Media Release -- As the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers face off on the football field, the cities' cartoon museums are getting in on the gridiron action, too. The San Francisco Cartoon Art Museum's Curator Andrew Farago and Pittsburgh's ToonSeum Director Joe Wos have issued a friendly wager based on the outcome of the December 19th Monday night game. The losing team's fan will visit the other city's museum and conduct a cartooning workshop while wearing the opposing team's jersey. Will Joe Wos don Joe Montana's colors? Will Farago suit up like Franco?
Andrew Farago, author of the The Looney Tunes Treasury and curator of the San Francisco-based Cartoon Art Museum has outlined specific directions that he will only wear a classic 1970s Steelers jersey in the event of a 49ers loss. Joe Wos, director of the ToonSeum, has not outlined any specific jersey requirements as up until the bet he hadn't realized San Francisco even had a football team.
"The Steelers have many comic character and cartoon fans. From characters in Pearls Before Swine, to a solider named Steeler in G.I. Joe!" said Wos of the connection between cartoons and football. "And of course there are many football player fans of the ToonSeum! Franco Harris cut the ribbon at the ToonSeum's grand opening and Max Starks has attended many ToonSeum events. The Steelers are Pittsburgh's Superheroes!"
Andrew, who is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, said, "San Francisco invented the sports cartoon in the early 1900s, and Rube Goldberg got his start as the sports cartoonist for the San Francisco Bulletin, which gives our cartoon-sports connection the edge. And although I'm sorry the Browns are in the midst of another 'rebuilding year,' at least my adopted home has already clinched a playoff spot. Pittsburgh's one of my favorite cities, though, and they've got us beat when it comes to the 'adding French Fries to every possible menu item' department."
No matter what the outcome of the Monday night game, the two museums share a mutual respect and look forward to many future collaborations.
Please show your support for each museum and city this holiday season by making a donation to the Cartoon Art Museum's Annual Fund
