Rube Goldberg

Rube Goldberg - University Of California, Berkeley, Family and Family

Violet FieldHome › AmericanRube GoldbergJuly 4, 1883482 views

0 based on 0 rates
Rube Goldberg Biography Stories 

Rube Goldberg's Personal Details

Reuben Garrett Lucius also known as Rube Goldberg was an American cartoonist, author, engineer and sculptor

InformationDetail
BirthdayJuly 4, 1883
Died onDecember 7, 1970
NationalityAmerican
FamousUniversity Of California, Berkeley, Media Personalities, Cartoonists
SpousesIrma Seeman Goldberg
SiblingsGarrett Goldberg
Known asReuben Garrett Lucius Goldberg, Reuben Lucius Goldberg, Reuben L. Goldberg
ChildrensGeorge W. George, Thomas George
Universities
  • University Of California, Berkeley
  • 1900 - Lowell High School
  • University of California
  • Berkeley
Notable Alumnis
  • University Of California
  • Berkeley
Founder / Co-Founder
  • National Cartoonists Society
Birth PlaceSan Francisco, U.S.
ReligionJudaism
GenderMale
FatherMax Goldberg
MotherHannah Goldberg
Sun SignCancer
Born inSan Francisco, U.S.
Famous asCartoonist
Died at Age87

// Famous University Of California, Berkeley

Susan Sontag

Susan Sontag

Susan Sontag is an American critical essayist, cultural analyst, novelist, political activist, filmmaker and playwright of international repute. Read on to find out more about her childhood, career, profile and timeline.

Gerard Debreu

Gerard Debreu

Gerard Debreu was a French-born American economist who brought mathematical precision to economics. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and other facts related to his life.

J. Paul Getty

J. Paul Getty

J. Paul Getty was an American billionaire businessman and president of the Getty Oil Company. This biography offers detailed information about his childhood, life, career and timeline.

Rube Goldberg's photo

Who is Rube Goldberg?

Reuben Garrett Lucius also known as Rube Goldberg was an American cartoonist, author, engineer and sculptor. He got interested in drawing from a young age and wanted to pursue a career in the field of arts. However, he pursued a degree in Engineering following his father’s advice. Very soon, Rube Goldberg followed his passion and began a career as a cartoonist, and garnered a huge fan following. He was popular for his political cartoons as well as satirical work on the obsession people had with technology during that period. Rube Goldberg’s cartoons had such a wide reach, that during the World War II he received death threats for his political cartoons. It is considered that he created around 50,000 cartoons in the span of his career. Rube Goldberg was proclaimed as the ‘Dean of American Cartoonists’ during his lifetime. He was awarded the prestigious Pulitzer Prize in 1948 for his cartoon titled ‘Peace Today’, which depicted caution against atomic weapons.

// Famous Cartoonists

Raina Telgemeier

Raina Telgemeier

Raina Telgemeier is an eminent cartoonist from USA. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.

Tove Jansson

Tove Jansson

Tove Jansson is a famous painter, writer-illustrator and cartoonist known for creating the Moomin series of children books and cartoon characters. To know more about her childhood, career, profile and timeline read on

Jeff Kinney

Jeff Kinney

Jeff Kinney is an American author, cartoonist, game designer, and producer. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements, and fun facts about him.

Childhood & Early Life

Rube Goldberg was born on 4 July 1883 at California, USA. His father, Max was a San Francisco police and fire commissioner and mother, Hannah, were German Jewish immigrants.

He had six siblings of whom three died at an early age. His older brother Garrett, younger brother Walter and younger sister Lillian were among the survivors.

He was interested in arts from a young age and that turned into a passion by the time he was eight. As a child he used to outline illustrations and began attending classes for drawing at 11.

He completed his schooling from Lowell High School in 1900. Later, he attended the School of Mining Engineering and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Engineering in 1904.

Career

He was hired as an engineer for the Water and Sewers Department after his graduation. Here, he had to design sewer pipes. He left the job in six months and joined the newspaper San Francisco Chronicle as an art assistant.

The very next year he joined the San Francisco Bulletin as a sports cartoonist and continued the job until 1907. Here he had to make illustrations of sports persons and his work was well received. In 1907, he launched a comic series titled ‘Mike and Ike’ featuring identical twins. Though it did not get instant success, he remained persistent and it eventually became a huge hit among audience.

In 1907, he moved to New York and began freelancing for a few publications. Around this time he was hired as a cartoonist with the newspaper New York Evening Mail. Here he began a single panel comic titled ‘Foolish Questions’ that ran from 1908 to 1934, featuring sarcastic responses to obvious questions. In 1909, he authored and launched a book with the same title.

He used to appear in stage performances with fellow cartoonists and in 1911 started performing as a comedian in Vaudeville. By 1914, he became a playwright as well. The same year he started work on his next comic series project titled ‘Inventions!’ He started this at a time when America was witnessing the beginning of the Age of inventions.

He was fascinated by technology but observed that people often adopt complex means to achieve simple results. This was the source of inspiration for his primary work in the ‘Inventions!’, an illustration of an ‘Automatic Weight-Reducing Machine’. The iconic cartoon illustration went on to be known as the Rube Goldberg Machine.

While working with the New York Evening mail, his cartoons received a wider audience as the newspaper was syndicated to the primary newspaper syndicate in USA named the McClure Newspaper Syndicate. By 1915, he earned the reputation of being one among the most famous cartoonists in the USA.

During this time he received offers from other well-known newspaper chains, however New York Evening Mail raised his salary and formed the Evening Mail Syndicate to give his cartoons an audience throughout the nation.

In 1915, he also took up the project of drawing cartoons to be used in silent movies. However, realizing the scale of work and finding it nearly impossible to complete without help, he dropped the project. The same year he created a cartoon character Boob McNutt. This comic was later syndicated by Star Company and earned a good fan following. He ended this comic in 1934.

In 1934, he shifted his focus from being a cartoonist to taking up magazine writing for a while. However, he returned to cartooning and took up work as an editorial cartoonist with the political newspaper New York Sun and worked there until his retirement in 1964. While working here, he drew a political cartoon on 22 July 1947 that earned him the Pulitzer Prize in 1948.

Post retirement, he became a sculptor. Rube Goldberg along with other cartoonists founded the National Cartoonists Society in 1946. He also served as the first president of the Society and retained the position for two years.

Major Works

He is best known for his editorial cartoons as well as other cartoons that portrayed complex machines performing simple functions. A few of his best known cartoon series are ‘Foolish Questions’, ‘Inventions!’ and ‘Mike and Ike’.

Awards & Achievements

In 1948, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his political cartoon ‘Peace Today’.

He was awarded the Gold T- Square Award in 1955, for his artistic contributions.

In 1959, he received the banshee’s Silver Lady Award, which recognizes fresh as well as original art.

In 1967, he received the Reuben Award for Best Cartoonist of the year from the National Cartoonists Society, an award that was named after him.

Personal Life & Legacy

On 17 October 1916, Rube Goldberg married Irma Seeman. The couple had two children named Thomas and George.

He died in 1970 at Hawthorne, New York. He was 87 years old at the time of his death.

His grandchildren manage an organization named after him in honour of the Goldberg heritage.

Trivia

He is the only cartoonist to be listed on the Merriam-Webster as the dictionary adopted the phrase "Rube Goldberg" as an adjective, meaning ‘doing something simple in a very complicated way that is not necessary’.

In 1995, a Reuben Goldberg commemorative stamp was issued in the USA, featuring Goldberg’s Self – Operating Napkin cartoon.

Many popular feature films and shows like the Looney Tunes, Sesame Street, Tom and Jerry, American Dad!, Family Guy, Home Alone film series, etc, have included the ‘Reuben Goldberg’ themed devices in their storyline.

// Famous Media Personalities

Wanda Nara

Wanda Nara

Wanda Nara is an Argentine model, reality personality, and football agent, more famous as the wife of Argentine football player Mauro Icardi.

Melinda Farrell

Melinda Farrell

Melinda Farrell is an internationally renowned sports anchor and freelance sports reporter. This biography profiles her childhood, life, career, achievements, and some facts.

Art Bell

Art Bell

Art Bell was an American broadcaster and author, known as ‘The King of Late Night Radio.’ Check out this biography to know more about his childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.

Rube Goldberg biography timelines

  • // 4th Jul 1883
    Rube Goldberg was born on 4 July 1883 at California, USA. His father, Max was a San Francisco police and fire commissioner and mother, Hannah, were German Jewish immigrants.
  • // 1900 To 1904
    He completed his schooling from Lowell High School in 1900. Later, he attended the School of Mining Engineering and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Engineering in 1904.
  • // 1907
    The very next year he joined the San Francisco Bulletin as a sports cartoonist and continued the job until 1907. Here he had to make illustrations of sports persons and his work was well received. In 1907, he launched a comic series titled ‘Mike and Ike’ featuring identical twins. Though it did not get instant success, he remained persistent and it eventually became a huge hit among audience.
  • // 1911 To 1914
    He used to appear in stage performances with fellow cartoonists and in 1911 started performing as a comedian in Vaudeville. By 1914, he became a playwright as well. The same year he started work on his next comic series project titled ‘Inventions!’ He started this at a time when America was witnessing the beginning of the Age of inventions.
  • // 1915
    While working with the New York Evening mail, his cartoons received a wider audience as the newspaper was syndicated to the primary newspaper syndicate in USA named the McClure Newspaper Syndicate. By 1915, he earned the reputation of being one among the most famous cartoonists in the USA.
  • // 1915 To 1934
    In 1915, he also took up the project of drawing cartoons to be used in silent movies. However, realizing the scale of work and finding it nearly impossible to complete without help, he dropped the project. The same year he created a cartoon character Boob McNutt. This comic was later syndicated by Star Company and earned a good fan following. He ended this comic in 1934.
  • // 17th Oct 1916
    On 17 October 1916, Rube Goldberg married Irma Seeman. The couple had two children named Thomas and George.
  • // 1946
    Post retirement, he became a sculptor. Rube Goldberg along with other cartoonists founded the National Cartoonists Society in 1946. He also served as the first president of the Society and retained the position for two years.
  • // 1948
    In 1948, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his political cartoon ‘Peace Today’.
  • // 1955
    He was awarded the Gold T- Square Award in 1955, for his artistic contributions.
  • // 1959
    In 1959, he received the banshee’s Silver Lady Award, which recognizes fresh as well as original art.
  • // 1967
    In 1967, he received the Reuben Award for Best Cartoonist of the year from the National Cartoonists Society, an award that was named after him.
  • // 1970
    He died in 1970 at Hawthorne, New York. He was 87 years old at the time of his death.
  • // 1995
    In 1995, a Reuben Goldberg commemorative stamp was issued in the USA, featuring Goldberg’s Self – Operating Napkin cartoon.

// Famous Cancer Celebrities peoples

Jacob Elordi

Jacob Elordi

Jacob Elordi is an Australian actor. Let’s take a look at his childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.

Riele Downs

Riele Downs

Riele Downs is a Canadian-American actress & Musical.ly star. Let’s take a look at her family and personal life including age, birthday, net worth, boyfriends and fun facts.

Yammy Xox

Yammy Xox

Check out all that you wanted to know about Yammy Xox, the famous British YouTube Personality; her birthday, her family and personal life, her boyfriends, fun trivia facts and more.

Kaylee Quinn

Kaylee Quinn

Kaylee Quinn is an American dancer, model, and actress. Let’s have a look at her family and personal life including age, date of birth, net worth, relationships, and fun facts.

Sophia Montero

Sophia Montero

Sophia Montero is an American singer and YouTuber. Let’s have a look at her family and personal life including age, date of birth, net worth, relationships, and fun facts.

Domo Wilson

Domo Wilson

Check out all that you wanted to know about Domo Wilson, the famous American Vlogger & YouTube Personality; her birthday, her family and personal life, fun trivia facts and more.

Rube Goldberg's FAQ

  • What is Rube Goldberg birthday?

    Rube Goldberg was born at 1883-07-04

  • When was Rube Goldberg died?

    Rube Goldberg was died at 1970-12-07

  • Where was Rube Goldberg died?

    Rube Goldberg was died in New York City

  • Which age was Rube Goldberg died?

    Rube Goldberg was died at age 87

  • Where is Rube Goldberg's birth place?

    Rube Goldberg was born in San Francisco, U.S.

  • What is Rube Goldberg nationalities?

    Rube Goldberg's nationalities is American

  • Who is Rube Goldberg spouses?

    Rube Goldberg's spouses is Irma Seeman Goldberg

  • Who is Rube Goldberg siblings?

    Rube Goldberg's siblings is Garrett Goldberg

  • Who is Rube Goldberg childrens?

    Rube Goldberg's childrens is George W. George, Thomas George

  • What was Rube Goldberg universities?

    Rube Goldberg studied at University Of California, Berkeley, 1900 - Lowell High School, University of California, Berkeley

  • What was Rube Goldberg notable alumnis?

    Rube Goldberg's notable alumnis is University Of California, Berkeley

  • Which company or organization was founded by Rube Goldberg?

    Rube Goldberg was the founder/co-founder of National Cartoonists Society

  • What is Rube Goldberg's religion?

    Rube Goldberg's religion is Judaism

  • Who is Rube Goldberg's father?

    Rube Goldberg's father is Max Goldberg

  • Who is Rube Goldberg's mother?

    Rube Goldberg's mother is Hannah Goldberg

  • What is Rube Goldberg's sun sign?

    Rube Goldberg is Cancer

  • How famous is Rube Goldberg?

    Rube Goldberg is famouse as Cartoonist