By Michael McEwan
Columbus has a connection to many well-known cartoon artists, from James Thurber, Milton Caniff and James Wallace Baker up to the present day’s Nate Beeler, Jeff Stahler, Jeff Smith and Tony Cochran (like Jim Baker, a talented and successful painter as well).
All of them are part of the legacy of Billy Ireland (1880-1935). Will Rogers once said, “I take two newspapers, The New York Times and the Columbus Dispatch, for Billy Ireland’s page.”
Upon graduation from high school in 1898, Ireland was hired as a cartoonist by the Dispatch, where he drew editorial cartoons and spot illustrations. Despite numerous offers from other papers around the country, he stayed at the Dispatch for his entire career.
In 1905, Robert F. Wolfe and Harry P. Wolfe, owners of the Wolfe Brothers Shoe Company, purchased the Dispatch. The brothers and Ireland became friends and a powerful combination for the good of Columbus. Ireland and the Wolfes envisioned many civic improvements, such as the Scioto River project and the Short North. Lucy Shelton Caswell, professor emeritus and former curator of The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, discusses this relationship in her wonderful book, Billy Ireland (2007), illustrated with hundreds of Ireland’s works.
The Passing Show, Ireland’s commentary on current events, began weekly publication in 1908. Ireland described himself as the “janitor” of The Passing Show, and his self-caricatures show a round little man in overalls or in uniform as in this Nov. 9, 1919 edition (28.5 inches by 23.5 inches, ink and watercolor on paper).
The Passing Show was remarkable in that it was a full page in size. Ireland continued to draw The Passing Show, as well as four to seven editorial cartoons, per week; that is some 1,200 editions.
That is an astounding amount of work, and yet, it was said he knew everyone in town and what was going on as well.
Pen and ink is a very unforgiving medium, but in this original work, you can see the vigor in the lines, a true reflection of this dynamic man. He would be quite happy to see how the new Scioto River project will develop.
Jan. 8 is Ireland’s birthday.
The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, just across the mall from Mershon Auditorium in Sullivant Hall, features more than 300,000 original pieces of artwork, manuscripts, books and more than 2.5 million comic strip clippings, making it the largest museum collection in the world. Hours are 1-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
Nationally renowned local artist Michael McEwan teaches painting and drawing classes at his Clintonville area studio.
Featuring The Passing Show by Billy Ireland
