A recent acquisition of the Museum is the wartime
artwork of Creed Dotson Riser. Sixteen caricatures that were originally
published in the supplement to the
West Side Index, Sounding Off, have been donated to the Newman
Museum. A few of them appear here, and portray local servicemen who were
serving their country during WW II.
Sounding Off was largely the work of a local
newspaper editor, Julian S. Henry, who published the supplement for local
service men and women and kept them updated on others in the service.
Small articles appeared on spotlighted individuals interspersed with
photographs and humor. Letters from the various service personnel were
regularly quoted from, and major events like upcoming marriages were
sometime announced in the pages.
October 10, 1943 Introduction to
Sounding Off by Julian S. Henry:
Your Sounding Off again brings to you that personal letter from the West
Side boys and girls supplemented by a few thoughts here and there of
Your Newman Correspondent. And for the benefit of those who are
receiving their first issue a little enlightenment night not go amiss.
Sounding Off was created to fill that very important function of keeping
the West Side Servicemen in closer contact with one another and with the
old home town. It has no particular pattern, changing at the will of the
writer. This issue may contain more letters while the next issue may
contain none at all, depending upon the mood of the writer. It is rather
difficult to write items of interest to all, therefore we hardly expect
to please you all with every item. In fact we may step on a toe or two
now and then. But just in case we do, remember someone may be getting a
bang out of the item just as you may be getting a kick out of some item
that may not please some other reader.
But just in case you or someone else does happen to get sore, I, Julian
S. Henry, accept the full responsibility for any and all remarks
contained herein and all libel action of any kind should be directed
against me. Nothing in the way of financial gain will be gotten, I
assure you.
Sounding Off was first intended for the male members of the Armed Forces
and is written primarily to please them. And it shall be continued along
those lines. So just in case our items don't click with you there is
only one way out for you–discontinue your subscription. And now on with
the news of the boys and girls in the service with asides by Your Newman
Correspondent.
 |
 |
 |
Dana Franklin Riser,
Creed Riser's kid brother |
Elmo "Gandy" Morganti |
Verl "Scummy" Hollister |
The artist was Creed Dotson Riser, whose family moved
from Texas to the Newman/Crows Landing area where he was raised. A
graduate of Orestimba high School in 1935, he attended Modesto Junior
College, and worked at the Bank of Newman prior to joining the United
States Army Air Corp in 1942 during the Second World War.
City of Newman Home [http://www.cityofnewman.com/]
Newman Historical Society Home [NHS Home] The
Newman Museum
