Title: Good Old Silly Season - Original typescript, with holograph corrections
Author: Cobb, Irvin S.
Description: Original typescript, with signature and holograph corrections and revisions in ink and pencil. 8x11" bond paper; 8 sheets + one sheet of inserted material; approximately 2,000 words.This uncommon typescript of an amusingly discursive sketch by the Kentucky writer (1876-1944) who was one of America's leading humorists in the 1920's and '30's was submitted for publication in the issue of June, 1934, of Cosmopolitan Magazine. In it Cobb spoofs the popular journalistic notion that during the summertime--which is often a slow period for real news--there is always an outbreak of bizarre behavior and events that provide entertainment for sun-addled readers: "both press and public --and sometimes pulpit as well-- accept the silly season as being an authentic occurrence, and the newspapers organize their staff cameramen and their staff fluff-writers properly to cover its various phases." He previews the likely sources of diversion around the country, including Huey Long, the Republican Party, the Roosevelt administration, socialites, Holly wood, and the impending heavyweight championship match between Primo Carnera and Max Baer. Some of the targets of Cobb's satire are now long forgotten, but most--such as Congress--are perennial. The typescript is replete with minor corrections, revisions, and additions; but the major alteration concerns Samuel Insull (1859-1938), the eminent utilities financier and flimflam man who had fled the United States in 1932. In his original version Cobb joked that the Depression was forcing American tourists to stay home and that the only foreign travellers in 1934 would be individuals like Insull who had very good reasons to stay abroad. When Insull was abruptly arrested and extradited back to the United States, Cobb had to dispatch a sheet of hasty emendations to the editor of Cosmopolitan. This inserted sheet is signed by Cobb.
Heading: Place Published:
Publisher:
Date Published: [c.1934]
Author: Cobb, Irvin S.
Description: Original typescript, with signature and holograph corrections and revisions in ink and pencil. 8x11" bond paper; 8 sheets + one sheet of inserted material; approximately 2,000 words.This uncommon typescript of an amusingly discursive sketch by the Kentucky writer (1876-1944) who was one of America's leading humorists in the 1920's and '30's was submitted for publication in the issue of June, 1934, of Cosmopolitan Magazine. In it Cobb spoofs the popular journalistic notion that during the summertime--which is often a slow period for real news--there is always an outbreak of bizarre behavior and events that provide entertainment for sun-addled readers: "both press and public --and sometimes pulpit as well-- accept the silly season as being an authentic occurrence, and the newspapers organize their staff cameramen and their staff fluff-writers properly to cover its various phases." He previews the likely sources of diversion around the country, including Huey Long, the Republican Party, the Roosevelt administration, socialites, Holly wood, and the impending heavyweight championship match between Primo Carnera and Max Baer. Some of the targets of Cobb's satire are now long forgotten, but most--such as Congress--are perennial. The typescript is replete with minor corrections, revisions, and additions; but the major alteration concerns Samuel Insull (1859-1938), the eminent utilities financier and flimflam man who had fled the United States in 1932. In his original version Cobb joked that the Depression was forcing American tourists to stay home and that the only foreign travellers in 1934 would be individuals like Insull who had very good reasons to stay abroad. When Insull was abruptly arrested and extradited back to the United States, Cobb had to dispatch a sheet of hasty emendations to the editor of Cosmopolitan. This inserted sheet is signed by Cobb.
Heading: Place Published:
Publisher:
Date Published: [c.1934]
Condition report
Some soiling and edge-chipping, paper-clip rust stain to first & final sheets; near fine or better.
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Auction details
Beat, Bukowski, Sci-Fi, Modern Lit
1:00 PM PT - Apr 3rd, 2008
offered by
PBA Galleries
133 Kearny Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
San Francisco, CA 94108
