Honoring the Artist: Dan Rattiner

What better way to find out about the “real” person who did this week’s cover than by interviewing his offspring? The following is a conversation with David Rattiner, who talks candidly about his father, Dan Rattiner, and the cartoon which graces the cover of Dan’s Paper.

Q: What I like about your father’s cartoons are the “in jokes” that often make fun of life in the Hamptons. Which is a little ironic, too, because he’s a person, as editor and publisher of Dan’s Papers for such a long time, who’s also part of this life. For you, what is it that distinguishes his humor?

A: He has a unique sense of humor. It’s his play on words; it’s clever. It’s also about everyday life. My father is very confident in what is funny. It’s not slapstick comedy or bathroom humor.

Q: What’s a good example?

A: One of my favorites is a cartoon he did that had farmers standing with a straight face in front of a potato truck. It’s labeled “Potato Farmers.” Another picture alongside shows the same farmers smiling. It’s labeled “Sweet Potato Farmers.” It gets me every time.

Q: What does this week’s cover say about your father’s humor?

A: It’s all about fun. Things like ice cream and cotton candy make me think of my Dad. In other words, the cartoons are about happy things. People get a giggle out of seeing the drawings. It proves you can appreciate humor that is old-fashioned.

Q: Does he share ideas with you? Does he run his cartoons by you?And what’s your reaction?

A: Yes, he does. Sometimes I laugh a little; sometimes I’ll laugh out loud. Sometimes, I’ll say, “I don’t get it” if it’s about someone I don’t know, for example.

Q: You write for the paper, and you’re the managing editor of the Montauk Pioneer. Do you share your ideas with your father?

A: I often do. I share jokes with him, ideas for articles.

Q: Where do you get your own ideas?

A: I try and come up with something that’s funny every week. I write it down when it occurs to me. In a good week, I might have three funny ideas.

Q: Tell me about what kind of humor you like. Do you like political humor?

A: My favorite comedians are Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, who created the “Seinfeld” TV show. Larry David has his own program now which I love, “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Seinfeld has a flair for observational humor about everyday life. I like Tina Fey, too, who has the ability to make very serious political comments and still get everyone to like her.

Q: What is it that you don’t like about certain comics?

A: If they’re unprepared or if their jokes are filled with mindless cursing.

Q: How would you describe your father as a father, not as a writer or cartoonist?

A: He’s an amazing father who has taught me to appreciate the simple things in life, like the ocean or playing with the dog or having breakfast with friends. Every time I move away, I’d think about coming back here.

Q: And what would your father say about you?

A: He’d say, “David, you’re so handsome.” I’m kidding. He’d say, “I can’t believe I created a guy so tall.”

– Marion Wolberg Weiss

Dan Rattiner’s cartoons are available in the book, Ballet Parking. 87 of Dan’s cartoons are on display in his first one man show at the Ferregut Tower Gallery in Southampton until March 1st.