Robert Tallon

Robert Bartholomew Tallon (September 21, 1932 - 2015) was an American author and illustrator. He enjoyed success early in his career as an author, but it was his The New Yorker|New Yorker magazine covers that made him a household name. Tallon's The Boy With the Horn was the first of his works to be featured on the cover of The New Yorker, on December 9th, 1974. 
==Life==
===Early Years===
Robert Tallon was born on September 21, 1932 in Astoria, Queens to his parents Anna, a homemaker, and Charles, a stockbroker. He lived in several different homes in and around New York City throughout his childhood. Tallon had two brothers, Charles Jr. and Bill and one sister, Anne, who was the youngest of the three. All of the siblings were gifted in the arts. At a young age they pursued careers in acting, singing and modeling, and were met with enough success to be able to help financially support the family through some challenging times. When Tallon was just twelve years old, he was chosen to receive an exclusive scholarship to the Metropolitan Opera. Before he could enjoy the pursuit of this dream, he was afflicted with bulbar polio, which paralyzed his throat. Through his years of convalescence, Tallon turned to painting.
When Robert Tallon was eighteen years old, he was drafted into the United States Army. However, Tallon was suffering from post-polio syndrome at this time. PPS is believed to be the result of a deterioration of nerve cells called motor neurons over many years that leads to loss of muscle strength and dysfunction. This condition caused muscle weakness, pain and fatigue, resulting in Tallon being released on medical discharge before he could serve his full term.
===Education===
With GI Bill in hand, Tallon chose to enter The School of Visual Arts in New York City. While studying there, he also attended night school at New York University, studying painting. Just two years into his studies in New York City, his father Charles passed away. This caused Tallon to leave his training behind in order to find a day job and help support his family.
==Books==
Tallon’s first book, Conversations, Cries, Croaks, and Calls, published in 1963 was an adult’s illustrated book of verse. His second book, also for adults, was called Fables for the Fair, and was published in 1964. In this book, Tallon illustrated a collection of existing fables from throughout the centuries. However, the majority of Tallon’s publishing career would center around his seventeen wildly successful children’s books. Two he illustrated but did not author: Hurry! Dinner is at Six in 1969, and Sam Sunday and the Strange Disappearance of Chester Cats in 1979. The remaining fifteen books, he both authored and illustrated over a period of twenty-one years (1963 - 1984). The books had a range of topics including bad cooks, rotten kids and heroic fleas. Tallon's children's books earned him awards, like The Brooklyn Museum Award for Literary and Artistic Excellence for his book, Rhoda’s Restaurant.
==Early Work==
Tallon began working for the advertising firm, BBDO. Here he illustrated ads for such companies as Hanes, Samsonite and American Express. During this time, he also freelanced, selling his paintings at Sloan's Department Store and displayed his works at art galleries in New York City and The Hamptons. Upon leaving his job at BBDO, Tallon began illustrating book jackets, theatre posters, and even received commissions for his work from Playboy Magazine.
==Technique==
Robert Tallon primarily worked with acrylic paint and Dr. Ph. Martin's watercolors, sometimes utilizing a combination of the two. His early works combined charcoal with colored pencils. Later works included found objects, stencils with spray paint, photographed bright atmospherics, and psychic lines. His more experimental works combine paper, collage and sculpture with video and music.
==Logo For The Accidental Pervert==
Robert Tallon created the logo for the long running off-Broadway hit The Accidental Pervert. The producers were looking for a mascot of sorts for their theatrical comedy. They turned to Tallon. His creation became known as “The Pervert Guy.” The Pervert Guy became the trademark of the show. Any number of illustrations were created using the character in humorous poses and sometimes compromising positions. The Pervert Guy could appear anywhere: adorned as the Statue of Liberty, hovering between a couple in the boudoir, or on a swing in the park. The producers even brought him to life in the lobby of the theater with an actor in full costume posing for photos with audience members. He was on the cover of the playbill, t-shirts, and he graced the show’s websites and social media pages. 
==Published Books==
Conversations, Cries, Croaks, and Calls (1963)
Fables for the Fair (1964)
A B C…. in English and in Spanish (1970)
The Thing in Dolores’ Piano (1970)
Zoophabets (1971)
Handella (1972)
Rhoda’s Restaurant (1973)
Rotten Kidphabets (1975)
ZAG: A Search through the Alphabet (1976)
Fish Story (1977)
Flea Story (1977)
Worm Story (1978)
Little Cloud (1978)
The Alligator’s Song (1981)
Latouse My Moose (1983)
Mooseberry and the Fuzzo (1984)
 
Category:1932 births
Category:People from Astoria, Queens
Category:American people
Category:New York University alumni
Category:Author
Category:Illustrators