Circa 1935 Famous American Illustrator Cleanthe Carr and one of her half dozen Chows, “Kubla Khan”.
In 1937 Cleanthe and her chows were showcased in Life Magazine pictured at their “wedding”. The couple were soon blessed with a cream and honey-colored baby according to the LIFE article.
Also see one of her illustrations in the form of a personal Christmas card
From the Smithsonian Archives website regarding the card illustration
“Peering out from behind the door of their New York City dwelling, Helen Carr, her stepdaughter Cléanthe, and one of their Chow dogs wish Guiliette Fancuilli and her husband, “the wolf,” Alfred Frueh a Happy New Year. The card’s creator, Cléanthe, inherited a love of drawing from her father, a longtime newspaper and magazine illustrator, Gene Carr.”
“Another of her pursuits was Chow Chow Breeding. In 1937, Cléanthe made headlines for staging a wedding between her pedigree Chows, Kublah Khan and Li Helen. She married her two passions by frequently making detailed portraits of Chows.”
CLEANTHE CARR ILLUSTRATED THIS BOOK “DOG’GEREL” , WITH A CHOW BOTH ON THE FRONT COVER AND INSIDE
BELOW: CIRCA 1948 NEWSCLIPPING TALKING ABOUT CLEANTHE CARR HAVING NO LESS THAN HALF A DOZEN CHOWS AT A TIME
BELOW: CIRCA 1927 NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ABOUT CLEANTHE CARR STARTING HER CAREER AT ONLY 14
Sandra, you never cease to amaze me. Your research is amazing. I love the article on Cleanthe Carr. I am thankful that your work allows us to delve into the history of our breed and meet some of the “famous” Chowists from the past.
Cleantha has a hidden history. She painted an amazing portrait of Hitler with all of his features, hair and eyes depicted with dead bodies when you took a closer look. “ Mr. Cleantha Carr will be arrested immediately upon entry to Germany.” Were the quotes from Hitler. She kept her true identity as a “male” political cartoonist a secret during the war. This woman led an astonishing life.