HISTORY BLUFFS CARTOONS

2011-01-30T18:37:00.000-08:00

2011-01-06T08:36:00.000-08:00

ONE NIGHT CARTOONING CLASS

CARTOONING WITH CORY

Tuesday February 15th 6pm-8pm at the CBRC

Central Blair Parks Recreation

6th Ward Center

HOW TO DRAW FUNNY FACES & CARTOONING

For ages 7-17

$10

Bring the family!

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2101 Fifth Avenue Altoona, PA

Phone: 949-2231

Hotline: 949-2234

OUR FOUNDING FARTERS

2011-01-03T17:52:00.001-08:00

Happy Holiday Lights from HISTORY BLUFFS

2010-12-30T16:39:00.001-08:00

GO TO FACEBOOK TO SEE HISTORY BLUFFS

2010-12-28T11:59:00.001-08:00

History Bluffs at FACEBOOK

2010-12-28T08:40:00.000-08:00

History Bluffs will take a brief sabbatical from Comics Sherpa. Since posted on Facebook for over a month, the feedback has been a lot more frequent. Last day of the 'Bluffs' on sherpa and GoComics will be Sunday January 2, 2011
History Bluffs day of origin was January 2, 2003 and the first one which was drawn was on January 6th, just a few days later!

About the Artist and the Cartoon

2010-12-19T08:18:00.000-08:00

ABOUT THE CREATOR OF THE CARTOON

Mein namen ist Cory Benjamin Geishauser, and I’ve shortened it to Corben Geis, just for kicks and because of writer’s cramp. I am a huge fan of art and history, but not ‘art history’. I mean, besides ‘the flying buttresses’, there’s really nothing funny about art history. (OK, Sister Wendy does kinda remind me of Austin Powers in a habit….note to self…work on the funny there.)Google Images of Sr. Wendy, and you'll understand.

I attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, where I worked my internship with my boyhood hero, the late and great, Mr. Fred Rogers. Besides being an activities director for a personal care home, I have been teaching an after school arts program I developed called “The Art Funshops”. I had a great experience a few years back to instruct art at Camp Crayola, for Binney and Smith’s 100th Anniversary Celebration.

I draw caricatures on the side, actually on my rump and I have been a walking cartoon for the past 10 years for The Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Baseball Team, THE ALTOONA CURVE. I’m the sports mascot STEAMER (check my website out for photos ) www.corbengeis.com

ABOUT THE CARTOON 'HISTORY BLUFFS'
To bluff a bit on General MacArthur's famous last words, "I HAVE RETURNED!" I previously had my strip History Bluffs here before and I got a lot of great feedback and hilarious critiques. One of my favorites was, "I never knew much about American History, and now I really don't".

I recently put my new website online, and had a handful of people write to me and ask,"Where the Bluff Bluff are the Bluffs!" Folks actually read them at Sherpa and demanded I bring them back, for their weekly (weakly) dose. One of the coolest compliments I got from another reader, and I actually cut it out and stuck in on my fridge, was "THE FAR SIDE IS TO SCIENCE AS HISTORY BLUFFS IS TO.... HISTORY". Thanks, mom.

I've always wanted to be a WRITER, AN ILLUSTRATOR, A DIRECTOR, AN ACTOR & A COMEDIAN, and I can be all of those by being a CARTOONIST.

To quote and quirk the late Captain James Lawrence, "Don't give up the STRIP!"

12 Days of HISTORY BLUFFS

2010-12-14T13:03:00.001-08:00

Check out the toons for the days leading up to Christmas Day. Having fun spoofing a most interesting historical/biblical carol.
www.gocomics.com/historybluffs

New History Bluff Video short

2010-11-25T11:54:00.001-08:00

Timeline of Cartoon Characters

2010-11-20T12:58:00.001-08:00

Click on each character for larger view

SUBSCRIBE TO HISTORY BLUFFS CARTOONS

2010-11-19T13:27:00.000-08:00

"Don't give up the strip!" Misquoting Captain Lawrence and other figures of history is part of the fun in History Bluffs. My cartoon is designed for the true history buff and also for the novice. It's written for young kids and old kids alike. The basic idea of the 'bluffs' is to get all kind of folks interested in history. Some really love it and others could care less about our past. Some say that history was cruel and shouldn't be mocked or taunted. But, I learned early in life that ' laughter is the shock absorber of life's blows'.

The one thing I like to get my readers to do is 'look it up'. And, it's happened... quite a bit. A reader may have read one of my 'bluffs', and thought it was funny, but really didn't 'get the joke'. So, they went online, did some research on the historical event, and then ended up laughing even harder, after they learned about it. "A delayed laughter is better than no laughter at all." says me.

Please subscribe to my daily cartoon for FREE right here at this link www.gocomics.com/historybluffs

Thank you and enjoy!
HISTORY BLUFFS; MAKING HISTORY FUN, WHILE MAKING FUN OF HISTORY.

Definite BLUFF

2010-11-16T19:05:00.000-08:00

I just sent out a bunch of friend requests for this HISTORY BLUFFS site, and also realized my cartoon tomorrow is a real BLUFF. I have a 'waiting a really long time' gag with a long beard and wrote it as Rumpelstiltskin!....And,driving home tonight it hit me...OH MAN, IT'S RIP VAN WINKLE!! Hopefully, I can redo before... deadline tonight. If I get any comments I can always say, "they are called history BLUFFS' hahaha

I wonder if the original will be worth something now.

Here's what it's to look like, just in case it doesn't reload properly

History Bluffs...we are getting around!

2010-11-16T12:57:00.000-08:00

Besides this blog spot, we are now on Facebook! Remember, if you'd like to subscribe to receive HISTORY BLUFFS daily to your computer, go to www.gocomics.com/historybluffs

Some of the very first HISTORY BLUFFS

2010-11-14T08:23:00.001-08:00

HISTORY BLUFFS AT FACEBOOK

2010-11-12T20:00:00.001-08:00

Cory Geishauser likes

History Bluffs

Create your Like Badge

Happy Veterans Day, Week and Year!

2010-11-07T09:17:00.001-08:00

EVERYDAY IS VETERANS DAY

DON'T MISS HISTORY BLUFFS THIS WEEK!

2010-11-06T14:25:00.000-07:00

HISTORICAL AND HYSTERICAL CARTOON CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS ALL WEEK LONG
www.gocomics.com/historybluffs

Halloween HISTORY BLUFFS

2010-10-30T08:35:00.000-07:00

Click on cartoon for a larger image

DIEGO RIVERA TOON

2010-10-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

Today's cartoon is dedicated to all of my art students, past and present.

IF FACEBOOK EXISTED YEARS AGO...

2010-10-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

This is just a clip, here's the whole thing... http://www.pbnation.com/showthread.php?t=3456792

It's Hilarious!

Great Twitter Jokes for History Buffs

2010-10-15T13:41:00.001-07:00

Historical Accuracy lol

2010-10-15T13:38:00.001-07:00

Thank You for the Comments, Compliments and Critiques

2010-10-15T13:32:00.000-07:00

I recently posted these few at the Comics Sherpa site and there have been a baker's dozen more that have come in just this week. It's so nice to get feedback... I know people are reading, so it gets me movtivated to write and draw more!

ENJOY SOME OF THESE CRITIQUES AND TESTIMONIALS ON HISTORY BLUFFS

"If Gary Larson can make me like Biology, then Corben Geis can make me like History."

"I read your comic on Washington's 'other' crossings and chuckled. Then, I went to Wikipedia to read more about Washington and discovered that he was actually NOT our country's first president."

"History Bluffs reminds me of Richard Mulligan's eccentric history teacher role in the movie TEACHERS. You make it not only humorous, but interesting. Keep it up!"

"I've gotten more history lessons from your comic strip than I ever did in school. Each cartoon of yours is a history lesson. If I don't understand the gag, I Google it, learn about it, and then laugh even harder at your toon."

"I really 'don't know much about history', and thanks to History Bluffs, I never will. lol"

"My son hates Geography. They are learning about the different European countries now and I've tried everything to get him to take interest in other people's cultures. Then I showed him your History Bluff about the guy who did the 'countries and lands bar tour at Epcot Center'...you know the jet lag/hang over one... he laughed so hard he nearly cried and has really taken an interest in drinking. Thanks a lot." :)

White House Toon Got Lots of Laughs

2010-10-15T09:44:00.001-07:00

Read, Rate and Rank my Cartoons at Comics Sherpa!

2010-10-14T06:05:00.000-07:00

After you've gone to HISTORY BLUFFS, go to 'send feedback to Corben Geis' and you'll see something like this...

Leave feedback for HISTORY BLUFFS creator Corben Geis

Feature: HISTORY BLUFFS Date:

Rate This Feature:

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a. Drawing:
b. Idea/Concept:
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History Bluffs Movie Teasers

2010-09-29T17:35:00.000-07:00

CORY SPEAKS ABOUT HISTORY BLUFFS

2010-09-28T04:58:00.000-07:00

TAKING SIGN UPS FOR AUTUMN CLASSESS

2010-09-26T19:15:00.000-07:00

HISTORICAL CARTOONS & THE HISTORY OF CARTOONS

2010-09-21T13:42:00.000-07:00

Spoke at a luncheon to the Friends of the Library on the above topics and I was so very pleased to say that it was a full house. A wonderful welcome to the Commercial and Visual Arts students from the Career and Technology Center. Kay Shade, arts director of the library, shot video of the program. As soon as I can edit it down, I will post some 'highlights' on Youtube.

Good questions from a great crowd of spectators.

The question did come up if I would consider speaking in the school systems as an artist in residence program. Was told 'teachers would love the program' because Art and History and Geography we all tied in together.

Yes, I would be glad to come to your school to speak. Please contact me at corben@corbengeis.com I'm available on Mondays and Tuesdays. Also, I have done 2 day workshops, where some schools have me go into the various art classes instead of me just speaking in the auditiorium or theater. When I actually go into the classrooms, there is hands-on art projects assigned.

CHECK OUT MY TOONS AND RATE & RANK THEM

2010-08-06T13:24:00.000-07:00

http://www.gocomics.com/historybluffs

Drawing Board Roughs

2010-08-01T19:11:00.000-07:00

Click on image for a larger zoom inHere are some blue prints of the 'new direction' I was heading for with my HISTORY BLUFFS. Comments please!

SINGLE PANEL vs MULTI PANEL

2010-07-31T12:41:00.000-07:00

Since the inception of HISTORY BLUFFS, in January of 2003, the comic strip has been a single panel strip. Recently, while at 'ye olde drawing boarde', I doodled and dabbled at a multi-panel strip. "Hmmmm, very interesting", say it like Artie Johnson of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In fame.

I like single panel, personally, cause I want to tell the story and the joke as quickly as possible for our reader. In and out and onto the next. I'll post a few rough draft sketches to see if I get any feedback from this post to spark some interest.

Thank you for reading and writing. Sign up here to be a follower of my blog

BACK ON COMICS SHERPA

2010-07-17T19:38:00.000-07:00

Go to http://www.gocomics.com/, then onto Comics Sherpa, then look for HISTORY BLUFFS (sign up to receive them daily)

I would enjoy reading your comments, but hey, if ya don't wanna write anything, please check the boxes FUNNY, INTERESTING or COOL ( just to let me know that you are out there)

Salute to the Silver Screen Cowboys

2010-07-17T06:59:00.001-07:00

The video slide show stinks, but the lyrics old Roy is singing brings tears to my eyes.
This one Rex Allen Jr. sings about his daddy Rex Allen and the others gets me teary-eyed too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDr73f1NRIg

Ray Stevens Video WE THE PEOPLE

2010-07-17T06:44:00.001-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc_-L4fyLUo
Old Ray is getting up there in age, but is still funny as heck.
Then, be sure to watch Ray sing COME TO THE USA & THROW THE BUMS OUT.

He's also getting to be a pissed off old man too. His big comeback was 10 years ago with OSAMA YO MAMA! I saw Ray in concert in Wheeling 15 years ago and he was hilarious. Saw Weird Al in Greensburg last week and he is still crazy after all these years too!

Tantalizing True Tales of Historic Misbehavior by the Founding Fathers and Others Who Let Freedom Swing

2010-07-17T06:25:00.000-07:00

A must read for history buffs and for the novice. If you don't know much about History, this will spark your plug, blow your fuse, and flip your w(h)ig!

If you is from the south..it will hush your brow and fan your top!

I HAVE RETURNED!!!

2010-07-16T13:24:00.001-07:00

Back on Comics Sherpa & Go Comics!!

Also the title of my favorite Ray Stevens Album

Shakespeare DID have a Sense of Humor!!!

2010-07-16T13:18:00.000-07:00

"There's something rotten in the state of my Danishes" or something like that...

Have you ever come in on a joke already being told, or are you a blonde? When it comes to Bill Shakespeare having wit and whim, I am the blonde person who came in the middle of a joke. Much like a neutered dog, I DON'T GET IT!?

I remember reading about A COMEDY OF ERRORS when I was a freshman in high school. To me, I thought that was his only comedy, just because the friggin' word C O M E D Y is in the title. But, William Shakespeare apparently wrote 14 comedies.

Do you know what they are? Do you care?
I need to read them so I can write more cartoons. But would anybody 'get them'?

Did You Know BEN FRANKLIN was a CARTOONIST?

2010-07-16T12:57:00.000-07:00

Besides everything else the man accomplished ( I personally think he was an alien LOL ), he was a political and editorial cartoonist too.

Join, or Die is a well-known political cartoon, created by Benjamin Franklin and first published in his Pennsylvania Gazette on May 9, 1754.[1] The original publication by the Gazette is the earliest known pictorial representation of colonial union produced by a British colonist in America.
[2] It is a woodcut showing a snake severed into eighths, with each segment labeled with the initials of a British American colony or region. New England was represented as one segment, rather than the four colonies it was at that time. In addition, Delaware and Georgia were omitted completely. Thus, it has 8 segments of snake rather than the traditional 13 colonies.
[3] The cartoon appeared along with Franklin's editorial about the "disunited state" of the colonies, and helped make his point about the importance of colonial unity. During that era, there was a superstition that a snake which had been cut into pieces would come back to life if the pieces were put together before sunset

Thomas Nast and James Montgomery Flagg

2010-07-14T13:48:00.000-07:00

For those of us who love cartooning and history, Thomas Nast should be a very familiar name. He is most famously credited for designing the donkey as the symbol for the Democratic Party, the elephant for the Republican Party and gave us our 'modern' image of Santa Claus.

Following his death in 1902, Thomas Nast's obituary in Harper's Weekly stated, "He has been called, perhaps not with accuracy, but with substantial justice, the Father of American Caricature."

Check out his drawings and biography http://cartoons.osu.edu/nast/index.htm

However, the famous recruitment poster of Uncle Sam was created by James Montgomery Flagg, an illustrator and portrait artist best known for commercial art. It was released in 1916, and used a lot in WWI and WWII

Original Name of HISTORY BLUFFS was....

2010-07-14T12:52:00.000-07:00

PAST TENSE But, I changed it to History BLUFFS because I have another comic strip with called SPIN CHAIN SPOOFS...and I think the letter F is hilarious. Some of my favorite F words are Fubar, Funky and Food. I like the letter K too. There's a comic strip called Funky Winkerbean, and I absolutely love the title of that panel.

Do you have a historical quote? Send some in...

2010-07-14T12:47:00.001-07:00

The past is never dead. It's not even past.

-- William Faulkner, Requiem for a Nun, Act I (1951)

New History Bluffs coming soon...

2010-07-08T13:28:00.000-07:00

If you've signed up to receive the History Bluffs daily at www.comicssherpa.com , don't forget to read and rank the cartoons. I APPRECIATE FEEDBACK FROM READERS.

Also, after the 'HALL OF PRESIDENTS', you'll see a BIG difference in about mid-August.

Stay tooned....

HISTORY BLUFFS ON TV!!!!

2010-07-05T05:03:00.001-07:00

Cory's History Bluffs can be viewed on Public Access Educational/Government channel 14 in the Altoona, Pa area. He is JULY's artist of the month.

HISTORY BLUFFS RETURNING TO GO COMICS IN JULY

2010-07-01T13:38:00.000-07:00

Starting Sunday July 4th 2010, History Bluffs will be returning to Go Comics and Comics Sherpa.

History Bluffs Spoofing All Over the Map

2010-06-02T19:06:00.000-07:00

Greetings and Salivations from Ye Olde Drawing Boarde.... I got a lot more History Bluffs in the blue print stages and I hope to return to GOCOMICS.COM on July 4th 2010. Thanks for the emails and text messages about my comic strip.

DON'T GIVE UP THE STRIP!

Funny, Interesting & Cool

2010-04-19T13:12:00.000-07:00

These were some of the comments about my cartoons of the US Presidents, with my Library art show at the reception. 'Funny, Interesting and Cool' were the 3 words to describe the compliments that I got. Some of the comments were,

" William Howard Taft drawing was hilarious! The tub and the bat. Oh, man."

" I never knew much about the Warren G. Harding presidency, now I'm intrigued."

" It's amazing how impartial you stayed with your cartooning. Never really leaning left nor right. Very good."

" My favorite parts were the little things going on in the background."

" After viewing your artshow, I am now going to have to get the full scoop on a couple of the stories you drew."

" I laughed and I got an education"

" Did you actually plan the art show on the 235th anniversary of Paul Revere's Ride, or was that just luck?"

" Are all of those weird and wacky facts, true? I can't believe some of them."

" You were really nice to President Franklin Pierce."

" I enjoyed the funny bits you did with the not-so-famous presidents, like Zachary Taylor. "

" That was the best history lesson I ever had."

and the best compliment I had all day was...

" If only the history teachers would have made history as much fun as you drew those presidents, I would have enjoyed history a lot more than I did."

Caricatures at an Encampment

2010-04-10T14:57:00.000-07:00

I've been drawing caricatures for nearly 20 years, and yesterday was my first encampment. Drew civil war and WWII characters. I drew so many unique and interesting hats! Feathers in them and all!!

Hall of Presidents ( Fun Facts About the Prez )

2010-04-07T18:30:00.000-07:00

On display at the Altoona Area Public Library April 2010

Join Cory and Jared at Penn State Altoona!

2010-04-07T17:27:00.000-07:00

Penn State Altoona students learn to use a Civil War telegraph at last year's encampment.

The Penn State Altoona History Society is pleased to host its 3rd Annual History Encampment on Friday April 9. Join cartoonist Cory Geishauser make his "History Bluffs" in person, get your Old Tyme Photo taken, and have some fun with history! Student and community members will have the opportunity to interact with Civil War and World War II "living historians" dressed in period clothing and equipment. Members of the 110th Pennsylvania and 101st Airborne will be present. Students will also be able to have historical caricatures done of themselves in addition to dressing up and posing for their own old fashioned Civil War photo. The encampment will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the lawns between the Misciagna and Hawthorn Buildings on campus. All of the days activities are free and open to the general public. See you there!

Cory to Speak at the Library

2010-04-05T06:10:00.000-07:00

Cory will be giving a comical presentation, CARTOONS, COMICS & CARICATURES on Tuesday April 13th at 3:30pm in the Altoona Library's Theater.

" I like to think of it as QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & A LITTLE MUSIC for art students", say Cory. It will be funny and fun.

History Bluffs in Color, B & W and Sepia Tones

2010-03-09T20:37:00.000-08:00

Hall of Presidents CARTOONS (Starting in April)

2010-03-08T19:47:00.001-08:00

Watch to view my HALL OF PRESIDENTS art show on display here starting in April
Entire works will be on display at the Altoona Library ( originals will be for sale )

History Quiz: WHICH PRESIDENTS ARE MISSING?

2010-03-03T08:24:00.000-08:00

How good is your knowledge of US Presidents? My upcoming Art Show at the Public Library will be poking fun at our past presidents. Obama is our 44th Prez. and this picture shows only 30, which ones are missing?

A Tour of the Art Studio

2010-02-28T20:32:00.001-08:00

History Bluffs for the Weekend

2010-02-28T18:36:00.000-08:00

Spoofing the Ernest Hemingway novel, The Old Man and the Sea.

The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. And, the caption is from the second verse of America, the Beautiful

2010-02-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

The following acronyms are John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Prisoners of War, Missing in Action, National Broadcasting Channel and the Daughters of the American Revolution. And, the student IS NOT SOBBING.... his acronym is Son of a B....

2010-02-25T20:20:00.000-08:00

Historians believe that Alexander Graham Bell's first words uttered over the first telephone was to his assistant saying, "come here I need to see you".

2010-02-24T20:26:00.000-08:00

The Battle of the Bulge, fought over the winter months of 1944 – 1945, was the last major Nazi offensive against the Allies in World War Two. The battle was a last ditch attempt by Hitler to split the Allies in two in their drive towards Germany and destroy their ability to supply themselves.

2010-02-23T17:16:00.000-08:00

The 100 Years War was a series of separate wars lasting from 1337 to 1453 between two royal houses for the French throne. So, it was actually longer than 100 years!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GEORGE!

2010-02-22T18:48:00.001-08:00

Did George Washington really throw a silver dollar across the Potomac River?

No. This popular myth is often told to illustrate his strength. The Potomac River is over a mile wide and even George Washington was not that good an athlete! Moreover, there were no silver dollars when Washington was a young man. His step-grandson once wrote that Washington threw a piece of slate across the Rappahannock River near his boyhood home in Fredericksburg, which is much more narrow. That may be the origin of this story.

Coming Soon from England to West Virginia

2010-02-22T08:34:00.001-08:00

Civil War Leaders Done as Caricatures!

2010-02-22T07:47:00.000-08:00

Way to go, Jared! These detailed caricatures were made into birthday cards. Very clever! How many of these Civil War leaders can you name? Some of their captions will help as a hint. If you like these cards, and would like to order them (and more) go to www.historymatters.biz

History Buff Friends

2010-02-21T08:23:00.000-08:00

As you can see, from the right hand-column, my good friend and former art student, Jared Frederick proves that the Pen is Mightier than the Sword with his collection of Civil War Renderings. And, from this video below, my good buddy Erin Cooley enjoys history from back in the colonial times. Ft. Roberdeau is just down the path from his house, and when he learned the History Channel was ah comin', he took his camera to the site.

OH, YIKES! Another Fun Book on History

2010-02-21T05:13:00.000-08:00

I played the game, 'Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader'? and I won. I don't feel any better, though, because now that proves I have a 6th grade IQ. Here's another history book I suggest you read. Unlike my other suggestion for this month, 'Don't Know Much About History', this book has pictures and drawings which are gross and wacky! Yessss! Oh, man, I am elementary, my dear Watson! ( btw which Sherlock Holmes never uttered )

Artist of the Month

2010-02-17T08:19:00.000-08:00

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Cory to be Artist of the Month at the

Altoona Area Public Library during April.

( No foolin' ! )

My Favorite Political Satirist

2010-02-16T20:07:00.000-08:00

I have a collection of Lewis Black's CDs, DVDs, Books and I've seen him several times in concert. If there is anyone who is right down the middle like me, it's Lewis Black. He's the best part of the Daily Show.

Movie Posters ( Cory's Picks )

2010-02-16T17:58:00.000-08:00

Used to watch 1776 every 4th of July starrring ( Ken Howard and William Daniels ) 1972 The wisemen go to the wrong stable. In this manger lays the babe, Brian. Life of Brian ( Monty Python ) 1979 "It's good to be the King!" History of the World Part 1 ( Mel Brooks & Gregory Hines ) 1981 The only other comedian who does Hitler as good as Chaplin, was Moe Howard. The Great Dictator ( Charlie Chaplin ) 1940 Lewis and Clark misfits. Definitely not Farley's best work. Almost Heroes ( Chris Farley and Matthew Perry ) 1998

Destined and Doomed to be Bluffed!

2010-02-16T14:53:00.001-08:00

A Royal Flush is Better Than a Full House

2010-02-16T12:16:00.000-08:00

NEW 5 MINUTE SHORT FEATURE

The Lifetime Achievement Award

2010-02-15T16:30:00.000-08:00

There is no doubt, my love of History came from my Gramma Kitty. Her stories from her childhood during the Great Depression and working in Baltimore during WWII were truly inspirational, and yet, quite comical. Enjoy this video as she receives The Lifetime Achievement Award from the Historical Society

History Bluffs at Youtube

2010-02-15T16:14:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/user/historybluffs
Become a Subscriber

Welcome to the History Bluffs' Blog Spot

2010-02-14T13:56:00.000-08:00

Comical Quotes from Historical Figures

2010-02-14T13:42:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, I don't have to do too much to make the cartoon funny. Since my main target is history, there's a lot of stupid things people say over the microphones, but here are some good ones that are direct quotes without any twisting, bending, cropping or editing. Do you have a favorite comical quote from history? I can never get tired of reading quips and quotes from Will Rogers.

"He who slings mud generally loses ground."

...Adlai Stevenson

"If you can't be kind, at least be vague."
...Judith Manners

"If you want to sacrifice the admiration of many men for the criticism of one, go ahead, get married."
...Katherine Hepburn

"If you want to say it with flowers, a single rose says : "I'm cheap!"
...Delta Burke

"It is useless to hold a person to anything he says while he's in love, drunk, or running for office."
...Shirley MacLaine

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."
...Will Rogers

"Things without remedy, should be without regard; what is done, is done."
...William Shakespeare

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and it looks like work."
...Thomas Edison

"You can't hold a man down without staying down with him."
...Booker T. Washington

"Keep in mind that whoever came up with the old adage, Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you, was obviously deaf."
...Unknown

"Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups."
...Unknown

"Be careful what you pretend to be because you are what you pretend to be."
...Kurt Vonnegut

"Be aware that a halo has to fall only a few inches to be a noose."
...Dan McKinnon

"Love all. Trust a few. Do wrong to none."
...William Shakespeare

"It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt."
...Mark Twain

"It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."
...Eleanor Roosevelt

"O, What may man within him hide,
Though angel on the outward side!"
...William Shakespeare

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."
...Mark Twain

"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away."
...Henry David Thoreau

"Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that's the stuff life is made of."
...Benjamin Franklin

My Thought Process and President's Day

2010-02-14T10:52:00.000-08:00

How do cartoonists come up with funnies daily? How can one be funny everyday? Well, most cartoons aren't funny every single day. There are the smile days, the snicker days, the chuckle and put your belly and shoulders into days, and then there's the slap your knee and make root beer squirt out your nose bellow laughing days. It depends on the reader. If a cartoon strikes a personal nerve, that's when the hearty laughs come out.

I went to Catholic school for 12 years, so a lot of the guilt I went through shines out in my cartoons. I absolutely love the writing part of cartooning. I have an entire notebook filled with ideas on future comics. It's kind of like a journal, but in it are phrases, sketchy thumbnail drawings and a bunch of one-liner jokes. At the top of some of my pages, I'll have topics for that page, so I can bounce around in the notebook.

Some pages I'll have prehistoric themed cartoons, and others I'll have colonial and anti-bellum cartoon ideas. Although, there's not much funny about war, I had so much respect for Bob Hope when he went overseas to visit the troops, that I think when people are in distress, humor is the right 'stress reliever'. Some cartoons just write themselves, for example, the Fort Pillow Massacre. What an easy pillow fight cartoon to draw.

I come up with ideas at all different times of the day. I'm not anymore creative be in morning, noon or night. Although, I find I have more time and creative juices after midnight. And, that's due to lack of sleep and being just plain delerious. I'm looking in my notebook and I have a section on President's Day. On this particular page, I don't have anything funny written down......yet. I just have presidential facts that I can perhaps turn into fiction with my History Bluffs. The great thing about history, is with one particular event, I may be able to write a half dozen puns.

Check out some of my Prez info., and I know there's a lot of funny stuff in here, somewherez...
* Geo Washington was the only pres who did not represent a political party.
* John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on July 4, 1826 on the 50th anniversary of the D.O.I
* James Madison first prez to wear trousers rather than knee breeches.
* James Monroe was the first prez to ride a steamboat.
* John Quincy Adams skinny dipped often in the Potomac
* Old Hickory Jackson was the first prez to ride a train
* Martin Van Buren was called Old Kinderhook, and the term OK is credited to him
* William Henry Harrison...Tippacanoe and Tyler too campaign slogan
* James K. Polk actually fulfilled all of his campaign promises. (wow!)
* Zachary Taylor...was ugly and cheap... received nomination for prez late because he refused all postage due correspondences.
* Milliard Fillmore has a cartoon close to his name...Mallard Fillmore...hahaha ..true.
* Franklin Pierce was first prez to have a Christmas tree in the WH
*James Buchanan was the only prez to never marry and played lots of cards with da boys
* Abe Lincoln... I don't know anything about this guy! lol
* Andrew Johnson was a boozer, and an illiterate until his wife taught him Readin, Riting and Rithmatic
* US Grant is on the $50 bill and established the nation's first national park, Yellowstone.
* Rutherford B. Hayes banished liquor and wine from the WH. He started the Easter Egg rolls on the WH lawns.
* James A. Garfield was the last of 7 prez to be born in a log cabin.
* Chester A. Arthur nickname was 'Elegant Arthur'
* Grover Cleveland personally answered the WH phone. ( of course it was probably as big as a refrigerator back then )
* Benjamin Harrison was the first prez to use electricity in the WH and got an electrical shock.
* Bill McKinley was the first prez to ride in an automobile.
* Teddy Roosevelt was the first to call it the White House, before it was the executive mansion or prez. house.
* William H. taft got stuck in the bathtub
* Woody Wilson rasied a flock of sheep on the WH lawn. That was a baaaaaad move.
* Warren G. Harding was first prez to speak over radio and wore a size 14 shoe.
* Cal Coolidge nick name was Silent Cal.
* Herbie Hoover donated his salary to charity.
* FDR was the first prez whose mother was eligible to vote for him
* Harry S Truman first to give a speech on TV
* Ike Eisenhower was the only prez to serve in WW1 and WW2
* JFK was Roman Catholic and first prez born in the 20th century.
* LBJ took oath aboard Air Force One
* Tricky Dicky Nixon was the only prez to resign
* Gerald Ford was a clutz and a great golfer and was once a fashion model
* Jimmy Carter was the first prez born in a hospital and was a speed reader
* Ronnie 'the Gipper' Reagan was the oldest prez elected at 69
* Geo HW Bush and Bar have a great sense of humor, just look at their kids.
* Billy Clinton plays a mean saxaphone
* W. owned the Texas Rangers MLB team
* Barack Obama has a hot wife.

Toon Talk ( Behind the Bluffs )

2010-02-14T04:03:00.001-08:00

The History Bluffs that Tells it All

2010-02-13T13:10:00.000-08:00

Out of the hundreds of History Bluffs I've evern drawn and published, this colonial one pretty much sums up what this comic strip is all about. I love this one. When it was posted at the Comics Sherpa site, it had a lot of comments and a high ranking in the critique and voting section. Thanks to all the readers who sent in comments. historybluffs@yahoo.com

My Motto and Goal

2010-02-13T13:03:00.000-08:00

PREZ. DAY TOON

2010-02-13T10:01:00.000-08:00

Biblical Bluffs

2010-02-12T19:48:00.000-08:00

A lot of people tell me to 'be careful when making cartoons from the Bible or religious spoofs. I usually tell them, "If God didn't have a sense of humor, then I would even be here drawing these cartoons". Then they usually end the conversation by pointing one finger to the clouds and in an echo voice bellow, "Heed my warning!" or something prophetic like all that papal bull. Then they would grow wings and ascend into the skies. Here's a few Bluffs that are just cute and harmless.

The ones I got a little flack on were ones like 'Jesus at the Fraternity' and one of his frat bros saying to another, 'you should see what this guy can do with a jug of water'. Or the one with the little kids sitting on Santa's lap saying, "if Jesus was born on Christmas and died on Easter, he really didn't live very long, did he?" There's a lot more I need to dig up. But the one I like is Moses in front of his mirror with a comb and a hair dryer with the caption reading 'MOSES PARTING HIS HAIR'.

I'm usually pretty fair when I attempt the religious puns and the holy humor. I did my penance by attending catholic school for 12 years, so a lot of my humor comes from many a guilt trip. I drew one on the Friar's Club where the roastmaster is named Chaplin Charlie and they are roasting the Abbot, Costello. And, the only other one that comes to mind is the History Bluff I drew of a huge crowd of people in the desert, with the caption reading "Jesus feeds the 5000" and someone shouting "What? Fish again!"

Cartooning History Bluffs

2010-02-12T15:26:00.001-08:00

Say It With a Song

2010-02-12T13:46:00.000-08:00

Art History became easier and more enjoyable to students back in the late-80s and early -90’s with the TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES craze. Raphael, Donatello, Michaelangelo and Leonardo were named after famous artists!? You’re kidding? There was also a very popular rock song which came out in 1989, which made remembering certain historical events from the Cold War era much easier. Do you remember Billy Joel’s WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE?

That pop song was so catchy, that when I attended art school, I memorized art history Q&A to the same melody line. I remember the line going into the chorus always ended with “…don’t forget The Flying Buttresses…we didn’t start the fire, it was always burning since the world’s been turning”…. And, I always 'aced' the tests because I was having so much fun singing, but during exam time, I had to hum it to myself so the Paddy Wagon didn't have to ship me out.

So, when teaching some art history some many years later, I would teach kids how to remember trivia by incorporating a song with it. If there was a piano in the classroom, oh what fun we would have. I also showed them the acronym way, like ROY G BIV (colors of the spectrum ) and musical note stuff like the ever popular ALL COWS EAT GRASS.

I remember showing the wee ones about how to layout the construction paper in front of them, while also learning big words .

We did it to the tune of ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT.

Try a go at it…

VERTICAL, VERTICAL, VERTICAL’S UP AND DOWN

VERTICAL, VERTICAL, VERTICAL, VERTICAL …..

VERTICAL’S UP AND DOWN

HORIZONTAL, HORIZONTAL, HORIZONTAL’S SIDE TO SIDE

HORIZONTAL, HORIZONTAL, HORIZONTAL’S SIDE TO SIDE

DIAGONAL, DIAGONAL, DIAGONAL’S AT A SLANT

DIAGONAL, DIAGONAL, DIAGONAL’S AT A SLANT

THE ROUGH DRAFTS

2010-02-11T19:39:00.000-08:00

If these 3 look a little unfinished, well, that's because they aren't finished. These are some of the rough drafts or high comps that I have that sit on the drawing board for awhile. They sit there because after writing them, sketching them, inking and yes even coloring these cartoons... I sometimes feel they are missing something, aren't funny enough or need a different look or angle. For a guy who's really not a perfectionist, when it comes to cartooning, I've a bit of the OCD (orignal cartoons disfunctional ) and they need TLC ASAP.

Not All History Teachers are Boring

2010-02-11T08:32:00.000-08:00

I've taught art for many years to a lot of students and one thing they would gripe about is 'history being soooo boring'. It doesn't have to be 'booooring'! As a matter of fact, because of some of the complainings I had heard earlier in my teaching days, I decided that I'd take on ART HISTORY ( which to some is even more of a bore than regular American and World History ) and incorporate it into the grade school levels.

I had fun wearing a bandage over my ear when I talked about Van Gogh. I bought a handle-bar moustache at a costume shop, and the entire class made them out of black consturction paper, and we taped them under our noses. When the principal came in and wondered what was going on, I told her, 'we're starting to learn barbershop quartet music' ( hahaha) but in reality I was teaching a lesson on the eccentric Savadore Dali.

Boy, did we have fun. I remember changing the lyrics from the 'YOU SAY POTATO, YOU SAY TOMATO' song, when I once did a lesson on artists Manet and Monet. Oh, what a blast! And, I came up with the idea from an old movie I saw when I was a kid.

Do you remember Richard Mulligan in the 1984 movie, TEACHERS? He played the memorable Herbert Gower/Stuart Van Ark , an outpatient from a mental institution who is accidentally put in charge of a U.S. History class and makes it fun and engaging. What a crack up when he does the Washington crossing the Delaware scene. A good rental, with lots of big name stars in it, such as Ralph Macchio, Nick Nolte, Judd Hirsch and Morgan Freeman.

VD History Bluff

2010-02-10T08:04:00.000-08:00

If you liked this one, wait till you see the St. Patrick's Day toon I'll be posting soon.

A Couple of Bluffs on Washington

2010-02-09T18:43:00.000-08:00

When the crossing of the Delaware History Bluff ran on GoComics, I had several nice comments on it. Readers laughed at the motor boat. I sometimes add little 'easter eggs' in the background for fun.The 'dollar across the Potomac' bluff got a few readers to write back about how this should be in the History books. One of the nicest compliments a historical cartoonist can receive.

Inspired by a FAR SIDE cartoon of WASHINGTON CROSSING THE STREET.

Titles of Upcoming History Bluffs' Books

2010-02-09T08:43:00.000-08:00

THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO FEAR ARE ORAL SURGEONS THEMSELVES

REMEMBER, THE ALIMONY!

DON'T FIRE UNTIL YOU SEE THE WHITES OF THEIR EGGS

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE LYNCHING

GIVE ME LIBERTY OR AT LEAST GET ME HER NUMBER

SPEAK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG SCHTICK

I AM NOT A SCHNOOK!

ON THE 8TH DAY, HE CREATED CHEESE

THE SCORE WAS FOUR TO SEVEN

ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, SWEET & LOW, WOMEN ARE JUST SPLENDA

LIONS AND TIGERS AND GUILLOTINES, OH MY!

FRIENDS, ROMANS, COUNTRYMEN...LEND ME YOUR EARS....OF CORN

History is in My Denim Genes

2010-02-08T20:04:00.000-08:00

Old Grampappy Rootin-Tootin Baked Beaned Corben was a true cowboy. And, he passed those yee haw genes down from generation to generation. Grampappy was a history buff too. I am proud to say, that I have inherited those genes. I am Good, Bad and Ugly. Well, I think I'm 'pretty' ugly.

Where Do I Get the Ideas for the Gags?

2010-02-08T19:36:00.000-08:00

THIS WAS THE VERY FIRST HISTORY BLUFF. I HEARD TWO DEE JAYS ON THE RADIO JOKING ABOUT CERTAIN EVENTS IN HISTORY. THEY WERE DISCUSSING THE 100 YEARS WAR AND ONE OF THEM SAID, 'YEAH, WHO STARTED THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE?' I WAS ACTUALLY IN THE OLDEST TOWN IN THE UNITED STATES WHEN I GOT THIS IDEA, ST. AUGUSTINE FLORIDA. WOW, THIS COULD BE THE START OF A BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP.

THIS EDISON TOON IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITES. I WISH MORE IDEAS CAME TO ME AS EASY AS THIS ONE. I'VE SOLD AT LEAST 10 PRINTS OF THIS BLUFF. FOR SOME REASON AUDIENCES REALLY LOVE THIS PARTICULAR TOON. IT REALLY CRACKS PEOPLE UP. I AM QUITE FOND OF EDISON'S UNI-BROW. PERFECT EXAMPLE OF KEEP IT SIMPLE, SIMON.

THE BEST CARTOONS ARE THE ONES THAT HIT A PERSONAL CHORD WITH VIEWERS. THIS ONE REALLY, REALLY MAKES ME LAUGH. OTHERS JUST SEEM TO SNICKER. BUT THE TOONS THAT I THINK ARE JUST HA HA, SEEM TO BE A KNEE SLAPPER TO OTHERS. I FEEL THE GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IS WHEN READERS CUT OUT A TOON AND POST IT IN THEIR CUBICLES OR STICK IT TO THE FRIDGE. THAT'S BETTER THAN THE HALL OF FAME. HERE'S A PERSONAL NOTE ON THIS TOON. THE PUNCHLINE IS FUNNY, NO DOUBT. BUT HOW FUNNY ARE THE NAMES RUTHERFORD, ULYSSES AND GROVER? COME ON, THAT'S FUNNY RIGHT THERE

THIS CARTOON IS ONE OF LIFE'S LITTLE BONUSES. I WAS ACTUALLY TRYING TO WRITE A TOON ABOUT THE BIZARRE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN ABE LINCOLN AND JACK KENNEDY. ONE OF THE COMPARISONS IS THAT THEY BOTH HAD A VP NAMED JOHNSON. THEN WHEN I SAID THE NAME 'JOHNSON' OUT LOUD, I CHUCKLED AND SAID, OH MAN, I GOT IT.THIS HAPPENS TO WRITERS. THEY ARE GOING DOWN ONE LANE, AND THINK OF SOMETHING FUNNIER ALONG THE WAY.

More 'Behind the Bluffs' coming soon...

The Road to HISTORY BLUFFS

2010-02-08T17:33:00.000-08:00

When I first started drawing History Bluffs, I had come up with 3 possible avenues to travel down with the idea of historical events gone awry. Well, the concept was simple, "making History fun, while making fun of History" .

Road number one was to draw them as political and editorial cartoons from a long time ago. Just like we read in today's periodicals, but it would have been OLD NEWS, in PAST TENSE.... so to speak.

Road number two was, with each History Bluff, have an educational explanation of the historical gag or pun. Then I realized, that might make for a good book, but hey, Gary Larson never had an explanation to all of those science-related Far Sides, which made me laugh uncontrollably. I laughed at his drawings and his wording, then to my surprise, I laughed even harder when I looked up some of his Biology themed cartoons.

The third road is what I chose. Just draw it and post it! A delayed laughter is better than none at all.

History Repeating Itself

2010-02-07T13:02:00.000-08:00

Some readers thought this gag would have been funnier, if the smiley face was saying, "itself, itself, itself", instead of what I put in the cartoon bubble. What do you think?

History Bluffs Copyrighted Cory B. Geishauser

2010-02-07T11:17:00.000-08:00

History Bluffs, Changing the Faces of History

2010-02-07T10:51:00.000-08:00

Greetings and Salivations to all of those out there in cartoon, comics and caricature land. My name is Corben Geis, and willkommen to HISTORY BLUFFS cartoons.

These historical and hysterical cartoons poke fun at American, World and Art History. Oh, and for those of you who are lost physically and spiritually, History Bluffs will be sure to give you a jolt of Geography and Biblical History too.

You don't have to be a 'history buff' to understand HISTORY BLUFFS, but it does help. If you don't 'get a joke', look it up. I'll take a delayed laugh, rather than none at all. History Bluffs have been seen at Comics Sherpa and Go Comics sites in the past, but I am currently working on this blog spot, a website (www.roastcory.com ) and a book, but will be returning to Sherpa soon.

To all of my readers who have sent in feedback and ideas in the past (about the past ) thanks a bunch. Well, 'back to the future and forward to the past'...