cartoonist, is included as 'Lew Parks’ in a c.1930s list of Bulletin Artists (ML Px*D557 pt 5, '21’). His Bulletin cartoons include, “I feel as though I’m going to Heaven when I waltz with you.”/ “Let’s reverse.” (n.d. ill Rolfe 183). As 'Van Eck’ (a signature he always used because he thought it brought him good luck), Lew Parks drew modernistic, rather cubist cartoons about fashion and style for the Bulletin about the time of WWI, e.g. Taking Time by the Forelock published 26 April 1917 (original ML).
Parks was editor of the Green Room Magazine housed in the Daily Telegraph building. He wrote an article for Lone Hand,1 February 1917 (p.118: information Craig Judd), entitled 'Futuristic Fantasies’ signed 'Van Eck’. It was illustrated with his drawings advertising the Futuristic fashions in the Sydney Tivoli Theatre’s The Passing Show. He noted:
“The drawings on this page, with the exception of the cubist attempt of a chorus girl of the future, are slight examples of the most popular style of black and white illustrations in America to-day. They do not represent a high sphere in illustrating. Nevertheless, despite the absence of technique, they succeeded in fulfilling their function i.e. of advertising the fact that The Passing Show is futuristic. They are different to anybody else’s stuff and that is wherein lies their value and appeal.
“One of these days I’ll organise a futuristic exhibition in Sydney and see if we can get it placed on a good commercial footing in this country. The brains are in Australia – the drawings can be accomplished here. But it is like rolling a rock up a precipice to get business men to realise the value of futurism for advertising anything from a brand of tea to a song. Luckily the stage is moving on the matter.”
Bulletin originals by 'L. Parks/ Green Room Magazine/ Daily Telegraph Buildings/ Sydney (ML Px*D461/8), published 17 May 1917, include: (own gag) From Storkless Realms. 'Mistress (to applicant for position of maid) “Do you know anything about children?”/ Maid: “No Mum. Up to now I have only been employed by Society People”.’ The figures are 'futuristic’ and dress in carnivalistic clothes (with maid in hat).
- Writers:
- Kerr, Joan
- Date written:
- 1996
- Last updated:
- 2007
