 Dave Graue, who was the cartoonist behind ALLEY OOP since he began assisting V.T. Hamlin in the '50s until he retired from writing this past August, died in a car accident on Dec. 10. He was a mentor to JANE'S WORLD cartoonist Paige Braddock, and she has written a tribute to him.
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It was December 8, 1979 and I remember it as if it was yesterday. The first time I met Dave Graue in his studio near Ceasar's Head, North Carolina.
I got a call from my friend, Dean, in North Carolina who gave me the sad news that Dave had been killed in an auto accident and all those memories from 1979 came flooding back.
Dave Graue is the reason I know which end of a quill pen to dip in the ink. For that matter, Dave is the reason I know what a quill pen even is. He gave me my first lesson with a T-square, he gave me my first triangle and he introduced me to Bristol board. In college, he introduced me to his editor, Sarah Gillespie, who ultimately introduced me to Charles Schulz. So, you could say, in a way, that Dave helped me get the job I now have.
It's funny to think that a phone call could so significantly change a person's life forever.
In December of 1979 I was doing comics for the county newspaper, the Transylvania Times. Dave saw my work and called me out of the blue to see if I would like to drive up to his studio and get some tips on cartooning. He was the first professional cartoonist I'd ever even talked to, so of course, I jumped at the chance.
He probably could never know how that first meeting has stayed with me, or what an impact it had on me. And even now, I don't know if I can articulate how that first meeting made me feel.
Dave's call, and offer of tutelage, was a huge validation for me as a teenager. I remember that he was especially frank with me about the strengths and weaknesses of my work. He took me seriously enough to critique my work. His wisdom of the craft still lingers with me, and I've passed it on to others. "Take time to letter well. Draw what you know."
Dave was a true craftsman. He was from the old school. He was meticulously attentive to perspective, figure drawing and panel composition. He was one of the masters in our cartoonist trade. Dave inspired me to hold myself to a higher standard.
This morning after I got the shocking phone call about Dave, I put my work aside and sat with my head in my hands. After a moment, I went to my flat files cabinet and pulled out several Alley Oop drawings that Dave gave me back in 1980, before I moved away from North Carolina. I spread the vellum comic strip sketches out on my desk and just marveled at the illustrative mastery of each panel.
I also still have that T-square that Dave gave me back in '79. It long ago made the transition from daily tool to daily tool of inspiration and has never hung very far away from my drawing board. While I was in college, my dad had a tiny metal tag engraved for it that reads "Gift of Dave Graue, 12-8-79." At the time, I thought that was a bit extreme. Now I appreciate my father's sentimental gesture and am glad that I will always have a record of that first meeting.
Last week something interesting happened that reminded me once again of that first meeting with Dave.
A young cartoonist wanted to do a tribute to Sparky by painting a park bench at the local mall. I have a busy, "important" cartooning job now, so I kind of blew the whole thing off. Then last week when I was at the mall doing some shopping I saw the bench and it is beautiful. This young high school girl obviously has talent as a cartoonist and should be encouraged. I had been a jerk. I immediately thought of Dave and how he took the time to call me at the same point in my artistic development and encourage me. So, I wrote the young woman a letter and invited her to come by the studio and talk about cartooning.
Maybe this is the best thing I can do to repay an infinite debt. Make a difference in a young person's life. That is what Dave did for me. For that I will always be grateful. And in remembrance of him, will hold myself to a higher standard.
Dave Graue will be sorely missed. There are none too like him and I am better for having known him.
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This panel, by current ALLEY OOP creators Jack and Carole Bender, is part of the Dec. 31st strip.
V.T. Hamlin (left) and Dave Graue (right) in the 1970's.
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