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)

Doug Starts WeeWhimsey Feature in 1971

Doug developed WeeWhimsey for launch in June 1971; children's sayings were illustrated by small Peanuts-like cartoon children. Parents sent in the sayings and those selected for the feature were given the original Sneyd artwork after publication.

(blog enries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Examines the Issues for Editorial Page Readers

Doug Sneyd political cartoons from the early 1970s look at the economy with a critical eye.

Illustrations for Children's Poetry Books

Since the early days as a free-lance illustrator in Toronto to when he moved to his third-floor home-studio in Orillia, Ontario, in 1969, Doug has done illustrations for well over 60 children's books, including Classy Cats, a 1991 book of children's poetry by Lola Sneyd - no relation to Doug.

Thirty-five of his black and white pencil sketches in Classy Cats "add considerably to the lighthearted appeal of the verse." (Hamilton Spectator review)

Lola Sneyd, poet, and Doug Sneyd, artist, collaborated on four books - The Asphalt Octopus, The Concrete Giraffe, Nature's Big Top and Classy Cats.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Mr. Mugs Reading Books Featured Sneyd Illustrations

During the 1960s Doug was one of several "Mr. Mugs" illustrators whose work was featured in reading textbooks in the Ginn Integrated Language Program. The loveable fluffy gray and white sheep dog helped youngsters throughout Canada learn to read.


(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Early Artwork Featured in Children's Textbooks

For decades, Doug's illustrations appeared in numerous children's books published in Canada, including the 160-page Macmillan book tracing the life and explorations of Jacques Cartier - Man from St. Malo. The 1959 publication, number 20 in the Macmillan series titled Great Stories of Canada, featured 24 of Doug's illustrations rendered in ink.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Editorial Page Cartoons Look at Health Care

Health care issues were highlighted in Doug Sneyd political cartoons, which were first published in the Toronto Star in the early 1970s.

Doug Sneyd Political Cartoons Focus on the Economy

One of the key issues voters had to consider in the Nov. 4, 2008, election was the economy; it was also a concern in the early 1970s. Consider the following Doug Sneyd political cartoons:

Doug Sneyd Political Cartoons from 1973

Who would have guessed at the time that Doug's "take" on the political process - among the many topics he focused on - would remain so timely.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

1972 Political Cartoon Remains Timely

Doug's first effort at political cartooning was a single panel titled Doug Sneyd; it debuted in the early 1970s in the Toronto Star and was soon syndicated internationally.

Some topics never seem dated; with U.S. voters going to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 4, to elect a President, running for political office is a timely topic - as it was with readers of this Doug Sneyd cartoon from 1972.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Photo Scapbook: Prague, Part II

I'm in the main hall of the Czech National Museum, located at the upper end of Wenceslas Square in Prague. During the 1968 Warsaw Pact Intervention, the main facade was severely damaged during the Soviet takeover of the country.

On our last day in Prague we walked through Wenceslas Square; the Soviet takeover was on the steps of the Czech National Museum and in the Square. Today, people stroll past shops and restaurants, like the one behind me in a converted streetcar.

Our afternoon visit to the Alphonse Mucha art museum was extremely interesting. The Mucha Foundation was established in 1992 to honor the Czech artist's Art Nouveau work; the museum opened in 1998 and beautifully presents many of Mucha's significant posters, including The Arts 1898 and several of the Parisian artist Sarah Bernhardt. His first poster of Bernhardt portrayed her in the role of Gismonda; his last poster for her was Hamlet. In 1908 Mucha gave a series of lectures at the Chicago Art Institute; he and his wife Maruska lived with the family of A. V. Cerny. Cerny's daughter Zdenka was a gifted cellist, who Mucha promised to paint when she became a virtuoso concert artist. The portrait was painted when she was 16 and used as the basis for the poster advertising the European tour she was to take in 1914-1915. However, the tour was cancelled when war broke out in Europe.

After exiting the Golden Lane on our Prague Castle tour, we came upon this contemporary sculpture - the skull symbolizes how decades of Communist domination "killed" the people of the Czech Republic.

A highlight of our tour was visiting Prague Castle complex, one of the largest fortresses in the world. It was founded in the 9th century with many additions over the centuries; it is a grand complex of Romanesque, Gothic Renaissance and Baroque elements.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)