"Norman Rockwell's Checkers Prints"
Answer to part #1
"CHECKERS" is an illustration by Norman Rockwell done for a story about an older circus clown named Pokey Joe. Published by Ladies' Home Journal magazine in 1929, readers find Pokey Joe feeling sad and blue because he believes he is no longer funny. His circus friends come up with a plan to lift Pokey Joe's spirits and renew his self-confidence by coaxing him into a checkers game and conspiring to let Pokey Joe win.

Regards, "Pal" Bucker
BTW,
In the early 1930s "CHECKERS" was made into a puzzle by the Arteno Co. of Boston, MA.

http://www.oldpuzzles.com/Examples/deta ... =208&tag=7
Another puzzle:

http://www.puzzlehistory.com/itsyrmv.jpg\
And another!


