Saturday, December 18, 2010
Herriman Saturday
The second cartoon commemorates the Jonathan Club's annual Jonathan Jinks revels, which apparently featured quite a bit of cross-dressing by L.A.'s rich set.
Labels: Herriman's LA Examiner Cartoons
Friday, December 17, 2010
News of Yore 1950: Dale Goss Introduces Tom Trick
Dale Goss' Tom Trick activity feature is outside the official purview of Stripper's Guide (we don't do activity and puzzle features), but when has that ever stopped me from doing a post, especially when all the materials are handed to me ready to go?
Alex Jay submits these images from the Seattle Times, chronicling the start of syndication of local artist Dale Goss' Tom Trick feature. Thanks Alex!
First, a little background. Here's Goss' bio from a 1941 edition of Who's Who in Northwest Art:
Then we have an article and an ad (from October 29 and 25 respectively):
And finally, what is presumably the first Sunday installment of the new Tom Trick feature on October 29:
Alex Jay submits these images from the Seattle Times, chronicling the start of syndication of local artist Dale Goss' Tom Trick feature. Thanks Alex!
First, a little background. Here's Goss' bio from a 1941 edition of Who's Who in Northwest Art:
Labels: News of Yore
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Obscurity of the Day: Skimpy
Most of these 'filler' strips are eminently forgettable, with some notable exceptions. The great Harvey Kurtzman's Silver Linings, for example. Skimpy, on the other hand, well, let's just say I'm not expecting Fantagraphics or IDW to issue a reprint volume anytime soon. It was, however, one of the more frequently used filler strips in the H-T, so someone thought well of it.
Joe Calcagno's filler strip ran as needed in the Sunday comics section of the H-T from March 7 1948 to November 12 1950.
Labels: Obscurities
Comments:
Hello, Allan----Knowing the litigious aspects of Percy Crosby, I'm surprised the Herald Tribune got away with this one.
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# posted by 
: 12/16/2010 12:10 PM
: 12/16/2010 12:10 PM Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Obscurity of the Day: Flook
While this strip is certainly an obscurity in its U.S. run, Flook was a beloved institution in Britain for over thirty years. So rather than expound on a strip that others know much more about, let me direct you to:
A quick Wiki overview
An appreciation of the strip by Stephen Worth, plus a nice long series of strips
A bio of creator Wally 'Trog' Fawkes
An E&P article about Flook
So all that's left for my comment is about the short and unsuccessful U.S. run. General Features, a perennially anemic second-string syndicate, took on the U.S. distribution of the strip a couple years after it began on the other side of the Atlantic, starting here September 10 1951. Why GFC thought Flook would go over in the States I can't imagine -- the strip is so rooted in British sensibilities, slang and culture that most Americans would need annotations to fully appreciate it.
GFC gave it their best shot, though, offering it for almost three full years to a whole country full of indifferent newspaper editors. The U.S. run ended on June 26 1954 when GFC finally pulled the plug and filled Flook's slot in their line-up with a very American two-fisted, take no prisoners reporter strip, Jeff Cobb.
Labels: Obscurities
Comments:
Hello, Allan---I'll bet that Flook wasn't seeing a mirage of New York in it's original context. The chap with the pipe and the double-deck bus don't elicit the gothasm I'm acquianted with. Isn't that fancy structure seen in the first two episodes the memorial to Prince Albert?-------Cole Johnson.
# posted by : 12/15/2010 4:58 PM
: 12/15/2010 4:58 PM
Hi Cole --
I'm one of those shlubs who would need the annotations, but, yeah, I imagine in the original the mirage was Swingin' London.
Gothasm = the excitement a visitor feels when first arriving in NYC? Make a great marketing gimmick I think, replace "I (heart) NY" with "Visit NY, Have a Gothasm!".
--Allan
I'm one of those shlubs who would need the annotations, but, yeah, I imagine in the original the mirage was Swingin' London.
Gothasm = the excitement a visitor feels when first arriving in NYC? Make a great marketing gimmick I think, replace "I (heart) NY" with "Visit NY, Have a Gothasm!".
--Allan
I'm torn between roiling in the warm rays of brilliant lexicographic initiative here, or just admitting my old eyes aren't as good as they used to be. ----Cole Johnsasm.
# posted by : 12/16/2010 12:02 PM
: 12/16/2010 12:02 PM
Oh wow great to see this again! This used to run in the Daily Mail (right-wing biased British tabloid newspaper) I believe. Criminally under-recognized, thanks for posting!
Hey Allan, I was amazed to find Chris Duffy was a fan of Flook, there are some scans on his blog:
http://comicbooksareinteresting.blogspot.com/2008/09/rufus-and-flook-versus-moses-maggot-2.html
And I put a little page or two fom a tiny Flook book I have, on my blog, after talking a little to Chris about the character:
http://rodmckie.blogspot.com/2008/08/flook.html
Not as good, nor as quirky, in my opinion as 4D Jones by Peter Maddocks, which I suspect you might like, it's posted here:
http://rodmckie.blogspot.com/2008/09/dark-matter-mini-black-holes-and-tiny.html
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http://comicbooksareinteresting.blogspot.com/2008/09/rufus-and-flook-versus-moses-maggot-2.html
And I put a little page or two fom a tiny Flook book I have, on my blog, after talking a little to Chris about the character:
http://rodmckie.blogspot.com/2008/08/flook.html
Not as good, nor as quirky, in my opinion as 4D Jones by Peter Maddocks, which I suspect you might like, it's posted here:
http://rodmckie.blogspot.com/2008/09/dark-matter-mini-black-holes-and-tiny.html
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
News of Yore: More E&P Mystery Features
Here's another few short articles from Editor & Publisher, each of which discusses a feature I've so far been unable to locate. Have you seen any of them?
4/13/29 - Bell Syndicate, Inc. has started a new daily continuity strip, called "Tark." It is drawn by Aslan Bey and the continuity is written by J. Kenneth Jovey. The central character is a detective.
3/22/30 - A local cartoon strip, done by Dennis McCarthy, has been added to the San Francisco News. Each day, McCarthy interviews some prominent San Franciscan and tells the story in a picture strip.
9/26/36 - (Hopkins Syndicate ad) -- Pictur-Grams are a new kind of cartoons. Here are cartoons that not only produce laughs but have a definite educational value -- build vocabulary. Johnny Stork with his simple wisecracks is always corrected by Sammy Bear who knows the right word for everything. Their remarks greatly enliven this entirely new type of gag-cartoons, securing reader interest for the whole family. (The sample cartoon was credited to 'Eisenzoph')
4/13/29 - Bell Syndicate, Inc. has started a new daily continuity strip, called "Tark." It is drawn by Aslan Bey and the continuity is written by J. Kenneth Jovey. The central character is a detective.
3/22/30 - A local cartoon strip, done by Dennis McCarthy, has been added to the San Francisco News. Each day, McCarthy interviews some prominent San Franciscan and tells the story in a picture strip.
9/26/36 - (Hopkins Syndicate ad) -- Pictur-Grams are a new kind of cartoons. Here are cartoons that not only produce laughs but have a definite educational value -- build vocabulary. Johnny Stork with his simple wisecracks is always corrected by Sammy Bear who knows the right word for everything. Their remarks greatly enliven this entirely new type of gag-cartoons, securing reader interest for the whole family. (The sample cartoon was credited to 'Eisenzoph')
Labels: Mystery Strips, News of Yore
Comments:
A Google search located a book, "Scripps-Howard News: Volumes 3-4", which was published in 1929, according to the search information. Searching within the book, the year 1929 is mentioned 21 times, and 1930 is mentioned 11 times. Examining the snippets of text involving 1930 show that the events were from the past. So the book contains material published in 1929 and 1930.
"San Francisco News" is mentioned 44 times. And there is this line:
Pen and ink sketches of persons off the regular news paths form
an interesting series of human interest stories that Dennis McCarthy
is doing for the News.
The feature did exist but only in the San Francisco News.
by Alex Jay
"San Francisco News" is mentioned 44 times. And there is this line:
Pen and ink sketches of persons off the regular news paths form
an interesting series of human interest stories that Dennis McCarthy
is doing for the News.
The feature did exist but only in the San Francisco News.
by Alex Jay
Can't let Alex have all the fun.
Fred Eisenzoph (Frederick Michael Eisenzoph) was born in MIchigan November 22, 1905. He seems to have spent his adult life in Chicago where he died on October 14, 1969. In the 1930 Chicago census he lists his occupation as commercial artist.
The puts him just a hundred miles north of the Hopkins Syndicate homen=base of Mellott, Indiana.
Couldn't find a Pictur-Grams sample though.
Fred Eisenzoph (Frederick Michael Eisenzoph) was born in MIchigan November 22, 1905. He seems to have spent his adult life in Chicago where he died on October 14, 1969. In the 1930 Chicago census he lists his occupation as commercial artist.
The puts him just a hundred miles north of the Hopkins Syndicate homen=base of Mellott, Indiana.
Couldn't find a Pictur-Grams sample though.
Hi Alex --
I don't doubt that there was such a feature, but it can't be ticked off the mystery list until I see samples. SF News has been added to my research list for the next Library of Congress trip (that list is getting loooooong) but thought I'd throw it out there just in case someone's holding a sample.
Best, Allan
I don't doubt that there was such a feature, but it can't be ticked off the mystery list until I see samples. SF News has been added to my research list for the next Library of Congress trip (that list is getting loooooong) but thought I'd throw it out there just in case someone's holding a sample.
Best, Allan
A Google search found an Eisenzoph cartoon, "The Cartoonist looks in on a 'quota setting' ", in the April 1928 issue of The Magazine of Business.
Eisenzoph drew cartoons for the book, Behave Yourself, which was published by J.B Lippincott in the mid-1930s.
He married Mildred V. Birch in Chicago on August 5, 1933.
His obituary from the Chicago Tribune, October 16, 1969:
Services for Fred Eisenzoph, 63, of 4926 N. Mozart st., will be held at 11 a. m. today in the chapel at 5303 N. Western av, Mr. Eisenzoph, who was art director for Science and Mechanics magazine for 25 years before entering semi-retirement five years ago, died Tuesday in Edgewater hospital. He had been hospitalized since he fell in his home three months ago. Mr. Eisenzoph worked part-time as a commercial artist for Opportunity magazine and a syndicated columnist after he left Science and Mechanics and before he retired two years ago. Survivors include his widow, Mildred; two daughters, Mrs. Johanna Benson and Mrs. Gail Bush; a brother; and two grandchildren.
Eisenzoph drew cartoons for the book, Behave Yourself, which was published by J.B Lippincott in the mid-1930s.
He married Mildred V. Birch in Chicago on August 5, 1933.
His obituary from the Chicago Tribune, October 16, 1969:
Services for Fred Eisenzoph, 63, of 4926 N. Mozart st., will be held at 11 a. m. today in the chapel at 5303 N. Western av, Mr. Eisenzoph, who was art director for Science and Mechanics magazine for 25 years before entering semi-retirement five years ago, died Tuesday in Edgewater hospital. He had been hospitalized since he fell in his home three months ago. Mr. Eisenzoph worked part-time as a commercial artist for Opportunity magazine and a syndicated columnist after he left Science and Mechanics and before he retired two years ago. Survivors include his widow, Mildred; two daughters, Mrs. Johanna Benson and Mrs. Gail Bush; a brother; and two grandchildren.
I am Fred Eisenzoph's great granddaughter. Granddaughter of Johanna Benson. It has been interesting researching his history. I knew my great grandmother, Mildred "Milly" but I was young when she passed so I don't know much about great grandpa Fred. Thanks for the posts! -Abby Strack
# posted by : 12/15/2016 10:47 PM
: 12/15/2016 10:47 PM
Message me on Facebook if you know where I can find more info about Fred. Thanks! -Abby Strack
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# posted by : 12/15/2016 10:54 PM
: 12/15/2016 10:54 PM Monday, December 13, 2010
Obscurity of the Day: Bottom's
Over the years Lee tried his hand repeatedly at newspaper syndication with the Chicago Tribune-New York Daily News Syndicate, never with much success. His outre cartoons just didn't seem to be what newspaper readers wanted with their morning coffee, or rather what newspaper editors think they wanted. Frankly Lee's syndicated work is not nearly up to the level of his magazine cartoons anyway. Either the pressures of a daily deadline were too much for Lee, or he tried to dumb down his gags to appeal to the masses. Whichever was the case, his newspaper work tends to be sorta meh with occasional flashes of the Lee brilliance.
Bottom's, his second feature for CTNYNS, was a daily panel set loosely, very loosely, in a restaurant. The sketchily defined cast includes the bartender, a fellow named Bottom who sports a clownish bow tie, waitress-actress Jenny and Ralph the cat. Although the gags are often set in the restaurant, Lee has no problem with abandoning this locale in search of gags. The humor is sometimes bizarre in the best Bill Lee tradition (a school of sharks 'swim' in the floor of the restaurant in one gag), sometimes political (a headless man runs for vice-president), and on off days disappointingly conventional (see "Nice Serve" above).
The panel ran from 1984-85 but I don't have anything like definite start and end dates for this rarely seen feature. The syndicate advertising folder for the feature begins with the week of October 15 1984, but I suspect that might not be the first week, perhaps by a couple months. I have no idea how far the feature got into 1985.
Labels: Obscurities
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Jim Ivey's Sunday Comics
