Doc Rankin
Encyclopedia
Ainsworth H. "Doc" Rankin (November 27, 1896 - January 1954) was an American army officer and freelance cartoonist
. He served for many years as an editorial page cartoonist for the Brooklyn Eagle
and is best known for producing the touring show This is the Army
with Irving Berlin
, which toured military camps during World War II
. He is also widely believed by comic collectors to be the anonymous artist nicknamed "Mr. Prolific" who produced over 100 "Tijuana bibles" in the 1930s, based on an identification by sexologist, folklorist and bibliographer Gershon Legman
. Legman claimed to have met Doc Rankin in a Scranton, PA bookstore and learned from him that he was one of the artists behind the 8-page Tijuana bibles.
After failing to see action during World War I due to an injury, Rankin served as a reserve cavalry officer for many years, while maintaining a freelance cartooning studio in Manhattan where he produced commercial art and cartoons for gag books by small publishers like Larch Publications. For many years he regularly drew editorial page cartoons for the daily Brooklyn Eagle in a dramatic conté
crayon style similar to the work of Robert Minor
, and very unlike his humorous pen and ink gag cartooning work. Never well known as a cartoonist, he retired from cartooning after his military call-up in 1940. He served as a Special Services officer with responsibilities for entertainment and camp morale, first at Camp Upton
on Long Island, then overseas in Europe. He remained in the military after the war, rising to the rank of Lt. Colonel, and died of heart failure at Fort Bragg
in 1954. He is buried in Fayetteville, NC.
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
. He served for many years as an editorial page cartoonist for the Brooklyn Eagle
Brooklyn Eagle
The Brooklyn Daily Bulletin began publishing when the original Eagle folded in 1955. In 1996 it merged with a newly revived Brooklyn Daily Eagle, and now publishes a morning paper five days a week under the Brooklyn Daily Eagle name...
and is best known for producing the touring show This is the Army
This Is the Army
This Is the Army is a 1943 American wartime motion picture produced by Hal B. Wallis and Jack L. Warner, and directed by Michael Curtiz, and a wartime musical designed to boost morale in the U.S. during World War II, directed by Sgt. Ezra Stone...
with Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
, which toured military camps during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He is also widely believed by comic collectors to be the anonymous artist nicknamed "Mr. Prolific" who produced over 100 "Tijuana bibles" in the 1930s, based on an identification by sexologist, folklorist and bibliographer Gershon Legman
Gershon Legman
Gershon Legman was an American cultural critic and folklorist.-Life and work:Legman was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania to Emil and Julia Friedman Legman, both of Hungarian/Romanian Jewish descent; his father was a railroad clerk and butcher...
. Legman claimed to have met Doc Rankin in a Scranton, PA bookstore and learned from him that he was one of the artists behind the 8-page Tijuana bibles.
After failing to see action during World War I due to an injury, Rankin served as a reserve cavalry officer for many years, while maintaining a freelance cartooning studio in Manhattan where he produced commercial art and cartoons for gag books by small publishers like Larch Publications. For many years he regularly drew editorial page cartoons for the daily Brooklyn Eagle in a dramatic conté
Conté
Conté, also known as Conté sticks or Conté crayons, are a drawing medium composed of compressed powdered graphite or charcoal mixed with a wax or clay base, square in cross-section...
crayon style similar to the work of Robert Minor
Robert Minor
Robert Berkeley "Bob" Minor was political cartoonist, a radical journalist, and a leading member of the American Communist Party.-Early life:...
, and very unlike his humorous pen and ink gag cartooning work. Never well known as a cartoonist, he retired from cartooning after his military call-up in 1940. He served as a Special Services officer with responsibilities for entertainment and camp morale, first at Camp Upton
Camp Upton
Camp Upton was an installation of the United States Army located in Yaphank on Long Island in Suffolk County, New York. It was located near Camp Mills.-History:...
on Long Island, then overseas in Europe. He remained in the military after the war, rising to the rank of Lt. Colonel, and died of heart failure at Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg (North Carolina)
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
in 1954. He is buried in Fayetteville, NC.