What Me Worry? Episode II The Brunswick, GA Saga Continues......

            Last week on Ramblings from the Tide: 

Our intrepid blogger drove the arduous 50 minute drive south to St. Simon’s Island to be the guest of a an old college friend as they attend the Jack Davis Retrospective and Panel. See what happens when things stop getting serious and start getting geeky.

 

 Oh, this also counts as a Photobomb Tuesday. (Yeah, I know it's not Tuesday. I thought we were past all that)

            Ok, so I left off last week where Trotter and I were about to enter the St Simon’s Theatre to see the Jack Davis Tribute Panel. We were patiently waiting outside in the lobby area as the VIPs entered. It was about this time, Nick Meglin walked up. Meglin was a former writer/editor for MAD magazine.

When it comes to celebrities and folks of certain prominence, I’ve always lived by the belief of just walking right up and introducing myself, say thanks for the good work, and beat a hasty retreat. If the celebrity wishes to converse more then we do. If not, I’ve had my moment and got my eventual story to tell. Meglin was in a chatty mood and it was awesome.

I opened the conversation, “Mr. Meglin, I just have to say thanks for all the great work you did at MAD. I can’t express how much MAD had an influence on me growing up and my humor.”

Mr. Meglin didn’t miss a beat,” Oh, I can’t take any blame for that, Sonny. That’s all on you.”

We both laughed. Before I knew it, we were involved in a full fledged conversation as if we were long lost pals. It went so well, the local cable access asked to tape us as we chatted. Meglin had made some joke about getting into trouble reading MAD in school which I said had happened. I also shared how my parents hated me reading MAD as a kid.

“That means we doing something right,” Meglin chuckled and went on to take his seat at the front of the theater.

Meglin, Pittman, Richmond.  Sorry, my cell doesn't have flash

Trotter and I found some decent seats near the front and panel started shortly after. It wasn’t the typical Q&A panel, I’ve attended in the past. The three speakers: Nick Meglin, who’ve we’ve already spoken about. Jack Pittman the former President of the National Cartoonist Society and Tom Richmond, current artist and editor for MAD magazine . Each of the gentlemen spent their time talking not so much about their achievements but on Jack Davis.

By the time it was over, it was quite a well deserved love fest for Jack Davis culminating in the presentation of a scrapbook with congratulatory sketches by some of the top cartoonists in the biz. From our third row seats, Trotter and I could see sketches signed by the current artists for Beetle Bailey, Blondie, and Dick Tracey.

As Mr. Davis exited the building to go across the street for the reception in the art gallery, the panel finally took questions. I asked if anything had ever been banned for being in “too” bad of taste. Richmond talked about having to literally “stop the presses” of the cover issue with Alfred E. Newman running a marathon and breaking the police line tape as if he’d won the race. This cover was coming out the day after 911 and MAD had the foresight to see how a series of crime scenes in NY might not be construed as humorous.

The Gallery who hosted the reception was very nice as were the people. I think what really stood out was the crowd. It was mostly older people but apparently, Davis used to reside here in St. Simon’s so it was more of a reunion with old friends than the art gallery suck ups I was expecting. People were very friendly and that was a good thing because the place was packed.

Trotter brought a copy of his calendar which won the Jack Davis Cup Art Contest and presented Davis with one as a present. Davis is a sweet old guy with horrible hearing so his granddaughter had to do some translating. I got to say the one word which sticks out about Jack Davis is gentleman. He is a true Southern Gentleman and was extremely gracious to everyone who came out form old friends to geeks like Trotter and myself. 

I pondered for a while on what I wanted to get Mr. Davis to sign when it hit me. Remember that Sugar Bowl insert from the 1981AJCI had mentioned? Mr. Davis recognized it and gave a little smile as he signed it to me. It was a bit of a thrill there for me to think a part of my high school memories had been signed by its creator. I just wish I had saved the Southern Bell sticker that I ripped off the pay phone at Six Flags which Davis had illustrated. (I said I was a fan)

 

Laurel & Hardy. Every YHC Alum should have this pic.....

This was a crowd favorite. It's from the 50s and one of the old EC Horror comics Davis had drawn
 



Wish I had gotten better shot because you can see Davis's Creative Process. This was a poster for Little Giants.
 

Probably my favorite of night. One of the few serious paintings on display.
 

TV Guide Cover from 1979 TV show, Soap.

 

I honestly don't see how anyone could have the heart to cut this cake....

 

 

Same w/ cookies but these were gone by my next round.

I don’t know why I didn’t stop to think the reception would also have food and cocktails but I was quite surprised by the spread. It was catered by donations from of all the local eateries and apparently, these guys are big fans of Jack Davis. I filled up on quite a few of the deviled shrimp and hot wings. The real stand out was the dessert table. This cake, as are the cookies, area all based on caricature self portraits of Davis.

My other favorite of the night was this. It was a combination eye dropper/toothpick loaded up with fresh mozzarella, basil, cherry tomato. The dropper was filled w/ balsamic vinegar which you squeezed as you ate the combo. You have to be careful though. I accidently squirted some down my throat and that was unpleasant as well as attention drawing.

 

The other artists were also quite approachable. Here is Tom Richmond conversating with

Trotter. I decided to hang back and listen to the two artists speak which was a wise choice because it got interesting. Richmond started telling Trotter the origins of Alfred E. Newman. Apparently it goes back to a dental ad in the late 19^th century. Ol’ Alfie was the cover boy for a painless dentistry advertisement.  The “What? Me Worry?” bit was the company slogan.

AS this night began to wind down, People began pairing off and mingling. We bumped into Ryan, who is one of the Dinner4Geeks guys and buddy to our mutual friend Doke. As Trotter, Ryan, and myself began talking, others floated in and out of the fold. Many were thinking we were fellow artists.

I had no idea how many artists resided in St Simons but I had several conversations with them. Ed Hose was a very nice lady and extremely talented.  Please check out her work here. It’s very cool.

With pictures signed, and the crowd dispersing, Phase 3 was about to commence. Trotter and myself were invited to be a part of the Dinner4Geek’s podcast recording that week. The topic was 4 Core Comic Artists. So who did I pick? Find out in the stunning conclusion to the Brunswick Saga.

 

                                                                                      

 

What Me Worry? Episode One of the Brunswick GA Saga......

            The year is hazy but I am guessing somewhere around 1980 or so, my older cousin gave me a stack of books she didn’t want anymore. As I type, I realize not one of them except for the copy of MAD magazine Digest stands out in memory. This was my introduction to MAD.

 

            I’d seen MAD magazine several times before at Northside Elementary. Chuck Carey was an avid reader and always getting his latest copy confiscated by Mrs. Johnson. In those days, MAD magazine was dangerous material to have in a fourth grade classroom comparable to sadistic threats against the principal. My mom was also not a fan and refused to have a copy in the house.

            “It is base humor, Robby,” my mother would say over her shopping list. “And one thing the Richardsons are not is base people.” This of course made no sense to a nine year old boy whose only concept of “base” was something to run towards in order to be safe.

            So after an interjection from the Big Guy, also a long time reader, first time caller, I finally discovered the joys of MAD magazine over a long ride from Claxton GA.

            Magic. Simply magic.

            Two things struck me right off the bat. First, it was funny. The humor made me laugh out loud several times. Some of it was even a little on the edge of dirty which was not allowed. I still recall a Mort Drucker cartoon of two dogs pooping on the sidewalk followed by their owners stepping right in the dog’s “calling card.” Pure comedy gold for elementary aged boy.

            Secondly, MAD magazine had amazing art work. The cartoons looked like the people MAD was mocking yet not exactly. To a budding artist like me, foundations were laid for hours of sketching favorite actors from movies and TV shows.

         

   That very first digest I read had a satire called The Milking of the Planet of the Apes which even I got a kid. I still recall laughing at the opening panel where Charlton Heston along with the other survivors have crashed their capsule and trying to paddle away. The female astronaut has not survived which is off panel but explained by one of the surviving astronauts saying, “Unless one of you guys can dance backwards, our social life is screwed.”  I still find this amusing at 44.

My horrible version of Jack Davis drawing Billy Murray in Ghostbusters'

            From years of comics, I had gotten in the habit of looking at the opening pages credits to see who wrote and drew the comic I was about to peruse. Even though I had no real idea of who Carmine Infantino, Gene Day, Sal Buscema where, I began to get an idea of artwork I liked and disliked. This would be my introduction to Jack Davis. .

 

            Jack Davis would be the artist who drew my Planet of the Apes parody. Future magazines would lead to more Mr. Davis as I read his version of The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jaws, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Soap, Benson, M*A*S*H, this list can go on for pages.

            Jack Davis has a distinctive style and it soon became one which I could pick out easily. His subjects always had a kinetic energy like the panel was in motion. A character’s eyes always had that gleam which would bring it more to life. The young artist which I was picked up on Davis’s signature move of cross hatching and shadings. While I had some good art teachers to learn from, Jack Davis would certainly be an influence.

    

This was $2 at the Little Store back in 1981...

        Davis also did more than MAD magazine. He drew TV Guide covers along with Time magazine. In January of 1981, the UGA Dawgs won their first Sugar Bowl. The AJC Sun edition had a special insert with You-know-who as the artist for the cover. I cut this out of the paper before the Big Guy had a chance to read it. It stayed on the wall until I left for college.  (Ed note: He was also responsible for the infamous Coke Bottle design for that year which I also had but have long since lost. Birthday’s coming, Kim. Hint, hint lol)

            I could go on about how much I dig Jack Davis but frankly, I sound the same as any other fan. And yes, this guy has a following. It’s a big one as I would discover after a phone call from my old YHC buddy, John Trotter.

Trotter, as I like to refer to him, is an old friend to the Tide. I wrote about him here during, oddly enough, a Jack Davis art contest sponsored by the Georgia Museum. Trotter won the contest which the winner was selected by Davis, himself. Extremely cool.

Artwork through the gracious courtesy of John Trotter, 2013 winner of the Jack Davis UGS Cup. All rights reserved. Offer not valid where prohibited. Ask you parents before voting, Wait one hour after eating before swimming. John Trotter artwork released through division of Paintmonkey Studios Inc. "Don't let just anybody draw your art, Let a Paintmonkey do the job. We're Paintmonkey Studios located near scenic Atlanta"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trotter had an extra ticket to go see the Jack Davis Retrospective which was being presented by the Glynn Art Association down in St. Simons. It was only an hour away so how could I not go?

In addition to the art show, a panel was being presented comprised of a few folks associated with Davis and his work.   Nick Meglin, who has been a longtime friend and work associate of Davis’s not to mention a former editor of MAD. Tom Richmond who a current editor of MAD magazine. Jack Pittman who is the former president of the National Cartoonist Society.

It was an amazing night and one I am going to get back to you on in the next installment of what I’m going to refer to as the Brunswick GA Saga……

 

 

Ready For a New School Year

            Going to wrap up the summer vacation version of Photobomb Tuesday with two smaller events that sum up the summer nicely.

            First up, Jude and I had a Guy’s Day  a few days ago so we decided to surprise Kim and her new job at the paper by cooking a special dinner. Jude was insistent on baking a cake all by himself. Big surprise when Little Man selected the Double Death by Chocolate flavor.

          

Unbeknownst to me, careful cake box placement is

essential to a productive shopping trip. This was the first I’ve

 heard of such but my shopping partner was rather insistent

With a little team work, we felt it turned out pretty good and that night Savannah Morning News’s latest reporter was very happy all thanks to Chef Jude.  

Jude’s plan was to design a cake to rival Cake Wars. He had a really good idea of making the cake look like a newspaper with the headline, “Congratulations.” I tried to explain how writing with icing is different from a pencil but I was ignored much the same as when my mom tried to explain the same thing to me when I was 9.

 

 

In a soon to published blog, I travelled down to Brunswick to hang out Dinner 4Geeks’s Jeff Doke and go to the Jack Davis art Retrospective with John Trotter. Trotter does a UGA Football season calendar every year so I got mine and decided to surprise my ol’ pal and colleague, David Westbrook. You met Dave waaay back here. I am very lucky to teach with a talented faculty and even luckier to have two of my closest friends, Dave Westbrook and Steve Freenor. Our senses of humor jives well together and we are often making each laugh usually at our expense.

            Dave is a die hard Gators fan so I just knew he’d appreciate Trotter’s UGA calendar. It actually became a bit of a process. First, I had to sneak both of our posters into the media center. Our media specialist refuses to allow the illumination machine to be used for non-educational items so steal was necessary. You’ll notice the posters are upside down in case I was visited.

Here is the finished product which looks great and safe from most graffiti based pens.

 

So we’ll see how Dave’s transition from reptile lover to Dawg lover goes as the season passes. I feel it’s going to be a smooth transition. At least the school years is getting off to a proper start.

I am Helping Out a Friend

            Today’s installment of the Tide is to help out a buddy of mine waaaaay back from my old Young Harris Days. John Trotter and I met through the outdoor club the Big Guy ran called Quantrek. We were never all that close but I was always impressed with his creativity and his good nature.

            A few months ago I read on Facebook how Trotter had entered a contest that could possibly feature his artwork on a cup to be sold at all University of Georgia sporting events. What made it even cooler to me was the twist. The artwork must somehow represent the style of Jack Davis.

Always a favorfite

 

            Jack Davis was always a favorite artist of mine and introduced to me through the pages of MAD Magazine.  While writing this quickly, I discovered how Davis went to UGA on the GI BIll so it owuld make sense he'd do some artwork for his old alma mater. During the 80s, back when the dawgs were sugar-coated, Davis did a series of classic posters. I can remember cutting it out one out of the Sunday edition of the Atlanta Journal-COnstitution. It featured UGA in football fear and I proudly taped it to my wall.

 

            I am biased and make no bones about it but if you take a look at the other contestants, they don’t hold a candle to Trotter’s work. The winner is based on popular vote so help a brother out and click. It only takes a moment. I promise.

http://georgiamuseum.org/artforeveryone/view-entry/dawg-sports