Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Ding Dong Daddy

Pen & ink sketch, early 1940s. The title likely derives from the song "I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas," penned by Phil Baxter in the late 1920s. Dumas is a town in the northwest Texas Panhandle. The song was recorded by many country and jazz artists, including Louis Armstrong (in 1930), and was later a hit for singer-bandleader Phil Harris. Flora's take is typically idiosyncratic and perhaps references the titular "ding dong" in the bell-and-clapper motif of the figure's right leg. There's also evidence of some testicular bell-ringing.

3 comments:

Ernie said...

You mean this Phil Harris song?

http://ernienotbert.blogspot.com/2008/01/adventures-at-78-rpm.html

My one and only rip from a 78 ever. The needle broke on the next record and I've never replaced it. I need to get to that someday...

Nice drawing, by the way. Wish he'd fleshed this one out into a finished work.

Harley said...

Oh, sure, when a big shot like Jim Flora does testicular bell-ringing he's a "great illustrator," yet when I engage in this very same activity...

Irwin Chusid said...

Now, Harley, I'm sure there's some "artistry" to your technique. But perhaps it's best left to the imagination.