Here’s an “I Knew That!” sure to stump many!  But, just like the title suggests, once you hear the answer, you’l be slapping your forehead and saying, “I knew that!”

Answer: (Click, hold down, and move your mouse to the right to reveal the answer)======> Pierpont.  John Pierpont Morgan.

Ray Harryhausen passed away today.  He was 92.  I just wanted to thank him for all the great FX and characters he created is so many memorable films like Jason and the Argonauts, the Sinbad films, Mysterious Island (LOVED the giant crab!), One Million Years B.C.,  and countless others.  His work added so much to my childhood.

I had the great pleasure of seeing him in person about 22 years ago at the Cleveland Art Institute.  He came in to give a lecture on his work and showed many of his props and film clips.  I even got to ask him a question.  And, a friend got me his autograph. I’m kicking myself for not having a camera at the time.

I”ve just deactivated my Facebook account.

There are a number of reasons why I did this.  I’ll be sharing a few of those in future posts.  But, for now, let’s just say it was time to move on.

I gave Facebook a try and it was pretty neat.  It was pretty amazing how Facebook allowed you to connect with old friends and meet and make new friends

Anyhow, I gave it a go, saw how it worked, and decided that, at this time, it’s not for me.

Will I be back?  Who knows?  I won’t burn any bridges.  But, for now, if you need to contact me, please do so through this blog.

My best email is georgetoon_at_gmail_dot_com

April 24, 2013.  Northeast Ohio.  And surprise….it’s snowing.  This was taken looking out on my back deck.  Well, there’s gotta be a comic strip idea in there someplace!:)

Mark and Kelly at OSU Cartoon Conference Room

When Ohio State’s new Student Union  opened back in 2010, I started receiving calls and emails from friends near and far.  Long story short, thanks to OSU Cartoon Library/Museum curator Dr. Lucy Shelton Caswell, my cartoon artwork was included in the Union’s third floor Cartoon Conference Room.  And these friends had visited the new Union during it’s opening weeks. Touring the new facility, they happened on the Cartoon Conference Room and were surprised to see my comic strip “George” on display.

Well, it’s taken me almost three years to make the visit to Ohio State to actually see my cartoon work on display.  I’ve received lots of photos from friends and family of the display, but this was the very first time I had a chance to see it in person.  (I took a road trip to OSU with my brother Tom and niece Kelly.)

Mark and Tom at OSU Cartoon Conference Room

It’s an absolutely  wonderful honor!  And it reminds me of what I heard during an address to incoming freshman way back in the fall of 1977,   “Leave part of yourself behind.”   In other words, get involved.  Contribute something, large or small, to OSU which will  help or inspire other students who follow.  I made a promise to myself that I would do something to fulfill those words.

I’ve been lucky to have had the help and encouragement of my parents, family, fraternity brothers at Phi Kappa Tau, fellow students, and friends.  Like any profession, my cartooning career has had its shares of ups and downs.  Certainly many more ups than downs.  This is definitely one of the ups.  A huge up for sure.

This a very large, high def image of the display. Click to enlarge and give it a few moment sot load in your browser.