Friday, March 22, 2024
Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Bill Freyse
Bill Freyse was born William Henry Freyse on June 12, 1898, in Detroit, Michigan, according to his World War I and II draft cards. His parents, both German immigrants, were William Henry Freyse (changed from August F. W. Freizse which was on an 1881 Michigan marriage record) and Maria Hillebrecht.
The 1900 United States Census counted Freyse as the youngest of five siblings. The family resided in Detroit at 8 McArthur Street. His father was a paint salesman.
In the 1910 census, the Freyse family lived at 192 Theodore Street in Detroit. Freyse graduated from Central High School.
Freyse’s father passed away on February 16, 1913.
The 1918 Detroit city directory listed Freyse as an artist at 192 Theodore.
On September 12, 1918, Freyse signed his World War I draft card. His address was unchanged. His employer was the Leslie-Judge Company which published Leslie’s Weekly and Judge magazines. Freyse was described as tall, slender, with blue eyes and light brown hair.
Freyse’s art training included Federal School courses. He was featured in advertisements and in Federal School publications.
Cartoons Magazine, August 1919
The Federal School News, 1925
The Federal Illustrator, Summer 1926
The 1920 census recorded Freyse and his mother in Detroit at 293 Webb Avenue. He was a newspaper cartoonist.
Freyse’s mother passed away on April 17, 1929.
According to the 1930 census, Freyse was a Detroit resident at 1141 Webb Avenue. He was the district representative of a theater chain.
On July 23, 1930, Freyse and Evelyn H. Schwab were married at Highland Park, Michigan. Their daughter, Lynn, was born on March 24, 1937.
The Catalog of Copyright Entries, Part 4, Works of Art, 1933, New Series, Volume 28, Number 3 had this entry:
Freyse (William Henry)* 5267Movie mad Mazie. © 1 c. Aug. 5, 1933; G 12105.
American Newspaper Comics (2012) said Gene Ahern created the NEA series, Our Boarding House, which debuted on October 3, 1921 and ended on December 22, 1984. Ahern’s last strip was dated March 14, 1936. Wood Cowan did the series beginning on March 15, 1936 into 1936. Bela Zaboly took over in 1936 to 1938. Bill Freyse produced the Sunday in 1939 to April 13, 1969. The following artists were Jim Branagan then Les Carroll. The writers included Gene Ahern, Wood Cowan, Bill Braucher, Tom McCormick, Les Carroll, and Phil Pastoret.
The 1940 census said Freyse and his family lived in Shaker Heights, Ohio at 18717 Winslow Road. In 1935, he resided in Santa Monica, California. Freyse was a cartoonist who had two years of college and earned $5,000 in 1939.
On February 16, 1942, Freyse signed his World War II draft card in Tucson, Arizona where his mailing address was 1000 North Campbell Avenue. He had moved for his wife’s health. His residence address was 17130 Scottsdale, Boulevard, Shaker Heights, Ohio. Freyse’s description was six feet, 172 pounds with blue eyes and blonde hair.
Freyse’s 1950 home was in Tucson at 2803 Via Rolands. He was newspaper syndicate cartoonist. In 1951, his son, Stephen was born.
Freyse was a member of the National Cartoonists Society.
The Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series, Volume 8, Part 1, Number 1, Books and Pamphlets, January-June 1954 had this entry:
Freyse, Bill.Unofficial hysterical facts about old Tucson. Distributed by Tucson News Agency. © William Henry Freyse; 4Jan54; A120622.
Freyse passed away on March 3, 1969, in Tucson. He was laid to rest at East Lawn Palms Cemetery and Mortuary. The Associated Press obituary said
William Freyse who drew the “Boarding House” cartoon panel for 30 years died Monday at a Tucson hospital following a month-long illness. He was 70.Freyse moved to Tucson in the early 1940s because of his wife’s health. He moved from Cleveland Ohio where he had started drawing the cartoon panel. A native of Detroit Freyse joined the Newspaper Enterprise Association in 1939.He began the “Copper Penny” comic strip which later proved unsuccessful. Freyse took over the “Our Boarding” panel when former artist Bela Zaboly took over the “Popeye” strip in Sept. 1939. Freyse’s last daily “Our Boarding House” panel will appear Mar. 15. The Sunday panel will end April 20.His daughter, Mrs. Lynn Borden of Los Angeles Calif., held the title of Miss Arizona in 1958 and later became an actress and fashion model. She played the wife in the television series “Hazel.” Freyse is survived by his widow, Evelyn, a daughter, Mrs. Lynn Borden, and a son, Stephen.
Freyse’s daughter passed away on March 3, 2015. His son lives in Tucson, Arizona.
Editor & Publisher, March 15, 1969, said
Branagan continues ‘Our Boarding House’“Our Boarding House” will be continued by artist James P. Branagan, who worked closely with the late William Freyse, who died just two weeks before he was to announce his retirement and turn the cartoon over to Branagan.The dialogue of Major Hoople and other familiar characters of the Boarding House will continue to be written by Tom McCormack. The feature is distributed by Newspaper Enterprise Association.
Further Reading
The World Encyclopedia of Comics (1976), Bill Freyse
The Encyclopedia of American Comics, Our Boarding House
Together, March 1957, Lynn Freyse
TV Guide, January 29, 1966, Lynn Borden
Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles
