Kingman Cow People

January 20, 2012

Found the very first cartoon I ever sold to the Arizona Republic's Arizona Magazine. The editor was, I believe, Bud DeWald. Got paid $75 for a page of cartoons about growing up in a small town. Caption says: "If you were at the movie and you got a message from home, they would flash it on the screen."

When I was growing up, this happened at the State Theater in Kingman all the time. I think they wrote the note on a piece of paper and slipped it into the projector in front of the film. I remember it would flutter and bounce around a bit, totally taking you out of the movie, but hey, what a sweet memory it is.

On the back it says, #2 page 50, 5/28/72 ($75). It's interesting to note that I make almost double that today.

Meanwhile, here's a decent little concept piece I sent to the National Lampoon five years later.

They rejected it, but they went out of business not long after. Not that I'm gloating.

Okay, maybe a little.

And here's a edgy doubletruck (suggested by New Times Weekly publisher Jim Larkin by the way) that caused a little damage eight years later (1985). Literally. When this piece ran in the Tucson Weekly their offices were firebombed by radicals who took offense at the humor. No, really.

And, coming full circle, if you think I only make fun of people of color, here's a drawing that's close to my heart, my home and my family.

This is "Kingman Cow People." If you went to school with me you know exactly who this is.

"Home is where the ha is."
—Old Vauqero Saying