Historian Morris to Tell Gene Mack’s Story

Local historian Dee Morris calls the late sports cartoonist Gene Mack “a Medford original, imitated by many, yet equaled by none. Morris will tell his story in a free talk, “For Love of the Game: The Cartoon Artistry of Gene Mack,” on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. at the Medford Historical Society, 10 Governors Ave.

Born Eugene G. McGillicuddy in 1889, Mack thrilled sports fans for over 35 years with his Boston Globe cartoons. Gifted with a knack for capturing an athlete’s personal style, Mack instinctively knew how to re-create the drama of a game. His 1947 catalog of the major league ball parks remains his masterpiece. Devoted to his city, his legacy continues in the Gene Mack Clubhouse operated by the Medford Boys & Girls Club on Forest Street.

This program is presented by the Friends of Chevalier Auditorium and Gene Mack Gym, and the Chevalier Theatre Organ Society as part of the month-long Arts Across Medford celebration.

For over 25 years, Morris has been presenting programs and walking tours in the greater Boston area. She became involved in local history when she attempted to save a neighborhood garden from being paved. In researching the land, she discovered that it had been the site of a famous nursery owned by a nationally-known Victorian horticulturist. Presenting his achievements to a contemporary audience was the beginning of her passion for shedding fresh light on New England’s complex past. She is the author of “Medford: A Brief History” (2009) and co-author of “Somerville: A Brief History” (2008).

For a complete schedule of Arts Across Medford events, visit the website www.medfordfestival.org.

– Submitted by Ken Krause