Drawing

Title:

The Rockingham Rocket

Object Name:

Drawing

Object ID:

1998.019.02

Creator:

Coyne, RobertArtist

Place of Origin:

Boston, MA

Date:

circa 1955

Description:

Drawing of "The Rockingham Rocket," by Bob Coyne, c. 1955. Pen and ink with blue color pencil on paper. Image of Lou Smith riding a fast-moving rocket (labeled "LOU") above the Rockingham Park grandstands. The rocket is surrounded by exploding firecrackers; each rocket has a message: "30 DAY SUMMER MEET", "$7,500. INDEPENDENCE DAY PURSE", "ROCKING HORSE PARK FOR THE KIDDIES", "1200 TOP RACERS IN ROCK STABLES", "COMING DAVY CROCKETT DAY", and "BOSTON DOGE INCOMING SPECIAL". Artist's signature in image, lower right, "BOB / COYNE". Title in blue color pencil upper left margin: "THE ROCKINGHAM ROCKET!" Notation below image, "4 cols ___ DAY / 4 col 8 AM __ SAB". Reverse side has sketch (seemingly unrelated) of a young man in a t-shirt, pointing a finger. Unframed.

Material:

Paper

Dimensions:

H-17.4 W-18.5 inches

Provenance:

Cartoons were included with donation of scrapbooks put together by Rockingham Park as a clippings record for the Smiths and include materials from newspapers throughout New England and from other states where Smith owned racecourses. The scrapbooks start in 1933 and go up to the 1970s.
Rockingham Park -- Salem, N.H. Thoroughbred race track.
Lou Smith -- Owner of Rockingham Park. Philanthropist, along with spouse, Lutza Smith.
Bob Coyne -- illustrator.

Credit Line:

Gift of Rockingham Park

Subjects:

Smith, Lou, Rockingham Park, Horse racing, Horse racetracks, Rockets, Stadiums