The joke is simply the dog-centric view taken. However, there have been painters whose dog portraits were their major works. That’s the case for Cassius Marcellus Coolidge, who painted the famous Dogs Playing Poker series, but he died in 1934 and would not have painted a house like the one shown. However, George Rodrigue (1944 – 2013), made famous by his Blue Dog paintings, certainly could have.
In trying to find a readable version of that Harry Bliss story, I found conflicting headlines, one claiming Rochester native, but the (Rochester) Democrat and Chronicle being more precise and citing the suburb Henrietta. I remember Henrietta as the shopping location: it had the mall, and the MegaWegs, and the Brewpub.
Targuman, thanks for that bit of info, and so cool to learn about Hockney. It is also the kind of trivia I would expect from Bliss (or maybe it was Steve Martin) to know. It gives the comic some added depth, too.
Ah well, you can’t expect things to be the same after more than 35 years… The MegaWegs was not the flagship store, it was just the big huge one near the mall, the next closest to campus after the crappy/standard one right by campus. It was by late 80s standards huge, but more or less standard size now, probably small compared to expectations now…
About 15 years ago, I made a special trip to southern NJ to visit the Wegmans there, but of course since then, Wegmans has moved into my neighborhood, no special travel required…
Have cousins who lived in Rochester when they were children – no idea where they are now.
I know that I have been Rochester on a summer trip – just not sure if was with my family or with Robert later on.
I also remember seeing the poker playing dogs at a NYC gallery when I was in my late teens/early 20s with my family. (Gallery was a client of dad’s. It closed within the last decade or so and donated all of its records to the Smithsonian.)
Comics I Don't Understand 
The joke is simply the dog-centric view taken. However, there have been painters whose dog portraits were their major works. That’s the case for Cassius Marcellus Coolidge, who painted the famous Dogs Playing Poker series, but he died in 1934 and would not have painted a house like the one shown. However, George Rodrigue (1944 – 2013), made famous by his Blue Dog paintings, certainly could have.
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They are looking at a painting by David Hockney, an LA artist who died recently. I ‘m not sure if he ever did any dog paintings, but I doubt it.
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Apparently Hockney did quite a few dogs, after adopting some in the mid-80s. https://www.myartbroker.com/artist-david-hockney/collection-dogs
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I recently found out that Harry Bliss grew up in the town where I live now.
https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/lifestyle/2026/06/10/henrietta-native-harry-bliss-memoir-explores-life-with-dog/90464257007/
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Hockney may have lived in LA but he was very definitely a Yorkshire artist.
Yorkshire born and Yorkshire bred, strong in t’arm and thick in t’head.
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In trying to find a readable version of that Harry Bliss story, I found conflicting headlines, one claiming Rochester native, but the (Rochester) Democrat and Chronicle being more precise and citing the suburb Henrietta. I remember Henrietta as the shopping location: it had the mall, and the MegaWegs, and the Brewpub.
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So, Ian C, would that make Hockney a Yorky…? (aka Yorkshire terrir)
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Targuman, thanks for that bit of info, and so cool to learn about Hockney. It is also the kind of trivia I would expect from Bliss (or maybe it was Steve Martin) to know. It gives the comic some added depth, too.
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It’s extremely common to consider anyone born or raised within a 20-minute drive of the city as being “from Rochester”.
Also, the flagship Wegmans is in Pittsford, not Henrietta. The mall is closed now as of last December.
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Ah well, you can’t expect things to be the same after more than 35 years… The MegaWegs was not the flagship store, it was just the big huge one near the mall, the next closest to campus after the crappy/standard one right by campus. It was by late 80s standards huge, but more or less standard size now, probably small compared to expectations now…
About 15 years ago, I made a special trip to southern NJ to visit the Wegmans there, but of course since then, Wegmans has moved into my neighborhood, no special travel required…
LikeLike
Have cousins who lived in Rochester when they were children – no idea where they are now.
I know that I have been Rochester on a summer trip – just not sure if was with my family or with Robert later on.
I also remember seeing the poker playing dogs at a NYC gallery when I was in my late teens/early 20s with my family. (Gallery was a client of dad’s. It closed within the last decade or so and donated all of its records to the Smithsonian.)
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