Jack Rickard
Encyclopedia
Jack Rickard an illustrator for numerous advertising campaigns, was best known as a key contributor to Mad
for more than two decades.
After attending the Rochester Institute of Technology
on an art scholarship, Rickard did commercial art
for Chaite Studios in the 1950s. He contributed to Charlton Comics
and worked as an assistant on the Li'l Abner
comic strip
. Soon after, he became a mainstay in the advertising field, where his work attracted the attention of Mads editors. He began illustrating for the humor magazine in 1961.
In 1966-67, he collaborated with Mell Lazarus on a newspaper comic strip
, Pauline McPeril (aka The Adventures of Pauline McPeril) for Publishers-Hall Syndicate
. Lazarus used the pseudonym "Fulton" on this strip, which followed the misadventures of blonde secret agent McPeril.
Mad Mad editor Nick Meglin
commented, "I think of all the artists we've had, we miss Jack the most. Jack had so many styles, such a total command of all techniques. He was especially useful when we wanted something to have a real rounded, 3-D look to it." After the 1980 death of Norman Mingo, Rickard became Mads main cover artist until his own death three years later.
He also illustrated for the original Mad paperbacks, including Frank Jacobs
' Mad About Sports (1972). Some of his Mad work was reprinted in Richard Linklater
's Dazed and Confused: Teenage Nostalgia. Instant and Cool 70's Memorabilia (MCA, 1993), a tie-in with Linklater's 1993 film, Dazed and Confused
.
movies, Uptown Saturday Night
and Let's Do It Again
, and for two Peter Sellers
films, the 1963 film The Pink Panther
and the 1974 Soft Beds, Hard Battles
(aka Party for Hitler and Undercovers Hero). He created both the original movie poster for Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice
and its parody on the cover of Mad #137.
Mad (magazine)
Mad is an American humor magazine founded by editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines in 1952. Launched as a comic book before it became a magazine, it was widely imitated and influential, impacting not only satirical media but the entire cultural landscape of the 20th century.The last...
for more than two decades.
After attending the Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
The Rochester Institute of Technology is a private university, located within the town of Henrietta in metropolitan Rochester, New York, United States...
on an art scholarship, Rickard did commercial art
Commercial art
Commercial art is historically a subsector of creative services, referring to art created for commercial purposes, primarily advertising. The term has become increasingly anachronistic in favor of more contemporary terms such as graphic design and advertising art.Commercial art traditionally...
for Chaite Studios in the 1950s. He contributed to Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics
Charlton Comics was an American comic book publishing company that existed from 1946 to 1985, having begun under a different name in 1944. It was based in Derby, Connecticut...
and worked as an assistant on the Li'l Abner
Li'l Abner
Li'l Abner is a satirical American comic strip that appeared in many newspapers in the United States, Canada and Europe, featuring a fictional clan of hillbillies in the impoverished town of Dogpatch, Kentucky. Written and drawn by Al Capp , the strip ran for 43 years, from August 13, 1934 through...
comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
. Soon after, he became a mainstay in the advertising field, where his work attracted the attention of Mads editors. He began illustrating for the humor magazine in 1961.
In 1966-67, he collaborated with Mell Lazarus on a newspaper comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
, Pauline McPeril (aka The Adventures of Pauline McPeril) for Publishers-Hall Syndicate
Publishers-Hall Syndicate
Publishers-Hall Syndicate was a newspaper syndicate founded in 1944 by Robert M. Hall, the company's president and general manager.Hall had worked for The Providence Journal during high school, followed by three years at Northeastern Law School and four years at Brown University...
. Lazarus used the pseudonym "Fulton" on this strip, which followed the misadventures of blonde secret agent McPeril.
Mad Mad editor Nick Meglin
Nick Meglin
Nick Meglin was a member of MAD Magazine's editorial staff for almost half a century. His progress can be observed by studying the magazine's masthead, which moved him from "Ideas" to "War Correspondent" to "Editorial Associate" to "Associate Editor" to "Editor," a position which he held for 20...
commented, "I think of all the artists we've had, we miss Jack the most. Jack had so many styles, such a total command of all techniques. He was especially useful when we wanted something to have a real rounded, 3-D look to it." After the 1980 death of Norman Mingo, Rickard became Mads main cover artist until his own death three years later.
He also illustrated for the original Mad paperbacks, including Frank Jacobs
Frank Jacobs
Frank Jacobs is an American author of satires, known primarily for his work in Mad, to which he has contributed since 1957. Jacobs has written a wide variety of lampoons and spoof, but he is best known as a versifier who contributes parodies of famous song lyrics and poems...
' Mad About Sports (1972). Some of his Mad work was reprinted in Richard Linklater
Richard Linklater
-Early life:Linklater was born in Houston, Texas. He studied at Sam Houston State University and left midway through his stint in college to work on an off-shore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. While working on the rig he read a lot of literature, but on land he developed a love of film through...
's Dazed and Confused: Teenage Nostalgia. Instant and Cool 70's Memorabilia (MCA, 1993), a tie-in with Linklater's 1993 film, Dazed and Confused
Dazed and Confused
"Dazed and Confused" is a song by Jake Holmes, which was covered by The Yardbirds, and later reworked by Led Zeppelin who hold a separate copyright on the song.-Jake Holmes:...
.
Posters
Rickard's style was in demand for movie promotions. He did the poster art for two Sidney PoitierSidney Poitier
Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE is a Bahamian American actor, film director, author, and diplomat.In 1963, Poitier became the first black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field...
movies, Uptown Saturday Night
Uptown Saturday Night
Uptown Saturday Night is a 1974 comedy film written by Richard Wesley, and directed by Sidney Poitier. Poitier also stars in this film, along with Bill Cosby and Harry Belafonte. Cosby and Poitier teamed up again for Let's Do It Again and A Piece of the Action...
and Let's Do It Again
Let's Do It Again (1975 film)
Let's Do It Again is a 1975 film starring Sidney Poitier, Bill Cosby and Jimmie Walker. Poitier also directed. The film is about blue-collar workers who decide to rig a boxing match to raise money for their fraternal lodge...
, and for two Peter Sellers
Peter Sellers
Richard Henry Sellers, CBE , known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor. Perhaps best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series, he is also notable for playing three different characters in Dr...
films, the 1963 film The Pink Panther
The Pink Panther (1963 film)
The Pink Panther is a 1963 American comedy film directed by Blake Edwards and co-written by Edwards and Maurice Richlin, starring David Niven, Peter Sellers, Robert Wagner, Capucine, and Claudia Cardinale...
and the 1974 Soft Beds, Hard Battles
Soft Beds, Hard Battles
Soft Beds, Hard Battles is a 1974 British comedy film directed by Roy Boulting, and starring Peter Sellers....
(aka Party for Hitler and Undercovers Hero). He created both the original movie poster for Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice
Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice
Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice is a 1969 comedy-drama film directed by Paul Mazursky. It stars Natalie Wood, Robert Culp, Elliott Gould and Dyan Cannon....
and its parody on the cover of Mad #137.