Al Parker (1906-1985) was one of the most famous magazine illustrators of his age. He was also an alumnus of Washington University. It is hard now to imagine what the University was like in the 1920’s- almost a century ago. Parker writes: At that time there were no credits, degrees or a graduation at the St. […]
A distinguishing characteristic of menswear in the ~1860’s-1920’s was the detachable collar. Collars were naturally more susceptible to dirt and deformation that the rest of the shirt. Detachable collars allowed men to achieve the appearance of neatness and cleanliness, while reducing the time and expense of laundry. One could replace the collar, but re-wear the shirt. The detachable collar was first conceived […]
“Madcap master poet of the improbable” was a phrase used by Pat Calhoun to describe the illustrator George Carlson (1887-1962). The words “madcap” and “improbable” refer to Carlson’s frequently nonsensical comic plot lines and illustrations for the Jingle Jangle comic book series. In addition to his Jingle Jangle work, Carlson illustrated a number of Wanamaker’s Jollybook and […]
“I could praise the work for pages, but it might sound like a love letter.” J.W. Jemmings, letter to Al Parker, July 24, 1939. Imagine a magazine illustrator getting fan mail. Al Parker (1906-1985) was once one of the leading magazine illustrators in America. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he attended Washington University’s School of […]
With the 2016 presidential election so rapidly approaching, it seems only fitting to look back at past elections for insight and perspective. The political cartoons of the 1908 and 1912 presidential campaigns are particularly illuminating, as they so clearly depict the same shifting balances of power, the intra-party divisiveness, and the debates over economic policy […]
