William O'Brian, possibly from the book jacket, All About Oscar the Trained Seal, by Mabel Neikirk (2nd Edition)
According to Jacobsen’s Biographical Index of American Artists, there was a William O’Brian born in 1911 who is listed as an artist. In our research we also came upon some drawings that appear similar in style to that of the Oscar drawings. This has allowed us to follow what we believe may have been the career path of William O’Brian, or Bill O’Brian as he later signed his works.
According to cartoonist Michael Maslin, William O’Brian worked as an illustrator for the New Yorker from, “August 16, 1952 – August 16, 1976”. This would seem to be validated by articles in the New Yorker archives referencing William O’Brian. There also appears to have been a Bill O’Brian who worked as an illustrator for the L. A. Times during the late ’40s and early ’50s. His style of art also looks similar to that of the Oscar series.
According to Amazon.com, an illustrator authored a book titled No Dessert Until You’ve Finished Your Mashed Potatoes under the name William O’Brian. William O’Brian also illustrated a book titled The Ear Book by Al Perkins.
The image that you see on this page was found pasted on the inside of the cover of a 2nd edition of All About Oscar a Trained Seal by Mabel Neikirk. We believe it may have come from the dust jacket of the book. This website states, “Oscar owes his life to a little girl who couldn’t say her “s’s!” (from the inside dw panel)” and next to O’Brian’s bio is a similar story pasted in the book. This leads us to believe the image and text is indeed from the “DW” or dust wrapper (Bookmaven).
Works referenced
Bookmaven. “All About Oscar, Trained Seal, Anna Karénina in Eight Parts.” Web. 6 Nov. 2011.
<http://abookmaven.net/bm002260.htm>
https://oscartheseal.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/all-about-oscar-trained-seal-anna-karc3a9nina-in-eight-parts.pdf
“Comic 11 — No Title. ” Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) 16 Nov. 1947,ProQuest Historical Newspapers Los Angeles Times (1881 – 1987), ProQuest. Web. 6 Nov. 2011.
<http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb/?did=420128141&sid=2&Fmt=10&clientId=36305&RQT=309&VName=HNP>
Comic 18 — No Title. ” Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) 30 Apr. 1950,ProQuest Historical Newspapers Los Angeles Times (1881 – 1987), ProQuest. Web. 6 Nov. 2011.
<http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb/?did=423567211&sid=2&Fmt=10&clientId=36305&RQT=309&VName=HNP>
Jacobsen’s Biographical Index of American Artists. Artists native to the United States or working in the United States from 1606 to 2002. Four volumes. Edited by Anita Jacobsen. Carrollton, TX: A.J. Publications, 2002. [JacBIAA]
Source Citation: Biography and Genealogy Master Index. Farmington Hills,
Mich.: Gale, Cengage Learning. 1980- 2011. Web. Nov. 4, 2011
Lee Lorenz. “Album: Under the Volcano : The New Yorker.” 22 Nov. 1999. Web. 5 Nov. 2011.
<Lee Lorenz. “Album: Under the Volcano : The New Yorker”>
“Michael Maslin – NYer Cartoonists A-Z.” Web. 6 Nov. 2011.
<http://michaelmaslin.com/index.php?page=nyer-cartoonists-a-z>
Neikirk, Mabel E. “All About Oscar the Trained Seal”. 2nd Edition. John C. Winston Company c. 1944. Print.
O’Brian, William. “No Dessert Until You’ve Finished Your Mashed Potatoes”. Web. 5 Nov. 2011<http://www.amazon.com/Dessert-Until-Finished-Mashed-Potatoes/dp/B000NZ8PTA>
O’Brian, Bill. “SAGES IN CAGES. ” Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) 6 Feb. 1949,ProQuest Historical Newspapers Los Angeles Times (1881 – 1987), ProQuest. Web. 6 Nov. 2011.
<http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb/?did=417936281&sid=2&Fmt=10&clientId=36305&RQT=309&VName=HNP>
Perkins, Al and O’Brian, William. The Ear Book. New York: Random House, 1968. Print.
All about Oscar 