Cartoonist Wins an "Immy" During Weird Contest Week

Amid a sea of imaginative men, women and children who at the time were carving artwork from massive chocolate-chip cookies in a contest on the , one was singled out to receive Ocean City's first "Immy" award.

Cartoonist Jerome Lukas was honored Wednesday morning for his outstanding imagination.

The new award comes in the middle of a week of free "weird contests" that call on families and individuals to make artwork from things like french fries, salt water taffy, cookies and paper clips. continues 11 a.m. Thursday and Friday (Aug. 18 and 19) at the Music Pier with paper-clip art and a noisemaking contest called Little Miss and Mr. Chaos.

“To me, it’s a real celebration of the imagination. I’ve been thinking we should do more to recognize the creative talents of people and those who put their creativity to good use,” said Mark Soifer, Ocean City's public relations director and the founder of the Immy Award.

Jerome “Jerry” Lukas, a Vineland native and current Virginia resident, has given away more than 1,300 drawings this year alone and 12,000 cartoons since he started creating them wherever he happened to be: at airports, schools, restaurants, parties or casual meetings. 

“His approach is direct,” said Soifer, who has seen Lukas in action many times. “ 'What’s your name and what’s your favorite animal?' he will ask a waitress. She thinks about it. 'A deer,' she says."

"Zip. Out comes the pen and paper. And by the time he’s finished dinner, a professional cartoon of the deer has emerged, dedicated to the waitress and accompanied by inspirational copy," Soifer said.

“He hands the cartoon to the waitress. She breaks into a big smile. That’s it. That’s the pay off for Lukas, a big smile.”

Lukas spent time in Ocean City in the 1960s earning a living by decorating T-shirts and sweatshirts and entertaining at a popular teen coffee spot, The White Whale.

“He’s an ideal first honoree,” Soifer said. “A talented man who has cheered thousands with his fertile imagination and asked nothing in return.”

"Thanks to Mark, I've been mentally ill all these years," Lukas quipped after receiving the award. But he paid tribute to Soifer: "He's probably the most creative person I've ever known."

Lukas went on to demonstrate his skills -- drawing free cartoons for anybody who asked during the event at the Music Pier.