Canadian Comix News & Culture
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Sunday, February 26, 2006
Ed Franklin, 1921-2006
:: Posted by max @ 2/26/2006 02:12:00 AM Obituary
Former Globe and Mail political cartoonist Ed Franklin has died. Born in Texas, Franklin worked for the Globe from 1968-1987.
Franklin started his career at the Houston Press in 1947. He also drew cartoons for the Houston Post until 1953 when he moved to New York and freelanced for magazines including The Saturday Evening Post, True, and Argosy, among other clients.
In 1959 he moved his family to Toronto and worked in advertising and illustration. His first Globe cartoon was published in 1966. Following a short stint with the Toronto Star, he joined the staff of the Globe in 1968, alternating with Jim Reidford, the Globe's chief cartoonist and the man responsible for getting Franklin the job. Franklin became the Globe's main daily cartoonist in 1972.
According to Peter Desbarrats in The Hecklers, "His caricatures always illuminate public figures with harsh clarity but his ideas are often as labyrinthine as his drawings and sometimes remain tantalizingly obscure for a large part of his audience."
Desbarrats also notes that, "Probably remembering his experience with Reidford, Franklin has always been very encouraging towards younger cartoonist, including Ted Jackman and Tony Jenkins."
The Globe and Mail attributes Franklin with ending the political career of former Prime Minister Joe Clark when a Franklin caricature of a pants-less Clark was circulated at the 1983 Progressive Conservative leadership convention.
Another cartoon is said to have influenced Ronald Reagan on the issue of acid rain on the eve of Reagan's 1985 visit to Canada.
Franklin also worked for the Financial Post and Saturday Night after retirement.
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There is a Memorial Service:
Monday, February 27
1 PM
Campbell House
160 Queen West, Toronto
(reception 1:30-3:30)
1984 Profile
Complete Globe Obituary
(above: 2 cartoons by Ed Franklin from 1987, including a portrait of Brian Mulroney)Labels: obituaries
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