Alex Gard

Alex Gard (June 17, 1898 - June 1, 1948), born Alexey Kremkoff (or Alexeï Kremkov) (Russian: Алексей Кремков) in Kazan, Russia, was a cartoonist. He contributed weekly drawings to the drama section of The New York Herald Tribune, and was hired to create caricatures of Broadway and other celebrities at Sardi's Restaurant in New York City.

Restaurant owner, Vincent Sardi, and Gard drew up a contract that stated Gard would make the caricatures in exchange for one meal per day at the restaurant. Gard drew caricatures in exchange for meals until his death, ultimately creating over 700 pictures. Today, the caricatures are housed in the Billy Rose Theatre Collection of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

During World War I, Gard worked on a Russian destroyer. After the Bolshevik Revolution, he left Russia for France and drew cartoons for Le Matin in Paris. He came to America in 1924.

Gard, who lived on East 72nd Street in New York City (in another listing it states that he resided at 167 East Eighty-second Street ), collapsed on the street and died as he was being transported to Roosevelt Hospital in 1948.

A memorial service was held for Alex Gard (Kremkoff) at 8:00 pm, at the Russian Orthodox Church of Christ the Saviour which was on 121st Street and Madison Avenue. There was a funeral mass the next day 10:00 am Saturday morning. Burial took place at the Arlington National Cemetery.