Sunday, February 28, 2010
History Bluffs for the Weekend
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 BeautifulFriday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GEORGE!
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.
Civil War Leaders Done as Caricatures!
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
Sunday, February 21, 2010
History Buff Friends
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
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 )
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Artist of the Month
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Cory to be Artist of the Month at the
Altoona Area Public Library during April.
( No foolin' ! )
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
My Favorite Political Satirist
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 )
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 Monday, February 15, 2010
The Lifetime Achievement Award
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
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Comical Quotes from Historical Figures
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
"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
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.
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.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
The History Bluffs that Tells it All
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
Friday, February 12, 2010
Biblical Bluffs
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!"
Say It With a Song
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
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
Thursday, February 11, 2010
THE ROUGH DRAFTS
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
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.
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.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
VD History Bluff
If you liked this one, wait till you see the St. Patrick's Day toon I'll be posting soon.Tuesday, February 9, 2010
A Couple of Bluffs on Washington
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
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
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
Monday, February 8, 2010
History is in My Denim Genes
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?
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
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.
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.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
History Repeating Itself
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, Changing the Faces of History
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'...
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