Cartoons: Real (Funny) Estate

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Real estate agent shows potential tenants the giant clock outside the city apartment
“One thing about this apartment, you’ll never have to worry about not getting to the office on time.”
Jack Markow
October 31, 1953

 

Real estate agent heads out of his office with a giant scythe.
“I’m going out and show these folks the Tettler place!”
Clyde Lamb
October 11, 1952

 

 

 

Woman tells her husband to ask about the penguins in the living room.
“Maybe you’d better ask about the heat!”
Jeff Keate
October 7, 1944

 

 

Real estate agent tries to put a positive spin to a decrepit house.
“Now that you’ve accustomed yourselves to the exterior, suppose we step inside…”
Larry Frick
May 26, 1951

 

Real estate agent shows potential buys a run-down house
“The heirs are anxious for quick settlement on this one.”
Robert Day
March 14, 1953

 

 

Real estate agent describes a basement to potential buyers, one of whom notices a lifeboat hanging off of the ceiling.
“Fine spacious basement, snug and dry…”
Dick Cavalli
February 14, 1953

 

 

Real estate agent and buyers try to find a house in a yard filled with huge weeds.
“Tell you what. Let’s spread out and go through once more — I’m sure there’s a house in there somewhere!”
Walt Wetterberg
January 31, 1953

 

A real estate agent scoffs at a man planting in his front yard in front of potential buyers.
“On the whole, you’ll find this is one of the better neighborhoods…of course, there’s always the inevitable exception.”
Dick Cavalli
January 3, 1953

 

A home buyer expresses his disappointment about a house that is sitting in middle of the sea.
“This wasn’t exactly what we had in mind when we said we wanted a house overlooking the water.”
Herb Green
November 19, 1955

 

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3 Questions for Barbara Corcoran

Image courtesy Craig Sjodin/ABC
Image courtesy Craig Sjodin/ABC

Nobody gets eaten alive on the hit show Shark Tank on ABC, but there are plenty of emotional wounds as budding entrepreneurs pitch products and concepts to top business moguls. Holding her own in the lively exchanges is Barbara Corcoran, whose rags-to-riches story serves as powerful inspiration to the contestants.

Had Corcoran pitched her idea for a Manhattan real estate company to the Sharks when she set out on her journey to the top 40 years ago, they might well have delivered the show’s signature “thumbs down.” She was working as a waitress, but with a borrowed thousand dollars, she formed the Corcoran Group, and boldly built her little company into a New York City powerhouse. 
In 2001, she sold her company for $66 million.

Today, Corcoran is a familiar face with her weekly appearances to talk about real estate trends on theToday Show as well as Shark Tank where she has a reputation for sympathy and charm as well as toughness.

Question: How do viewers feel about you as the first female shark?
Barbara Corcoran: They all say, “We love how you give it to those guys.” What surprises me, though, is how much they ask about my own personal struggle to find success. I grew up poor in a tiny house with 10 children. We got one new dress at the start of the school year. It was a struggle, but when I look back, I think about what fun we had. I give all the credit to my mother for nurturing each of our talents. I was dyslexic. I wasn’t a good student. I hated bringing my report card home. But instead of criticizing, my mother kept saying, “You have a great imagination.”

Q: Now that you have money, do you like to buy things?
BC: When I go to shop for clothes I don’t even look at the price tag. But I understand being poor, so I know I have a responsibility to help others. When I sold my company, someone gave me the idea to establish an education trust. We’ve had 27 people go to college with that fund.

Q: What do you think fueled your ambition?
BC: I never was chasing the gold. That wasn’t valued in our family. It was all about the competition. I’m so hungry now for the next step, whatever that might be. I want to get the most out of my great life.