Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Myron Waldman

Myron Waldman was born on April 23, 1908, in Brooklyn, New York, according to his World War II draft card. His father, Barney Waldman, was a Russian emigrant, and his mother, Rebecca Lipman, was a German emigrant.

In the 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Waldman was the youngest of four brothers. They lived with their parents and maternal grandmother at 1251 50 Street in Brooklyn. That was their home over the next 25 years or so. 

In June 1924 Waldman graduated from Public School 103. He attended New Utrecht High School where he was on the 100-pound relay team and a staff member of the school newspaper, The Weekly NUHS. He graduated in June 1926. Waldman continued his art studies at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. He graduated with a Drawing, Painting and Illustration certificate on June 20, 1929. 

In 1930 Waldman was employed at the Fleischer Studios in Manhattan. (Seceral Fleischer cartoons can be seen on Pluto TV’s Classic Toons.) 

A Florida passenger list at Ancestry.com listed Waldman on the S.S. Florida which departed Havana, Cuba on March 11, 1937 and arrived in Miami the next day.

According to the 1940 census, Waldman lived with his parents in Miami, Florida at 2326 21st Avenue. In 1939 he earned $5,800. 

On October 16, 1940 Waldman signed his World War II draft card. His description was five feet five inches, 160 pounds, with hazel eyes and brown hair. Waldman’s employer was Fleischer Studios.

Waldman’s father passed away January 25, 1941. 

The Brooklyn Eagle, March 7, 1942, said “It is Brooklyn talent that is on display at the N. Y. Paramount Theater. ... And on the screen is ‘Superman,’ animated by Myron (Mike) Waldman, former cartoonist for the New Utrecht H.S. publication, ‘Nuhs.’” 

Waldman enlisted in the Army Corps of Engineers on October 12, 1942. His Department of Veterans Affairs file, at Ancestry.com, said he was discharged on October 12, 1946.

Who’s Who of American Comic Books 1928–1999 said Waldman did some scripts for Better Publications around 1944. 

The Leader (Freeport, New York), May 6, 1948, reported Waldman’s engagement to Rosalie Socolov. 

Mr. and Mrs. Max Socolov, 26 Miller ave., have announced the engagement of their daughter, Miss Rosalie Socolov, to Myron Waldman, son of Mrs. Rebecca Waldman, 3 East 66th st., Manhattan. 

Miss Socolov was graduated from Freeport High School in 1941 and studied art at Hunter College. During the war she served as a Red Cross Gray Lady and assisted in the work of the United Service Organizations in entertaining soldiers. She is a member of the Young Folks League of Temple B’nai Israel and the South Shore Junior Hadassah as well as the St. Margaret Singers.

Mr. Waldman is a graduate of New Utrecht High School, Brooklyn, and the School of Applied Arts, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn. Both Mr. Waldman and his fiancee are employed at the Paramount, Animated Cartoon Studio, Manhattan, the former as one of the head animaters [sic] and the latter as an inspector of scenes. She has been associated with Paramount for five years. Mr. Waldman also, is a cartoonist with the New York Post and the originator of the strip, Happy the Humbug. He has appeared on the radio, in television and on the stage. He served for three years in the Army during the war first in a camouflage unit and later in a photography unit with Frank Kapper. 

American Newspaper Comics (2012) said Waldman drew Happy the Humbug which was written by Steve Carlin. The New York Post Syndicate strip ran from November 17, 1946 to April 3, 1949. The Eagle and New York Post mentioned Waldman and Carlin’s appearances at local theaters to promote Happy the Humbug. Below is a RKO advertisement from the Star-Journal (Long Island City, New York), March 24, 1947.

Waldman’s animation career is covered in great detail and illustrated with several photographs at Cartoon Research.

Waldman’s mother passed away October 18, 1960. 

On February 4, 2006 Waldman passed away in Bethpage, New York. 

Further Reading and Viewing

Editor and Publisher, October 5, 1946: The New York Post Syndicate has scheduled tor Nov. 17 release “Happy the Humbug,” by Steve Carlin and Myron Waldman ... 

Cartoon Research, Remembering Myron Waldman: A Talk with His Sons, Bob and Steven 

Animato! #22, Winter 1992, Reminiscing with Myron Waldman

The Observer, January 26, 1995, Making A Wish Come True 

The New York Times, February 6, 2006, obituary

Broadcasting, November 22, 1943, Happy the Humbug pre-comic strip advertisement

The Bulletin of the National Retail Dry Goods Association, August 1944, Happy the Humbug pre-comic strip advertisement 

Display World, June 1948, Happy the Humbug promotional displays