Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Vernon Greene

Vernon Van Atta Greene was born on September 12, 1908, in Battle Ground, Washington, according to Washington birth records at Ancestry.com and his World War II draft card. His parents were Albert Edward Greene and Letha Jane Van Atta (sometimes spelled Vanatta).

In the 1910 United States Census, Greene was the youngest of four siblings. The family included his paternal grandmother. They were residents of Eaton, Washington. Greene’s father was a farmer born in Canada. 

The 1920 census recorded the Greene family in Battle Ground, Washington. Their farm was on Aduddle Road. Three children were born after Greene.

Greene’s art training included the Federal School of Applied Cartooning correspondence courses. The Winter 1929 issue of the Federal Illustrator said 

Beginner Makes Good

Vernon Greene, upon securing his first position, wrote: “I am not a little conceited that I am the youngest newspaper artist in Portland. For over a year I made trips to Portland every chance I had to get away from the farm.”

Soon he reported progress as follows: “I have just finished my fifth week with the art staff of the Portland Telegram and, believe me, I am developing speed and ability.” A year later he added: 

“Two months ago I made the change from the Portland Telegram to the Beaver Engraving Company. I am doing very well and making twice as much financially as on the newspaper.”

In a recent letter, Mr. Green says: “And now, just a word about the course—anyone who is interested enough in making something of his talent to get in and take a course and put in all the spare time he has, or part of it, will make no mistake in taking the Federal Course.”

The Oregon Journal (Portland, Oregon), June 10, 1929, reported Greene’s move. 

Cartoonist Goes East

Ridgefield, June 10.—Vernon V. Greene, son of A.E. Greene of Battle Ground, a newspaper artist and cartoonist, left last week for Toledo, Ohio, where he will be connected with the art staff of the News-Bee, according to word received here. He was graduated from Battle Creek high school in 1926. He worked on a Portland paper and did art work for a commercial engraving concern in Portland.

According to the 1930 census Greene was a commercial artist working in Toledo, Ohio. He rented a room at 2221 Fulton. 

Federal Illustrator, Summer 1931

Greene attended Toledo University.

Standing: Greene is fifth from left. 1932 Blockhouse yearbook

The Federal Illustrator, Fall 1932, said

Vernon Greene reports from Cleveland that he is meeting the requirements of the Central Press Association and taking a test in various lines of newspaper illustration for the King Feature Service of New York. The acceptance of his syndicate feature illustrations will signalize his entry into the broader field of this affiliated organization. An example of Mr. Greene’s work is to be found on page 18.

The Hackensack Record (New Jersey), June 7, 1965, said Greene was a sports cartoonist at the Toledo Blade and later editorial cartoonist for the Central Press in Cleveland. In the 1930s he moved to New York City and worked for King Features, where he ghosted the strip, Polly and Her Pals, and produced editorial cartoons for Arthur Brisbane. Greene turned down George McManus’ invitation to be his assistant. In The Encyclopedia of American Comics (1990), Ron Goulart said Greene ghosted Polly and Her Pals from 1935 to 1940. 

On June 22, 1938, Greene and Paula T. Converse obtained, in Manhattan, marriage license number 12655. They married on July 16, 1938. The Toledo News-Bee (Ohio), July 25, 1938, reported their marriage. 

Of interest to Toledoans is the announcement of the marriage of Paula Thompson Converse, daughter of MRs. Harriett M.C. Converse of New York City, to Vernon Van Atta Greene also of New York, formerly of Toledo.

The wedding ceremony was performed Saturday, July 16, in Riverside Church Chapel, New York. The couple now is residing at 235 E. 22nd Street in that city.

Mr. Greene, who came to Toledo from Portland, Ore., attended the University of Toledo, and for a time was a member of The News-Bee art staff.

The couple were recorded in the 1940 census. They lived in Manhattan at 235 East 22nd Street. Greene had one year of college and was self-employed. In 1939 he earned $1,250.

On October 16, 1940, Greene signed his World War II draft card. His address was the same. He was described as five feet ten inches, 150 pounds, with gray eyes and blonde hair.

In The World Encyclopedia of Comics, Volume 1 (1976), Rick Marschall said Greene produced Charlie Conscript for Pic Magazine, and Mac the Med, a comic strip. Ideas submitted to Pic and illustrated by Greene appeared December 24, 1940; February 18, 1941; March 18, 1941; May 27, 1941; November 11, 1941; December 23, 1941; September 1, 1942; September 29, 1942; January 1, 1943; and May 11, 1943. 

Greene enlisted on January 12, 1943. The Hackensack Record said “he became a medical photographer for the then Army Air Force and was stationed at Kearns, Utah, A. F. Base. He was discharged as a sergeant” on September 28, 1945. 

The Sunday News (Ridgewood, New Jersey), September 19, 1948, reported Greene’s second marriage to Barbara May Bennett in New York City, September 18. His first marriage ended in divorce. The paper said

Mr. Greene was a sports cartoonist and comic strip artist who created the comic strip conception of “The Shadow.”

He was also editorial cartoonist for International News and feature cartoonist for Pic Magazine. He served in the air forces as a medical photographer and artist and is now illustrating while studying for his BA in philosophy at Columbia University. 

The 1950 census counted Greene, his wife and daughter in Manhattan at Stuyvesant Oval, 17th Street, apartment 10 H. He was a freelance artist doing art and photography. 

Greene was one of many cartoonists who visited U.S. military bases around the world. The following June 3, 1956 passenger list included Greene, Marjorie Johnson, Jerry Robinson, Michael Berry and Tony DePrita. 

American Newspaper Comics (2012) said Greene drew The Shadow, written by Walter B. Gibson, from June 17, 1940 to June 20, 1942; Dean’s Bible Bee weekly panel, written by Don Orput, from 1945 to June 25, 1949; Bringing Up Father daily from 1955 to December 11, 1965; ghosted on Polly and Her Pals; and was an assistant on Blondie around 1963. Many of Greene’s comic book credits are at the Grand Comics Database. An overview of his career is at Who’s Who of American Comic Books 1928–1999. 

The Pacific Edition of Stars and Stripes, December 11, 1955, explained how Greene took over McManus’s strip Bringing Up Father aka Maggie and Jiggs. McManus passed away in October 22, 1954. 

The Pacific Edition of Stars and Stripes, May 9, 1957, reported the visit of Greene, Al Posen, Don Trachte Roy Crane and Hugh Hutton. 

For the National Association of Educational Broadcasters, Greene did a weekly radio interview series, The Cartoonist’s Art. Some of the interviewees were Tom Johnstone (March 9, 1962), Tom Gill (March 16, 1962), Harvey Kurtzman (March 23, 1962), Gregory D’Allessio and Hilda Terry (March 30, 1962).

The Hackensack Record said Greene was vice president of the National Cartoonist Society, and a member of the Newspaper Comics Council. 

The National Cartoonists Society Album 1996 

According to Who Was Who in American Art (1998), Greene studied with artists Henry G. Keller, Oronzio Maldarelli, Peppino Mangravite, Dong Kingman, and others. 

Greene passed away on June 5, 1965, in East Orange, New Jersey. He was a resident of Wyckoff, New Jersey. Greene was laid to rest at Lewisville Cemetery. 

National Cartoonists Society Newsletter 9/1965