Saturday, June 22, 2013
Herriman Saturday
Labels: Herriman's LA Examiner Cartoons
Friday, June 21, 2013
Sci-Friday starring Adam Chase
Adam Chase (c) renewed 2013 by Russ Morgan. All rights reserved.
Adam Chase strip #26, originally published November 27 1966. For background on the strip and creator, refer to this post.
Labels: Adam Chase Sci-Friday
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Ink-Slinger Profiles: Ray Bailey
In the 1920 U.S. Federal Census, he was the oldest of two sons born to Ray and Margaret. They lived in Brooklyn at 63 10th Street. His father’s occupation was editor for a publisher; his World War I draft card said he was a newspaper reporter for the New York Herald. In the 1925 New York State Census, the family lived at 88-24 180 Street in Jamaica, New York, where Bailey was the oldest of three children. The Long Island Daily Press (Jamaica, New York), January 29, 1926, reported Bailey's eighth grade graduation from P.S. 95, in Hillside.
The Baileys remained at the same address in the 1930 census. His father was a newspaper editor. The Daily Press, June 9, 1931, said he was one of 2,357 volunteers selected “…to attend the Plattsburg Citizens’ Military Training Camp opening at the historic army post on the shore of Lake Champlain July 9.”
The Daily Press, November 9, 1938, said he was “…a graduate of Jamaica High School, Browne’s Business School and the New York School of Fine and Industrial Arts*.” Who’s Who in American Comic Books 1928–1999 said, beginning in 1937, Bailey assisted Gus Edson on The Gumps.
On April 2, 1939 Bailey married Dorothy V. Behrens, as reported in the Daily Press the following day.
Dorothy V. Behrens, Hollis Junior Leaguer, and Ray Wentworth Bailey Jr. of Jamaica, were married yesterday in Victoria Congregational Church, Jamaica. The Rev. Egbert Macklin, pastor, read the service. A reception for 80 was held in the Forest Hills Inn.
A pale blue afternoon crepe frock and wine accessories were worn by the bride. She also wore a corsage of gardenias and lilies of the valley.
Constance Alice Behrens, here sister’s attendant, was dressed in pale blue crepe, with cyclamen accessories.
Robert Bailey was best man for his brother. The included Edwin Konrath, a cousin of the bride; John Lilienthal of Bellerose, William, Durland and Edward Sheldon, both of Jamaica.
The couple will live in Westport, Conn., after a wedding trip.
The bride is a graduate of Jamaica High School and Pratt Institute. She is a member of Delta Omega Upsilon and program chairman of the Hollis Juniors.
Mr. Bailey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bailey Sr. of 88-24 180th street, is a syndicate cartoonist. He is an alumnus of Jamaica High School, Browne’s Business School and the New York School of Fine and Industrial Arts.
The 1940 census recorded the couple in Westport on Main Street. Bailey was a cartoonist who did not attend college. He assisted Milton Caniff on Terry and the Pirates, from 1940 to 1944, and Male Call from 1942 to 1946. He was mentioned in the World-Herald Magazine (Omaha, Nebraska), March 19, 1944:
He [Caniff] next writes the dialogue. He writes it directly into blocked-out cardboard strip forms in pencil, and Frank Engli, one of his two assistants (Engli draws “Rocky, the Stone Age Kid,” and Ray Bailey, his other assistant, draws “Vesta West”), checks the words for spelling and accuracy (not long ago Caniff used a verse from the army air corps song; he used two wrong words; Engli corrected this) and inks them in.
When Fred Meagher abruptly left Vesta West and Her Horse, Bailey took over from October 11, 1942 to October 31, 1943. His next credited strip was Bruce Gentry which he produced from March 25, 1945 to January 6, 1951. From Gentry’s airplanes Bailey switched to rockets in Tom Corbett, Space Cadet which ran from September 9, 1951 to September 12, 1953. His wife did the lettering, and Paul S. Newman did the writing.
The rest of the 1950s and part of the 1960s was filled with comic book work. For a period in 1960 he ghosted Steve Canyon according to American Newspaper Comics (2012) and Who’s Who of American Comic Books.
According to the family tree, Bailey passed away December 18, 1975, in San Francisco, California. He was buried at the family plot in Greenfield Cemetery, Uniondale, New York.
——————————
Dorothy V. Behrens, Hollis Junior Leaguer, and Ray Wentworth Bailey Jr. of Jamaica, were married yesterday in Victoria Congregational Church, Jamaica. The Rev. Egbert Macklin, pastor, read the service. A reception for 80 was held in the Forest Hills Inn.
A pale blue afternoon crepe frock and wine accessories were worn by the bride. She also wore a corsage of gardenias and lilies of the valley.
Constance Alice Behrens, here sister’s attendant, was dressed in pale blue crepe, with cyclamen accessories.
Robert Bailey was best man for his brother. The included Edwin Konrath, a cousin of the bride; John Lilienthal of Bellerose, William, Durland and Edward Sheldon, both of Jamaica.
The couple will live in Westport, Conn., after a wedding trip.
The bride is a graduate of Jamaica High School and Pratt Institute. She is a member of Delta Omega Upsilon and program chairman of the Hollis Juniors.
Mr. Bailey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bailey Sr. of 88-24 180th street, is a syndicate cartoonist. He is an alumnus of Jamaica High School, Browne’s Business School and the New York School of Fine and Industrial Arts.
The 1940 census recorded the couple in Westport on Main Street. Bailey was a cartoonist who did not attend college. He assisted Milton Caniff on Terry and the Pirates, from 1940 to 1944, and Male Call from 1942 to 1946. He was mentioned in the World-Herald Magazine (Omaha, Nebraska), March 19, 1944:
He [Caniff] next writes the dialogue. He writes it directly into blocked-out cardboard strip forms in pencil, and Frank Engli, one of his two assistants (Engli draws “Rocky, the Stone Age Kid,” and Ray Bailey, his other assistant, draws “Vesta West”), checks the words for spelling and accuracy (not long ago Caniff used a verse from the army air corps song; he used two wrong words; Engli corrected this) and inks them in.
When Fred Meagher abruptly left Vesta West and Her Horse, Bailey took over from October 11, 1942 to October 31, 1943. His next credited strip was Bruce Gentry which he produced from March 25, 1945 to January 6, 1951. From Gentry’s airplanes Bailey switched to rockets in Tom Corbett, Space Cadet which ran from September 9, 1951 to September 12, 1953. His wife did the lettering, and Paul S. Newman did the writing.
The rest of the 1950s and part of the 1960s was filled with comic book work. For a period in 1960 he ghosted Steve Canyon according to American Newspaper Comics (2012) and Who’s Who of American Comic Books.
According to the family tree, Bailey passed away December 18, 1975, in San Francisco, California. He was buried at the family plot in Greenfield Cemetery, Uniondale, New York.
——————————
*The New York Sun, July 1, 1935: “…the New York School of Fine and Industrial Arts, a part of the adult education project of the Board of Education….
The New York School of Fine and Industrial Arts has been in operation for two years, first as a State and later as a Federal and city project. It has an enrollment of more than 2,500 nonpaying students, an exhibition of whose work is now being held at the school building, 257 West Fortieth street.”
The New York Sun, August 13, 1936: “…the New York School of Fine and Industrial Arts…was re-named the School of Industrial Arts, and classified as a vocational school…”
Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles
Comments:
Hi Allan.
As far as I know, between Vesta West and Bruce Gentry - that, is, from 1943-45 - Bailey ghost-penciled Male Call for Milton Caniff.
Best,
Alberto
Post a Comment
As far as I know, between Vesta West and Bruce Gentry - that, is, from 1943-45 - Bailey ghost-penciled Male Call for Milton Caniff.
Best,
Alberto
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Ink-Slinger Profiles: Fred Meagher
In the 1920 U.S. Federal Census, he was the oldest of three children born to Charles and Emma. His father was a Western Union telegraph operator. They lived in Clearfield at 615 Turnpike Avenue. The Progress, August 31, 1950, said:
…at the age of nine, he won his first prize—a blue ribbon at the Clearfield County Fair art exhibit.
Later, as a student in the Clearfield High School he originated the “Bison,” which became the official symbol of the school as well as the name of the annual yearbook.
Turning his talents into dollars and cents the you artist accepted his first commercial assignment while a senior at the high school, painting the mural on the walls of the Dimeling Hotel Coffee Shop. Visitors to the Coffee Shop still pause to admire the murals which depict the Indian legend concerning the history of Clearfield.
He graduated in 1929.
The 1930 census recorded him in Clearfield, at 715 Turnpike Avenue, where he was the oldest of seven children. The Progress, January 31, 1930, reported his brief return high school: “…A chalk talk by Fred Meagher made a most pleasing interlude in the musical program and showed he had improved greatly in ability both as an artist and as a performer since last year.” Two years later he was a ceramic art major at Alfred University in Alfred, New York. The school yearbook, The Kanakadea 1933, said he was a freshman and a Theta Kappa Nu pledge. Instead of continuing his education, the Progress 1950 profile said: “…he worked a year at Kurtz Brothers factory illustrating calendars, catalogs, etc., before branching out on his own and opening an advertising firm….” His new venture was reported in the Progress, December 30, 1933:
Unique Business Is Organized by Local Young Men
Fred. L. Meagher Who Did Dimeling Murals Sets Up Organization to Carry on Diversified Work
A “New Deal” in Art
An unusual and unique business enterprise which was originated by a group of local young men and which offers a wide range of opportunities will be formally opened here hex Tuesday when the Fred L. Meagher Company, artists, designers and decorators, avail their services to the public.
This group of young men, composed of Fred Meagher, Charles Mann, Alfred Koozer, all of Clearfield, and Jack Anderson of Kane composed an organization catering to the interests of business men, professional men and individual alike and is equipped to serve them in advancing themselves in the world of business and professions, or likewise to serve in a professional way through the medium of decorative and advertising art….
His next move was detailed in the Progress, August 17, 1934:
Fred L. Meagher Goes with the Philadelphia Inquirer Art Dept.
Fred L Meagher of the Fred L. Meagher Company of Clearfield will leave here tomorrow for Philadelphia to become assistant to Mr. A.I. Yole, Director of the art department of the Philadelphia Inquirer. His new connection will not interfere with the continuance of his business here which is in the capable hands of Paul Kane, Charles Mann and Jack Anderson who will have the benefit of Mr. Meagher’s advice, counsel and talent at all times….
A few days ago he had occasion to visit Philadelphia and in the course of his rounds gained an interview with an artist high in the ranks of newspaperdom. Fred had some of his work along and offered it for criticism following which it was suggested that he call on Mr. Yole, himself an authority on art, and director of the art department of the Philadelphia Inquirer. A pleasant, though brisk interview and vising of Fred’s art work ensued during which Mr. Yole asked Mr. Meagher what he would take and come with him. “Make me an offer,” Fred countered. The offer was made and it was at a figure that no budding artist ever dreamed of getting.
His stay came to an abrupt end after the gubernatorial election. The Progress, August 17, 1971, reprinted the Jersey Free Press (Phillipsburg, New Jersey), July 28, 1971, profile of Meagher and said:
At the time there was a bitter gubernatorial race in Pennsylvania. the paper had taken a stand against one of the candidates and it was Meagher’s job to draw cartoons which made the candidate appear like a drinking, high-living, shady character.
As it turned out, this candidate won the election. He and his supporters bought the Philadelphia Inquirer….
Meagher was fired, but the next day he was drawing cartoons for the New York Sun and New York Herald. Those cartoons were directed at gangsters and he explained to the Free Press what happened:
“One night when I went back to my apartment, I found a note shoved under the door. It read, ‘Your next cartoon will be your last.’
“The paper gave me another job, doing an entirely different kind of work and without a by-line. But I got the message and gave up political cartooning.”
Around 1936 he entered the animation field, far away from New York. The Progress, January 23, 1937, said he “was able to obtain a position under Walt Disney, famous as the creator of ‘Mickey Mouse.’ Later he was employed at the R.K.O Studios in Hollywood until he again returned east and worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer…” then became “Art Director of the catalogue issued by the Roosevelt Air Field, Long Island, one of the most famous air fields in the country.” The 1950 Progress profile, said: “…he accepted a position as an animator’s assistant for R.K.O. pictures and still later the job of animator and story synchronizer for Walt Disney…..”. It’s possible he worked on Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs which was released in 1937. The 1971 profile said he drew Donald Duck.
According to Who’s Who in American Comic Books 1928–1999 some of his other work, in the late-1930s, were the juvenile books Flash Gordon, Tailspin Tommy, and Texas Rangers (He contributed art to the 1942 edition of Your Wings which was originally published in 1936 and illustrated by Frank Carlson.); the Dan Dunn Magazine; and the promotional comic Wings Winfair for the Gulf Funny Weekly.
In the 1940 census he, his wife, Jane, and mother-in-law lived in Hempstead, New York at 5 Barnes Avenue. His occupation was newspaper comic strip artist. Who’s Who credits him with the Tom Mix promotional comic, from 1940 to 1942, for the Ralston-Purina Company. This comic probably helped him sell Vesta West and Her Horse Traveler to the Chicago Tribune Comic Book. His tenure was brief, from August 30 to October 4, 1942. It was taken over by Ray Bailey. Perhaps the demands of his full-time job forced him to stop freelance work. Who’s Who shows a gap from 1943 to 1948 then he had a few assignments in 1949. According to the 1950 Progress profile, during World War II he was in the 104th Calvary Regiment.
The Progress, May 14, 1945, said for the past eight years he had been illustrating books for Assen Jordanoff. When the Jordanoff Aviation Corporation was formed in 1943, “Meagher was appointed director of production and directed some of the first training, operation and maintenance manuals produced for both the Army and the Navy.” (A photo of the art department is here.) His promotion to vice-president was announced in the New York Times, May 4, 1945, and the Progress ten days later.
According to the 1950 Progress profile, after the war Meagher “opened his own industrial designing, advertising and sales promotion agency in New York.” His love of the Old West guided him to draw the 1950 Straight Arrow comic book, for Magazine Enterprises, and the Broncho Bill comic strip, for United Features Syndicate, from July 10 to 15, 1950. He transformed the character into Buffalo Bill, which he and United jointly owned, and began July 17. The strip ended in 1956. A television series, starring Meagher as Buffalo Bill, was planned, and as well as related merchandise. In a follow-up article, September 22, 1950, the Progress said he grew a mustache and goatee and the filming would be on his farm near Huntington, Long Island. It's not known what happened to the show or if any footage exists.
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2/25/1954
He lived on a converted farmhouse he named the “Circle M Ranch”, located north of Blairstown, New Jersey, and was married to “the former Ruthanne Culver of Los Angeles.” Eventually they settled in Smith Valley, Nevada.
Meagher passed away at his home January 26, 1976. His death was reported two days later in the Reno Evening Gazette and the Nevada State Journal. Both papers said: “On Oct. 30, 1942, Meagher married Ruthanne Culver,” however, he was still married to Jane in 1950. What happened to her is not known.
(J.J. Sedelmaier’s profusely illustrated post “Illustrated Aviation Books By Assen Jordanoff” has many samples of Meagher’s work. Meagher’s comic book credits are here. The 1971 Progress profile said he did a Saturday Evening Post cover by time he was 20 which would be 1932. I did not find it at this site. He was credited with Mobil Oil’s “Flying Red Horse” but Pegasus was in existence long before his version. It’s not clear when his Pegasus appeared or how it was used. He was also credited with helping develop Smokey the Bear.)
Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
The Chicago Tribune Comic Book: Vesta West and her Horse Traveler
The strip was a pretty conventional present-day Western, with a little added sex appeal from a girl heroine. The strip was created by Fred Meagher, whose excellent bio on Yesterday's Papers is highly informative, except on the point of why he turned the strip over to Ray Bailey after just two months. I'm afraid I'm no more in the know on that issue. The fact remains, though, that Bailey took over with the strip of October 11 1942, and stuck with it until the end. Before this assignment Bailey had primarily been an assistant, working on Terry and the Pirates and The Gumps, both Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate properties.
Labels: Chicago Tribune Comic Book, Obscurities
Monday, June 17, 2013
Ink-Slinger Profiles: Evans Krehbiel
Evans Llan Krehbiel was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 5, 1914, Chicago, Illinois, according to Who’s Who in the Midwest (1945) and the Cook County, Illinois, Birth Certificates Index at Ancestry.com. He was the only child of Albert Henry and Dulah Marie Llan Evans. An undated photograph of Krehbiel and his father in Park Ridge, Illinois is here.
His earliest published work were poems. Poetry, July 1918, published four poems by him: “That Little Girl Next Door”, “Logic,” “Travels” and “Trees.” In the end notes it said: “Evans Krehbiel, who was not yet four years old when he reeled off his poems to his mother, is the son of two Chicago artists who lived partly in Santa Monica, Cal.” “Trees” was the first poem in Mabel Mountaler’s book Singing Youth, published by Harper’s in 1927. The Springfield Republican (Massachusetts), September 15, 1927, reviewed the book and printed Krehbiel’s “Trees.”
In the 1920 U.S. Federal Census, he was recorded with his mother and aunt in Santa Monica, California at 1248 Fourth Street. His father was in Park Ridge where he had his own painting studio.
Krehbiel has not been found in the 1930 census. Who’s Who said he was a student at the American Academy of Art in 1936, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago from 1936 to 1940; while attending the Institute he met his future wife, Rebecca Falconer.
The 1940 census recorded him and his parents in Maine, Illinois at 315 Touhy Avenue. His father was a professor at the Art Institute, and he and his mother were artists. Krehbiel had three years of college.
Krehbiel found work at the Chicago Tribune which published his Bush Berry in its comic book section. The strip began April 27, 1941 then underwent a slight name change to Speed Berry on October 12, 1941. It ended August 29, 1943. For Publishers Syndicate he produced Wilbur Wackey, which ran from 1944 to 1945. Original art for his unsold strips Bitsy and Little Halo can be viewed here.
Shortly after Berry began, his future wife was getting her start in the Tribune. According to the Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois), April 19, 2000: “…Beginning in March 1941 under the name ‘Becky,’ Rebecca [Falconer] illustrated the nationally syndicated Chicago Tribune feature, ‘Dear Diary,’ for 15 years.”
His engagement to Rebecca was announced in the Tribune, June 5, 1946. Just over two years later, July 14, 1948, they were married, according to the Tribune, July 22, 1948.
Who’s Who said he was an artist of magazine cartoons, water colors, and lithographs; and a writer of short story continuities for syndicates. His memberships included the Art Institute of Chicago Alumni Association, and the Chicago Magazine Cartoonists’s Association, the Museum of Modern Art (New York) and the Artist Guild of Chicago. He was a Republican and Episcopalian.
His mother passed away July 24, 1951 in Evanston, Illinois.
The Daily Herald said: “…In 1963, the couple moved with their four children to Geneva [Illinois].”
Krehbiel passed away November 1976, in Illinois, according to the Social Security Death Index. An obituary has not been found. On April 22, 2000, the Tribune reported his wife’s passing. She had devoted time promoting and restoring the work of her artistic father-in-law, Albert Krehbiel, who passed away in 1945.
Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles
Comments:
I have three additional dates for the Speed Berry comic page - September 19th, September 26th and October 3rd, 1943. These are from the Boston Sunday Post. Cliff
# posted by 
: 6/17/2013 1:57 PM
: 6/17/2013 1:57 PM
Was it the BOSTON POST or the BOSTON HERALD? I didn't think the POST took Chicago Tribune stuff.
# posted by : 6/18/2013 10:35 AM
: 6/18/2013 10:35 AM
Hi Cliff --
Sounds like the Boston Post was doing a better job of printing all the Trib strips in this period than the Trib itself (no great surprise there -- the Trib regularly dropped lots of stuff in favor of ads). I'll have to put the Boston Post of those months back on my research list for the next time I get to Boston. I'm amazed that I missed this stuff as I did a pretty thorough spot-check index of Boston Post Sundays in that era.
Thanks, Allan
Sounds like the Boston Post was doing a better job of printing all the Trib strips in this period than the Trib itself (no great surprise there -- the Trib regularly dropped lots of stuff in favor of ads). I'll have to put the Boston Post of those months back on my research list for the next time I get to Boston. I'm amazed that I missed this stuff as I did a pretty thorough spot-check index of Boston Post Sundays in that era.
Thanks, Allan
Hi Cole,
Top of the comic section states "Boston Sunday Post", then below that is "Comic Book Magazine". Cliff
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Top of the comic section states "Boston Sunday Post", then below that is "Comic Book Magazine". Cliff
# posted by : 6/18/2013 12:54 PM
: 6/18/2013 12:54 PM Sunday, June 16, 2013
Jim Ivey's Sunday Comics
