Stage Folk: A Book of Caricatures by Alfred J. Frueh

Alfred J. Frueh's *Stage Folk* collected theatrical caricatures from the popular stage of the early 1920s. Published by Lieber & Lewis, the book featured exaggerated character studies of performers, reflecting the era's entertainment culture. Frueh's sharp line work and dynamic compositions captured the energy of vaudeville and Broadway. The volume exemplifies how caricature—a staple of newspaper entertainment sections—developed visual shorthand for personality and type that would influence early comic strip design. Frueh's theatrical subjects and bold, economical drawing style anticipated techniques cartoonists would adopt for recurring characters in the funny pages, helping establish the visual vocabulary of sequential art that defined early comics.