Al Hirschfed Exhibit at Algonquin Hotel Nov. 22-Jan 9

New York -- November 22, 2014, is the 112th anniversary of the Algonquin Hotel throwing open its doors to guests. To coincide with the date, a celebration of iconic artist Al Hirschfeld illustrations will be on display in the lobby through January 9, 2015. There will be 25 images of the Vicious Circle and their friends hanging in the lobby. Stop in and have a cocktail, or lunch at the Round Table.

Frank Kelly Freas, Who He?

To this inquiry:

I have a Benchley mysters. I am researching an illustrator, Frank Kelly Freas. I have come across a interior illustration he did for Benchley's The Woolen Mitten Situation, an essay.

It is dated by the artist as 1958.

I have found that this essay was published in books in 1928 and 1942.

Do you know of any other collections which would have included that essay in the 1950's or 1960's?

The Robert Benchley Society responded:

Thank you for contacting the Robert Benchley Society.

According to Benchley scholar Gordon Ernst (Robert Benchley: An Annotated Bibliography, Greenwood Press, 1995) "The Woolen Mitten Situation" was originally published by the Association of National Advertisers Through the Courtesy of the Champion Coated Paper Company (1926) as a speech given by Benchley to the Association in Atlantic City, N.J. on November 9, 1926.

It was subsequently published in two books of essays during Benchley's life:

--20,000 Leagues under the Sea, or David Copperfield (1928) beginning on page 212.

--Inside Benchley (1942) beginning on page 298.

This illustration is possibly from a later humor anthology or magazine printing of the essay. They are numerous and difficult to identify.

The World of Gluyas Williams

He was more than just a cartoonist. He was the Hogarth of the American middle class, according to Edward Sorel, writing in AmericanHeritage.com in December 1984. To read the complete article go to www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1984/1/1984_1_50.shtml.

Gluyas Williams Papers

Papers of the American cartoonist, illustrator Gluyas Williams are archived at Syracuse University (http://library.syr.edu/digital/guides/w/williams_g.htm). The collection includes original book illustrations for books by Robert Benchley, Edward Streeter, William Freeman, and Corey Ford, magazine cartoons for Cosmopolitan, Life and The New Yorker, and newspaper cartoons (1922-1947); correspondence, 1918-1949, and manuscript of a poem about Williams by Kenneth Bird and prefaces to Fellow Citizens (1941) and The Gluyas Williams Book, both by Robert Benchley (1929). Correspondents include Randolph G. Adams, Robert Benchley, Kenneth Bird, Charles Dana Gibson, G.S. Lobrano, Christopher Morley, D. Nassau, H.W. Ross, Frank Sullivan, and K.S. White.

Repository: Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Library
222 Waverly Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13244-2010

According to information on the Syracuse University Library website:

Gluyas Williams (1888-1982) was an American cartoonist. Born in San Francisco, California, he received his A.B. from Harvard University in 1911 and, in 1915, married Margaret Kempton.

Mr. William's drawings include book illustrations, magazine cartoons and daily newspaper cartoons. He has illustrated many of Robert Benchley's books, William Freeman's Hear! Hear!, Corey Ford's How to Guess Your Age and Edward Streeter's Father of the Bride. He has also done many drawings for magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Life, and the New Yorker, contributing to the latter his famous "Wedding Series". From 1922 to 1947, Williams drew daily newspaper cartoons that were published through the Bell Syndicate in various newspapers in the United States, England, Australia and other nations.

Williams is also the author of several books, including The Gluyas Williams Book, (1929); Fellow Citizens, (1940); and the Gluyas Williams Gallery, (1957).