Bruce Shanks
Encyclopedia
Bruce McKinley Shanks was the Buffalo Evening News editorial cartoonist, and won the 1958 Pulitzer Prize
for editorial cartooning with his cartoon "The Thinker," published on August 10, 1957. It depicted the dilemma of union membership when confronted by corrupt leaders in some labor unions.
Shanks was born in Buffalo
and was the son of George Shanks, who owned a local sign painting business. From 1924-1927, he attended Lafayette High School
, where he was taught by art instructor Elizabeth Weiffenbach
, who later (1936-1939) also influenced the style of science-fiction cover artist Kelly Freas. Shanks began his employment with the Buffalo Evening News as a copy boy. His first cartoons appeared in the sports pages.
One character created by Shanks was Olaf Fub, which derives from Buffalo spelled backwards. A drawing of Fub and the phrase, "Olaf Fub sez..." introduced writers' commentary on local events even well after Shanks' death. Another character appearing frequently in Shanks' editorial cartoons was John Q. Public
. This name was created by editorial cartoonist, Vaughn Shoemaker, and is now a placeholder name
in the United States.
Shanks' cartoons were widely distributed by syndicators throughout the United States and the world at the height of his career, and it is possible that his use contributed to widespread use, even if he did not invent the name.
In addition to the Pulitzer, Shanks won eight Freedom Foundation awards and several Page One Awards from the American Newspaper Guild.
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
for editorial cartooning with his cartoon "The Thinker," published on August 10, 1957. It depicted the dilemma of union membership when confronted by corrupt leaders in some labor unions.
Shanks was born in Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
and was the son of George Shanks, who owned a local sign painting business. From 1924-1927, he attended Lafayette High School
Lafayette High School (Buffalo)
Lafayette High School is the oldest public school in Buffalo that remains in its original building; a stone, brick and terra-cotta structure in the French Renaissance Revival style, by architects August Esenwein and James A. Johnson. Although classes began off-site during construction of the...
, where he was taught by art instructor Elizabeth Weiffenbach
Elizabeth Weiffenbach
Elizabeth Weiffenbach was an Art teacher at Lafayette High School in Buffalo, New York, from the school's opening in 1903 until her retirement in 1952. During that period, she influenced artists and architects who went on to local, national, and international renown...
, who later (1936-1939) also influenced the style of science-fiction cover artist Kelly Freas. Shanks began his employment with the Buffalo Evening News as a copy boy. His first cartoons appeared in the sports pages.
One character created by Shanks was Olaf Fub, which derives from Buffalo spelled backwards. A drawing of Fub and the phrase, "Olaf Fub sez..." introduced writers' commentary on local events even well after Shanks' death. Another character appearing frequently in Shanks' editorial cartoons was John Q. Public
John Q. Public
John Q. Public is a generic name in the United States to denote a hypothetical member of society deemed a "common man." He is presumed to represent the randomly selected "man on the street."...
. This name was created by editorial cartoonist, Vaughn Shoemaker, and is now a placeholder name
Placeholder name
Placeholder names are words that can refer to objects or people whose names are either temporarily forgotten, irrelevant, or unknown in the context in which they are being discussed...
in the United States.
Shanks' cartoons were widely distributed by syndicators throughout the United States and the world at the height of his career, and it is possible that his use contributed to widespread use, even if he did not invent the name.
In addition to the Pulitzer, Shanks won eight Freedom Foundation awards and several Page One Awards from the American Newspaper Guild.