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Show FIRMAGES Sunday, July 25,1971 THE HERALD, Frovo, Utah—Page 3 ANNUAL PRE-SEASON SUPER SAVINGS ON SPARKLING NEW WINTER COATS A SMALL DEPOSIT WILL HOLD YOUR CHOICE ON LAY-A-WAY ote byPhil Shurtleff TI-YEAR-OLD Robert LeVitre is one of the most prolific gag writer in America, having sold more than 1,000 gag lines and having anothe>1,000 out for sale at the presenttime, He works each day for a few hours at his typewriter. He collects manyof the cartoous that result from his gag lines. Provo Gag Writer Finds Joy in Providing Humor By MIKE TWITTY Robert LeVitreis 71 and leads a quiet and relaxed life at his homeat 631 E. 200 S. in Provo. Yetpeopleall across the country enjoy his humor and keen wit. Heis morethan just a retired project engineer for the state highway department. He is more tnan just an elderly man who likes to fish and go for walks. He’s more because Mr. LeVitre discovered an interesting hobby and part-time job. He writes gag lines for cartoonists and he’s sold more than 1,000 in the last four years. Another 1,000 have been transformed into cartoons and maybe sold in the coming year or two. He says that last month he got a check for the first gag line he ever wrote, more than four years before. Cartoon Captions Gag lines are captions beneath cartoons, alongwith a brief idea of how the cartoon should be drawn. First, the gag. writer describes the situation, such as : Man with vacation gear in car, straps tent on top. To wife: “We have enough money for two weeks in the forest or overnight at a resort hotel.” This one was written by Mr. LeVitre and sold. Butselling the gag linesis only part of joy for Mr. LeVitre. For him, writing the gag lines is somethingto fill the void of the excess of leisure time that comeswith retirement. Andit’s a way to help others merely by sitting in an easy chair, filing some index cards and writing letters, “If yecan give somebody a smile,” he says, ‘‘you’re accomplishing something in the world.” Rely on Others With that philosophy, he goes about writing gag lines. Most cartoonists keep so busy drawing don’t havetimeto think of ideas mostof those who have time don’t have the talent. So, they rely on people like Mr. LeVitre. Gag writers think of ideas, write them down and mail them to cartoonists. When the oo of his gag lines go like Bre couple walk down street, she says: “‘Ifeelsilly! I'll be the only woman there wearing her own hair.”” IRS man to citizen as he checks his return: “Your wife's Youthful job applicant to’ personnel manager: “I’m willing to spend months, if necessary, working up to a high salaried job.” Supervisorto girl at phonebill collection window, as woman leaves: “When a customer complains about the size of her after these $7.50 meals you have bill, it isn’t tactful to say, ‘You on your business trips. talk too much’.” Boss to worker at desk: Andgaglines go on aad on, “Everything is set for your Began in 1965 vacation,the office boy will take over for you.” It all started after Mr. LeVitre Camper drinking from retired in 1965. He read an ecg spring: “It tastes article in a magazine about flat without the fluoride writing gag lines and “just ante lorine.” decided it would be interesting, Druggist holds out bottle to so I ried it.” overweight man customer: Mr.LeVitre insists he doesn’t “This is our best reducingpill. have any thought about the gag Thirty dollars a bottle. It cuts lines until he sits down to write. into your food budget.” Hethen relaxes in a chair and starts writingdown ideas, Each “Your Problem” Doctor to patient, as smogis gag line is given a number so visible through office window: that it can be filed and found again readily. “{ just prescribed more fresh “T usually spend abort an hour air. Findingit is your problem.” As man makes house payment or two a day at it — never any at bank, he says: “This is my more than that. I don’t let it hundredth house payment. I become too burdensome or figure nowthat I own the kitchen strenuous. I want to keep it something I can enjoy.” and the garage.” Woman supervisorto other: “I Something Novel got where I am by study, hard “And [ really do enjoy it. It’s work, and because I had a lazy kind of a different business, husband.” Shop suggestion box marked something novel, At least it’s a “Safety Suggestions.” As bos lot more suited to me than say, reads suggestion from box, says collecting stamps, would be.” Hestarted out with a directory to worker: ‘“‘About this suggestion of yours, Herman, of cartoonists andsent his early that we'd have fewer eccueeat efforts to many people but now we workedsix-hour days.. he has his main sources Won't Hurt” narrowed down to about a dozen Nurse, as she brings oversize cartoonists. hypo: “This won't hurt a bit — His gaglines appear in trade well, maybe little bit. Now and farm journals as well as in don’t yell so loud you wake the n.agazines and newspapers. A other patients,” number of the “Citizen Smith” Boss to janitor sweeping floor: cartoons by Dave Gerrard are “T can't raise your pay, Quigley, Mr. LeVitre’s ideas. but I’m changing your title to And that’s the name of ‘Chief Assistant Environmental business — ideas. LeVitre has Building Engineer’,” them by the hundreds, Andit Girl in wedding gown andveil must be comforting for Mr. assists surgeon, He: “I hope I LeVitre to each time he sits didn’t interfere with anything down to write that his humor ee bycalling you on your reaches into nearly every home in America. dayoff.” 9 cooking must seem awfully flat TREMENDOUSSELECTION FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY MEN’S - LADIES TEENS - BOYS - GIRLS - TODDLERS EVERYTHING GOES AT A WELCOMEBIG DISCOUNTOF cartoonist sells the cartoon, he pays the gag writer — usually 25 percent. CHOOSE NOW ON “It’s very competitive @ business. Manyideas neversell and lot more don’tsell than do sell.” That fact makes Robert LeVitre’s massive success in just a few years highly commendable. He categorizes his gag lines and then sends them to different cartoonists depending on subject preference FIRMAGE’S LAY-A-WAY of the cartoonists and the paper or magazine for which the cartoonists work. FASTEST DELIVERY SERVICE IN TOWN lvan’s Drugs DEPENDABLE PRESCRIPTION SERVICE Phone 373-2672 Free Delivery MONDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHTS UNTIL |