Is Diss a System? : a Milt Gross Comic Reader

304 Pages·2010·14.56 MB·English

by  Gross

E
E
the goldstein-goren series
in american jewish history
General editor: Hasia R. Diner
We Remember with Reverence and Love: American Jews
and the Myth of Silence after the Holocaust, 1945–1962
Hasia R. Diner
Is Diss a System? A Milt Gross Comic Reader
Edited by Ari Y. Kelman
E
E
IS DISS A SYSTEM ?
A Milt Gross Comic Reader
edited by
Ari Y. Kelman
(cid:4)
new york university press
New York and London
new york university press
New York and London
www.nyupress.org
© 2010 by New York University
All rights reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gross, Milt, 1895-1953 [Selections. 2010]
Is diss a system? : a Milt Gross comic reader / edited by Ari Y. Kelman.
p. cm. — (The Goldstein-Goren series in American Jewish history)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
isbn–13: 978–0–8147–4823–7 (cl : alk. paper)
isbn–10: 0–8147–4823–6 (cl : alk. paper)
1. Comic books, strips, etc.—United States. 2. Jewish wit and humor,
Pictorial. 3. American wit and humor, Pictorial. 4. Caricatures and
cartoons—United States. 5. Gross, Milt, 1895–1953—Criticism
and interpretation. I. Kelman, Ari Y., 1971– II. Title.
pn6727.g76a6 2010 741.5'973—dc22 2009023998
New York University Press books are printed on acid-free paper, and their
binding materials are chosen for strength and durability. We strive to
use environmentally responsible suppliers and materials to the
greatest extent possible in publishing our books.
Book designed and typeset by Charles B. Hames
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For L.P., who hipped me to
Gross some years ago.
And to E.P
Contents
Acknowledgments viii
Introduction 1
geeve a leesten!
Ari Y. Kelman
by (1 9 26)(excer
a p
B t
s
e )
z
i 5
N 5
Dunt Esk!
(1927) 107
De Night in de Front
from Chreesmas
(1927) 163
[vi]
Hiawatta Fim males(19
us 2
(1926) 187 o 8)
m
a 2
F 11
AMssilotr Gterdo ss Images 273
Bibliography 289
About the Editor 293
[vii]
Acknowledgments
This book began while I was working at the American Jewish
Historical Society, where the executive director, David Solo-
mon, not only supported the project but advocated for it as
well. He mentioned it to Professor Hasia Diner, who encour-
aged me to pursue the project and see it to completion. Her
comments have always been right on the money and she
constantly challenged me to make this a more sophisticated,
insightful book. Eddy Portnoy has been a great friend and
incredible resource both with respect to things Yiddish and
with respect to American comics. His patient readings and
rereadings of the introduction helped the project dramatical-
ly. Sarah Bunin Benor has also been extremely helpful, offer-
ing key insights and suggestions along the way.
Simon Elliott at the Young Research Library at UCLA
deserves special acknowledgment for being such a wonder-
ful host during my weeks of research in the Milt Gross Papers,
and for helping me follow up with Gross’s family.
The four anonymous readers of NYU Press provided much
needed criticism and guidance that I hope have succeeded in
making this book stronger. My brilliant colleagues at the Uni-
versity of California, Davis, offer kind and strong support and
have made Davis a great home. They are largely responsible
for creating an environment of curiosity, rigor, and humane
[viii]
working conditions. To Eric Zinner and Ciara McLaughlin, my
editors at NYU Press, my most sincere thanks for their fond
support and encouragement on this book. And finally, to Milt
Gross himself, whose inventiveness, creativity, insight, and
humor encouraged me to write a book I hope he would have
liked.
[ix]