Wednesday, May 03, 2017
Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Munch
Andrew A. Munch was born Andrew A. Montsch in Cleveland, Ohio, on December 28, 1908. Munch’s birth name and birthplace were recorded on his marriage certificate. The birth date is from the Social Security Death Index.
In the 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Munch was the youngest of three children born to John, a tailor, and Mary. The Montsch family resided in Cleveland at 220 West 41st Street. Munch’s mother passed away after the census.
According to the 1920 census, Munch’s father had remarried to Josephine Ultrich who had two sons from her marriage. Munch was the third of four biological siblings. The family lived at 1328 West 61st Street in Cleveland.
It’s not known when Munch changed his surname from Montsch. The 1928 Cleveland city directory listing said “Andrew A Munch” was a clerk and lived at 8301 Detroit.
The 1930 census recorded Munch as a newspaper artist rooming at 1289 West 76 Street in Cleveland.
American Newspaper Comics (2012) said Irving S. Knickerbocker created Mac (aka The McCoys) which ran from May 10, 1929 to March 7, 1930. After Knickerbocker’s departure, it was continued by Munch, from March 14, 1930 to November 2, 1936; Howard Boughner and Bob Moyer.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 19, 1933, reported the winners of the “Picture-Snatcher” photography contest. There were 29 winners including Munch who received an honorable mention and two tickets to the Jimmy Cagney film, “Picture Snatcher”. At the time he resided at 1920 West 57th Street.
The Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Marriage Records and Indexes, at Ancestry.com, said “Andrew A Montsch” married Rose O’Donnell on August 17, 1933, in Cleveland. The 1934 and 1937 Cleveland city directories continued the “Andrew A Munch” listing which included his occupation as NEA Service artist. The couple lived at 8313 Lake Avenue (1934) and 1303 West 87th Street (1937).
According to the 1940 census, Munch was a photographer for the NEA. He, his wife and son, Levy, were Cleveland residents at 8100 Lake Avenue.
The Plain Dealer, June 8, 1957, said “Munch left Cleveland in 1942 to become assistant manager for Acme Pictures in Washington.”
Bay City, Michigan city directories, from 1948 to 1956, listed Munch at 651 Patterson Road. He was publicist for the East Michigan Tourist Association through1952. In 1953, he was an employee of the newspaper, Bay City Times.
Munch passed away June 6, 1957, in Bay City. His death was reported two days later in the Plain Dealer.
—Alex Jay
Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles
