Stripper's Guide

Here's an interesting one-shot by A.T. "Crite" Crichton that ran in the New York Sunday Journal on May 9 1897. When I first encountered it my reaction was one of horror, thinking that Crite was making some utterly tactless gag about the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine. But then I realized that happened almost a year later, so Crite dodges that bullet. But it's still an odd strip, because Lorenzo, whose rowboat is called "Unkel Sam," is sparring with and destroys a U.S. battleship. If Lorenzo was not a patriotic American (evidenced by the name of his boat) this could be a comment on U.S. - Italian relations, I suppose, but that's just not the case. That got me to wondering if Crite had no intention of having that battleship fly a U.S. flag. Looking very closely at the page, I honestly can't tell for sure whether any of that flag design is by Crite (that is, in black) or if the whole contents of an empty flag were supplied by the Journal's colorist. 

Beyond this insoluble conundrum, a few additional comments. First, this is a very early example of what I'd call a Baron Munchausen gag, one in which someone is evidently relating (in the textual portion) after the fact some patently impossible feat they performed. This theme was later picked up by F.M. Howarth who created the classic Munchausen take-off strip, Old Opie Dilldock's Stories. 

An' anudder t'ing .... probably wearing out my welcome by now, but I also wanted to point out what an amazing bit of cartooning this is -- notice the waves on the sea, how they pitch the boat to and fro, and how Lorenzo's body reacts to that during his lassoing exercise. Crite could have made things much easier on himself by drawing a calm sea, but he opts to stretch his drawing skills and show us what an impressive artist he is.

Labels: One-Shot Wonders

# posted by Allan Holtz @ 7:00 AM 3 comments

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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 National Cartoonists Society Album 1996 

Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles

# posted by Alex Jay @ 7:00 AM 0 comments

Clarence Rigby, one of the main contributors to the World Color Printing Sunday comic section from 1904 to 1911, closed out his association with that company with today's obscurity, Zoo Gossip. And evidently Rigby was already on the hook to another concern that didn't like moonlighters, because on this feature he signed himself Y.B. Gir. Which ya gotta admit, is pretty cute, if not exactly diabolical in its cleverness.

Anyhow, from Jul 10 1910 to April 9 1911* Zoo Gossip tells completely made up fairy tales about how animals got to be the way they are. You know, like how the giraffe got a long neck, that sort of thing. Rigby was a very fine cartooner of animals, so the visuals are great. The stories ... well ... I don't think Mother Goose and Aesop were in any danger of being dethroned as purveyors of this sort of story. 

* Source: Canton Repository

Labels: Obscurities

# posted by Allan Holtz @ 7:00 AM 0 comments

... and a Merry Christmas from Stripper's Guide, too!

Labels: Christmas Strips

# posted by Allan Holtz @ 7:00 AM 0 comments

Labels: Christmas Strips

# posted by Allan Holtz @ 7:00 AM 0 comments