1926/1927 “POLAR LARK/GARDEN LARK” MENU PAIR/TICKET/LETTER FROM HEAD OF KING FEATURES SYNDICATE.
Item Description
Four items. Menus are each 8x10.75” stiff paper with choice graphics. April 20, 1926 menu is for “Polar Lark And Friars’ Frolic.” Front cover has choice graphics by Morse-Biedermann showing scantily-clad women dancing around totem pole designed with multi comic strip characters with snow and ice in bkg. Characters shown include Jiggs, Tillie, Spark Plug, Maggie, Hans and Fritz, Krazy Kat, Barney Google, Abe Kabibble, Polly, Pop, Tillie and Mom and Just Kids character talking to Little Jimmy. Inside front cover has text menu with multi-character art at top including Krazy Kat, Jiggs, Barney Google and Abe Kabibble among others enjoying dinner. Third page has nice graphics of party favor which includes images of Krazy Kat, Felix the Cat, Jiggs, Spark Plug, Tillie & others. Bottom of page has specialty art of Barney, Jiggs, and Abe talking. Backcover art has printed “The Friars’ Song.” Second menu is titled “Garden Lark And Friars’ Frolic” for April 25, 1927 with choice cover graphics by Dan Smith with sexy partially nude woman holding bottle as man talks to her through foliage. Inside menu page has sunflower designs incorporating character heads including Felix, Jiggs, Abe, Maggie, Toots, Happy Hooligan, Barney Google, Little Jimmy, Captain and one Kid. Third page pictures ornate flower pots. Last page has “The Friars’ Song.” Both have traces of lt. cover dust soil but overall VF/Exc. Bright color with choice graphics. Invitation card is 5.25x7” for “Garden Lark” with name “Mr. S. Leigh Call” neatly written in fountain pen in proper place. Upper right corner has 2” dust streak. VF. Fourth item is 8.5x10-7/8” type-written letter dated May 7, 1926 on “King Features Syndicate, Inc.” stationery signed in ink by N. Koenigsberg who founded King Features Syndicate in 1915. Letter is addressed to “S. Leigh Call The State Journal Springfield, Ill.” Letter mentions photo (not present) and details activities recipient attended on April 20 at Polar Lark party. Cartoonists mentioned include Rube Goldberg, Cliff Sterrett, Harry Hershfield, Walter Hoban, Arnot. Entertainers mentioned include David Belasco, Fanny Brice, Magician Hardeen, Vincent Lopez, Ben Bernie, Sophie Tucker, Texas Guinan, Gus Edwards, George Jessel and Borah Minnevich leading his 35-harmonica champions. Signed in fountain pen ink at end. Letters have 3 folds as mailed. First page has lt. handling creases near top. VF. Interesting group relating to King Features cartoonists after hours antics.