Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Ink-Singer Profiles by Alex Jay: Oscar Hitt
The 1901 England census recorded Hitt in the household of Oliver Altree, his maternal grandfather. Also listed was his mother, Edith, one-year-old sister, Beatrice, and uncles Percy and Alfred. On September 26, 1901, Hitt and his mother sailed from Liverpool to Boston, Massachusetts. They were on their way to Salt Lake, Utah. It’s unclear how long Hitt stayed in Utah.On June 5, 1917, Hitt signed his World War I draft card. His address was 4832 Winthrop Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. Hitt was a Chicago Herald artist who was married and had a child; the names are not known.
American Newspaper Comics (2012) said Hitt’s first series was Hitt and Runn which ran in 1916-17. He drew the Katzenjammer Kids from May 28, 1917 into 1919. The copycat Mama’s Darlings started June 24, 1917 and ended August 28, 1918.
The Salt Lake Telegram (Utah), February 24, 1918, published the following article.
Pioneer Resident of Salt Lake DiesHitt has not yet been found in the 1920 U.S. Federal Census. According to the Ogden Standard-Examiner (Utah), Hitt was a cartoonist in New York City.
After a lingering illness extending over a period of nearly five months, William Powe, a pioneer resident of Salt Lake, died at his home, 171 Third East street, late yesterday afternoon.
Mr. Powe came to Salt Lake from England twenty-six years ago, and had been engaged as a hatter in this city ever since. He was connected for some time with the firm known as the Taylor Hatters, but in late years had been in business for himself.
He is survived by a widow and stepson, Oscar Hitt.
June 11, 1922
Oscar Hitt, noted cartoonist, of New York, was a guest during the early part of the week at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. V R Reeder, Jr. Mr. Hitt will Join his wife at Springvllle. Mr. and Mrs. Hitt are to spend the summer in Utah. They will visit frequently in Salt Lake and Ogden.
August 27, 1922
In the 1930 census, Hitt lived alone in Manhattan, New York City, at 48 West 70th Street. The whereabouts of his wife and child are not known. He married at age 23 and was naturalized. His occupation was newspaper comic artist.
Hitt’s longest running series was Neighborly Neighbors which spanned from March 17, 1930 to August 27, 1938. It was one of several new cartoons introduced in the Sarasota Herald (Florida), on March 16, 1930. (Editor & Publisher, February 8, 1930, was first to announce the lineup.)
Hitt went on a short voyage from February 29 to March 3. The passenger list said his home was the Hotel St. George in Brooklyn.
The Maine Marriages, 1892–1996, at Ancestry,com, recorded Hitt’s marriage to Gladys M. McKechnie aka Gladys M. Burgess on November 24, 1933.
The 1935 Florida Index listed Hitt, his wife, “Sanford May Hitt”, and son, Robert, in Miami Beach.
The Catalog of Copyright Entries, Part 4, Works of Art, etc., 1939, New Series, Volume 34, Number 1, published the following entry:
According to the 1940 census, Hitt was institutionalized at the Mountain View Farm, the Home for Homeless, in Sanford, Maine. It was noted that he had four years of college education. It is not known when Hitt passed away. An obituary has not been found. Presumably, Hitt died at the institution.
Mr. and Mrs. Hitt of New York are spending two weeks at the Virginia. Mr. Hitt is connected with the New York TimesAugust 30, 1922
Oscar Hitt, cartoonist for the New York World, pleased the guests with cartoons which he drew upon large sheets of paper in view of his audience. Miss Fay King offered vocal selections.During the 1920s, Hitt drew Captain and the Kids; Ever Since Adam; Seezem and Sqeezem; Ambitious Ambrose; Hi-Way Henry; Uncle Eph Says; Wally and His Pals; and Mack and Marx (credited as Sam Hitt).
In the 1930 census, Hitt lived alone in Manhattan, New York City, at 48 West 70th Street. The whereabouts of his wife and child are not known. He married at age 23 and was naturalized. His occupation was newspaper comic artist.
Hitt’s longest running series was Neighborly Neighbors which spanned from March 17, 1930 to August 27, 1938. It was one of several new cartoons introduced in the Sarasota Herald (Florida), on March 16, 1930. (Editor & Publisher, February 8, 1930, was first to announce the lineup.)
The Maine Marriages, 1892–1996, at Ancestry,com, recorded Hitt’s marriage to Gladys M. McKechnie aka Gladys M. Burgess on November 24, 1933.
The 1935 Florida Index listed Hitt, his wife, “Sanford May Hitt”, and son, Robert, in Miami Beach.
The Catalog of Copyright Entries, Part 4, Works of Art, etc., 1939, New Series, Volume 34, Number 1, published the following entry:
Hitt, Oscar Samuel.* 339In July 1939, Hitt filed his Social Security application which identified his parents as Samuel Hitt and Edith M. Altree.
Dude and his wife. Old Timer and his wife. © 1 c. Jan. 3, 1939; G31345.
According to the 1940 census, Hitt was institutionalized at the Mountain View Farm, the Home for Homeless, in Sanford, Maine. It was noted that he had four years of college education. It is not known when Hitt passed away. An obituary has not been found. Presumably, Hitt died at the institution.
—Alex Jay
Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles
Comments:
The March 17, 1930 issue of the Hornell NY Evening Tribune-Times runs a promo for the Village Life (better known to us as Neighborly Neighbors) panel, and states that Hitt had been a surveyor prior to his cartoons, toys, and games. Including working for the US Geological Survey. (found via Fulton postcards)
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