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Grumpy Lou & His Kazoo

Several years ago, cartoonist Elwood H. Smith (previously featured here) and his wife, Maggie, wrote and produced a musical called “Grumpy Lou & His Kazoo”. Using an actor, a live band, and slide projectors to project Elwood’s original illustrations, the musical was performed for several nights to sold-out crowds:

We projected about 600 slides from 4 carousels (it’d all be done digitally today) cropped from some 200 drawings I’d created, during which, the marvelous J.T. Carlisle read the story with gusto. The band wove the songs in and out of J.T.s reading following cues given by our esteemed musical director & keyboardist, Mark Vian.

Read all about the experience, see some more fantastic art from the show, and even listen to one of the songs performed over on Elwood’s blog. Perfect Friday fun!

Link

  • http://maxiluchini.blogspot.com/ maxiluchini

    ¡¡¡¡¡ me encantan estos dibujitos!!!!.siento sus influencias muy cercanas a mi trabajo.
    que pena no poder ver la produccion.

  • http://maxiluchini.blogspot.com maxiluchini

    ¡¡¡¡¡ me encantan estos dibujitos!!!!.siento sus influencias muy cercanas a mi trabajo.
    que pena no poder ver la produccion.

  • http://www.ericdyck.blogspot.com/ eric dyck

    makes me want to spend my friday afternoon reading my Krazy Kat books…

  • http://www.ericdyck.blogspot.com eric dyck

    makes me want to spend my friday afternoon reading my Krazy Kat books…

  • Elwood H. Smith

    You can’t go wrong spending your time with George Herriman’s exquisite drawings, that’s for sure. And I do wish I could read Spanish. Those online translators are good for a hoot, but not much else.
    -ES

  • Elwood H. Smith

    You can’t go wrong spending your time with George Herriman’s exquisite drawings, that’s for sure. And I do wish I could read Spanish. Those online translators are good for a hoot, but not much else.
    -ES

  • http://www.dobloodpressure.info/ Hannah

    So sweet drawing! Its reminding me of the cartoon “Tom and Jerry”. I think i m developing a taste for Smith’s cartoons too.

  • http://www.dobloodpressure.info Hannah

    So sweet drawing! Its reminding me of the cartoon “Tom and Jerry”. I think i m developing a taste for Smith’s cartoons too.

  • http://www.chadscartoons.com/ Chad Baldwin

    This is such a great piece. I really love the style!

  • http://www.chadscartoons.com Chad Baldwin

    This is such a great piece. I really love the style!

  • stacey

    When I was in college at SCAD, back in the early 90s, we had a few visting illustrators review our work. Some were the prototype for Meryl Streep’s character in “The Devil Wears Prada” condescending, bored, and unimpressed. But Elwood and Maggie were both so encouraging and lovely. Not that they blew sunshine up our butts, they provided feedback and criticism that was constructive and helpful. Everytime I see one of Elwood’s illustrations I remember him fondly and feel inspired to get to work on some new project. Thanks for posting this, and thank you, Elwood. I think I’ll head over to my studio now.

  • stacey

    When I was in college at SCAD, back in the early 90s, we had a few visting illustrators review our work. Some were the prototype for Meryl Streep’s character in “The Devil Wears Prada” condescending, bored, and unimpressed. But Elwood and Maggie were both so encouraging and lovely. Not that they blew sunshine up our butts, they provided feedback and criticism that was constructive and helpful. Everytime I see one of Elwood’s illustrations I remember him fondly and feel inspired to get to work on some new project. Thanks for posting this, and thank you, Elwood. I think I’ll head over to my studio now.

  • Elwood H. Smith

    Hello, Stacey-
    Sorry for the delay in responding to your note, but I forgot to come back here to see if anyone left a post. Thank you for taking the time to share with us your memories of that time so many years ago. I’ll send Maggie here to read this. I’m sure you’ve shared knowledge gained over the years with younger artists. You are right to abhor arrogance and condescension–we are all in this together and none of us earns the right to crap on others, no matter how talented or smart we may think we are.

    And thank you Hannah and Chad for repsonding.

    Best Wishes,
    -Elwood

  • Elwood H. Smith

    Hello, Stacey-
    Sorry for the delay in responding to your note, but I forgot to come back here to see if anyone left a post. Thank you for taking the time to share with us your memories of that time so many years ago. I’ll send Maggie here to read this. I’m sure you’ve shared knowledge gained over the years with younger artists. You are right to abhor arrogance and condescension–we are all in this together and none of us earns the right to crap on others, no matter how talented or smart we may think we are.

    And thank you Hannah and Chad for repsonding.

    Best Wishes,
    -Elwood