Seattle's Emerald City ComiCon Invites Doug To Participate April 4-5, 2009

With 2009 only a few days away, you may be getting that new calendar organized - meetings, appointments, birthdays and, of course, comic/cartoon conventions!

Doug, who has had more than 400 full-page color cartoons published in Playboy since 1964, has been invited to participate in Seattle's 7th Annual Emerald City ComiCon, scheduled Saturday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), April 4 and 5, 2009, at the Washington State Convention Center.

In addition to exhibiting during the 2-day convention, Doug will host a 50-minute panel presentation and also donate original art to the art book to benefit the Seattle Children's Hospital. The theme for the 2009 art book is "Monsters and Dames." The Sneyd original published in the art book will also be donated to the convention's original art auction - check out the Emerald City ComiCon website for information on the art book and auction.

So, be sure to put April 4-5, 2009, on your calendar and stop by Doug's booth or attend his 50-minute panel presentation and maybe put in a bid for original Sneyd artwork at the charity auction!

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Audiobooks Worthy of a Thumbs Up!!!

Now that we're settled into my condo in Orange Beach for 5 months, Doug is beginning to get back to his drawing board, and while working, he frequently listens to audiobooks.

We've just started listening to The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty by Julia Flynn Siler and Sin in the Second City by Karen Abbott.

While making the 1,300-mile drive to the Gulf Coast, we listened to The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama and Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson. We highly recommend both.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

1972 Cartoon on Post-Holiday Shopping

The circumstances are as timely today as in 1972 when this cartoon was published.
(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Happy Holidays!

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Highlighted "New" Toronto Landmarks in Two Annual Holiday Greeting Cards

'Twas the night before Christmas . . . at Toronto's new City Hall, where Santa paused to enjoy a "quiet moment."

In addition to celebrating holiday spirit and traditions, Doug chronicled the history of a growing city and that of Canada's largest newspaper in the 11 holiday greeting cards he rendered for the Toronto Star in the 1960s and 1970s.
"The festive season at Ontario Place."

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Painted Toronto Landmarks for Annual Holiday Greeting Cards

Over an 11-year period, the Toronto Star hired Doug to render holiday cards, for mailing to corporate and other clients, and thus capture the the essence of Christmas traditions in Toronto.

"The day before Christmas 1998, at Toronto's charming, old St. Lawrence Market."
"The scene changes, but not the festive gaiety that Christmas brings - Toronto's Grendier Pond on the day before Christmas, 45 years ago."
"The scene changes, but not the Christmas spirit - Toronto's Yonge Street on Christmas Eve nearly 50 years ago."

This was the first of the 11 holiday cards rendered by Doug.
"Christmas snowshoe hikers on Toronto Island take a rest and admire the city skyline and reflections."

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug's Annual Toronto Star Christmas Cards Celebrated the Yuletide Season

Doug's attention to detail is immediately evident in his work - whether full-page color cartoons for Playboy, illustrations for textbooks, political caricatures in his single-panel Doug Sneyd cartoons or annual Christmas cards for the Toronto Star.

"Christmas Eve, 1892, at The Toronto Star's birthplace, 83 Yonge Street. The first yuletide edition of The Star - then The Evening Star - comes off the press."
"In the early 1900's, the Toronto waterfront at the foot of Yonge Street, was a place for winter fun. Skaters and ice-boaters gathered in front of the ice-bound ferry boats, where Christmas trees marked the limits of safe ice and lent an extra touch of gaiety to the scene.

This year, 1969, the ever-changing waterfront enters another stage in its development with the construction start of a new 25-story Toronto Star office tower and plant at One Yonge Street."

Doug's 11 annual Christmas cards from the 1960s and 1970s celebrated the history of Toronto along with Canada's largest newspaper - the Toronto Star.

"Since 1892 The Star has served its readers from five different homes. This year, the presses are rolling at our new home at One Yonge Street. Behind the name plate at our new front entrance is a time capsule - to be opened at Christmas 2071."

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Painted Annual Christmas Cards for the Toronto Star in the 1960s and 1970s

For 11 years in the 1960s-1970s, the Toronto Star, Canada's largest newspaper, commissioned Doug to paint the company's annual holiday cards, sending "Season's Greetings" to corporate and other clients.

"Christmas 1906 - The Toronto Daily Star Santa Claus Fund sleigh passes St. Lawrence Hall on its way to make the Fund's first distribution of gifts to the city's underprivileged children."
Just as the Water Tower is a symbol of Chicago's history; Casa Loma is a symbol of early Toronto. Doug rendered the stately elegance of this historic building for one of 11 Christmas cards painted for the Toronto Star.

"Christmastime at Toronto's Casa Loma in the 'Twenties."
"The Ontario Legislative Building at Queen's Park has been a Toronto landmark since 1892."

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Santa Faces an Income Tax Audit

Although December is traditionally a time of holiday cheer, in Doug's 1971 single-panel strip, Santa is as grim as most taxpayers when questioned during an audit.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Even Santa Appears in SCOOPS

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

SCOOPS Features Celebrity Caricatures

Doug developed his self-syndicated satirical strip, titled SCOOPS, in the 1970s. Unlike other strips with political orientation, such as Doonesbury, SCOOPS was not tied to a central character, story line or location. One day Doug focused on White House politics, the next day on celebrities.

His celebrity caricatures included Bob Hope, Liz Taylor and husband John Warner, Lee Marvin, Howard Cosell and Lawrence Welk.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

SCOOPS Political Cartoon Strip Featured Presidential Caricatures

During his Presidency (1969-1974), Richard Nixon succeeded in ending American fighting in Viet Nam and improving relations with the U.S.S.R. and China, but the Watergate scandal led to his resignation.
Gerald Ford (1974-1977) took the oath of office on August 9, 1974, declaring, " I assume the Presidency under extraordinary circumstances . . . This is an hour of history that troubles our minds and hurts our hearts." He was the first Vice-President chosen under terms of the Twenty-first Amendment and, in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, was succeeding the first President ever to resign.
Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter waged a 2-year campaign to represent the Democratic Party as President, and at the party's convention in 1976, he was nominated on the first ballot. However, the seizure as hostages of the U.S. embassy in Iran dominated the news during the last 14 months of his administration (1977-81). This, coupled with inflation, contributed to his defeat in 1980. Iran finally released the 52 Americans the same day Carter left office.
Prior to serving as the 40th. President of the U.S. from 1981-1989, Ronald Reagan appeared in 53 Hollywood films and served as the president of the Screen Actors' Guild and Governor of California.

In 1980 George H.W. Bush campaigned for the Republican nomination for President. He lost but was chosen as a running mate by Ronald Reagan. After 8 years as Vice-President in the Reagan White House, Bush extended his political career serving as the 41st. President from 1989-1993.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Classic Sneyd Humor in Satire on Driving

The style and wit found in Doug's full-page cartoons appearing in Playboy since 1964 helped You: the Road Warrior give readers "humorous relief" on one of North America's greatest obsessions . . . driving.

Copy by Dan Hales, Gags by Rex May and Artwork by Doug Sneyd - a winning combination for readers!

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug's Illustrations Give Style to Satire on Driving

The 124-page satire on driving, You: the Road Warrior," published in 1990 by Challex Books, featured classic Sneyd artwork, developed over the decades by work on

• over 60 children's books, including Canadian history, poetry, and music

• corporate advertising campaigns

• syndicated political cartoons

• magazine illustrations

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Favorite "Unpublished Sneyd" Gag Roughs

This "favorite" is from pg. 20. Enjoy!

Doug Sneyd Casts His Satirist's Eye on the Economy in 1975

Doug Sneyd Single Panel Political Cartoon Looks at the Economy

Some topics never seem to be dated; the economy is as timely an issue today as it was in the 1970s. Doug Sneyd was first published in the Toronto Star.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

A Beautiful Fall Weekend Celebrating Mariam and Jason's Wedding

Good friends and neighbors in Orange Beach, Alabama (from left) - Jim and Carla Mattson, George and Bonnie Carter, and Doug and I - at the wedding brunch hosted by the Carters. It was a relaxing way to end a very special weekend.
Following the wedding brunch, we toured Lyndhurst, designed in 1838 as a country retreat for William Paulding, former mayor of New York City. The Gothic Revival mansion was later purchased by merchant George Merritt and then financial tycoon Jay Gould. Lyndhurst was featured on America's Castles to showcase its elaborately decorated rooms, stained glass and artwork, and spectacular views of the Hudson River.
Before heading back to Toronto, Doug and I enjoy walking the grounds of Lyndhurst, a magnificent Hudson Valley estate. The Tappan Zee Bridge (in the background) spans the Hudson River at its widest point. Workers drove in the initial test pilings in June 1951, but construction was delayed until March 1952 by steel shortages brought about by the Korean War. Work on the bridge began in March 1952; it opened December 15, 1955. The main cantilever span of the 7-lane bridge remains the ninth longest in the world.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Miriam and Jason's Wedding Nov. 8

Miriam Kolnicki and Jason Carter, who met in Washington, D.C. and now live in Los Angeles, were married in Riverdale, New York. Doug and I looked forward to attending the wedding-reception and giving the couple our "wishes for a long and happy life."
Jim and Carla Mattson (left) and Doug and I were happy that we could share and celebrate such a special occasion with our close friends and neighbors, Bonnie and George Carter.
Golem, a 6-piece Eastern European folk-punk band, energized the wedding reception. The New York-based group frequently takes its music on the road - Chicago, San Francisco, Sarasota, Montreal, etc. If you see Golem featured somewhere, GO! The music is great!
Manhattan Samba, New York's longest-running authentic Brazilian samba drum ensemble, also entertained at the wedding reception. Ivo Araujo, director and master percussionist, and Amy Duncan founded Manhattan Samba, based on the drum groups that accompany the yearly carnival parades in Rio de Janeiro, in 1990.
"It's a great wedding reception!" Doug and I tell Jason's parents (seated), Bonnie and George Carter, who live in the same condominium complex as I do in Orange Beach, Alabama.
Jason's parents (standing), Bonnie and George Carter, visit with Carla and Jim Mattson at the reception.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Before Miriam Kalnicki and Jason Carter's Wedding, Doug and I Explore the Historic Hudson Valley/Great Estates Region

Miriam Kalnicki and Jason Carter were getting married Saturday evening, November 8, so Doug and I, along with close friends Jim and Carla Mattson, did some sightseeing earlier in the day. We stayed at the Tarrytown House Estate for the weekend and were happy to learn that the historic, yet active, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery was only a few miles south of the hotel. It was a beautiful fall morning to explore the 90-acre site, where Washington Irving, Andrew Carnegie, William Rockefeller, Walter Chrysler, Elizabeth Arden and Leona Helmsley are buried.
Before leaving the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Doug stopped at the gravesite of Washington Irving, America's first internationally famous author and best remembered for the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. Irving's riverside cottage, Sunnyside, is about 4 miles south of the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Tarrytown, New York.
After exploring historic sites in Sleepy Hollow, Jim and Carla/Doug and I decided to stay on Rte. 9 and drive along the Hudson River to Hyde Park, New York, to visit the Presidential Library and Museum of Franklin D. Roosevelt. It's America's first Presidential Library and the only one used by a sitting President. It contains more than 17 million pages of documents, including the papers of President and Mrs. Roosevelt and many of their associates. Before leaving, Jim (left) and Doug stopped by the burial site of F.D.R. (1945) and Eleanor (1962). Fala, the President's beloved black Scottish terrier, is also buried there. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour and give it a "10" if you're visiting the Historic Hudson Valley region.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

WeeWhimsey Runs in 25 Canadian and U.S. Newspapers in the Early 1970s

Doug illustrated six WeeWhimsey per week.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)