Simanaitis Says
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CELEBRATING BRUCE MCCALL
I THANK ANDY BOROWITZ FOR “Another Reason to Love Canada,” The Borowitz Report, October 8, 2025: “Let’s celebrate a Canadian who, fortunately for us, decided to move here. Bruce McCall (1935–2023) painted some of the funniest New Yorker covers of all time.”
King Kong Call by Bruce McCall.
“Any time spent looking at his art,” Borowitz says, “is guaranteed to lift your spirits.”
Image by Bruce McCall from Adam Baumgold Fine Art.
The First Posthumous Exhibit. Adam Baumgold Fine Art presents the exhibition, “Bruce McCall: Visions of the Retrofuture,” from October 15–November 7, 2025, to be held at DFN Projects, Fuller Building, 41 East 57th St., (Suite #1103), New York, NY 10022.
“And if you’re not in New York,” Borowitz says, “you can explore Bruce’s work at the gallery website. Enjoy!”
Several of My Favs. Indeed, I took Andy’s advice—and enjoyed many of McCall’s works. Here are several of my favorites, some with comments of my own, others just to share the McCall whimsy, which he chose to call “Retrofuturism.”
Bruce’s TED talk serves as a fine introduction. Access it through the gallery website.
Gluten-Free Gluten, 2018, Gouache on board, 14” x 11 1/2.” Cover of The New Yorker, April 2, 2007.
I note which cuisine the pigeons prefer.
New Money, 2013, Gouache on board, 14 3/4″ x 10 5/8.” Cover of The New Yorker, October 14, 2013.
No comment required.
Innovation, 2015, Gouache on board, 14″ x 30.” Cover of The New Yorker, May 18, 2015 (special edition 3-page fold-out).
I like the progression of watercraft.
Felon’s Club, 2004, Gouache on board, 12″ x 9.” Cover of The New Yorker, January 12, 2004.
This one was positively prescient. The Queens Felon’s convictions weren’t to come until May 30, 2024.
Backyard BBQ, 2006, Gouache on board, 14 1/2″ x 11 1/4.” Cover of The New Yorker, July 10 & 17, 2006.
This one reminds me of a favorite spy spoof, Our Man in Havana, which I recently viewed on Turner Classic Movies.
The National Lampoon/Zany Afternoon Series. McCall composed a series of bulgemobiles celebrating post-war automotive styling. Here are several.
Bulgemobile 1946 (II), 1979, Gouache on board, 7 1/4” x 9 1/2.” Published: National Lampoon.
The coupe reminds me of French proportional exuberance of the late Thirties. I also like the Boeing B-17 in the background.
Bulgemobile 1946 (II), 1979, Gouache on board, 11 13/16” X 9 3/8.” Published: National Lampoon/Zany Afternoons.
I recall, albeit only vaguely, a satire of R&T appearing in a later National Lampoon. It noted R&T proudly citing something along the lines of “Succinctly, we test the shit out of it.”
Strolls-Nice, 1973, Gouache on board, 15” x 20.” Published: National Lampoon / Zany Afternoons.
“At 60 miles an hour,” the ad recounts, “the loudest noise in this new Strolls-Nice comes from the clipping of coupons.” This was long before Strolls had other automotive connotations.
Mobile Landing, 1975, Gouache on board, 14” x 17 1/2.” Published: National Lampoon/Zany Afternoons.
This one shows the Couzinet Arc-en-Ciel using an innovative aeroport concept. For more on René Couzinet and his sleek aeromail craft, see SimanaitisSays, October 9, 2013.
The author’s GMax Arc-en-Ciel. “Don’t try this at home, mes enfants. We’re professionals.”
Thanks, Andy and Adam Baumgold Fine Art, for sharing Bruce McCall with us. ds
© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2025
Simanaitis Says 
Re: Bruce’s B-17 background image, don’t pass over the “Bombers $1” sign. Postwar military items were mass surplused, with things like new aircraft flown directly from factory to sales points. Movie advisor, and coach for Amelia Earhart’s final flight, Paul Mantz took advantage, and bought up hundreds of planes at bargain prices. Enough that he was considered as owning the fourth largest Air Force in the world!The $1 price is off, but not by far. He bragged that he drained their tanks of the still under supplied gasoline, and sold it for enough to cover his purchase outlay.His planes appeared in movies for decades, including “12 O’Clock High” where he supplied all planes, and flying it alone, belly landed a B-17. B-17 Crash LandingHe died flying a cobbled up plane made from surplus parts in “Flight of the Phoenix.”
Thank you for writing such lovely things about my dad’s work. It’s so comforting to know he lives through his art and writing. All the best to you.
Thank you, Amanda. I have long admired your dad’s artistic gifts.—ds