Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: William Mogy

William Mogy, who was born in New York on December 31, 1898, according to the California Death Index at Ancestry.com.

Mogy has not been found in the 1900 U.S. Federal Census. In 1910, Mogy was the fourth of nine children born to Barnett and Rose, both Russian emigrants. They resided in Memphis, Tennessee. Mogy’s father was a merchant who owned his own store. The 1915 Memphis city directory residential listing for the Mogys was 413 North Third.

At some point Barnett, and presumably his family, moved back to New York. The 1918 directory said he resided at 1463 1st Avenue and was in the dress business.

Mogy has not been found in the 1920 census. His father was listed in the 1921 Atlantic City, New Jersey directory at 2308 Atlantic.

The 1930 census recorded Mogy and his younger sister, Ann, in Los Angeles, California at 226 1/4 East 51 Street. He was a commercial artist. A 1936 city directory listed him at “111 S Figra” [Figueroa?].

Mogy produced artwork for a series written by Abraham Blumenfeld, who applied and received a copyright in the Catalogue of Copyright Entries, Part 4, Works or Art, etc., 1931, New Series, Volume 26, Number 4. 

Blumenfeld (Abraham) North Hollywood, Calif. 8548 Mogy (William) Drawing: Don’t laugh, (superstitious beliefs) by Blumey. A series of cartoons [4 illustrations] of the superstitious beliefs of the peoples of the world [2 forks, dog lying in doorway, girl’s skirt blowing up, and boy being whipped] 1 c. Dec. 22, 1931; G 7669.

About three-and-a-half years later the series was picked up by Van Tine Features. It is unclear if Mogy’s artwork was used during the series run, which ended in 1937 according to American Newspaper Comics (2012). Initially, the series was drawn by Ernest Smythe, then another artist continued it but it is unclear who it was.

In 1940, Mogy lived alone at 345 South Flower Street in Los Angeles. His occupation was helper at a process serving office.

Mogy passed away December 15, 1954, in Los Angeles, according to the California Death Index.

—Alex Jay