tells us it was founded in 1950, as the Student American Medical Association (SAMA), under the auspices of the American Medical Association (AMA). In the late 1960 the organization's objectives and philosophy changed and in 1967 SAMA cut ties with the AMA and became independent and student-governed.

So do you think the poor soul in Don's cartoon has a better chance of a handout from a new physician?