Cleven "Goodie" Goudeau
| Cleven "Goodie" Goudeau | |
|---|---|
 Goodie by TJ Walkup | |
| Born |
c. January 15, 1932 Hillister, Texas |
| Died |
(aged 83) Solano County, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Area(s) | Cartoonist, Writer, Artist |
| Pseudonym(s) | Goodall, Goodie |
| Awards | Clio Award |
Cleven "Goodie" Goudeau (c. January 15, 1932 – January 26, 2015) was an award-winning art director and cartoonist, credited as the originator of the first line of African American contemporary greeting cards. Considered a pioneer in the field with the longest card recorded at the time at 4 feet and the first nationally published Black Santa card.
Biography
Goodie's artistic talent was first noticed when at 19 he was caught drawing on boxes in the back room when he was sweeping up as a shopkeeper. The manager had the foresight to exploit this talent and called on Goodie to make some cartoons for the Naval supply shop. His work was seen world wide through this Naval Supply Newsletter.
Soon after, the young Goodie was invited to Morrie Turner's (of Wee Pals fame) house by his brother, and after looking at Turner's pay stubs he realized that he could also earn a living as an artist. Goodie credits Turner this way: "Morrie was ten years my senior and I didn't know you could make money on cartooning until I met him".
Goodie published works in U.S. Navy publications that same year, and later worked for the Oakleaf newspaper in Oakland. He was the writer of Soul Folks and Fish Tales Cartoons.
Goodie was also chosen to be in a 1962 publication of favorited cartoons in Playboy chosen by Hugh Hefner.
Goodie's company Goodie Cards was in operation both in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City from 1962 to 1974. Goodie Cards company bought Onyx Publishing in 1963 and then released his line of greeting cards across the country. His cards were available in most stores where people of color shopped at that time.
In the 1980s, Goudeau worked as an art director at the advertising agency McCann-Erickson.
Goodie was a member of the now-defunct Northern California Cartoon Artists & Humor Association, along with Charles M. Schulz and Morrie Turner. Goodie also was a member of the Society of Illustrators.
Cartoonist/Illustrator/Award winning Producer Filmmaker T. J. Walkup[1] has been working on a documentary called "Goodie" Outlining an Invisible Man, about "Goodie" since at least 2004.[2]
Goodie resided in Vallejo, California, with his wife Jeanette Mcree Goudeau, and taught children cartooning as well as mentored adults in their art careers.
Goodie died at the age of 83 on January 26, 2015.[3] He and Jeanette had four girls, Brendalyn, Joyce, Sharon, Clevia, and one grandson, Xavier.
Awards
- Clio Award — The Coca-Cola Company "Thirst Busters" campaign having Ray Parker, Jr. rewrite his theme song for the major motion picture "Ghostbusters" to "Thirst Busters" for the Coca Cola ad.
References
Notes
- ↑ Boler, O livia. "Café People," Noe Valley Voice (Mar. 2005).
- ↑ "Omnific Pictures". Omnific Pictures. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
- ↑ "Vallejo's art icon Goodie Goudeau dies at 83". ContraCostaTimes.com.
Sources
- Sanders, Joshunda. "Goodie Humor: Cartoonist Cleven Goudeau on making art in a white world," San Francisco Chronicle Magazine (Apr. 18, 2004).