30 replies to this topic

[Jairus]

Good morning!

Only 6 more shopping days until Christmas…

Today’s cover is from 1970 CARtoons and was painted by Bruce Steffenhagen.



Note that the date is February ’70 which makes this more a “winter” cover that a Holiday or Christmas cover but it’s fun anyway. Note the sale price has not changed since Cartoons started in ’59. However, a year later the price jumped to fifty cents and that marked the beginning of the upward creep in cover price from 1971 till 1991 when the plug was finally pulled at $1.95!

One explanation for the steady increases was the cost of paper and printing. Also circulation costs increased as well after the Arab oil embargo and the subsequent increase in oil. I have always wondered how much Petersen paid the artists for their contributions to the magazine. Some of those guys worked on these mags steady for twenty years!

Merry Christmas!

[Jairus]

Good morning!

Only 5 more shopping days until Christmas… (shock)

Today’s cover is from 1967 and was drawn by Nelson Dewey and painted by Bill Hughes


SKItoons magazine was a one off thing that never made it into regular production. It’s quite rare and if you can find one, the purchase price will usually shock you. I got this one pretty cheap because the colors are slightly out of registration but the magazine itself is in excellent shape!

The artists and writers in SKItoons are the same as all the other Petersen Cartoon publications and the humor is the same. Some of the comics were nothing more than substituting skis and poles for surfboards or tools found in SURFtoons or CARtoons.

It is funny but Slotcars and Model cars were fairly popular in the 60’s and the subject of many a comic back in the day. I am surprised they didn’t try MODELCARtoons?

Merry Christmas!

[Jairus]

Good morning!

Only 4 more shopping days until Christmas…

Today’s cover is from December 1967 CARtoons.


Cover drawn by Jim Willoughby and painted by Bill Hughes.

In this illustration, The Varmints have once again wrecked Unk’s “T” by building a high-powered snowmobile with the engine, while Santa looks on!

Personally, I believe that 1967 marked a high-water mark in the Petersen Empire. There were no less than 5 comic magazines being produced at one point. Also, the artwork inside was nothing short of fantastic in my opinion. This was a big influence on my life and taught me how to draw, basic perspective, foreshortening and more importantly…. Pen and ink techniques! A talent that seems to have disappeared in this new computerized world.

Merry Christmas!

[KorkyOtt]

Gees Jairus, you bring a tear to my eye. I remember as a kid back in the 60's visiting my Grand Parents in Livonia/Detroit at Christmas time.
My Bothers and I could walk to the local Mall. We would hit the hobby shop with our X-mas money for new kits and these magazines.
You have stirred up good memories for sure.
Happy Holidays and all the best for 2008 to you and to all.

[Jairus]

Good morning!

Only 3 more shopping days until Christmas…
(Most men start shopping about now!)

Today’s cover is from February 1969 CARtoons.


Cover drawn by Mike Arens and painted by Bill Hughes.
Looks like a game of crack the whip has gone bad for poor Unk!

Merry Christmas!

[Jairus]

Good morning!

Only 2 more shopping days until Christmas… you got plenty of time!

Today’s cover is from December 1971 CARtoons.


Cover by Bruce Steffenhagen

Once again the Varmints have converted Unk’s T into a snow-go’er, but not sure where the big snowball came from. Notice the tiny detail where the snowball covers part of the header? This was a fairly new layout technique back in ’71, first used in “Glamour” magazines. Hot Rod and many others have done it since with varying degrees of success. Next time you are in the checkout line at the Grocery store… look at the women’s magazines and see just how many are now overusing this technique!

Merry Christmas!

[SoCalCarCulture]

Too Cool to see all these, thanks again for this thread Jairus!

Remembering all these from my younger days got me to looking around the web to find some more of the history of various artists.

Here's a three-part article published shortly after Pete Millar's death that acurately chronicles his trials and tribulations as a cartoonist...

Part 1 http://www.competiti...ete_millar.html

Part 2 http://www.competiti...ete_millar.html

Part 3 http://www.competiti...te_millar3.html

Within the article are other interesting links that will provide more of the history!

Enjoy

[Jairus]

Hey Dave, thanks for posting those links. I read all about it and brought tears to my eyes.... (sniff)

I talked to Pete on the phone about 6 months before he passed. Tried to get him to do some cartoons for MCM. He declined saying the publishing of the last issue of Dragtoons was just about enough work for him. He also told me a bit about some of the other artists who contributed in the 60's. It was a conversation that I wish I had thought ahead to record... oh well.

Edited by Jairus, 23 December 2007 - 11:55 AM.

[Jairus]

Good morning!

Its Christmas EVE! Whoo Hoo!
This last cover comes from January 1964 and the image is set at Midnight on the eve of December 24th!


Cover Drawn and painted by Roark

Ed Roth was a big contributor to this issue and had his image on the inside cover. Carl Kohler penned a 7 page “A Very Hairy Christmas” where I believe we get to see the Varmints for the first time listening to a Christmas yarn told by Ed Roth.

Merry Christmas!

[James W]

Thanks for the covers and the tutorial. It's fun to hear/read your insights.

Have a Merry Christmas.

To All who read this have a safe and happy Christmas season and best wishes for the following year!