Dogs on Matches -- June 2009

When man first started printing advertisements on matchbooks in the late 1890s, it was inevitable his “best friend” would also soon appear on the matchcovers.  And appear they did.  Although the first image of a dog on a matchbook has not officially been documented, it’s safe to assume it was early on.

In 1924, Diamond Match Company first issued sets of matchbooks designed by William Homer Colgate in the Colgate Studios, a division of Diamond Match.  Many of the Colgate sets feature dogs, oftentimes a playful Scottish Terrier.  The most popular of the Colgate matchbooks were the Bridge Sets, which have the rules for Contract Bridge printed on the insides.  The majority of the sets also have production information printed on the insides, making them easy for collectors to date.  Colgate matches were typically packaged and sold in colorful, die-cut cardboard containers, though they were sometimes packaged in cellophane.  In addition to matchbooks, tallies and matching playing cards would also sometimes be available for purchase.

William Colgate and other studio artists designed the vast majority of the Colgate sets; however, a few sets were designed by other famous artists of the time.  For example, Colgate Design No. 0028, “Throw A Stick,” first issued in 1938, shows a clear signature by artist Morgan Dennis on the front panels of each matchcover in the set, while Colgate Design No. 132, “Hide ‘n Seek,” issued in 1940, has a much less obvious Dennis signature above the striker on the fourth cover in the set.  Artist Lucy Dawson designed Colgate Design No. 1699, “Mac,” which was issued in 1937.  (Incidentally, Dawson also often signed her artwork as “Mac.”)

Artwork of famed dog-portrait artist, Constance Depler-Coleman, sometimes also signed as “Connie,” appears on a whimsical set of four matchcovers from the 1950s titled “Personality Pups.”  Each matchcover bears both the “Connie” and “Constance Depler” signatures.  Another piece of Depler artwork, “Bar Hounds,” has been reproduced on a “full-length” matchcover from Playboy Lounge in Denver, Colorado.

Mural-sized prints of Depler’s “Bar Hounds” painting were a favorite in bars and cocktail lounges of the 1950s.  Bar napkins, figurines, ashtrays, drinking mugs, and salt and pepper shakers of the dogs depicted in the painting were also produced.  An incomplete lineup of the “Bar Hounds” dogs (the three dogs on the right are missing) has been loosely depicted on another matchcover from an establishment called Carousel.

Etchings dating from the 1930s depicting unusual and sometimes risqué humor are often attributed to artist Vinzento Zito or “Zito” as he signed his work.  Starting as a street artist, Zito sought commissions sketching people, animals, and buildings.  In the mid-1930s, Zito began to portray dogs and their playful characteristics.  His first attempts at painting dogs were made by discreetly incorporating them into human portraits.  Eventually, he made them more prominent by painting them into the foreground, and it wasn’t long before dogs were the main subjects of his work. 

In 1936, Zito collaborated with Hy Ken, the creator of “Dog Follies”, to create the book “Dogs by Zito.”   Produced in a spiral-bound, softcover format, the drawings were captioned by Ken.  The book was an instant success, followed by a series of “screamingly funny” and “beautifully colored” cards of the forty-five drawings in the book.  The full set of forty-five cards was advertised on matchcovers copyrighted 1939, for fifty cents postpaid.  A similar series of matchcovers, also copyrighted 1939, advertise Hy Ken’s “Dog Follies” book for the same price.

With a heavy-duty durable truck to advertise, what better way to convey toughness than by picturing a tenacious bulldog?  In fact, Mack trucks were bestowed their famous Bulldog trademark during World War I when the British government purchased the Mack AC to supply its front lines with troops, food, and equipment.  British soldiers dubbed the truck “Bulldog Mack,” as its blunt-nosed hood, coupled with its incredible durability, reminded the soldiers of the qualities attributed to their country’s mascot, the English Bulldog.  Not surprisingly, the United States Marines also adopted the Bulldog as their mascot. 

In 1936, the Calo Dog Food Company issued a series of matchcovers challenging their customers to collect the series with fifty breeds of dogs printed on the insides.  In reality, only six breeds are known to have been printed: the Scottish Terrier, Boston Terrier, Samoyed, Cocker Spaniel, English Setter, and Wirehaired Fox Terrier.

In the late 1930s, match companies began issuing “stock” sets of matchcovers that were available through their sales catalogs.  Stock sets typically consist of five to twelve different designs, usually with the pre-printed designs on the back panel of the matchcover, reserving the front panel for the custom-printed advertising.  With stock sets, all of the designs pertain to a particular subject matter, and one of the most-collected and best-documented categories of stock designs are the “girlie” matchcovers.

“Girlie” sets are a category in which the artwork consists of scantily clad (and sometimes topless or even naked) women.  “Girlie” sets were issued in groups of four to twelve designs, and Superior Match Company issued the first “girlie” set in 1938.  Match companies recruited famous artists like Elvgren, Petty, and Vargas to design their “girlie” sets, and they often painted a precocious pooch playfully interacting with the pretty lady.  There are thought to be about fifty-five American “girlie” sets, twenty-six of which contain designs that picture dogs.  There is only one “girlie” set, by Arrow Match Company (circa 1950), in which all five designs in the set picture dogs. 

“Americana” stock sets picture pastoral scenes of small-town America often including children interacting with a dog.  Several different match companies, beginning in the 1930s, issued “Purebred Dog” stock sets, which typically picture five popular breeds.  “Hillbilly” stock sets first appeared in 1948 by artist Martin Garrity, issued by Chicago Match Company, and feature hillbilly-related humor.  The designs in the sets sometimes picture a groggy or growling hound dog. “Cartoon” stock cuts, a few picturing dogs, were also popular in the 30s, 40s, and 50s for printing on the back panels or insides of matchcovers. 

Armed with an arsenal of sizes, shapes, and other “gimmicks,” the match industry virtually exploded during World War II when it was first mandated that a book of matches be given with every pack of cigarettes sold.  Competition between the match companies was fierce, and some of the finest, most colorful, and collectible matchbooks were produced during this time and into the 1960s.

During World War II, the Pepsi-Cola Company issued a set of forty-eight numbered matchbooks that have Disney-designed characters printed on the front panel with each matchbook representing a different military unit.  The sets were manufactured by D.D. Bean & Sons and sold through two drugstore chains throughout the U.S.  The “Disney-Pepsi set,” as it’s known, has two matchcovers that picture canine mascots.  Another patriotic set of twenty matchbooks was designed by the Disney Studios and manufactured by Maryland Match Company in 1942.  Again, each matchcover represents a different military unit, with only one of the matchcovers in this set picturing a dog.  In 1976, to commemorate our nation’s Bicentennial, Disneyland issued a patriotically themed matchcover picturing Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and our favorite Disney dog, Goofy.  Around the same time, Walt Disney World in Orlando issued a matchcover for their Tony’s Town Square Restaurant picturing Lady and Tramp.

Gift shops at many tourist attractions used to either give away matchbooks to their visitors, or sell them as souvenirs.  “Specializing in Roosevelt Mementos and Gifts,” it’s no wonder the matchbook from the Hyde Park Gift Shop bears a likeness of FDR’s beloved Fala.

The biggest of the matchbooks, measuring an impressive 3¼”x 4¼”, is the Giant™ matchbook produced by Lion Match Company beginning in 1936, perhaps earlier.  Hallmark, the greeting card company, manufactured matches at one time, including their version of the Giant™, some of which also doubled as greeting cards.  On the opposite end of the match size spectrum, the smallest is the diminutive Midget™ matchbook which was produced from 1934 to 1943, first by Lion Match Company, then by Ohio and Diamond match companies.  Designed to better fit into women’s handbags of the era which were being made more compact at the time, Midgets are highly collectable in the hobby of match collecting, especially in full-book form.  A few even have printing on their tiny matchsticks. 
Over the years, match companies designed narrower, wider, and odd-shaped matchbooks.  They made them oversized and undersized and with different surface finishes and textures.  Lion Match Company seemed to be the leader in this marketing strategy as it came up with many different trademarks for its spectacular line of products.  The Lion “Feature™” matchbook not only has wider matchsticks, but also has printing on the matchsticks.  The “Display™” matchbook, sometimes called a “pop-up,” has a die-cut tab of cardboard glued on the inside of the matchcover which offered extra advertising space or a place for an image of the product being advertised.  Combining the “Feature™” and the “Display™” packed a very powerful advertising punch.

From the start, unlike magazine and newspaper advertising, the biggest challenge for the matchbook artist was to effectively convey the advertisers’ message within a very small space.  For decades, dogs have been pictured on matchbooks and matchboxes to advertise a wide variety of places, products, and services.  Dogs appeal to our sense of loyalty and our sense of trust; they represent toughness, strength, and security.  And, dogs are cute – and let’s face it, cute sells. 

---

Dogs of the North - 2009

Dogs of the North opens in The AKC Museum of the Dog’s Special Exhibit Gallery at the end of February. This special presentation features more than thirty-five black and white photographs including several by the well-known photographer Jim Brown, the official Iditarod photographer for many years.  Also included are photographs of sled dogs at work, equipment such as sleds and harnesses, and a color lithograph entitled Siberian Husky – 90 Years in North America by the American artist Jo Lynn, celebrating the history of the Siberian Husky, as well as a pair of limited edition color lithographs dated 1982 by Fred Machetanz.

A retrospective exhibition chronicling the work of Machetanz was presented at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art in June 2004.  The exhibit outlined the artist’s valuable contributions to Alaskan art and also highlighted his importance as a unique American painter and illustrator. The pair of limited edition color lithographs in the Museum’s collection was a gift of Mill Pond Press, Inc.

Sled dogs have one of the longest histories of any breed and were said to have accompanied the earliest people when they crossed the land bridge from Siberia to North America.  These dogs were the workhorses of primitive man.

In today’s world there are still many areas where the sled dog is the prime means of transportation. Snow machines have replaced many of the dogs but, in bitterly cold weather, snow machines break down while the dogs keep going. 

The legacy of sled dogs as working dog and companion is special in the human/canine relationship and certainly to be admired even by individuals who have not had the unique opportunity of living and working in the Alaskan frontier.

Dogs of the North is available to visitors through May.
 

Hundreds of tons of snow are hauled into Anchorage so that the first few miles of the Iditarod can be run through the city’s downtown area, giving spectators a good look at the competitors as they begin their journey, black and white photograph by Jim Brown,Collection AKC Museum of the Dog

 

Buddy and Starlet, Winward Kennels, owned by Diana Edwards of St. Louis, Missouri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

Uno Gala Fantastico!
September 20, 2008
  
Cocktails with Uno, Ch. K-Run’s Park Me In First, the 132nd winner of the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club All-Breed Dog Show, the first Beagle ever to win Best In Show at Westminster, highlighted a fabulous gala reception at The AKC Museum of the Dog in September. Although misty weather and a slight risk of rain was the forecast for day, nothing could dampen the high spirit of the evening’s events that included more than one hundred fifty attendees who gathered to remember and honor Mr. Donald Danforth, Jr. 

Cocktails with Uno was followed by dinner in The Constellation Room where a special exhibit featured a selection of outstanding paintings from The AKC Museum of the Dog’s permanent collection. Also featured were the iconic carousel figure of a mastiff, Queen, and a mixed-media sculpture of an Afghan Hound by the artist DeDe LaRue. 

The evening’s program began with an introduction by committee co-chairman Mary Lee Hermann with additional remarks given by former St. Louis County Supervisor Gene McNary; current St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley; and Museum Chairman Gilbert S. Kahn.  Mr. Danforth was an early supporter and outstanding board member of the Museum, and he was lovingly remembered by his brothers Dr. William H. Danforth and Senator John C. Danforth who offered remarks on Don’s life and his numerous achievements.   

Donald Danforth was the founder of Kennelwood Village, St. Louis’s premiere canine service center, offering the best in dog training, day camp, state-of-the-art boarding facilities, and grooming.

David Frei, Westminster’s director of communications and longtime co-host of USA Network’s live telecast of the show, rounded out the evening with a stupendous speech on Uno’s grand success as one of Westminster’s most popular Best In Show winners.

Since his impressive win in February, Uno has traveled across the country as a canine ambassador of goodwill. In addition to meeting President George W. Bush at the White House as well as the governor of Texas, Uno’s celebrity schedule has had this beloved Beagle visiting the Ronald McDonald House in New York City and St. Louis and throwing out the first pitch at the Cardinals vs. Brewers baseball game in St. Louis in August.

A Certified Therapy Dog, Uno also helped to open the new Danforth Student Center at Washington University in St. Louis.

Other canine guests making an appearance at Uno Gala Fantastico included the Dalmatian Formation Drill Team of St. Louis proudly presented
by eight members of Spot Savers Rescue and Educational Program.  Greeting guests as they arrived at the Museum were June Brennan-Mueller with Nel, Janice Boyanchek with BB, Phillip Rauch with Dan, Gaye Absher with Ragan, Claire Langley with Ami, Mary Zeis with Turbo, Jeannine Navratil with Jolly, and Ginger Friedhoff with Barbie. One guest was quoted as saying she had never been made to feel more welcome!

Cornelia Green of St. Louis presented Bidelia, her charming Standard Poodle, and Matt Koch of Kennelwood Village was in attendance with his canine companion, Torch, a Belgian Tervuren. Museum Assistant Kristen Wieland’s Chihuahuas, Jasmine and Tuff Guy, greeted guests in the admissions hall. 

Museum Assistant Linda Neukirch and her canine companion, Chloe, happily greeted visitors in the Gift Shop.  Museum Director Barbara McNab and her husband, Huntley, proudly showed off their two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Dapper Dan and Beau.
(You couldn’t miss the cavaliers as they were the two giving everyone kisses.)

The Danforth family is well known for having founded Ralston Purina, and Donald Danforth, Jr., was also known for his love of and passion for collecting nineteenth century art of the Plains tribes. A public showing of his extensive collection was held at The Saint Louis Art Museum in 2006.   

He is fondly remembered for his leadership and invaluable contributions to The AKC Museum of the Dog.

Corporate sponsorship in support of Uno Gala Fantastico includes contributions given by Build-A-Bear Workshop and Nestlé Purina PetCare Company. The AKC Museum of the Dog kindly thanks James and Mary Dierberg of St. Louis for a gift donation of wine provided by Hermannhof Winery of Hermann, Missouri, and also acknowledges Mrs. James B. Orthwein for a gift of table sweets by Sweet Picks Pastries.

---

Artists’ Registry Exhibition: June 1st
through August, 31, 2008

Judith Jarcho / Sally M. Berner / Jennifer Leong

In 1993, the Dog Museum began presenting special exhibits showcasing canine art by members of The Artists’ Registry.  The Artists’ Registry is a biographical listing of artists available by commission for dog portraits or dog-related art. Within the past fifteen years, more than two hundred artists from the United States and Canada have participated in exhibits at the Museum.

The Sixth Artists’ Registry Exhibition features more than thirty works of art by Judith Jarcho of San Diego, California; Sally M. Berner of Green Bay, Wisconsin; and Jennifer Leong of Pasadena, California.

Judith Jarcho says that she has been an artist all her life.  She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and while earning an Art Education teaching degree, Jarcho took classes from the well-known American artist Wolf Kahn.  Like Kahn, vibrant colors are integral to Jarcho’s canvases; color and brilliance are inseparable in Jarcho’s work.  Bright red, a great color for energy and intensity, is the background for both Sumo Times 3 and Molly in Red.   

Sumo Times 3 is composed of three individual canvases, each four feet by four feet.  Molly in Red is also four feet by four feet.

Jarcho recalls her journey toward canine portraiture started in New York City’s Upper East Side.  She wanted to capture in art and photography the dog walkers who are out early in the morning.  Jim Buck, a famous dog walker in New York City, allowed Jarcho to photograph him on several occasions while the artist was visiting the city. The large work came a bit later when Jarcho met Molly one summer in East Hampton.  Molly was the largest Greyhound the artist had ever seen, and she felt the size of the painting should match the dog’s stature.

Sumo Times 3 was inspired by Kuma, the family’s first Akita. Jarcho’s children picked their favorite poses for the triptych.

The artist has been represented in twenty-three exhibitions, most recently a one-woman show at the Brenda Taylor Gallery in New York City.  Jarcho’s paintings have also been on exhibit in several juried competitions including exhibits held at the Parrish Art Museum, South Hampton, New York, and the San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego, California.

Sally M. Berner is a member of Oil Painters of America, Worldwide Nature Artists Group, and American Woman Artists.  She is also an Associate Member of the Society of Animal Artists.  Berner grew up in a small town in Wisconsin with Lake Michigan in her backyard and the beauty of Door County less than an hour away.  Her love for nature and animals has led her to concentrate on painting landscapes, wildlife, and, of course, dogs.  Canine portraits are her passion. Berner was recently represented with her superb painting of a Foxhound in the traveling exhibition Paws & Reflect: Art of Canines, which was presented at nine locations in the United States.

She regularly submits work to The Art Show at The Dog Show, a national juried art competition sponsored by the Sunflower Cluster Clubs in Wichita, Kansas and has had work accepted in this event nine times.  Berner received The Art Show at The Dog Show First Place Award in the category of oil and acrylic painting in 2002.

She is further represented in numerous private collections as well as several permanent collections including Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin; Neville Public Museum of Brown County, Green Bay, Wisconsin; and the Kit Hammond, Great Dane Trailers Corporate Headquarters, Savannah, Georgia.

Berner is an active volunteer for Golden Retriever Rescue of Wisconsin, got her first Golden Retriever in 1978, and is now on her fourth one, Ginger.  

Ginger serves as an inspiration for Berner’s art.  “I have many wonderful pictures of Ginger doing everything from snoozing on the couch to playing with other dogs at the dog beach, and they just beg to become paintings,” says Berner.

Although Berner’s lovely canvas Evening Stroll is not a portrait of Ginger, it is a painting of her sister’s Golden Retriever and a male friend she “picked up” at the beach in the Outer Banks.  “Once a year my sister and I rent a place where we can have our dog vacation together.  We have rented places in the Outer Banks and Sanibel Island, Florida. Both are very dog friendly,” recalls Berner.

Jennifer Leong was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and raised in southern California.  She received her Bachelor of Science with Honors in Advertising/Communications from Cal Poly Pomona in 1998, and Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honors in Illustration from the acclaimed Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, California, in 2002.

While Leong has enjoyed painting mythical creatures, magical objects, and human characters on projects such as the world renowned Warner Brothers Harry Potter Franchise, her lifelong love of animals and involvement with animal rescue inspires her canine portraits.

Leong’s lovely oil glazing on wood panel paintings express a traditional approach to dog art that reflects a classic style found in many nineteenth century works of art. Taz & Chamba (shown at left) depict two Smooth Coat Chihuahuas posed on a red cloth with a gentle wooded landscape and soft blue sky in the background. A dragonfly flitting in the air has caught the attention of the dog on the right.

The artist is represented in numerous private collections that include celebrities and well-known artists both nationally and internationally.

Leong lives and works in Pasadena with her fiancé, Darren, her rescue dog, Grimis, and several birds.

The Sixth Artists’ Registry Exhibition is available to visitors through August 31.
    
   
Sumo Times 3, acrylic on canvas (triptych)
by Judith Jarcho

 

Tazand Chamba, oil on wood panel
by Jennifer Leong

Evening Stroll, oil painting
by Sally M. Berner

---