(You can find more stuff about RAVE, including photos, autographs and other memorabilia on my website, RonaldLSmith.com)
Doing interviews and taking photos of the great comedians was a highlight of editing RAVE.
Getting JACK DAVIS to do a cover was also a great moment.
RAVE, "The Playbill of the Comedy Clubs" was associated with ABC's "Comedy Awards" show (produced by George Schlatter).
Our role was to handle the awards for best new comedian (male and female) working the comedy clubs.
At the time, the local clubs were THE place to find new talent: Sam Kinison, Jerry Seinfeld, Brett Butler, Ellen Degeneres, Roseanne Barr, Tim Allen, Bill Maher and so many more. Many were jumping from a "Catch a Rising Star" gig to an HBO special, a movie role or even a TV series.
We stuck ballots in the SPECIAL ISSUE, so that comedy club patrons all over the country could vote for their favorite.
With ABC involved, and ads fattening up the magazine, I thought it would be a great idea to spend some money and have a really eye-catching cover. The ONLY name I wanted was JACK DAVIS.
MAD magazine. The "MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD" movie poster (among many others). Tons of the comedy albums in my collection (including a whole lotta Homer & Jethro). They ALL had Jack Davis art. I wanted it, too.
Fortunately, we could afford him.
The twin regrets? First off, all the details were handled by our art director, so I didn't get a chance to talk to Jack. He didn't live in New York, so he never dropped by the office with his finished creation
Second? We didn't own the art. Jack Davis did. Where the original is now, I have no idea. At least, it exists because I wanted it to exist. That check we sent to Jack Davis was at least partial payback for all the joy and wonder and laughter he gave me over the years.
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