Jay Irving
Encyclopedia
Irving Joel Rafsky known as Jay Irving, was a cartoonist notable for his syndicated strip Pottsy about a good-natured, dutiful New York police officer, Pottsy, who sometimes came in conflict with his sergeant.
Born in New York, Irving became familiar with police activities at an early age, since his father, Abraham Rafsky, was a captain in the New York Police Department. After attending Columbia University
, Irving was employed as an insurance salesman and a police reporter for the New York Globe.
and spent two years doing advertising art. Dorothy Prago and Jay Irving married in 1922, and their only child, Clifford Irving
, was born November 5, 1930.
In 1932, Irving began a 13-year association with Collier's
, drawing the weekly cartoon panel Collier's Cops. He also did covers for Collier's, including one for the October 26, 1940 issue.
In 1946, he created the short-lived comic strip Willie Doodle, also about a police officer, for the Herald-Tribune Syndicate.
from 1955 until 1970. Irving's son, Clifford, was an art student in the mid-1940s at the High School of Music & Art, and he assisted his father by doing lettering on both Willie Doodle and Pottsy. Clifford Irving later wrote about the art world in his book Fake! The Story of Elmyr de Hory, the Greatest Art Forger of Our Time (1969).
The word "Pottsy" entered the language during the run of the strip. A police officer who prevented the loss of his badge by wearing a fake badge referred to the fake as a Pottsy. Later, these fake badges became known as "dupes".
were regular performers on the ABC television series Draw Me a Laugh (1949), produced by Casson. The show was hosted by Patricia Bright and Walter Hurley. Guest cartoonists included Gus Edson
. Viewers sent in ideas which were drawn by the cartoonists while members of the studio audience constructed the gag lines. Folk singer Oscar Brand
then vocalized the "singing captions".
Irving was 69 when he died of a heart attack in his New York apartment at 650 West End Avenue. His wife Dorothy survived him by less than a year. He was also survived by his son, the novelist Clifford Irving; a brother, John F. Norman; and two sisters, Mrs. Bebe Hamilburg and Mrs. Milton N. Rosenthal.
, although his name is curiously absent from the organization's online roster of members. He was the official historian for the Police Department's Honor Legion, and he owned a collection of police memorabilia dating back more than 300 years. His collection included dozens of photographs of law enforcement officers, including some photos from the 19th century.
Clifford Irving used his father's art supplies to create forgeries necessary for his 1971 hoax autobiography of Howard Hughes
.
Born in New York, Irving became familiar with police activities at an early age, since his father, Abraham Rafsky, was a captain in the New York Police Department. After attending Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, Irving was employed as an insurance salesman and a police reporter for the New York Globe.
Cartoons
A self-taught artist, Irving became a sports cartoonist in the late 1920s. He drew the strip Bozo Blimp for King Features SyndicateKing Features Syndicate
King Features Syndicate, a print syndication company owned by The Hearst Corporation, distributes about 150 comic strips, newspaper columns, editorial cartoons, puzzles and games to nearly 5000 newspapers worldwide...
and spent two years doing advertising art. Dorothy Prago and Jay Irving married in 1922, and their only child, Clifford Irving
Clifford Irving
Clifford Michael Irving is an American author of novels and works of nonfiction, but best known for using forged handwritten letters to convince his publisher into accepting a fake "autobiography" of reclusive businessman Howard Hughes in the early 1970s...
, was born November 5, 1930.
In 1932, Irving began a 13-year association with Collier's
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
, drawing the weekly cartoon panel Collier's Cops. He also did covers for Collier's, including one for the October 26, 1940 issue.
In 1946, he created the short-lived comic strip Willie Doodle, also about a police officer, for the Herald-Tribune Syndicate.
Pottsy
His Pottsy strip was syndicated by the Tribune-News SyndicateTribune Media Services
Tribune Media Services is a syndication company owned by the Tribune Company.The company has two divisions, "News and Features" and "Entertainment Products"...
from 1955 until 1970. Irving's son, Clifford, was an art student in the mid-1940s at the High School of Music & Art, and he assisted his father by doing lettering on both Willie Doodle and Pottsy. Clifford Irving later wrote about the art world in his book Fake! The Story of Elmyr de Hory, the Greatest Art Forger of Our Time (1969).
The word "Pottsy" entered the language during the run of the strip. A police officer who prevented the loss of his badge by wearing a fake badge referred to the fake as a Pottsy. Later, these fake badges became known as "dupes".
Television
Irving and Mel CassonMel Casson
Mel Casson was an American cartoonist with a 50-year career. He is primarily remembered for his work on the daily comic strips Sparky, Angel, Mixed Singles/Boomer and Redeye, plus numerous magazine cartoons....
were regular performers on the ABC television series Draw Me a Laugh (1949), produced by Casson. The show was hosted by Patricia Bright and Walter Hurley. Guest cartoonists included Gus Edson
Gus Edson
Gus Edson was an American cartoonist known for two popular, long running comic strips, The Gumps and Dondi....
. Viewers sent in ideas which were drawn by the cartoonists while members of the studio audience constructed the gag lines. Folk singer Oscar Brand
Oscar Brand
Oscar Brand is a folk singer, songwriter, and author. In his career, spanning over 60 years, he has composed at least 300 songs and released nearly 100 albums, among them Canadian and American patriotic songs...
then vocalized the "singing captions".
Irving was 69 when he died of a heart attack in his New York apartment at 650 West End Avenue. His wife Dorothy survived him by less than a year. He was also survived by his son, the novelist Clifford Irving; a brother, John F. Norman; and two sisters, Mrs. Bebe Hamilburg and Mrs. Milton N. Rosenthal.
National Cartoonists Society
Irving was a founding member of the National Cartoonists SocietyNational Cartoonists Society
The National Cartoonists Society is an organization of professional cartoonists in the United States. It presents the National Cartoonists Society Awards. The Society was born in 1946 when groups of cartoonists got together to entertain the troops...
, although his name is curiously absent from the organization's online roster of members. He was the official historian for the Police Department's Honor Legion, and he owned a collection of police memorabilia dating back more than 300 years. His collection included dozens of photographs of law enforcement officers, including some photos from the 19th century.
Clifford Irving used his father's art supplies to create forgeries necessary for his 1971 hoax autobiography of Howard Hughes
Howard Hughes
Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. was an American business magnate, investor, aviator, engineer, film producer, director, and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest people in the world...
.