Billions of billions of drawings - Richard draws Carl Sagan

Richard did hundreds, if not thousands, of caricatures throughout his career. Here's one of astronomer Carl Sagan (the Neil deGrasse Tyson of his day) from a Washington Post Magazine  April 23 2006 article by Joel Achenbach. Thanks to Anita Finklestein for keeping this and passing it along,

 

 

Thompson's first paying work: A menu from the Celebrity Delly

 Here's some better pictures and information on this, from Brian Nicklas.

"While cleaning up and moving things around, I found this Celebrity Delly Menu that Richard did. I think Richard told me it was his first actual cash payment for art. (I paid him a pack of Twinkies and a Coke for an Atilla the Hun's Birthday Party announcement.- And I keep looking for that - it was a great looking Attila wearing a cone party hat and using a party blower.) 

This is pretty much a year out of high school I think. The original menu is on blue paper - it doesn't reproduce well. BUT LOOK AT THOSE FACES.  What a talent. (Signature below Woody Allen) 

 The Delly in Rockville moved, and moved yet again, and then was gone. But the best was when Richard and a few other friends came to visit me when I was at Uni in Florida.  We went to Disney World (of course) and stopped for lunch/brunch on the way.  At the exit in the North Orlando area, we saw a shopping center and pulled in. There was a sign for "Celebrity Delly"  so we thought "what a hoot - let's go."  Inside, down the wall, was the mural Richard had painted at the Rockville location. Except copied. And copied BADLY.  We were laughing so much we could hardly eat. I think we found out the one in Orlando was run by a cousin of the owner in Rockville. 

 That was the trip where Richard couldn't contain himself at Disney.  At one point, he pointed at the mouse head cast into the sewer lid and shouted: "A cartoonist did all this!  ALL THIS!  The POWER!!!"

My goodness I miss that man."

David Bragunier

David Bragunier was principal tuba player for the National Symphony Orchestra  for 43 years. He was also my friend Bono Mitchell's neighbor for 37 years; neighbor, friend, brother-she-never-had. [He passed away in July - here's his obituary in The Post. I believe he commissioned the Mstislav Rostropovich caricature that Richard shows below - MR].
                

A video.

ANNOUNCING- the Musicophrenology Store!

A new store at Zazzle! We're selling out big-time and that means savings galore on all merchandise in the newly-created Musicophrenology Store! Just don't ask us what "musicophrenology" means!  It was that or "sears" and sears was taken.

Just look at some of these exclusive products-

The Beethoven Mug

Say, don't you wish your morning mug of coffee was as grumpy as you? Well, here's one mug that's extra-super grouchy! It'll put a smile on your face and a song in your heart, or wherever you keep such things! Only $14.95!