Author: DOuG pRATt

Comics Coverage

Last week I highlighted an article from The New York Times about a unique double-museum exhibit on cartooning and comics in New York and New Jersey.  And now Newsweek has an article about the same exhibit.  It mentions the now-defunct Museum of Cartoon Art in Port Chester, NY.  I visited the museum in September, 1978 for Marvel Comics Day.  Veteran pros John Romita, Marie Severin and John Buscema were very nice to meet.  Younger professionals, who were nevetheless older than myself, were not so nice.

Timeout for Rideout

rideout.gif

This past Sunday was the previously mentioned open house at Symphony Hall in Boston. We had a wonderful time. Eric’s viola teacher, Ms. Emily Rideout, gave a delightful recital, and we heard the full BSO perform Schumann’s 2nd Symphony. The plaintive third movement was particularly appreciated.

I’m still not sure what I think of James Levine as the music director and principal conductor. I’d have preferred Simon Rattle from the City of Birmingham, UK, but the Berlin Philharmonic snagged him in ’02.

I’m a Loser

Well, that was a surprise. I lost the eBay auction! Somebody with the handle “petsanf ” won with a bid of $20.50. Of course, only he knows the actual amount of the bid, above the $20 I ventured.

I’d have thought my friend, whose mother drew the picture, would have bid on it himself. But I suppose if he wanted it he’d have taken it before his mother sold it at the yard sale!

Eric’s Animé Pick

[flv:http://www.dograt.com/Movies/Wordpress/Anime/azumanga.flv 320 240]

This time around is the opening to Azumanga Daioh, along with a couple of gags.  Azumanga Daioh is so totally nonsensical it defies description.  Originally a 4-panel comic strip, it was then turned into a daily 5-minute Animé for TV.

Since this video preview is already wacky, for contrast I’ll tack on a single-gag cartoon done of the 4-panel comic strip Peanuts, way back in 1963.  This was some of the first animation produced to test Charlie Brown and the gang for television.