Harlequin Artists Part XVIII - Gerald Lazare (3)

In my two previous posts I introduced the mystery of an early Harlequin artist then solved it. Gerald Lazare went on to a long and distinguished career and remains active. Unlike many Harlequin artists there is a good deal of information available about Lazare, here and here for instance. Lazare is likely the last active early Harlequin artist.

Here, in one post, are Lazare's three Harlequin covers.

Harlequin 63 - July 1950

Harlequin 64 - July 1950

Harlequin 77 - September 1950

Harlequin Artists Part XVII - Gerald Lazare (2)

In the last post I talked about the art on a couple of early Harlequins, art that has partially illegible signatures.

Since the post I've come across a name that I'm sure is the artist - Gerald Lazare. This thanks to the invaluable Index of Canadian Illustrators which has the short description - "Comics artist employed at Bell Features [source - John Bell, Collections Canada]". Bell Features published Canadian comics in 1940s and early 1950s.

Here is another cover from the Lazare, this time signed as "GL". The close resemblance between the men, including the type of mustache you don't see today, is obvious.

Harlequin 63

Harlequin 64

Harlequin 63 - July 1950

Harlequin 64 - July 1950

Harlequin Artists Part XVI - Gerald Lazare (1)

Around 300 covers on the early Harlequins (1949 - 1959) are signed. Some of the illustrators have left behind hard to decipher signatures. Here's an example. The same (I think) signature on two early Harlequins but I can't read either. The art doesn't tell me one way or the other if its the same artist.

The first signature clearly starts with "L". The second letter is ?, the third "g" or "z" and two last letters.

The second almost as clearly starts with "L". The second letter is "a" or "u". The third letter appears to be "z". Then two or three more letters.

Harlequin 64

Harlequin 77

Harlequin 64 - July 1950

Harlequin 77 - September 1950