Stripper's Guide: Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Dick Kirschbaum

Richard Warren “Dick” Kirschbaum was born on September 6, 1894, in Newark, New Jersey, according to his passport application, World War II draft card, and Who’s Who in Aviation: A Directory of Living Men and Women Who Have Contributed to the Growth of Aviation in the United States, 1942–43. His parents were Max M. Kirschbaum and Rose Seligmann.

The 1900 U.S. Federal Census said Kirschbaum, his parents (German emigrants) and younger sister lived in Newark at 108 Wickliffe Street. Kirschbaum’s father was a furrier. The 1905 New Jersey state census recorded the Kirchbaum family of five in Newark at 142 Miller Street. The same address was in the 1910 census and 1915 state census.

Who’s Who said Kirschbaum attended Barringer High School.

The New York Times, November 21, 1948 said Kirschbaum “started his newspaper career as a cartoonist for The Newark Sunday Call in 1913 and later was a reporter for the old New York Press.” Information about Kirschbaum’s art training has not been found.

According to Who’s Who Kirschbaum served with the First New Jersey Field Artillery at the Mexican border in 1916.

On March 10, 1917, Kirschbaum was issued a passport for travel to Canada. Attached to the passport application was a letter from Duggan’s Cartoon Comedies Limited in Montreal. The company was interested in hiring Kirschbaum and his cartoonist friends.

During World War I, Kirschbaum served with the 112th Heavy Field Artillery in the 29th Division. He was stationed at Camp McClellan, Alabama. The Birmingham Age-Herald (Alabama), February 27, 1918, reported the 29th Division’s minstrel troupe performance.

Kirschbaum is sixth from the left.

Kirschbaum’s letter was published in Variety, March 22, 1918. Kirschbaum said he was the assistant director of the vaudeville troupe looking for musical material.

An Army Transport Service passenger list, at Ancestry.com, said Kirschbaum departed from New York City on June 28, 1918 to serve overseas. Less than a year later, he departed St. Nazaire, France, on May 6, 1919, destined for Newport News, Virginia.

The Times said Kirschbaum returned to newspaper work at the Newark Ledger then, in 1920, at the Newark Star-Eagle as cartoonist, drama critic and author-artist of a comic strip.

The 1920 census said Kirschbaum was a self-employed newspaper cartoonist who lived with his parents in Newark. The Times said Kirschbaum embarked on a career as a theater press agent from 1921 to 1927. He was mentioned several times in Variety and Billboard magazines.

Who’s Who said Kirschbaum married Arla L. Kaften, of Chicago, on April 25, 1927.

In 1928 Kirschbaum produced Lobby Laffs for Motion Picture Herald. The earliest one available is April 11, 1931. The last one appeared on June 17, 1933.

Motion Picture Herald 5/2/1931

Kirschbaum has not yet been found in the 1930 census.

According to the Times, Kirschbaum began, in 1934, an aviation column, Airlanes, for the Newark News. Kirschbaum’s articles appeared in Popular Aviation on February 1939 and May 1939.

Kirschbaum contributed cartoons and illustrations to Showmen’s Round Table beginning with its first issue dated May 27, 1933. The name changed to Showmen’s Trade Review with the December 29, 1934 issue. At the Internet Archive, the earliest available issue is April 8, 1939 with the feature, Dick Kirschbaum’s Korner, which ended on January 19, 1946. A Glutz strip appeared in six issues: February 2, 1946; March 2, 1946; March 30, 1946; April 27, 1946; May 25, 1946; and June 22, 1946. Kirschbaum’s last series was Showmen’s Silhouettes which debuted May 4, 1946 and ended on February 19, 1949.

According to the 1940 census, Kirschbaum and his wife had twins, Robert and Raymond. They were Newark residents at 319 Renner Avenue. Kirschbaum’s highest level of education was the fourth year of high school.

Showmen’s Trade Review, December 28, 1940, reported the following:

Dick Kirschbaum, STR cartoonist who created the famous character of Glutz, and Rod Lehigh, news writer, have written an aviation march which they have dedicated to the 44th Division Aviation, U. S. A. “Wings of Victory [sic],” as it is known, will be published by Famous Music Corp. and will be used in the Paramount feature, “I Wanted Wings.” Above, left to right, are Kirschbaum, Capt. Russell Gray, Col. E. H. Lindstrom, Lieut. Joseph Davis. Seated are Lieut. Gen. Hugh A. Drum and Lieut. Col. R. L. Copsey.

Wings to Victory was mentioned in a 1941 issue of National Aeronautics.

N A A has a song for aviation: a marching song with a lift to it. Music and lyrics were composed by Dick Kirschbaum, Aviation Editor, and Rod Lehigh, both of the Newark News.

Dick brought it to the All-American Air Maneuvers at Miami where it became an instant hit, and N A A is glad to sponsor it as the N A A official song. It has been adopted also by the 119th Observation Squadron, 44th Division Aviation. It is published by the Famous Music Corp., 1619 Broadway, New York. Good work, Dick and Rod!

The Brooklyn Eagle (New York), February 13, 1941, covered the party, hosted by aviatrix Viola Gentry, for Kirshcbaum and Rod Lehigh.

Viola Gentry of 1501 Dorchester Road gave a cocktail party Tuesday afternoon at the Hotel Roosevelt, Manhattan, in honor of Rod Lehigh and Dick Kirschbaum whose song, “Wings to Victory,” was dedicated that afternoon to the 119th Observation Squadron, U. S. Army Air Corps and the 44th Division Aviation.

Thirty officers of the 119th Observation Squadron were present and adopted the song for the Air Corps. Rod Lehigh, who wrote the music, is a native of Bay Ridge. Both Mr. Lehigh and Mr. Kirschbaum are aviation editors of the Newark Evening News. ...

Kirschbaum’s Fifty Famous Flyers, published in 1941, featured selected Sky Figures profiles from around 1937 to 1940.

On April 25, 1942, Kirschbaum signed his World War II draft card. His address was 151 Mapes Avenue in Newark. He was employed at the Evening News Publishing Company in Newark. Kirschbaum’s description was five feet eight inches, 193 pounds, with gray eyes and black hair. He served in the Army Air Force from May 27, 1942 to September 28, 1945.

The war took a toll on Kirschbaum as reported in Showmen’s Trade Review, December 30, 1944.

Major ‘Dick’ Kirschbaum on Convalescent Leave From China
Major Richard Kirschbaum (reporter, publicist and cartoonist affectionately known in the industry as Dick Kirschbaum through his famous character, “Glutz,” featured character in cartoons published by STR up to the time of his re-entry into the Army two years ago) returned on a 10-day convalescent leave to his Newark home last week from Ashland General Hospital, White Sulphur Springs. Major Kirschbaum served in the China, Burma, India theatre since last February—first as Assistant Public Relations Officer of the entire CBI and later as Public Relations Officer with the 14th Air Force, commanded by General Claire L. Chennault, and still known in China as the Flying Tigers. While in China Kirschbaum suffered attacks of malaria and dengue fever.

The Toledo Union Journal (Ohio), June 6, 1947, said Kirschbaum was part of a press convoy at the MGM studios.

Kirschbaum passed away on November 20, 1948, in Newark. He was laid to rest at the Congregation B'Nai Jeshurun Cemetery.

Several months after Kirschbaum’s death, Ray continued his father’s Showmen’s Silhouettes series on April 9, 1949.