Personal History: A Note From Willard Scott
Back in the early 1980s I happened to stay overnight at a home belonging to a couple with a toddler. In the morning (a time of day I was not accustomed to seeing in those years…I was a night owl) the child appeared next to me (I was asleep on the living room sofa) tugging at my sleeve, wanting me to wake up. So I did. One of the first things I recall from that early rising was that the television was on and a fellow with a big flower in his lapel was speaking in an uber friendly fashion; it seemed waaaay too early to be that jolly. Anyway, that fellow was Willard Scott, the NBC weatherman who passed away today at age 87.
It was rare for me then, and it’s still rare that someone in the “real world” inspires a drawing, but that first sight of him (and that his name was “Willard”) stayed with me, and soon turned into the drawing you see above. It was published in The New Yorker, October 17, 1983.
That very same same week the drawing appeared I received this letter from Mr. Scott. A very kind gesture from a fellow who seemed to revel in sharing good will. Ain’t nothing wrong with that. (Not long after I received this letter, the original drawing was bought by his staff and presented to him).
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Article Of Interest: “Things Fans Might Not Know About The Addams Family”
From Grunge, September 4, 2021 this article by William J. Wright about The New Yorker‘s most recognizable cartoon family.
Here’s the Spill‘s Charles Addams’ A-Z entry:
Charles Addams Born in Westfield, New Jersey, January 7, 1912; died September 29, 1988, New York City. New Yorker work: 1932 – 1988 * the New Yorker has published his work posthumously. One of the giants of The New Yorker’s stable of artists. Key cartoon collections: While all of Addams’ collections are worthwhile, here are three that are particular favorites; Homebodies (Simon & Schuster, 1954), The Groaning Board (Simon & Schuster, 1964), Creature Comforts (Simon & Schuster, 1981). In 1991 Knopf published The World of Chas Addams, a retrospective collection. A new edition of Linda Davis’s Charles Addams: A Cartoonist’s Life, will be out in the Fall of 2021. Visit the Addams Foundation website for far more information : charlesaddams.com
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The Online Tilley Watch, August 30th – September 3rd, 2021
An end of the week listing of the artists contributing to newyorker.com features
The Daily Cartoon: the duo of Sophie Lucido Johnson and Sammi Skolmoski, Zoe Si, Brooke Bourgeois (twice), Sarah Kempa (a newyorker.com contributor).
Daily Shouts: Ali Solomon (with Alice Gomstyn).
…and Barry Blitt’s Kvetchbook.