Al Scaduto 1928-2007

Al Scaduto, Claire Adelman (Photo by John Pennisi)

Cartoonist Al Scaduto passed away on December 7, 2007. He was 79, and had been with King Features since 1946. He was a dear friend and part of the beating heart of the Berndt Toast Gang.

No further details at this time.

To quote chapter chair Adrian Sinnott:

Al was a wonderful man, a fabulously talented cartoonist, and our very
own entertainer. Al brought his love for opera to the luncheons and
made our meetings that much more special.

Al leaves a void that no one else can fill, he will be sorely missed.

More at these links:

Mike Lynch Cartoons blog

Mark Evanier
 

Talk one on one with local creators of comic books, newspaper comic strips, and magazine gag cartoons at the Long Island Museum Sunday, June 10, 2007 from 2pm to 3pm.

Whether you enjoy cartoons, or want to be a cartoonist yourself, this is a rare opportunity to meet three working professional cartoonists who live in Long Island. They'll talk about the business of cartooning, as well as post-war Long Island suburban life.

Archie Comics are created right here in Long Island. STAN GOLDBERG, the principle ARCHIE artist, drawing over 200 issues (and counting) of the flagship title, will attend.

THE LOCKHORNS co-creator BUNNY HOEST will talk about the process of writing the feature which appears in 500 newspapers including Newsday. The award winning newspaper panel, which started in 1968, was initially titled THE LOCKHORNS OF LEVITTOWN.

Magazine cartoonist MIKE LYNCH's clients include Reader's Digest, The Wall Street Journal, Playboy and other publications. He's the chair of the National Cartoonists Society Long Island chapter (the "Berndt Toast Gang").

There will be a meet and greet afterward.

Howard Beckerman talks about his comic strip days at the Stripper's Guide blog.

Frank Springer gets 2 interviews: one in the Boston Globe and another in the Lincoln County News (ME).

THE LOCKHORNS, written and drawn by Bunny Hoest and John Reiner, was profiled by Newsday.

Comic book legend Creig Flessel profiled in the Marin Independent Journal.

Alter Ego #70, featuring Roy Thomas talking about Marvel in the 1970s, will include reminiscences about John Buscema.

Joe Edwards, 1921-2007

Joe Edwards, who drew ARCHIE and LI'L JINX, passed away February 9, 2007. He will be deeply missed by his friends and family.

Joe received his artistic education at Rome Academy and Hastings Animation School. In the 1930s he worked in animation, for Demby Studios. After that, he drew funny animal comic books for Dell and Timely, winding up at Archie Comics in 1942, along with Bob Montana and Dan DeCarlo. He remained at Archie Comics for over forty years.

He was there, as he says, at the beginning -- when Bob Montana created Archie, Jughead and the Riverdale gang. And it was his hand that drew every page of Li'l Jinx, a character he created.

Joe was a regular to our Berndt Toast Gang meetings and was known for cracking jokes and speaking his mind. It's hard for me to believe that he is gone.

He is survived by Eda, his wife of 63 years, their 2 sons, a daughter, and 2 granddaughters, and 3 great- grandchildren.

Joe's page at the NCS here

Archie Comics press release here

Associated Press obituary

New York Times obituary

Ellis Henican's Newsday column (scroll down)

Tribute to Joe by Mark Evanier

Tribute by Mike Lynch

"Cindy and Her Obasan" blends the classic Cinderella fairy-tale concept with modern Japanese pop culture. Cindy is a spirited ten-year-old who has inexplicably been assigned a Japanese fairy godmother, for in today's global economy FGM Inc. can assign its fairy godmothers anywhere.

George Gladir is the creator of Sabrina, The Teenage Witch, along with Stan Goldberg and Bob Smith, been creating many fine Archie comics over the years.

Order information here.

LAUGHTER THE BEST MEDICINE II -- This is a big (nearly 300 glossy pages) book full of those little humorous stories you see in RD magazine, and a ton of cartoons by Mike Lynch, Mark Anderson, Kim Warp, Benita Epstein and a bunch of cartoonists. Most of the cartoons are NEW.

It's out in bookstores in a new paperback edition, and it's available online.

For nearly four decades, cartoonist Tom Gill (1913-2005) brought to life the daring adventures of the Lone Ranger and his faithful sidekick Tonto.

 In his own words, Gill describes his remarkable life as a self-taught cartoonist who went on to draw some of the most famous comic books in American history.

More about Tom Gill's life and work here.

The Great Neck Arts Center hosted 46 extraordinary, talented cartoon, animation, Manga & illustration artists who will be exhibiting and visiting the Arts Center for a rare exhibition of original work by the best loved cartoonists from August 12 to October 1, 2006.

To name a few: Sy Barry (The Phantom), Mort Drucker (Mad Magazine), Hy Eisman (Popeye), Stan Goldberg (Archie), Bunny Hoest (TheLockhorns), Arnie Levin (The New Yorker), Mike Lynch (Wall Street Journal), Don Orehek (Playboy), Rina Piccolo (Tina’s Groove) & lots more.

The above is from a PR release at Art Knowledge News.

(received April 24, 2006)

Creig Flessel was in comics the same time as Siegel and Schuster and Kane and Finger and Mayer, etc. did. In other words, he was there at the beginning.

In addition to all the other things that Creig accomplished in life, he was also the chairman of the Berndt Toast Gang for years. My pal Bill Seay replaced him when he moved away, and, since October 2003, I've tried to fill Bill's shoes. I recently sent him some photos from the group's lunches to his California home. And he mailed this note back:

Dear Mike and Gang,

It was like old times getting letters, cartoons and pics from the late Bill Seay. Thanks for the news and pics.

I (We) lived in Brooklyn, near Pratt Institute in 1937. My son was born in Brooklyn in 1940.

Recently met Irv Miller, an eighty year old cartoonist who started in Chicago with Hef and Playboy. He created the rabbit logo (for Playboy) and knew Jack Cole. He lives in Mill Valley.

Our Northern California cartoonist gang is very sporadic in meetings and news, but on holidays, etc., we have a bash. Not having wheels keeps me from attending very often.

I keep busy doing watercolors and cartoons for local residents and our grandchildren.

I have a grandson at Kenyon College, Ohio, and another in Boston. A banker (?)

Tell Al Scaduto (my mentor) that I'm concentrating on my cartooning and he is my god. Better later than never, But, survival is the name of the game, so I did everything and survived.

Enclosed news story of Jeannie Schulz, our den mother, like [the Berndt Toast Gang's] Bunny Hoest. She's busy running the museum.

Len & Jan Marino are due in May for a visit.

Keep in touch.

Best Creig and Marie.

Creig also enclosed a lovely photo of Jeannie Schulz working out on a trapeze! More about that here.

A recent photo of Creig in his California studio

Above: some of Creig's work

Congratulations to Tony Tallarico. On May 19th he will receive The Pioneer Award from Temple University College of Arts and Sciences for Lifetime Achievement in the Comics and Books Industries. This is in recognition of creating the first comic book to star an African American: "Lobo" (1966, Dell Comics).

Here's Tony's page at the NCS site and a bio from Lambiek.

"It was a Western and by the way he was totally straight!" writes Tony.

Thanks to Tony himself for the heads up!

April 26, 2006 - E&P announces today that the Berndt Toast Gang has a new Web site.

My thanks to Senior Editor Dave Astor for letting the everyone in on our new Web site.

The East Orange VA Hospital is one of several medical military sites in this country designated by the USO for the willing NCS members to visit. It is a great opportunity to reestablish our Society with the USO since the Vietnam War days and to visit our wounded to say thanks for their sacrifice in Iraq.  This program has been rekindled by the efforts of NCS member Jeff Bacon. Please let us know whether you can make it. The commander at the Fort Dix medical unit will need a head count. It's a worthy cause for a worthy few.

Thanks,

Kevin McVey, NJ NCS Chapter

Here's link to Kevin's announcement.

Sandy Kossin is one of the featured artists for Celebrating the Female Form, a group exhibition in Long Island. The show is from April 14 to May 5. It's at The Artisan Centre in Huntington Village, New York. Call them at 631-741-9941.

A portion of the proceeds of all sales will be donated to the LI2Day Breast Cancer Walk.

http://www.li2day.org/

New York One interviews Bill Gallo, longtime (65+ years) NY Daily News cartoonist and columnist about his life and career. Link at the Mike Lynch Cartoons blog.