Changes: Michael J. Smollin

Revision as of 10:31, 30 November 2019

Michael J. Smollin (1925-2010) was an illustrator whose scratchy, distinctive style was one of the defining Sesame art styles in the 1970s, alongside Joe Mathieu and Michael K. Frith. Smollin's first Sesame storybook, the 1971 Little Golden Book The Monster at the End of This Book, was an immediate sensation, selling two million copies in its first year of publication.^[1]

Biography

Michael Smollin was born in 1925, and grew up in East Hampton, Long Island. He attended Cornell University, and served in the infantry in World War II. He was awarded a Purple Heart for shrapnel wounds, and returned to the United States to study advertising design at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.^[2]

Smollin worked as an ad executive for many years, but left the industry in order to become a freelance illustrator. He was a frequent contributor to TV Guide, providing humorous illustrations for articles throughout the 1970s and 80s.

Sesame Street work

Smollin provided the artwork for the covers and gatefolds of several early Sesame record albums, including The Muppet Alphabet Album and The Official Sesame Street 2 Book-and-Record Album in 1971, Havin' Fun with Ernie & Bert in 1972 and Merry Christmas from Sesame Street in 1975. Smollin also drew pictures for five Sesame calendars between 1976 and 1982.

Smollin did not participate in any of the "Sesame Street Storybook" anthologies of the early 70s. Instead, the versatile Smollin seemed to specialize in the unusual formats -- the large-format Big Bird's Blunder Book and The Amazing Mumford and His Amazing Subtracting Trick; the rounded Cookie Monster's Circle Book; and a set of small die-cut storybooks published by Playskool in 1975. Smollin illustrated cloth books, waterproof books, small "chunky" books and even books with wheels.

After the success of The Monster at the End of This Book, Smollin and writer Jon Stone collaborated on a few more books featuring Grover, including Would You Like to Play Hide & Seek in This Book With Lovable, Furry Old Grover? and Lovable Furry Old Grover's Resting Places.

Smollin also illustrated several items of Sesame spin-off merchandise, including paper cups, Colorforms playsets, a collectible plate and a toy instrument kit.

Smollin's involvement in Sesame Street illustration tailed off in the mid-80s, although he returned to illustrate two books in the mid-90s -- Mother Grouch Nursery Rhymes in 1995, and Another Monster at the End of This Book in 1996, a sequel to the classic storybook that he illustrated 25 years previously.

In addition to his varied Sesame work, Smollin also worked on a Bob and Ray storybook by Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding, a set of joke books based on The Electric Company, and a set of Strawberry Shortcake storybooks. In 1999 and 2000, Smollin collaborated with his son Mark to create a set of Lego activity books published in Europe. This was Smollin's last professional work before he retired.

Books

The Monster at the End of This Book (1971)

The Amazing Mumford and His Amazing Subtracting Trick (1972)

Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street? (1975)

A Day in the Life of Ernie & Bert (1975)

The Sesame Street Pretending Book (1975)

Where Do You Work & What Do You Do? (1975)

The In and Out and All About Coloring Book (1976)

Would You Like to Play Hide & Seek in This Book With Lovable, Furry Old Grover? (1976)

The Day the Count Stopped Counting (1977)

The Sesame Street Players Present Mother Goose (1982)

Lovable Furry Old Grover's Resting Places (1984)

Another Monster at the End of This Book (1996)

Other Sesame illustrations

The Official Sesame Street 2 Book-and-Record Album (1971)

Ernie and Bert Puppetforms Theater (1973)

Cookie Monster's Colorforms Kitchen (1974)

Ernie & Bert's Colorforms Playtime (1974)

Merry Christmas from Sesame Street (1975)

Sesame Street Look-Inside puzzles (1975)

The Sesame Street Calendar: The 1980 World Games

The Sesame Street 1981 Mother Goose Calendar

The Sesame Street Storytime Calendar 1982

Sources

↑ Children's Television Workshop Newsletter. Number 27, February 1, 1973.
↑ "Michael Smollin - Artist Profile", Smollin.com.

External links

[1] Children's Television Workshop Newsletter. Number 27, February 1, 1973.

[2] "Michael Smollin - Artist Profile", Smollin.com.

[1]

[2]

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-[[Image:Mikesmollin.jpg|frame]]
+[[Image:Mikesmollin.jpg|thumb|300px]]
 [[File:Monster1971lgb.jpg|thumb|180px]]
 [[File:1982--Aladdin.jpg|thumb|180px]]
@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 ==Biography==
-Michael Smollin was born in 1925, and grew up in East Hampton, [[New York|Long Island]]. He attended Cornell University, and served in the infantry in World War II. He was awarded a Purple Heart for shrapnel wounds, and returned to the United States to study advertising design at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.<ref>"[http://smollin.com/michael/bio/bio.htm Michael Smollin - Artist Profile]", Smollin.com.</ref>
+Michael Smollin was born in 1925, and grew up in East Hampton, [[New York|Long Island]]. He attended Cornell University, and served in the infantry in [[World War II]]. He was awarded a Purple Heart for shrapnel wounds, and returned to the United States to study advertising design at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.<ref>"[http://smollin.com/michael/bio/bio.htm Michael Smollin - Artist Profile]", Smollin.com.</ref>
 Smollin worked as an ad executive for many years, but left the industry in order to become a freelance illustrator. He was a frequent contributor to ''[[TV Guide]]'', providing humorous illustrations for articles throughout the 1970s and 80s.
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 Smollin did not participate in any of the "[[The Sesame Street Storybook|Sesame Street Storybook]]" anthologies of the early 70s. Instead, the versatile Smollin seemed to specialize in the unusual formats -- the large-format ''[[Big Bird's Blunder Book]]'' and ''[[The Amazing Mumford and His Amazing Subtracting Trick]]''; the rounded ''[[Cookie Monster's Circle Book]]''; and a set of small die-cut storybooks published by Playskool in 1975. Smollin illustrated [[Your Friends from Sesame Street|cloth books]], [[Ernie's Bath Book|waterproof books]], [[Ernie and Bert Can... Can You?|small "chunky" books]] and even [[Ernie & Bert's Delivery Service|books with wheels]].
+After the success of ''The Monster at the End of This Book'', Smollin and writer [[Jon Stone]] collaborated on a few more books featuring [[Grover]], including ''[[Would You Like to Play Hide & Seek in This Book With Lovable, Furry Old Grover?]]'' and ''[[Lovable Furry Old Grover's Resting Places]]''.
 Smollin also illustrated several items of ''Sesame'' spin-off merchandise, including [[Muppet Cuppets|paper cups]], [[Cookie Monster's Colorforms Kitchen|Colorforms playsets]], [[Sesame Street plates (Gorham)|a collectible plate]] and [[Sesame Street Traveling Band|a toy instrument kit]].
@@ Line 18: / Line 20: @@
 Smollin's involvement in ''Sesame Street'' illustration tailed off in the mid-80s, although he returned to illustrate two books in the mid-90s -- ''[[Mother Grouch Nursery Rhymes]]'' in 1995, and ''[[Another Monster at the End of This Book]]'' in 1996, a sequel to the classic storybook that he illustrated 25 years previously.
-In addition to his varied ''Sesame'' work, Smollin also worked on a [[Bob and Ray]] storybook by Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding; a set of joke books based on ''[[The Electric Company]]'', and a set of ''Strawberry Shortcake'' storybooks. In 1999 and 2000, Smollin collaborated with his son Mark to create a set of Lego activity books published in Europe. This was Smollin's last professional work before he retired.
+In addition to his varied ''Sesame'' work, Smollin also worked on a [[Bob and Ray]] storybook by Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding, a set of joke books based on ''[[The Electric Company]]'', and a set of ''[[Strawberry Shortcake]]'' storybooks. In 1999 and 2000, Smollin collaborated with his son Mark to create a set of [[Lego]] activity books published in Europe. This was Smollin's last professional work before he retired.
 ==Books==
-<gallery captionalign="left">
+<gallery widths=200 spacing=small>
-Monster1971lgb.jpg|''[[The Monster at the End of This Book]]<br>(1971)
+Monster1971lgb.jpg|''[[The Monster at the End of This Book]]''<br>(1971)|link=The Monster at the End of This Book
-SSb.jpg|''[[Big Bird's Blunder Book]]<br>(1972)
+SSb.jpg|''[[Big Bird's Blunder Book]]''<br>(1972)|link=Big Bird's Blunder Book
-Cookiemonsterscirclebook.jpg|''[[Cookie Monster's Circle Book]]''<br>(1972)
+Cookiemonsterscirclebook.jpg|''[[Cookie Monster's Circle Book]]''<br>(1972)|link=Cookie Monster's Circle Book
-Book.mumfordtrick.jpg|''[[The Amazing Mumford and His Amazing Subtracting Trick]]''<br>(1972)
+Book.mumfordtrick.jpg|''[[The Amazing Mumford and His Amazing Subtracting Trick]]''<br>(1972)|link=The Amazing Mumford and His Amazing Subtracting Trick
-Canyoutellmehowtogettosesamestreet.JPG|''[[Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street? (1975 book)|Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street?]]''<br>(1975)
+Canyoutellmehowtogettosesamestreet.JPG|''[[Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street? (1975 book)|Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street?]]''<br>(1975)|link=Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street? (1975 book)
-Countwiththecount.jpg|''[[Count with the Count]]''<br>(1975)
+Countwiththecount.jpg|''[[Count with the Count]]''<br>(1975)|link=Count with the Count
-Adayinthelifeofernie&bert.JPG|''[[A Day in the Life of Ernie & Bert]]''<br>(1975)
+Adayinthelifeofernie&bert.JPG|''[[A Day in the Life of Ernie & Bert]]''<br>(1975)|link=A Day in the Life of Ernie & Bert
-Pretendingbook-1975.jpg|''[[The Sesame Street Pretending Book]]''<br>(1975)
+SSfrontbackbook.jpg|''[[Front & Back Book]]''<br>(1975)|link=Front & Back Book
-Ernieandbertcoloringbook.jpg|''[[Sesame Street coloring books|The Ernie and Bert Coloring Book]]''<br>(1976)
+Pretendingbook-1975.jpg|''[[The Sesame Street Pretending Book]]''<br>(1975)|link=The Sesame Street Pretending Book
+playskool 1975 where do you work 1.jpg|''[[Where Do You Work & What Do You Do?]]''<br>(1975)|link=Where Do You Work & What Do You Do?
-Inandoutcbook.jpg|''[[The In and Out and All About Coloring Book]]''<br>(1976)
+Ernieandbertcoloringbook.jpg|''[[Sesame Street coloring books|The Ernie and Bert Coloring Book]]''<br>(1976)|link=Sesame Street coloring books
-Hideseekgrover.jpg|''[[Would You Like to Play Hide & Seek in This Book With Lovable, Furry Old Grover?]]''<br>(1976)
+Inandoutcbook.jpg|''[[The In and Out and All About Coloring Book]]''<br>(1976)|link=The In and Out and All About Coloring Book
-RedBook.jpg|''[[Big Bird's Red Book]]''<br>(1977)
+Hideseekgrover.jpg|''[[Would You Like to Play Hide & Seek in This Book With Lovable, Furry Old Grover?]]''<br>(1976)|link=Would You Like to Play Hide & Seek in This Book With Lovable, Furry Old Grover?
-Countstoppedcounting.jpg|''[[The Day the Count Stopped Counting]]''<br>(1977)
-CookieThief.jpg|''[[The Great Cookie Thief]]''<br>(1977)
+RedBook.jpg|''[[Big Bird's Red Book]]''<br>(1977)|link=Big Bird's Red Book
+Countstoppedcounting.jpg|''[[The Day the Count Stopped Counting]]''<br>(1977)|link=The Day the Count Stopped Counting
-Goodnightsesamestreet.jpg|''[[Good Night Sesame Street]]''<br>(1978)
-Yourfriendsfromsesame.jpg|''[[Your Friends from Sesame Street]]''<br>(1979)
+CookieThief.jpg|''[[The Great Cookie Thief]]''<br>(1977)|link=The Great Cookie Thief
-Book.canyou.jpg|''[[Ernie and Bert Can... Can You?]]''<br>(1982)
+Goodnightsesamestreet.jpg|''[[Good Night Sesame Street]]''<br>(1978)|link=Good Night Sesame Street
+Your friends from ss.jpg|''[[Your Friends from Sesame Street]]''<br>(1979)|link=Your Friends from Sesame Street
-Erniesbathbook.jpg|''[[Ernie's Bath Book]]''<br>(1982)
-Noimage-big.png|''[[Ernie's Rainy Day Book]]''<br>(1982)
+Book.canyou.jpg|''[[Ernie and Bert Can... Can You?]]''<br>(1982)|link=Ernie and Bert Can... Can You?
-Book.inoutupdown.jpg|''[[In & Out, Up & Down]]''<br>(1982)
+Erniesbathbook.jpg|''[[Ernie's Bath Book]]''<br>(1982)|link=Ernie's Bath Book
+Ernie's Rainy Day Book 00.png|''[[Ernie's Rainy Day Book]]''<br>(1982)|link=Ernie's Rainy Day Book
-Sesamestplayers.jpg|''[[The Sesame Street Players Present Mother Goose]]''<br>(1982)
-Ernieandbertsdeliveryservice.jpg|''[[Ernie & Bert's Delivery Service]]''<br>(1983)
+Book.inoutupdown.jpg|''[[In & Out, Up & Down]]''<br>(1982)|link=In & Out, Up & Down
+Mother goose 00 cover.jpg|''[[The Sesame Street Players Present Mother Goose]]''<br>(1982)|link=The Sesame Street Players Present Mother Goose
-Book.restingplaces.jpg|''[[Lovable Furry Old Grover's Resting Places]]''<br>(1984)
+Ernieandbertsdeliveryservice.jpg|''[[Ernie & Bert's Delivery Service]]''<br>(1983)|link=Ernie & Bert's Delivery Service
-Babypiggygoldilocks.jpg|''[[Goldilocks: Baby Piggy's Dream]]''<br>(1985)
+Book.restingplaces.jpg|''[[Lovable Furry Old Grover's Resting Places]]''<br>(1984)|link=Lovable Furry Old Grover's Resting Places
-Mothergrouch.jpg|''[[Mother Grouch Nursery Rhymes]]''<br>(1995)
+Babypiggygoldilocks.jpg|''[[Goldilocks: Baby Piggy's Dream]]''<br>(1985)|link=Goldilocks: Baby Piggy's Dream
-Anothermonster-lgb.jpg|''[[Another Monster at the End of This Book]]''<br>(1996)
+Mothergrouch.jpg|''[[Mother Grouch Nursery Rhymes]]''<br>(1995)|link=Mother Grouch Nursery Rhymes
-Book.pleasedonotopen.jpg|''[[Please Do Not Open this Book!]]''<br>(2006)
+Anothermonster-lgb.jpg|''[[Another Monster at the End of This Book]]''<br>(1996)|link=Another Monster at the End of This Book
+Book.pleasedonotopen.jpg|''[[Please Do Not Open this Book!]]''<br>(2006)|link=Please Do Not Open this Book!
+golden bookmobile.jpg|Back cover of some ''Sesame Street'' Little Golden Books
 </gallery>
 ==Other ''Sesame'' illustrations==
-<gallery>
+<gallery widths=200 spacing=small>
-AlphabetAlbumLP.jpg|''[[The Muppet Alphabet Album]]''<br>(1971)
+AlphabetAlbumLP.jpg|''[[The Muppet Alphabet Album]]''<br>(1971)|link=The Muppet Alphabet Album
-SS2BookandRecord.jpg|''[[The Official Sesame Street 2 Book-and-Record Album]]''<br>(1971)
+SS2BookandRecord.jpg|''[[The Official Sesame Street 2 Book-and-Record Album]]''<br>(1971)|link=The Official Sesame Street 2 Book-and-Record Album
-Havin'Fun-(LPBack).jpg|''[[Havin' Fun with Ernie & Bert]]''<br>(1972)
+Havin'Fun-(LPBack).jpg|''[[Havin' Fun with Ernie & Bert]]''<br>(1972)|link=Havin' Fun with Ernie & Bert
+Puppetfrms 2.jpg|[[Ernie and Bert Puppetforms Theater]]<br>(1973)|link=Ernie and Bert Puppetforms Theater
-Ssmag.197305.jpg|''[[Sesame Street Magazine]]''<br>(1973 - 1982)
-Cuppets1.jpg|[[Muppet Cuppets]]<br>(early 1970s)
+Turn_and_tell_4.jpg|''[[Turn and Tell]]''<br>1973|link=Turn and Tell
+Ssmag.197305.jpg|''[[Sesame Street Magazine]]''<br>(1973 - 1982)|link=Sesame Street Magazine
-Colorforms-kitchen.jpg|[[Cookie Monster's Colorforms Kitchen]]<br>(1974)
+Cuppets1.jpg|[[Muppet Cuppets]]<br>(early 1970s)|link=Muppet Cuppets
-Colorforms-playtime.jpg|[[Ernie & Bert's Colorforms Playtime]]<br>(1974)
+Colorforms-kitchen.jpg|[[Cookie Monster's Colorforms Kitchen]]<br>(1974)|link=Cookie Monster's Colorforms Kitchen
-Image:Knickerbocker1975.jpg|1975 [[:Category:Knickerbocker|Knickerbocker]] toy catalog
+Colorforms-playtime.jpg|[[Ernie & Bert's Colorforms Playtime]]<br>(1974)|link=Ernie & Bert's Colorforms Playtime
-MerryXmasSSGatefold.jpg|''[[Merry Christmas from Sesame Street]]''<br>(1975)
+Image:Knickerbocker1975.jpg|1975 [[:Category:Knickerbocker|Knickerbocker]] toy catalog|link=:Category:Knickerbocker
-Calendar.sesame1976.jpg|''[[The Sesame Street 1976 Calendar]]''
-Whitman1977MagicSlateHerry.jpg|[[Sesame Street Magic Slates]]<br>(1976-1981)
+Image:Sesame map SSmag June75.jpg|[[Sesame Street magazine]]<br>(June 1975)
+MerryXmasSSGatefold.jpg|''[[Merry Christmas from Sesame Street]]''<br>(1975)|link=Merry Christmas from Sesame Street
-Countcolorforms1.jpg|[[The Count's Colorforms Castle]]<br>(1977)
+wp.jpg|[[Sesame Street puzzles (Playskool)|''Sesame Street'' Look-Inside puzzles]]<br>(1975)|link=Sesame Street puzzles (Playskool)
-Playskool1977NumberMatchups.jpg|[[Match-Ups]] games<br>(1977)
-Calendar.sesame1977.jpg|''[[The Sesame Street 1977 Calendar]]''
+sesame calendar 00 front cover.jpg|''[[The Sesame Street 1976 Calendar]]''|link=The Sesame Street 1976 Calendar
-Calendar.sesame1978.jpg|''[[Sesame Street 1978 Calendar]]''
+Whitman1977MagicSlateHerry.jpg|[[Sesame Street Magic Slates]]<br>(1976-1981)|link=Sesame Street Magic Slates
-Calendar.sesame1980.jpg|''[[The Sesame Street Calendar: The 1980 World Games]]''
+Calendar.sesame1977.jpg|''[[The Sesame Street 1977 Calendar]]''|link=The Sesame Street 1977 Calendar
+Countcolorforms1.jpg|[[The Count's Colorforms Castle]]<br>(1977)|link=The Count's Colorforms Castle
-Sesameplate1981.jpg|[[Sesame Street plates (Gorham)|Collectible plate]]<br>(1981)
+Playskool1977NumberMatchups.jpg|[[Match-Ups]] games<br>(1977)|link=Match-Ups
-Calendar.sesame1982-storybook.jpg|''[[The Sesame Street Storytime Calendar 1982]]''
-Travelingband.jpg|[[Sesame Street Traveling Band]]<br>(1982)
+Grover and the whale.jpg|[[Sesame Street puzzles (Western Publishing)|Puzzle]] (1977)
+Trash collection oscar puzzle.jpg|[[Sesame Street puzzles (Western Publishing)|Puzzle]] (1977)
+Calendar.sesame1978.jpg|''[[Sesame Street 1978 Calendar]]''|link=Sesame Street 1978 Calendar
+SSseason10.JPG|[[Season 10 (1978-1979)|10th Anniversary logo]]|link=Season 10 (1978-1979)<br>1978
+MSmollin-10thLogos.jpg|Alternate 10th anniversary logos<br>1978
+Blocks 1.jpg|[[Sesame Street Building Blocks]]<br>1978|link=Sesame Street Building Blocks
+Calendar.sesame1980.jpg|''[[The Sesame Street Calendar: The 1980 World Games]]''|link=The Sesame Street Calendar: The 1980 World Games
+Calendar.sesame1981.jpg|''[[The Sesame Street 1981 Mother Goose Calendar]]''|link=The Sesame Street 1981 Mother Goose Calendar
+Sesameplate1981.jpg|[[Sesame Street plates (Gorham)|Collectible plate]]<br>(1981)|link=Sesame Street plates (Gorham)
+Calendar.sesame1982-storybook.jpg|''[[The Sesame Street Storytime Calendar 1982]]''|link=The Sesame Street Storytime Calendar 1982
+child guidance 1982 traveling band michael smollin art 1.jpg|[[Sesame Street Traveling Band]]<br>(1982)|link=Sesame Street Traveling Band
+File:TVGUIDE Mar 3 1990.jpg|''[[TV Guide]]'' cover<br>March 3-9, 1990|link=TV Guide
 </gallery>
@@ Line 79: / Line 95: @@
 ==External links==
 *[http://smollin.com/michael/ The Books of Michael Smollin]
+*[http://www.westport-news.com/news/article/Michael-Smollin-680627.php#page-1 Mike Smollin Obituary]
-[[Category:Illustrators|Smollin, Michael]]
+__NOWYSIWYG__
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Smollin, Michael}}
+[[Category:Illustrators]]

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