Peter Bramley, R.I.P.

May 13, 2005

National Lampoon‘s original art director Peter Bramley has died at the age of 60. Peter and fellow Massachusetts College of Art graduate Bill Skurski co-founded Cloud Studio in 1967. Cloud Studio was hired by National Lampoon to produce the magazine during its first year. He created the “duck” mascot that debuted on the cover of the first issue and was used for a while in the magazine, and did a perfect Peter Max parody on the cover of the second issue. After Michael Gross replaced him as art director with issue number 8, Bramley continued to contribute illustrations and cartoons to the magazine through the mid-seventies. Among his classic pieces were “Sextraterrestrials” and “Toilets of the Extraterrestrials” (both written by Henry Beard), and the recurring comic strip “Vinny Shinblind, The Invisible Sex Maniac.” (Some of these can be seen on the official NatLamp website here.)

Just last summer I received a brief email from Peter which he closed with, “…give my regards to all the little Lampoonatics. Vaya con carne, Pete.” R.I.P.

Peter’s Obituary in The Boston Globe

Profile of Peter by Steven Heller in the New York Times (from the archives–fee required to view. Alternate link.)

Tribute on the official National Lampoon site

Update: Sadly, except for the NYT obit, most of these links have died as well.

Comments

Mark, this is Dennis Hermanson. I was one of the Cloud Studio regulars, and in the first few issues. I want to share some details and fun with you if you like. Also some sad stuff and some other stuff. Lucky for me, I am a happy and almost normal 77 years and other than slipping on a rainy stone walkway (my own damn front walk) I have been fine for a long time. I've come and enjoyed your fantastic site for many years, and even relished in the ISSUES you have worked so hard to put up and KEEP UP on the web. So just sayin if you're there and willin' I'll get back to you with more soon. Best, Dennis Hermanson

—Dennis Hermanson

August 28, 2024 4:16 pm

Dennis—Glad to see you here! I'd be happy to see anything you'd like to share. Also glad to hear you have been enjoying the site.

—Mark

August 28, 2024 6:16 pm

By the way, Dennis, feel free to email me (marksimonson@mac.com). I think your recollections could make a good "news" post on the site.

—Mark

August 28, 2024 11:17 pm

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