Mishawaka native 'Slug' Signorino gives 'The Straight Dope' on his cartooning career

You need to eat your Wheaties to visit Michele "Slug" Signorino in his studio in LaPorte. He goes from a workstation to a storage box. “Wait, I have to find that. You’ll love this. Here, look at this.” He crosses the studio to pull out another box. “Here, look at this sketch of a couch I designed.”

Bring on those Wheaties and a protein bar.

Slug is an artist, designer and cartoonist who is originally from Mishawaka. Beginning in 1973, he was the illustrator for “The Straight Dope” published in the Chicago Reader. The Reader has been compared to the Village Voice from New York. The Straight Dope was a question-and-answer column with an edge that ceased publication in 2018. The Reader still publishes biweekly.

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Slug recalls those early days before fax machines. He would receive a call from an editor with an idea for art. Hours later, he had a drawing ready and took it to the South Shore Station in Michigan City. A staff person from The Reader picked up the art at the Randolph Street station in time for print.

He simply calls the style “humorous illustrations.” It is reminiscent of the Keep on Truckin’ cartoon of 1968 by Robert Crumb.

He did illustrations for nearly 75 clients from Anheuser Bush and Gulf to Playboy and Scholastic Magazine.

Now at the age of 84, he still works and does not intend to retire. “This isn’t work,” he said.

He and his daughter, Susie Signorino, have assembled a book of his illustrations called “Slug Signorino: Humorous Illustration,” which is available from his website, signorinostudio.com. Also available are mugs, shirts and original art.

Due to the internet, so much of his art is out there on the web. He isn’t happy about that. “I hope we could make enough money so that Susie could give up teaching and paint full time. I want another generation to see my art.”

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Susie teaches art in Columbus, Ind. A web visitor can see examples of Susie’s art and her brother Michele’s work at the same website. Art runs in the family.  Slug's wife, Judith, also was a fiber artist and quilter.

Slug’s story starts near Beiger School. He later graduated from Mishawaka High in 1956. He was named Michele but Slug, which came from his grandfather’s imagination, was the name that stuck.

From high school, he recalls always sketching and doodling. Then there was his art teacher, Alan Hammer, who had been an artist in the U.S, Navy. “He taught beginning and advanced drawing, painting and sculpture. He could do and teach everything,” he said.

Slug said during and after high school he played in a variety of bands including the Rhythm-aires. “Playland Park, every Friday after the football games, and again on Sunday afternoons. The kids would pour into Playland.” The bands played anywhere they could.

Slug said one band would break up and he would get a job until he found another band. Eventually, he started to use his love of art and worked in a print shop. Later, he was a designer for Skyline Corp. in Elkhart.

The Chicago Reader work turned into a bigger business and more clients. There are many stories to share about advertisements and book illustrations.

Slug said he never planned his career. He added that through the wonders of medicine he is still a force to deal with.

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In October, Terry Grembowicz shared her story about a special dress she wore to school in 1961. The dress was stored away and discovered later. Her granddaughter, Rayna Claeys, wore the same dress to kindergarten this year.

Terry said her granddaughter was thrilled to be in the newspaper. Terry commented that this is a big year for dresses in the Grembowicz family because a family heirloom is featured in an exhibit at The History Museum. Her mother-in-law’s dress was made from a World War II parachute.

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In fact, one parachute became two dresses for sisters. One for Mary Ann Bejma and the other for Joan Bejma. Mary Ann married John Grembowicz. Joan married Donald Beitler.

Terry recently received a copy of The Tribune’s Bill Moor story written in 1999 about the dresses, the parachute and true love. According to Bill’s story, John was in the army and was coming home. He was in the position to find a parachute that couldn’t be used any longer for jumps.

He brought it home and began looking for a girl to wear it. John and Mary Ann were married in 1948. Joan got the other part of the parachute for a wedding in 1955.

Terry said Mary Ann, 94, is planning to see her dress again before the exhibit closes.

“Unveiled: Wedding Traditions" is in its final weeks at The History Museum, 808 W. Washington St., South Bend. The exhibit of dresses, traditions and cultures is a lovely way to spend an afternoon. It closes Jan. 8.

Contact Kathy at kfborlik@yahoo.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Mishawaka native 'Slug' Signorino compiles his Chicago Reader cartoons