Saturday, December 09, 2023
One Shot Wonders: 7 AM in Bedlam Flats, by Walter Bradford, 1905
Walter Bradford was one of the greatest lunatic cartoonists, which I don't mean as a pejorative in any way. He just came up with totally crazy ideas, took his strips in bizarre directions and came up with unexpectedly out of left field gags. I can't help but believe that if he had ever gotten to New York he would have made just as big a splash as Rube Goldberg. Yeah, he really was that good, in my opinion.
Bradford came to the Philadelphia North American in 1905 and began an incredibly fertile period where he created an amazing string of wacky series. He generally didn't go in for one-shots at the NA, but here's one that might have been in the running to become a series and just never happened. This portrayal of rooming-house life is just bursting with little gags numbering in the dozens, all in a throwaway half-page strip.
This strip ran on Sunday September 3 1905 in the North American, but our version ran the day before in a Saturday issue of the St. Paul Dispatch in glorious black and white.
Labels: One-Shot Wonders
Comments:
Trivium: The lady in the top of the vertical panel is singing "I Can't Do the Sum", a song from Victor Herbert's "Babes in Toyland". That show debuted in 1903 and toured with frequent revivals, and sheet music of the songs must have been on many parlor pianos.
In the original, the song is sung by a schoolgirl up against nonsensical word problems in her homework. In the Disney movie, the lyrics are rewritten for heroine Mary, fretting over her family's bills. Between them came the Laurel and Hardy classic, where the tune sans lyrics served as their characters' theme music.
In the original, the song is sung by a schoolgirl up against nonsensical word problems in her homework. In the Disney movie, the lyrics are rewritten for heroine Mary, fretting over her family's bills. Between them came the Laurel and Hardy classic, where the tune sans lyrics served as their characters' theme music.
For that matter, the sales-lady tickling the ivories is playing the 1904 song "Teasing." You can hear Billy Murray singing it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5KzNJeJEc0
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Friday, December 08, 2023
Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Alden McWilliams
Alden Spurr McWilliams was born on February 2, 1916, in Greenwich, Connecticut, according to his World War II draft card. McWilliams’ parents were John McWilliams and Florence Spurr.
The 1920 United States Census counted McWilliams and his parents in Greenwich. They lived on Parsonage Road near North Street. His father was a chauffeur and mother a musician and teacher.
In the 1930 census, McWilliams, his parents and sister, Faith, resided on Arch Street near Riverside in Greenwich. His father was a chemist at a laboratory and his mother a piano teacher.
McWilliams’ National Cartoonists Society profile said he graduated from the New York School of Fine and Applied Art. The 1937 Greenwich, Connecticut city directory listed McWilliams whose occupation was artist. In the late 1930s his first published work appeared in pulp magazines such as Flying Aces.
McWilliams was one of several artists who worked at Dell Comics, an early entrant in comic book publishing. The art director was Oskar Lebeck. Many of McWilliams’ credits are at the Grand Comics Database and Who’s Who of American Comic Books 1928–1999.
According to the 1940 census, McWilliams lived with his widow mother, sister and maternal grandmother at the same address in Greenwich. He had completed four years of high school and, in 1939, earned $1,100.
On October 16, 1940, McWilliams signed his World War II draft card. He was employed by the Whitman Publishing Company in New York City. McWilliams was described as six feet one inch, 155 pounds, with blue eyes, blonde hair and freckles.
He enlisted on October 1, 1942. At Field Guide to Wild American Pulp Artists, Dave Saunders said
He fought in the Normandy D-Day invasion, for which he received the Bronze Star and French Croix de Guerre.
An obituary in The Comics Journal #158, April 1993 said
He served throughout Europe and was present at the historic meeting of U.S. and Soviet troops on the banks of the Elbe River.
McWilliams’ veteran’s file said he served in the Army from October 15, 1942 to October 30, 1945.
The Daily Item (Port Chester, New York), December 17, 1945, said Ruth Linea Jensen was engaged to McWilliams. Their marriage was reported in the Standard-Star (New Rochelle, New York), April 12, 1946.
Miss Ruth Linea Jensen daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Jensen of Greenwich, Conn. to Alden Spurr McWilliams son of Mrs. John McWilliams of Old Greenwich. The ceremony was performed Monday at the Jensen home and a reception followed at Pickwick Arms, Greenwich, Sunday in the rectory of St. Gabriel’s Church.
The 1950 census counted commercial artist McWilliams, his wife and son, Chris, in Darien, Connecticut at 33 Miles Road.
When Oskar Lebeck left Dell, he and McWilliams sold, in 1952, a science fiction comic strip, Twin Earths, to United Feature Syndicate.
Editor & Publisher, 6/7/1952
American Newspaper Comics (2012) said the strip ran from June 16, 1952 to May 25, 1963. In John Stanley: Giving Life to Little Lulu (2017), Bill Schelly said
… Lebeck scripted it until 1957, when McWilliams assumed scripting duties along with the art.
Twin Earths was featured in Popular Science, January 1953.
McWilliams and writer John Saunders produced Dateline: Danger for Field Enterprises. The strip ran from November 11, 1968 to March 17, 1974. According to American Newspaper Comics, McWilliams assisted on or ghosted many strips including Dan Flagg, Heart of Juliet Jones, Joe Jinks, Kerry Drake, On Stage, Rip Kirby, Secret Agent X-9, and Tim Tyler’s Luck.
McWilliams passed away on March 19, 1993, in Stamford, Connecticut. He was laid to rest at Putnam Cemetery. Obituaries were published in the Stamford Advocate and The New York Times.
Further Reading and Viewing
More Heroes of the Comics (2016)
The Fabulous Fifties, Journalist Porn, A Date With Danger, Flying The Flagg, Dangerous Profession
Heritage Auctions, Twin Earths original art
Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles
Wednesday, December 06, 2023
Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Oskar Lebeck
Oskar Albert August Lebeck was born on August 30, 1903, in Mannheim, Germany, according to his naturalization application and World War II draft card. His full name was on a baptism register which was transcribed at Ancestry.com.
At age 23, Lebeck departed from Hamburg, Germany and arrived in New York City on March 8, 1927.
On December 19, 1927, Lebeck and Ruth Seelig obtained, in Manhattan, marriage license number 35061, and married that day.
The 1930 United States Census counted the couple in Forest Hills, Queens County, New York at 67104 Burns Street. He was a self-employed artist.
The 1933 New York, New York city directory had a listing for Lebeck in the Artists category. His address was 47 East 9th Street, apartment 1.
According to the 1940 census, Lebeck, his wife, daughter Letty, in-laws Karl and Gertrude Seelig, and a maid, resided in Cortlandt, Westchester County, New York at 36 Lexington Drive. Lebeck was an illustrator who had three years of college. In 1939 he earned $5,000.
The Citizen Register (Ossining, New York), December 13, 1941, reported Lebeck’s real estate purchase.
... Oskar Lebeck of New York, art director of the Whitman Publishing Company, has purchased the residence of Mrs. Phillp G. Jessup in Old Post Road. The property includes half an acre of lawns and gardens enclosed by a high stone wall and is improved with a field stone dwelling of nine rooms and three baths with attached garage. Like several other stone houses in the Post oRad [sic] section, both house and boundary lines are overgrown with English ivy and Virginia creeper.The sale was made by Margaret Lane of New York City in cooperation with her Croton associate, Edward H. Briggs. Mr. Lebeck intends to make this his year-round-residence.
On February 14, 1942, Lebeck signed his World War II draft card. His address was 126 Old Post Road in Croton. Lebeck’s employer was Western Printing & Lithograph Company in Poughkeepsie, New York. His description was six feet, 182 pounds, with brown eyes and hair.
At Dell Comics, Lebeck was the art director who worked with Walt Kelly, John Stanley, Jim Chambers, Bill Ely, Alden McWilliams, Dan Noonan, Morris Gollub, Ray Burley and others.
The Citizen Register, July 9, 1945, reported Lebeck’s sailing win.
Lebeck’s “Letty” Takes 1st Place in Wood Pussy Race at ShattemucGuests and members at Shattemuc saw Oscar Lebeck, 126 Old Post Road North, Croton, skipper of the sailboat “Letty,” with his crew, William E. Haley, also of Croton, take first place in the Wood Pussy class, ...
Lebeck’s vacation was noted in the Citizen Register, January 23, 1946.
Mr. and Mrs. Oskar Lebeck, 126 Old Post Rood, North, Croton, are spending an extended vacation in the Virgin Islands, expecting to do a good deal of sailing.
A photograph of Lebeck’s boat (left) appeared in the Citizen Register, July 5, 1946.
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Lebeck has not yet been found in the 1950 census.
The 1950, 1951 and 1952 Poughkeepsie city directories listed K K Publications Inc. and its officers, including Lebeck who was one of three vice-presidents.
After Lebeck left Dell, he and Alden McWilliams sold a science fiction comic strip, Twin Earths, to United Feature Syndicate.
American Newspaper Comics (2012) said the strip ran from June 16, 1952 to May 25, 1963. In John Stanley: Giving Life to Little Lulu (2017), Bill Schelly said
… Lebeck scripted it until 1957, when McWilliams assumed scripting duties along with the art.
Twin Earths was featured in Popular Science, January 1953.
The Citizen Register, September 10, 1954, reported the sale of Lebeck’s property.
… The property at 126 Old Post Road, North, in Croton, formerly owned by Oskar Lebeck, was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Alfred H. Tamarin, formerly of 66 Cleveland Drive, Croton, and New York City.Mr. Tamarin is advertising director at United Artists Corp and Mrs. Tamarin is an M. D. with offices in New York City. She specializes in child psychiatry.The property consists of a seven-room stone colonial on an acre plot with a free-form swimming pool. Featured is a large living room with hand-hewn beamed ceiling, natural stone interior walls, fireplace, two-car garage and a panoramic Hudson River view.The Tamarins have taken occupancy of their home, which will be their permanent residence. The property had been held at $39,500. Mr. and Mrs. Lebeck have purchased land in Scarborough and have recently completed a new ranch house, designed by Mr. Lebeck, and are presently occupying their new home there. ...
At some point Lebeck and his wife moved. They were listed in the 1959 and 1960 Daytona Beach, Florida city directories at 5 Ellsworth Avenue in Ormond Beach. He was an artist.
The couple moved again. The 1961 San Diego, California city directory listed them at 309 1/2 Bon Air. Lebeck was a salesman with Walden H. Staude, a real estate broker. (She was the girls physical education instructor at Scarborough School where Lebeck’s daughter graduated in 1950.) The San Diego Union, December 3, 1961, said Lebeck was a co-owner with Staude’s husband.
Another permit, valued at $36,495, was issued to Gustave G. Staude and Oskar Lebeck, owners, for construction of 10 studio unit apartments at 7443 La Jolla Blvd.
The La Jolla Light, from April 5, 1962 to May 23, 1963, published real estate advertisements with Staude and Lebeck’s names.
The 1962 and 1964 directories said Lebeck’s address was 8368 Paseo del Ocaso in La Jolla. The 1965 directory is not available.
The San Diego Union, April 24, 1965, published Lebeck’s letter to the editor.
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The listing in the 1966 directory said Lebeck was retired and resided at 1316 Park Row in La Jolla.
Lebeck passed away on December 20, 1966, in La Jolla.
Further Reading and Viewing
Maggie Thompson, Oskar Lebeck of Dell’s Golden Age
Mike Barrier, Oskar Lebeck, John Stanley & Friends
A selection of books credited to Lebeck.
Chatterbox
Illustrated by Oskar Lebeck
Whitman Publishing Company, 1935
The Story of Terwilliger Jellico (Jelly for Short)
Oskar Lebeck
Grosset & Dunlap, 1935
Big Animal and Bird Paint Book
Drawings by Oskar Lebeck
Whitman Publishing Company, 1936
Birds, Flowers and Animals Coloring Book
Drawings by Oskar Lebeck
Whitman Publishing Company, 1936
Stop–Go: The Story of Automobile City
Oskar Lebeck
Grosset & Dunlap, 1936
Clemintina the Flying Pig
Story and Pictures by Oskar Lebeck
Grosset & Dunlap, 1939
Wizard of Oz
L. Frank Baum
Adaptation by Herbert F. Juergens
Illustrated by Oskar Lebeck
Grosset & Dunlap, 1939
Hurricane Kids on the Lost Islands
Oskar Lebeck and Gaylord DuBois
Illustrated by William Ely
Whitman Publishing Company, 1941
Rex King of the Deep
Oskar Lebeck and Gaylord DuBois
Illustrated by Alden McWilliams
Whitman Publishing Company, 1941
Stratosphere Jim and His Flying Fortress
Oskar Lebeck and Gaylord DuBois
Illustrated by Alden McWilliams
Whitman Publishing Company, 1941
Alice in Wonderland
Story adapted by Oskar Lebeck
Illustrated by Sheila Beckett
Dell Publishing Company, 1950
If I Were a Cowboy
Oskar Lebeck
Illustrated by Mel Crawford
Dell Publishing Company, 1950
Little Black Sambo
Oskar Lebeck
Illustrated by Tony Rivera
Dell Publishing Company, 1950
Strange Happenings at the Zoo
Oskar Lebeck
Illustrated by Louis Myers
Dell Publishing Company, 1950
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Adapted by Oskar Lebeck
Illustrated by Tony Rivera
Dell Publishing Company, 1950
Teddy B.B.
Oskar Lebeck
Illustrated by Dan Noonan
Dell Publishing Company, 1950
Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles
Monday, December 04, 2023
Obscurity of the Day: A New Worry Every Day
The panel is mentioned in Mortison's obituary, so I assume it ran for a long time, but my only samples are from 1940. Based on the very flimsy evidence I have in my files, I think it might have been a replacement for a cartoon quiz feature Mortison did titled Lester G.'s Kartoon Kwizz, for which I have examples earlier that same year.
Does anyone have access to online archives or the microfilm of this Waterbury paper to fill us in on Mortison's feature, or features?
Labels: Obscurities
Comments:
Some interesting stuff here: apparently, there was an auction of Mortison artwork earlier this year, but the items didn't sell. https://timsauctions.com/auction/220-31st-annual-cabin/lot-298a-carl-l/
There's also a current auction on eBay that appears to show a "New Worry Every Day" panel from some time in the mid to late 1950s. https://www.ebay.com/itm/296073929048
Great catch there; yes, I would agree that's gotta be 50s. We'll call it strong circumstantial proof that the panel ran a very long time in Waterbury.
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Sunday, December 03, 2023
Wish You Were Here, from Alphonse and Gaston
Hey, that's not a postcard! We give a sideways skooch to Wish You Were Here this Sunday to bring you another form of mail communication, an envelope. This envelope from the collection of Mark Johnson was produced as a marketing gimmick specifically for wholesalers/distributors to shill their wares to retailers. To get those marks to pay attention they use (aka steal) the well-known Fred Opper characters Alphonse and Gaston to add eye appeal. Mark says this envelope was used by the William Cluff Company of San Francisco, a grocery wholesaler. The addressee, Winship-McQuarrie, was a wholesaler of produce based in Seattle.
Labels: Wish You Were Here
Comments:
Hello Allan-
It never intrigued me enough to research what those companies were, but I think it shows these were main street small businesses, or they'd have the company printed on the cover. (That's the philatelic term for envelope, for you civilians)
I have seen other, non-authorized blanks with comic characters. Wish I had it, but there's one of Marriner's "Sambo" for a Dunning message, where he cheerfully yells out; " Kindly Make A Noise Lak' a Cheque!"
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It never intrigued me enough to research what those companies were, but I think it shows these were main street small businesses, or they'd have the company printed on the cover. (That's the philatelic term for envelope, for you civilians)
I have seen other, non-authorized blanks with comic characters. Wish I had it, but there's one of Marriner's "Sambo" for a Dunning message, where he cheerfully yells out; " Kindly Make A Noise Lak' a Cheque!"
# posted by 
: 12/04/2023 6:53 PM
: 12/04/2023 6:53 PM 