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Paul Krassner and the publisher Lyle Stuart (1922-2006) had separate offices on the same floor at 225 Lafayette Street. This address was the location of EC Comics during the 1950s, and Stuart was a business advisor and close friend of EC and
Mad publisher Bill Gaines.
In 1962, I went to deliver a
Realist cartoon to Paul, and he said, "Lyle wants to see you." Since I had never met him, I asked, "Why?" Paul shrugged.
When I crossed the hall to Lyle Stuart's office, he told me he was moving and needed a cartoon mailing piece to let everyone know his company's new address. We talked about the books he was publishing, and he told me that his worst-selling book was Roger Price's
J.G., the Upright Ape. I suggested a drawing with boxes and books scattered about. He said okay and gave me a catalog.
When I delivered the finished cartoon, he proposed doing a comic strip for his publication
The Independent. I said, "Who is the writer?" He said. "I am." I guess he had something in mind with a political slant, but I never heard more about it. Perhaps he got caught up in more profitable pursuits. In retrospect, I feel I should have pressured him to give me a script. The girl in the upper left corner of the drawing is a caricature of his receptionist.
Lyle Stuart
Labels: krassner, lyle stuart, roger price