Humoreske

This crowded calligraphy was published in 1914, making it a century old. And hey, fittingly it was published by Century Music Publishing Company!

Phone photo 3171

Hood Canal at Potlatch, Washington

The Comix Files: Ben Adams (California)

There were two artists named Ben Adams back in the Newave era. The Ben Adams in this post hailed from Yuba City, California.

Here's a drawing on his stationary and a poster, although I don't know if he produced it or not. It is fun to look at anyway. Both images are from 1987.

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Hood Canal at Potlatch, Washington

Ian and the Zodiacs Sing Bacharach

Any Day Now

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Potlatch, Washington

Song of the Volga Boatmen

Copyright 1926 but published in 1933. I love the simple yet graceful black and white line on this cover and the use of solid black. The final image is the Morris logo from the back cover, it appears to be from an earlier era and has a crowded look to it.

I can detect a faint "M" in the lower corner, the only clue to the identity of the artist.

The Comix Files: Carlos Alberto da Costa Amorim

Carlos Amorim, now a well known cartoonist in Brazil, sent these strips to me in 1997 from Rio de Janeiro. Good stuff.

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Jim O'Rourke Plays Bacharach

Anonymous Phone Call

The Comix Files: Al Ackerman

"Blaster" Al Ackerman (1939-2013) sent this in Dec. 1989, shortly before he left San Antonio. You can see he actually signed the lower left corner, "The Blaster '89"

The Night Wind

From 1918. The colorful Art Deco covers had yet to arrive, apparently.

Bobby Vee Sings Bacharach

Anonymous Phone Call

The Comix Files: Absinto

Absinto was a cartoonist from Cacém, Portugal. "Absinto" apparently means "absinthe" in Portuguese.

In 1996 this cartoonist sent me a nice letter with a ton of comix material. Some of the contents are shared here:

Souvenir of Love

Here's an appropriate bit of sheet music for St. Valentines Day! Published in 1924, cover illustrator is not credited.

I've never liked using shading film and would rather employ direct line drawing to create texture and contrast, as this artist did 90 years ago.

The Shrills Sing Bacharach

Don't Make Me Over

The Comix Files: Mark Abrams

Mark Abrams, who was a student at Wesleyan University in Connecticut when he sent me a letter in January 1995, included this illustration on the back of the envelope.

I believe this is same Mr. Abrams who is now a designer of book covers.

Favorite Movie Quotes: Blown Away

"Would you look at this spread now! Why is it that a man always gets thrown his best party when he dies"

Home Sweet Home Lullaby

George W. Drew (1875-1968), known more as a landscape painter than as a print illustrator, created the image used on the cover of this sheet music, published in 1921.

Les Surfs Sing Bacharach

Don't Make Me Over

(No, no te vayas)

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Elma, Washington

I Wonder What's Become of Sally

Looks like this piece of 1924 sheet music was passed around a bit, with each owner leaving their autograph.

I'm struck by how often the ukulele is mentioned in these. Cover art was by Malcolm Perret.

Rosanna Sings Bacharach

Don't Make Me Over

There's a Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder

Interesting trivia: Sydney Leff, the cover illustrator of this 1928 sheet music, died in 2005 at age 104. Irving Berlin, who published this, died in 1989, age 101.