Started from the bottom, now we're here.
How a busboy became one of the most celebrated cartoonists in the world.
It’s the early 1920s. A boy named Ludwig moves to America. He gets a job as a busboy at The Ritz in New York City.
Ludwig is paired with a veteran waiter who becomes something of a mentor to him. One day, a very important-looking gentleman is enjoying dinner in the dining room.
After a bit of reconnaissance, the waiter discovers the gentleman is a famous cartoonist. He’s made a fortune drawing pictures of a big man hitting a little man on the head.
Riches in the niches.
The cartoonist lives at The Ritz, drives a Rolls-Royce, throws elaborate parties, eats grouse out of season, drinks vintage champagne before noon, is married to a drop-dead gorgeous countess and spends half the year in the South of France.
Hearing how wealthy the cartoonist is, the old waiter advises the boy to take up drawing. He buys the boy some art supplies and tells him to try drawing some of the hotel guests.