Art Deco-ish Christmas Pictures

Saturday Morning Comics~ Jiggs & Maggie

Bringing Up Father was an influential American comic strip created by cartoonist George McManus (1884–1954). Distributed by King Features Syndicate, it ran for 87 years, from January 12, 1913 to May 28, 2000.
Many readers, however, simply called the strip "Jiggs and Maggie" (or "Maggie and Jiggs"), after its two main characters. According to McManus, he introduced these same characters in other strips as early as November 1911.

McManus, who numbered Aubrey Beardsley among his influences, had a bold, clean-cut cartooning line. His strong sense of composition and Art Nouveau and Art Deco design made the strip a stand-out on the comics page.


Here are some strips from 1921. Click to enlarge of course.

 McManus was inspired by The Rising Generation, a musical comedy by William Gill that he had seen as a boy in St. Louis, Missouri's Grand Opera House, where his father was manager. In the play,  Irish-American bricklayer Martin McShayne   becomes a wealthy contractor, yet his society-minded wife and daughter were ashamed of him and his lowbrow buddies, prompting McShayne to sneak out to join his pals for poker.

Art of Rafael de Penagos

Rafael de Penagos was a Spanish artist known for his Art Deco illos. He lived from 1889 to 1954.

It's Deco Time

Love this clock from 1927 by Louis Cartier and Maurice Couet

At The Movies~Dr Phibes Double Feature

My favorite Vincent Price role is that of Dr Anton Phibes, who he portrayed in two films; The Abominable Dr. Phibes in 1971 and Dr. Phibes Rises Again in 1972.

 Robert Fuest directed both, imbuing in them a macabre wit and style that is absolutely charming, despite the body count. Terry-Thomas plays two different roles in the  films,  both with his distinctive flair. The beautiful Caroline Munroe plays Phibes' dead wife in both films, never moving a muscle. Some less kind critics might say it was her best role.
The complete film is presented here.

Scroll down for the sequel

Dr. Phibes awakens in 1928, three years after the events of the previous movie. His primary goal is the awakening of his dead wife, Victoria. He finds that his house has been demolished, and that the papyrus scrolls he needs to find the Pharaoh's tomb, where the River of Life flows, have been stolen. With the source of the papyrus theft identified, he and his assistant, Vulnavia, leave for Egypt. Vulnavia's face displays no effects from the acid shower she received at the end of the previous film, although she is played by a different actress, Australian model Valli Kemp.

The Art of Erté

Romain de Tirtoff (23 November 1892 – 21 April 1990) was a Russian-born French artist and designer known by the pseudonym Erté. He is best known for his Harper's Bazaar covers from 1915 to 1936.

 His delicate figures and sophisticated, glamorous designs are instantly recognisable, and his ideas and art still influence fashion into the 21st century.

Symphony in Black