Born in Norwalk, Connecticut, Kliban studied at the Pratt Institute and Cooper Union but "flunked out."[1][4] He spent time painting and traveling in Europe before moving to California, where he lived in the North Beach section of San Francisco. He did freelance advertising illustration, drawing ads, logos and annual reports.[1][4] His first wife, Mary Kathleen Brown, was a noted cartoonist in her own right as M. K. Brown and chose many of the cartoons that appeared in his publications.[5] It was while living in North Beach that Kliban began to draw cartoons for Playboy magazine. The income from Playboy provided financial security that enabled him in 1967 to move Brown and his daughter Kalia[6] to the suburb of Fairfax, Marin County.[5]
Kliban, who hated his given name of Bernard, went by the nickname "Hap" (for his birthday, "Happy New Year"). He eventually changed his legal name to the initial "B."[2]
Careeredit
In 1962, Kliban became a Playboy cartoonist, contributing cartoons until his death. Michelle Urry, Playboy's cartoon editor, visiting his studio, reviewed his drawings, mostly cats. She thought they should be compiled into a book, introduced him to an agent, who found a publisher, resulting in the 1975 book Cat. This led to several other books of cartoons ending with Advanced Cartooning in 1993. Since Cat, his cartoons have adorned many products including stickers, calendars, mugs, and t-shirts.
The books that followed Cat consisted mostly of extremely bizarre cartoons that find their humor in their utter strangeness and unlikeliness. Many of these are cartoons that Kliban drew for Playboy. They often contained dysmorphic drawings of nude figures in extremely unlikely environments. Another frequent subject of satire was the type of wordless, step-by-step visual instruction manuals typically found with such things as office furniture. Kliban also had a recurring series of drawings called "Sheer Poetry," in which the page would be split into six panels, containing images of objects whose names, when spoken in the order presented, would form a rhyming, nonsensical verse.
Kliban died at UCSF Medical Center aged 55 of a pulmonary embolism; he had undergone heart surgery there two weeks previously.[1] He was survived by his second wife, Judith Kamman Kliban (who married actor Bill Bixby shortly before Bixby's death in 1993); brother, Ken, of New York City; and two daughters: Kalia, from his first marriage with M. K. Brown; and Sarah, from another relationship.
Gary Larson, cartoonist of The Far Side comic strip, named Kliban as one of the inspirations for his work.[7]
^ ab"Lib at Large: Fairfax cartoonist M.K. Brown celebrated in 'Stranger than Life' book and show". Marin Independent Journal. January 4, 2015. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
^"PLAYFORD BALL WEEKEND MARCH 27-29, 2020" (PDF). static1.squarespace.com. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
^Gustines, George Gene (December 17, 2019). "'The Far Side' Is Back. Sort Of. Gary Larson Will Explain". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
^Sheridan, Dave (April 18, 2018). Dave Sheridan: Life with Dealer McDope, the Leather Nun, and the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers. Fantagraphics Books. ISBN978-1-68396-120-8.
^""Benefit for New Stage & Straight Theater," Moby Grape, Big Brother & the Holding Company, Country Joe & the Fish, Sparrow, March 5, Avalon Ballroom - Bernard Kliban". FAMSF Search the Collections. September 20, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
^"1967 Big Brother Newstage Benefit Avalon Poster - May 05, 2022". LiveAuctioneers. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
^"Newstage Straight Benefit 1967 B. Kliban Avalon Poster w/Moby Grape, Big Brother". Concertposterauction.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
^. emi-arts. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
1978 audio interview of B. Kliban by Stephen Banker
January 01, 1970
kliban, kliban, born, bernard, kliban, january, 1935, august, 1990, american, cartoonist, self, portrait, bornbernard, kliban, 1935, january, 1935norwalk, connecticut, diedaugust, 1990, 1990, aged, francisco, california, nationalityamericanarea, cartoonist, ar. B Hap Kliban 2 born Bernard Kliban January 1 1935 August 12 1990 3 1 was an American cartoonist B KlibanSelf portrait of B KlibanBornBernard Kliban 1935 01 01 January 1 1935Norwalk Connecticut U S DiedAugust 12 1990 1990 08 12 aged 55 San Francisco California U S 1 NationalityAmericanArea s Cartoonist ArtistSpouse s M K Brown Judith KammanChildren2 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Death and legacy 4 Publications 4 1 Books 4 2 Comic books 4 3 Posters 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and education editBorn in Norwalk Connecticut Kliban studied at the Pratt Institute and Cooper Union but flunked out 1 4 He spent time painting and traveling in Europe before moving to California where he lived in the North Beach section of San Francisco He did freelance advertising illustration drawing ads logos and annual reports 1 4 His first wife Mary Kathleen Brown was a noted cartoonist in her own right as M K Brown and chose many of the cartoons that appeared in his publications 5 It was while living in North Beach that Kliban began to draw cartoons for Playboy magazine The income from Playboy provided financial security that enabled him in 1967 to move Brown and his daughter Kalia 6 to the suburb of Fairfax Marin County 5 Kliban who hated his given name of Bernard went by the nickname Hap for his birthday Happy New Year He eventually changed his legal name to the initial B 2 Career editIn 1962 Kliban became a Playboy cartoonist contributing cartoons until his death Michelle Urry Playboy s cartoon editor visiting his studio reviewed his drawings mostly cats She thought they should be compiled into a book introduced him to an agent who found a publisher resulting in the 1975 book Cat This led to several other books of cartoons ending with Advanced Cartooning in 1993 Since Cat his cartoons have adorned many products including stickers calendars mugs and t shirts The books that followed Cat consisted mostly of extremely bizarre cartoons that find their humor in their utter strangeness and unlikeliness Many of these are cartoons that Kliban drew for Playboy They often contained dysmorphic drawings of nude figures in extremely unlikely environments Another frequent subject of satire was the type of wordless step by step visual instruction manuals typically found with such things as office furniture Kliban also had a recurring series of drawings called Sheer Poetry in which the page would be split into six panels containing images of objects whose names when spoken in the order presented would form a rhyming nonsensical verse Kliban drew the album cover for the David Bromberg Band s 1977 LP Reckless Abandon Death and legacy editKliban died at UCSF Medical Center aged 55 of a pulmonary embolism he had undergone heart surgery there two weeks previously 1 He was survived by his second wife Judith Kamman Kliban who married actor Bill Bixby shortly before Bixby s death in 1993 brother Ken of New York City and two daughters Kalia from his first marriage with M K Brown and Sarah from another relationship Gary Larson cartoonist of The Far Side comic strip named Kliban as one of the inspirations for his work 7 Publications editBooks edit Cat 1975 ISBN 0 911104 54 2 pb ISBN 0 911104 87 9 hb Never Eat Anything Bigger Than Your Head and Other Drawings 1976 ISBN 0 911104 67 4 Whack Your Porcupine and Other Drawings 1977 ISBN 0 911104 92 5 Tiny Footprints 1978 ISBN 0 89480 031 0 Playboy s Kliban 1979 ISBN 0 87223 547 5 Playboy s New Kliban 1980 ISBN 0 87223 626 9 Catcalendar Cats The Complete Collection 1981 ISBN 0 89480 169 4 Two Guys Fooling Around with the Moon 1982 ISBN 0 89480 198 8 Luminous Animals and Other Drawings 1983 ISBN 0 14 006861 9 The Biggest Tongue in Tunisia and Other Drawings 1986 ISBN 0 14 007220 9 Advanced Cartooning 1993 ISBN 0 8362 1710 1 Comic books edit Schrier Fred Sheridan Dave 1969 Doing It in the Park Mother s Oats Comix No 3 B Kliban comic signed as A Blink Rip Off Press 8 Posters edit March 5 1967 Benefit for Newstage and Straight Theater Moby Grape Big Brother and the Holding Company Country Joe amp the Fish The Sparrows at Avalon Ballroom 9 10 11 12 References edit a b c d e Peter B Flint August 14 1990 B Kliban 55 a Cartoonist Who Drew Zany Cats The New York Times Retrieved November 1 2009 a b Kliban Judith K 2021 About B Hap Kliban Eatmousies Taylor Angela February 12 1978 Kliban The Man Behind the Cat The New York Times Retrieved February 23 2018 a b CARTOONIST B KLIBAN DIES The Washington Post The Washington Post a b Lib at Large Fairfax cartoonist M K Brown celebrated in Stranger than Life book and show Marin Independent Journal January 4 2015 Retrieved December 19 2019 PLAYFORD BALL WEEKEND MARCH 27 29 2020 PDF static1 squarespace com Retrieved October 12 2023 Gustines George Gene December 17 2019 The Far Side Is Back Sort Of Gary Larson Will Explain The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved December 19 2019 Sheridan Dave April 18 2018 Dave Sheridan Life with Dealer McDope the Leather Nun and the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers Fantagraphics Books ISBN 978 1 68396 120 8 Benefit for New Stage amp Straight Theater Moby Grape Big Brother amp the Holding Company Country Joe amp the Fish Sparrow March 5 Avalon Ballroom Bernard Kliban FAMSF Search the Collections September 20 2017 Retrieved March 31 2020 1967 Big Brother Newstage Benefit Avalon Poster May 05 2022 LiveAuctioneers Archived from the original on August 21 2022 Retrieved August 21 2022 Newstage Straight Benefit 1967 B Kliban Avalon Poster w Moby Grape Big Brother Concertposterauction com Archived from the original on August 21 2022 Retrieved August 21 2022 POSTERS The Straight Theater emi arts Archived from the original on August 21 2022 Retrieved August 21 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link External links edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to B Kliban Kliban Cats official site B Kliban Gallery at the Wayback Machine archived February 2 2006 1978 audio interview of B Kliban by Stephen Banker Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title B Kliban amp oldid 1220769101, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
