BARRON Sid

BARRON Sid

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE OF PERSON\B\BARRON Sid, Barron's Toronto, no date, fc.jpgBarron’s Toronto, no date: Front cover.

“Cartooning is just too much goddamn work.”                                                              Sid Barron. The Hecklers, 228.

Little did I know then that this was future creator of Dawn Mills, [Don Mills]. The man who was to coin that electrifying phrase “Mild Isn’t It?” And to father the most famous cat since felix.”                                                                                        Pierre Berton reminisced about taking art lessons with Sid Barron in Allan Edwards Class. Barron’s Toronto, 1965:1

A humourist who favoured gentle wit over biting satire, his richly drawn works were always worth a second look.”                                                                              Tom Hawthorn. The Globe and Mail, May 15, 2006.

Born 13 June 1917, in Toronto to an unwed mother who had become pregnant in England and came to Canada to join her older sister Florence who lived in the city. Florence and her husband adopted him and he grew up knowing his biological mother as Auntie Daisy. He was an adult before he learned the truth. The family moved to Victoria when Sid was two years old.

He was a shy, skinny boy, with a severe stammer. It was so pronounced that in 1938 when he was 21 years old his father sent him to the National Hospital for Speech Disorders in New York. Tom Hawthorn reported that in later years, he liked to tell the story that on his return home, he announced, “I’m c-c-c-c-cured!”

Also at age 21, he took his first formal art lessons from Allan Edwards, a precocious talent who was two years younger than him and had followed him through South Park Elementary and Victoria High School, but who already had a studio on Broad Street. Pierre Berton also took lessons here.

He began his career by painting schedule cards for the Union Steamships in Vancouver, illustrating window cards for Victoria shops, and designing boxes and neon signs. He moved to Toronto where he painted billboards and did war illustrations for the Toronto Star.

The “War Exchange Conservation Act” halted among other things the importation of U.S. periodicals including comic books. A Canadian industry was born, and Sid found work as one of the freelancers in the stable of Educational Projects Inc., a Montreal-based company which brought out a single periodical Canadian Heroes. He drew cartoons of real wartime events some of which were told through the characters “Ace Deacon” and “Bos’n Bill” and he drew a number of the fictional “Canada Jack” stories.

At the end of the war, The Star Weekly magazine hired him as a freelance illustrator, but this employment ended when the publisher went the cheap route and began purchasing syndicated works from American artists. He spent much of the 1950s seeking work on the coast and in Ontario.

Peter Desbarats, in The Hecklers, noted that: “During this period, it became apparent, he developed a caustic assessment of the manners and moral values of his compatriots who populated the newer suburbs of Canada’s expanding cities.” The suburbs of Toronto were fertile ground for his humour especially “Don Mills” which in his cartoons became “Dawn Mills’.

In 1958, he was hired as a cartoonist by Victoria Times publisher Stuart Keate. Three years later he. began selling cartoons to the Toronto Daily Star, In 1962, he moved to Calgary to work for The Albertan, but continued freelancing for the Star a practice which lasted thirty years. He left The Albertan just before Vance Rodewalt arrived in 1970.

The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria held an exhibition of his works in 1973. His cartoons focused on social rather than political comment and came to carry two standard features. The “puddy tat,” a cynical Cheshire Cat with ridiculous stripes, appeared in a lower corner holding a sardonic sign and the biplane often towing banners like “Mild Isn’t It.” And “Aren’t the mountains pretty today?” In 1983, editorial cartoonists met at convention in Toronto, gathering one evening in the CN Tower restaurant high above the city. Roy Peterson, of the Vancouver Sun, hired an airplane to fly past towing a banner reading, “Mild, isn’t it?”

He quit drawing cartoons in 1989, retiring to Coombs on Vancouver Island where he was able to indulge in his passion for watercolour seascapes.

He died on April 29, 2006 at Mount St. Mary Hospital in Victoria. He was 88 years.

The largest collection, 1,344 of his originals is held in the Library and Archives Canada, in Ottawa. The Glenbow Museum in Calgary owns 70 originals that were published in The Albertan.

WORK:

CARTOONIST:

BOOK GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

Content editorial cartoon:

Best Canadian Political Cartoons, 1984. Ed., N.M. Stahl. McClelland & Stewart Ltd. Sept. 1984: 71, 160, 194, 197, 198.

Portfoolio, The Year 85 In Canadian Caricature. Ed., Guy Badeaux & Alan King. Ludcom Inc. 1985.

Portfoolio, The Year 86 In Canadian Caricature. Ed., Guy Badeaux. Ludcom Inc. 1986.

Portfoolio, The Year 87 In Canadian Caricature. Ed., Guy Badeaux . Ludcom Inc. 1987.

1988 Portfoolio, The Year In Canadian Caricature. Ed., Guy Badeaux . Eden Press. 1988.

Portfoolio: 1989 in Canadian Caricature. Ed., Guy Badeaux . Macmillan of Canada, 1989.

BOOK GRAPHIC COLLECTION:

Content editorial cartoon & Cover book front:

Barron’s Toronto, Toronto Star Reader Service, 1965.

Barron Book. Toronto Star Reader Service, 1972.

Content editorial cartoon & Cover book wraparound:

The Best of Barron, Lester Orpen Dennys Ltd., 1985.

BOOK TEXT & GRAPHIC:

Content sport:

Brian McFarlane’s Hockey Annual. Ed., Brian McFarlane. Clarke Irwin & Co. Ltd., 1973: 22, 39, 80, 116, 128. These cartoons originally published in the Toronto Star.

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:                                                                          Published by Educational Projects Inc. Coloured covers. Black & white contents.

Content:

History:

Canadian Heroes 3-1, Nov./Dec. 1943: “R.C. M.P. Arctic Adventure.” 6-11.

Information:

Canadian Heroes …: “Ace Deacon’s Scrapbook: …. Black & white.
3-3, Feb. 1944: “…Handley-Page Hampden.” 63

3-4, March 1944: “…Here’s a few notes about Air-Sea Rescue Service”: 64.

3-5, April 1944: “…The Bristol Beaufighter.” 31.

3-6, May 1944: “…The Flat-Tops”: 22.

4-2, July 1944: Various aircraft. 31.

5-1, February 1945: “Ships For Your Scrapbook”: 46-47.

Journalism:

Canadian Heroes..: “…”: …
1-1, Oct. 1942: “Commando Raid on Dieppe”: 7-11.                                                                                                 “The C.W.A.C. Canadian Women Army Corps: To Serve Overseas”: 29-32.

1-2, Nov. 1942: “Veterans Guard of Canada”: 17-19.                                                                                                  “H.M.C.S. Assiniboine Sinks A Sub”: 3-5.

2-6, Oct. 1943: “The WRENS: Women’s Royal Naval Service”: 9-11.                                                                       “Courage On The Job”: 13-15.

3-1, Nov./Dec. 1943: “We Build Catalinas”: 57-61.

3-4, March 1944: “The Sinking of the Scharnhorst”: 46-48.

 

Serial journalism:

Canadian Heroes …: “Ace Deacon …”: …
2-3, July 1943: “… Bombers to Germany”: 43-48.

2-6, Oct. 1943: “… Wings over the Sea”: 22-26.

3-1, Nov./Dec. 1943: “… Brave Bomber”: 38-43.

3-4, March 1944: “The Turtle: D.F.C”: 59-63.

3-5, April 1944: “… Atlantic Battle.”: 26-30.

3-6, May 1944: “… The Wildcat Crew”: 17-21.

4-1, June 1944: “… Daylight ‘Do’”: 52-57.

4-2, July 1944: “… Rescue at 50 Below”: 26-30.

4-6, January 1945: “… Escape From Belgium”: 1-5.

5-1, Feb. 1945: “… Battling The Buzz-Bombs”: 21-25

Canadian Heroes …: “Bos’n Bill …”: …
1-1, Oct. 1942: “… Sea Fighters.”: 33-38.

1-2, Nov. 1942: “… Atlantic Convoy.”: 59-64.

1-6, Apr. 1943: “… H.M.C.S. Oakville – Gallant Corvette”: 27-32.

2-3, July 1943: “… Convoys to North Africa”: 25-32.

2-6, Oct. 1943: “… Navy Courage”: 33-37.

3-3, Feb. 1944: “… Beat The Mines.”: 24-28.

3-4, March 1944: “… Mediterranean Adventures”: 9-13.

3-5, April 1944: “… The M.T.B’s.” [Motor Torpedo Boats]: 47-48.

3-5, April 1944: “… The M.G.B’s.” [Motor Gun Boats]: 49-51.

3-6, May 1944: “… H.M.C.S. Saguenay, Veteran!”: 27-30.

4-1, June 1944: “… H.M.C.S. Prince Robert In Action”: 34-37.

4-2, July 1944: “… Convoys To Russia”: 9-11.

4-6, January 1945: “… Atlantic Escort”: 58-62.

5-1, February 1945: “… Invasion Escort”: 41-45.

PERIODICAL TEXT ANTHOLOGY:

Content story:

Maclean’s, 1 June 1963: “Home Is … Where? … Oh Yes, Where The Heart Is”: 28. From Maclean’s  “Sweet and Sour” series.

ILLUSTRATOR:

BOOK TEXT:

Content memoir & Cover dust jacket front:

A Scar Is Born, Writ., Eric Nicol. Toronto: Ryerson Press, 1968.

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:                                                                          Canadian Heroes published by Educational Projects Inc.

Content:

Biography:

1-1, Oct. 1942: “Governors General of Canada: The Earl of Athlone.” Writ., Joan Cassidy:1-5.

History:

2-3, July 1943: “Hudson’s Bay Company.” Writ., Arnold Tepner: 1-5.

4-1, June 1944: “The Y.M.C.A.: A Century of Progress.” Writ., H.J.H. (Harry Halperin): 6- 11.

Information:

1-1, Oct. 1942: “A Safety Code For Bicyclists”: 51-53.Probably adapted from pamphlet by Barron:

1-2, Nov. 1942: “United Nations: Australia.” Writ., Betty Warsaw: 20-26.

Journalism:

Canadian Heroes 1-6, Apr.1943. “Paratroops” Writ., D.M.H.: 1-4.

Canadian Heroes 3-1, Nov./Dec. 1943: “Badge of Courage: The story behind the badge of the C.W.A.C.” Adapted by Ray Winters from a radio script of the same name: 20-23.

Canadian Heroes 3-4, March 1944: “Royal Canadian Air Force.” Writ., unidentified: 51-53.

4-2, July 1944: “Canada Builds Ships.” Writ., Effigy: 59-64.

Serial, career descriptions:

1-6, Apr.1943: “Judge Goodwin Talks about Jobs.” Writ., Zangy: 17-20.

2-3, July.1943: “Judge Goodwin Talks about Engineering.” Writ., I. B. Kay: 56-59.

3-3, Feb. 1944: “Judge Goodwin Looks At Nursing.” Writ., D.H.: 42-46.

3-5, April 1944: “(No. 8) Judge Goodwin Looks at Librarianship.” Writ., D.H.: 55-58.

3-6, May 1944: “(No. 9) Judge Goodwin Looks at Law.’ Writ., unidentified: 10-13.

4-1, June 1944: “(No. 10) Judge Goodwin Looks at Agriculture.” Writ., D.H.: 28-31.

4-2, July 1944: “No. 11) Judge Goodwin Goodwin Looks at Social Service….” Writ., Unidentified: 49-54.

MERCHANDISE:                                                                                                                Published by Educational Projects Inc.

Colouring Books:

The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. Adapted by Rose Halperin. 1944.

Treasure Island Paint Book. Adapted by Rose Halperin. no date.

SOURCE:

Article book:

The Hecklers. Writ. & Ed.., Peter Desbarates & Terry Mosher. McClelland and Stewart Ltd., 1979: 178-179, 228.

Article newspaper:

Calgary Herald, 28 May 2006, Final edition: “Sidney Arnold Barron: Cartoonist focused on absurdities of everyday life.” Writ., Kerry Williamson: B5.

Edmonton Journal, Feb. 9, 1977: “Cartoonist’s works featured”.

The Globe and Mail, May 15, 2006 “Sid Barron: 1917 – 2005 A humourist … ”, Writ., Tom Hawthorn.

Times Colonist, May 2, 2006: “Sid Barron: 1917 – 2005.” Writ., Robert Amos.

Correspondence:

Between Robert MacMillan and Sid Barron Feb. 25, 1987 to June 23, 1987.

GALLERY:

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE BY CARTOONIST\B\BARRON Sid, Canadian Heroes, 3-1, Dec 1943,61.jpgCanadian Heroes, 3-1, Nov./Dec. 1943: “We Build Catalinas: The Inside Story of How Consolidated ‘Catalina’ Flying Boats Are Constructed.”  61.

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE BY CARTOONIST\B\BARRON SID colouring book, Educational Projects Inc fc_0002.jpgOne of the colouring books illustrated by Sid Barron for Educational Projects Inc.

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE BY CARTOONIST\B\BARRON Sid, Barron's Toronto 2.jpgBarron’s Toronto, 1965.

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE BY CARTOONIST\B\BARRON Sid, Barron's Toronto.jpgBarron’s Toronto, 1965.

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE BY CARTOONIST\B\BARRON Sid, Best of Barron, 1995,fc.jpgThe Best Of Barron, 1985: Front cover.