Name/Title
Dunn: Bob Dunn with his Book, "I’m Gonna Be a Father, "1941Entry/Object ID
2023.135.013Description
Photograph of Bob Dunn with his book, I’m Gonna Be a Father, 1941. Bob Dunn wrote and/or illustrated a dozen books, here seen with his "I'm Gonna Be a Father," published in 1941 and inspired by the expected birth of his son, Bob Jr. The book became a best-seller, prompting Robert Ripley to report in his widely syndicated illustrated feature "Ripley's Believe It or Not," that Dunn Jr. was the first baby who paid for his college education before he was born.
“Inventor of the knock-knock joke,” internationally acclaimed cartoonist, comedian and television personality Bob Dunn was a long-time resident of Millburn-Short Hills. Born and raised in Newark, Dunn honed his art talents at the Art Students League in New York before taking a job as a reporter for William Randolph Hearst’s International News Service, where he interviewed top celebrities of the time including Amelia Earhart, Jack Dempsey, New York Mayor Jimmy Walker.
In 1933, he was offered a position with Milt Gross at King Features Syndicate working on comic strips and gained fame working with Jimmy Hatlo on “Little Iodine” and They’ll do it Every Time” and his own Sunday cartoon “Just the Type.”
Dunn was also the author of 5 books of humor and magic. Dunn became a well-known figure during the early years of television for his starring roles in Face to Face (1946-7) and Quick on the Draw (1950-1952). He was also a founding member of the National Cartoonists Society of America (1947) and recipient of the prestigious “Reuben Award”(1975) for his contribution to the field.Collection
Bob DunnAcquisition
Accession
2023.135Source or Donor
William DunnAcquisition Method
Gift