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DeBeck, Billy

Many years ago--at least two decades--Howard Lowery auctioned off a group of 18 sketch pages by Billy DeBeck, the creator of the classic strip Barney Google. There was little explanation that accompanied the artwork. They appeared to be either character development pieces, or sketches that DeBeck did while sitting in a hotel lobby. Maybe they were a combination of both. In any event, I was the under bidder on the lot and never saw the pieces again. Quite recently, the DeBeck sketches resurfaced and I was given the opportunity to purchase them. After seeing only a few examples of them (I had never seen the entire group, as Lowery only pictured a few), I decided not to miss out on them again.

The sketch pages are really quite lovely. They show DeBeck's raw facility at capturing gesture and attitude. Some of the pieces are reminiscent of Daumier. Others have the quality of Phil May's work, the British cartoonist who DeBeck so admired. Then there is DeBeck's own style. You can see so much of the type of characters that inhabited Barney Google in these sketches, from cops and hotel-types, to sharps and con men. When DeBeck was on--and he usually was--he could sum up so much information, which such little line work. That's what really comes across in these pieces.

As far as where and when these were done, I can only hazard guesses. As all of the pieces are done on the stationary of a New York City cosmetics company, I assume that he did them while in NYC. Was there a Continental Hotel in NYC during this time? I have yet to find out. As far as the time-period goes, they seem to be from a fairly prime period of DeBeck's work, so I would guesstimate them as circa 1930, but who knows for sure?

My thanks to my buddies Larry Shell and Chollie "The Patron Saint of Popeye" Roberts for helping these sketches find their way home to Wisconsin.

There are 27 Pieces of Art In This Gallery.     19 through 27 shown.

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Billy DeBeck - Sketch Page #10 - Mezzanine Boys, Colleen O'Dear and Millionaire Rob Merchant

Art Details

Artist:	Billy DeBeck (Penciller)
Media Type:	Colored Pencils
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	1276
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	3/8/2007

About the Owner

Rob Stolzer
Member Since:	September 2004

Billy DeBeck - Sketch Page #10 - Mezzanine Boys, Colleen O'Dear and Millionaire Rob Merchant
Artist: Billy DeBeck (Penciller)
1276 Views

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Billy DeBeck - Sketch Page #11 - Candlelight Dinner

Art Details

Artist:	Billy DeBeck (Penciller)
Media Type:	Colored Pencils
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	1744
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	3/8/2007

About the Owner

Rob Stolzer
Member Since:	September 2004

Billy DeBeck - Sketch Page #11 - Candlelight Dinner
Artist: Billy DeBeck (Penciller)
1744 Views

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Billy DeBeck - Sketch Page #12 - Annie Potts

Art Details

Artist:	Billy DeBeck (Penciller)
Media Type:	Colored Pencils
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	1674
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	3/8/2007

About the Owner

Rob Stolzer
Member Since:	September 2004

Billy DeBeck - Sketch Page #12 - Annie Potts
Artist: Billy DeBeck (Penciller)
1674 Views

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Billy DeBeck - Sketch Page #13 - Harrington, the Poor Little Rich Boy

Art Details

Artist:	Billy DeBeck (Penciller)
Media Type:	Colored Pencils
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	1482
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	3/8/2007

About the Owner

Rob Stolzer
Member Since:	September 2004

Billy DeBeck - Sketch Page #13 - Harrington, the Poor Little Rich Boy
Artist: Billy DeBeck (Penciller)
1482 Views

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Billy DeBeck - Sketch Page #14 - J. Pomroy Snodgrass and the Guest in Room 1900

Art Details

Artist:	Billy DeBeck (Penciller)
Media Type:	Colored Pencils
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	1300
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	3/8/2007

About the Owner

Rob Stolzer
Member Since:	September 2004

Billy DeBeck - Sketch Page #14 - J. Pomroy Snodgrass and the Guest in Room 1900
Artist: Billy DeBeck (Penciller)
1300 Views

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Billy DeBeck - Sketch Page #15 - Publicity Office

Art Details

Artist:	Billy DeBeck (Penciller)
Media Type:	Colored Pencils
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	1208
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	3/8/2007

About the Owner

Rob Stolzer
Member Since:	September 2004

Billy DeBeck - Sketch Page #15 - Publicity Office
Artist: Billy DeBeck (Penciller)
1208 Views

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Billy DeBeck - Sketch Page #16 - Prince Hopperoff and Miscellaneous Characters

Art Details

Artist:	Billy DeBeck (Penciller)
Media Type:	Colored Pencils
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	1174
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	3/8/2007

About the Owner

Rob Stolzer
Member Since:	September 2004

Billy DeBeck - Sketch Page #16 - Prince Hopperoff and Miscellaneous Characters
Artist: Billy DeBeck (Penciller)
1174 Views

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Billy DeBeck - Sketch Page #17 - Nix Flannagan, Cissy Cortez, Snif McHolmes and Owens

Art Details

Artist:	Billy DeBeck (Penciller)
Media Type:	Colored Pencils
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	1164
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	3/8/2007

About the Owner

Rob Stolzer
Member Since:	September 2004

Billy DeBeck - Sketch Page #17 - Nix Flannagan, Cissy Cortez, Snif McHolmes and Owens
Artist: Billy DeBeck (Penciller)
1164 Views

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Billy DeBeck - Sketch Page #18 - Ivan the Cook

Art Details

Artist:	Billy DeBeck (Penciller)
Media Type:	Colored Pencils
Art Type:	Other
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views	1107
Comments:	0
Added to Site:	3/8/2007

About the Owner

Rob Stolzer
Member Since:	September 2004

Billy DeBeck - Sketch Page #18 - Ivan the Cook
Artist: Billy DeBeck (Penciller)
1107 Views

There are 27 Pieces of Art In This Gallery.     19 through 27 shown.

About the Owner Rob Stolzer Premium Gallery Owner Joined: September 2004 Last Login: September 2025 Ebay Id: robart Website: https://freeassociationfunnies.com/ Country: UNITED STATES On CAF: Rob's Classifieds Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF Read More About RobStolzer

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