More than 40 years ago political cartoonist for the St. Petersburg Times switched over to draw for The Orlando Sentinel and moved from Pinellas County to Orlando’s Orange County, here in Florida. He brought with him his Cartoon Museum that he had started in St. Petersburg. The Cartoon Museum was an early version of the comic shop you see today. He also had a slew of original comic book and illustrators artwork. He re-established The Cartooon Museum and started Central Florida’s first comic book show, The Orlando Con. Jim brought in the top in the cartooning profession and even motion picture celebrities.

The Con had it’s long time home at The International Inn on International Drive in Orlando. It’s owner at teh time and now, Harris Rosen, had a father who was a caricaturist who had his celebrity caricatures up in the Waldor-Astoria in New York City. Harris, being a cartoon fan, gave Ivey a terrific deal to have the Con at the International Inn and it was a success for all.

When I was young, my family would stay at The International Inn and then attend The Orlando Con each year. It was great fun and I have very fond memories of the Inn, the Con and Jim Ivey. Harris Rosen has been going around and, wisely,  renaming hotels he owns in Central Florida with his name. The International Inn is now The Rosen Inn.  Recently I was near the hotel and wished I had a reason to stayt there for old times sake. While planning on attanding the political convention, Presidency 5, I realized I had a reason to stay there and did this past September 22nd.

When I got there I ran into a fellow, Chuck (above), who has worked at the hotel since about 1980. He told me about his helping Jim setup the Con in it’s later years to it’s end in the late-80s (It is now known as the Mega-Con and held at the Orange County Convention Center.). He showed me around where the Con used to be, now part gift shop and work room. He remembers meeting folks who drew for MAD, Car-Toons, etc. He loved being around the whole cartooning motif.

I had to draw him as my little thanks for his help. He’s holding the drawing above. It’s him opening a closet at the hotel and superheroes and comic books falling out. Thanks, Chuck,for helping bring the joy of comics to Central Florida!