‘New Yorker’ Cartoonist Dana Fradon To Lecture At WestConn

DANBURY — Western Connecticut State University has invited Newtown resident and legendary New Yorker cartoonist Dana Fradon back for a second lecture to discuss his works and humor on Thursday, April 17, at 7 pm. The lecture will be presented in Room 125 of the Science Building, on the university’s midtown campus at the corner of Osborne Street at Dr James Roach Avenue.

The public is invited and admission will be free. The talk, sponsored by the university’s School of Arts and Sciences, will be followed by an informal reception with light refreshments.

In his lecture, Mr Fradon will show the “Lite” history of funny folk entertainers from Greek mythology to the 1930s. It starts with Momus, Jupiter’s jester, and ends with Charlie Chaplin, illustrated with some 70 slides of his own drawings.

The show ends with the origin of “pratfall” (falling on one’s rear) and why it has produced laughter for at least the past 300 years, as well as a peek at an early carousel. Other strange laugh-getters will also be discussed.

For his research, Mr Fradon said he did not read a book published after 1920. The show is also derived from his books The King’s Fool and From Fools to Jack Puddings to Comedians.

The enthusiastic reception for Fradon’s previous WestConn lecture about life as a cartoonist for a major magazine gave rise to this invitation for a return visit to campus.

Mr Fradon is also the author and illustrator of a prize-winning trilogy of children’s books that combine humor with historical information about characters and themes in medieval history. He has taught art at several institutions including Parsons School of Design.

For more information, call the Office of University Relations at 837-8486.