Alex Gard

1900 (age 48)

Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia

He was a regular cartoonist for newspapers, magazines and books, but is most well known for his celebrity caricatures at Sardi"s restaurant in New York City. During World War I, he served in the Russian Navy on a destroyer. Kremkov left Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution. He traveled east through China and Japan before reaching Egypt and finally France, where his name was romanised as Alexis Michel Kremkoff. In Nice, he drew cartoons for the magazine "Sur Louisiana Riviera" and then moved to Paris, where he drew cartoons for Le Matin, Fantasio Sourire and others In 1924, he immigrated to New York City, where he began contributing to The New Yorker. He was a long-time contributor to the Sunday drama section of The New York Herald Tribune. He painted theater sets as well, including Nikita Baliyev"s Die Fledermaus. In 1926, he was hired to create caricatures of Broadway and other celebrities at Sardi"s Restaurant in New York City. Owner Vincent Sardi and Gard drew up a contract which stated Gard would produce caricatures in exchange for one meal per day at the restaurant. He was naturalized as a United States. citizen in 1940 (under the name Alexis Gard Kremkoff). During World World War II, Gard served in the United States Navy as a specialist first class. Gard continued to draw caricatures in exchange for meals until his death, ultimately creating more than 700 pictures. Today, the caricatures are housed in the Billy Rose Theatre Division of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. On June 1, 1948, Gard collapsed on Seventh Avenue and 41st Street. He died as he was being transported to Roosevelt Hospital. A memorial service was held for Gard at the Russian Orthodox Christ the Saviour Church, followed by a funeral mass the next day. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His collection includes about 700 drawings, which includes his caricatures of famous cultural figures, including actors and musicians Paul Ash, Edith Atwater, Pearl Bailey, Eddie Cantor, Katharine Cornell, Ted Healy, Katharine Hepburn, Leslie Howard, Josephine Hull, Bert Lahr, and Ethel Merman. Ballet dancers Irina Baronova, Richard Boleslavsky, Leon Danielian, David Lichine and Tatiana Riabouchinska. Producer Winthrop Ames, and Met director Edward Robinson. His collection is housed at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Vincent Sardi, Junior. with Thomas Edward West. Office the Wall at Sardi"s (Applause Books, 1991) Vincent Sardi, Senior with Richard Gehman. Sardi"s: The Story of a Famous Restaurant (Henry Holt and Company, 1953).

Alex Gard

Edit Profile

caricaturist cartoonist

Background

He was born Alexei Mikhailovich Kremkov in Kazan, Russian Empire.

Education

He graduated from the naval academy in Saint St. Petersburg.

Career

He was a regular cartoonist for newspapers, magazines and books, but is most well known for his celebrity caricatures at Sardi"s restaurant in New York City. During World War I, he served in the Russian Navy on a destroyer. Kremkov left Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution.

He traveled east through China and Japan before reaching Egypt and finally France, where his name was romanised as Alexis Michel Kremkoff.

In Nice, he drew cartoons for the magazine "Sur Louisiana Riviera" and then moved to Paris, where he drew cartoons for Le Matin, Fantasio Sourire and others In 1924, he immigrated to New York City, where he began contributing to The New Yorker.

He was a long-time contributor to the Sunday drama section of The New York Herald Tribune. He painted theater sets as well, including Nikita Baliyev"s Die Fledermaus.

In 1926, he was hired to create caricatures of Broadway and other celebrities at Sardi"s Restaurant in New York City.

Owner Vincent Sardi and Gard drew up a contract which stated Gard would produce caricatures in exchange for one meal per day at the restaurant. He was naturalized as a United States. citizen in 1940 (under the name Alexis Gard Kremkoff). During World World War II, Gard served in the United States Navy as a specialist first class.

Gard continued to draw caricatures in exchange for meals until his death, ultimately creating more than 700 pictures.

Today, the caricatures are housed in the Billy Rose Theatre Division of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. On June 1, 1948, Gard collapsed on Seventh Avenue and 41st Street.

He died as he was being transported to Roosevelt Hospital. A memorial service was held for Gard at the Russian Orthodox Christ the Saviour Church, followed by a funeral mass the next day.

He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

His collection includes about 700 drawings, which includes his caricatures of famous cultural figures, including actors and musicians Paul Ash, Edith Atwater, Pearl Bailey, Eddie Cantor, Katharine Cornell, Ted Healy, Katharine Hepburn, Leslie Howard, Josephine Hull, Bert Lahr, and Ethel Merman. Ballet dancers Irina Baronova, Richard Boleslavsky, Leon Danielian, David Lichine and Tatiana Riabouchinska. Producer Winthrop Ames, and Met director Edward Robinson.

His collection is housed at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Vincent Sardi, Junior. with Thomas Edward West. Office the Wall at Sardi"s (Applause Books, 1991)

Vincent Sardi, Senior with Richard Gehman.

Sardi"s: The Story of a Famous Restaurant (Henry Holt and Company, 1953).