Saturday, March 30, 2024
One-Shot Wonders: Every Day is April Fools' Day by Archie Gunn, 1897
This is a public service announcement: on Monday beware offers of tinned nuts, requests for you to fetch implausible seeming items, notices of lottery winnings, and check mirrors often for "Kick Me" signs on your back.
Here we have Archie Gunn's take on April Fools Day, seen through his bread-and-butter lens of the pretty girl cartoon. And he certainly did a nice job on this New York Journal funnies section cover. I also love these early Journal covers for their contributor lists (see upper left), giving pride of place to the Journal's impressive bullpen of writers and cartoonists.
Labels: One-Shot Wonders
Friday, March 29, 2024
Obscurity of the Day: Digby
To Golden age comic book fans the name Harry Lampert is well-known. Although he did not spend a great deal of time toiling in the comic book bullpens, he happened to be paired up with Gardner Fox to create a new superhero, The Flash, in 1940 for DC Comics. Of course, as was typical of those times, Lampert received no financial bonanza for a creation that would make DC Comics untold millions of dollars, and he went on with his life unchanged.
Lampert preferred doing humor work, and so he then gravitated toward magazine gag cartooning, and also got into instruction and had an ad agency during his later career. What many of us fans remember, though, was how Lampert spent his retirement years. Harry and his wife started appearing at comic book conventions in the 1970s and he was a big hit with the fans because for a certified legend he was very gosh-darn friendly and approachable. We fans eagerly paid him back for his friendliness; he sold a LOT of badly drawn sketches of The Flash at those conventions, including to me. I don't know if Jim Ivey's OrlandoCons were his first experience of being a convention guest, but I very well remember that he absolutely revelled in them.
As far as I know Lampert never let on that he had a newspaper strip series, but if he did it would have made for a pretty funny story (or sad, but Lampert was too positive a fellow to see it that way). Lampert created the strip Digby, a strip about a teenage boy, in 1949. It was basically just a me-too affair, with no obvious originality over Archie, Harold Teen and their ilk. Well, I say it didn't exhibit any originality in concept, but in fairness the strip didn't last long enough for Lampert to do much with it.
How long? Well, Digby debuted in the New York Star on January 23 1949*. And that was a really bad time to be hitching your wagon to that particular Star, because the paper went belly up on January 28. So Lampert's strip came and went in exactly six days. As far as I know, Lampert did not succeed in selling it anywhere else. The New York Compass, debuting a few months later, was considered essentially the resurrection of the Star, but alas, Harry's strip was not revived therein.
* The New York Star bucked normal newspaper practice by publishing their 'daily' paper Sunday through Friday, issuing no paper on Saturdays.
Labels: Obscurities
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Jay V. Jay, Part 3: Jeannette Kiekintveld
“Modish Mitzi,” the clever fashion strip ... is the work of three New York girls—two fashion writers and an artist. They are Laura Johnson, who is the artist; and Virginia Vincent and Jeannette Kiekintveld who divide the task of gathering information, working out ideas and writing the stories. “Jay V. Jay” is their triple signature.
Jeannette Maud Kiekintveld was born on July 3, 1895, in Holland, Michigan. Her parents were Henry William Kiekintveld and Maude Powers. Kiekintveld was baptized on December 8, 1895 at the Hope Church in Holland.
The 1900 United States Census recorded Kiekintveld, her parents and younger brother, Chester, at 11 West 14th Street in Holland. Her father was a bookstore merchant.
According to the 1910 census, Kiekintveld’s father was a widower. She, her father and younger sister, Gertrude, resided in Lansing, Michigan at 109 Jones Street.
Kiekintveld attended the University of Michigan. In 1917 and 1918, Kiekintveld was mentioned in The Michigan Alumnus, April 1917, and contributed to The Gargoyle, October 1917; The Inlander, November 1917 and February 1918.
Kiekintveld graduated in 1918.
“Jeanette Kiekintwelt” [sic],
The 1920 census counted Kiekintveld in Detroit, Michigan at 164 Charlotte Avenue. She was an advertising writer at a department store.
Kiekintveld’s translations were published in Poet Lore, Autumn 1920.
The Michigan Chimes, January 1921, published Kiekintveld’s article, “Advertising—A Field for Women”.
The Michigan Alumnus, January 12, 1922, said
Jeannette Kiekintveld, ’18, has left the Advertising office of the J. L. Hudson Co., of Detroit, and is Advertising Manager for the D. J. Healy Shops of Detroit.
The University of Michigan Catalogue of Graduates, Non-Graduates, Officers, and Members of the Faculties, 1837–1921 (1923) had an entry for Kiekintveld.
College of Literature, Science and the Arts 1918 GraduatesJeannette Maud Kiekintveld, A.B. Advertising writer and newspaper writer. In Publicity Dept., McCall Co. 236 W. 37th St., New York, N.Y.
American Newspaper Comics (2012) said Modish Mitzi began on November 19, 1923 from the George Matthew Adams Service. Writers Kiekintveld and Virginia Vincent, and artist Laura Johnson were profiled in many newspapers including the Paris Morning News (Texas), March 2, 1924, and the Oakland Tribune (California), August 13, 1926. The trio were included in their syndicate’s advertisement published in Editor & Publisher, August 25, 1928.
.jpg)
Muskogee Daily Phoenix (OK) 10/23/1923
.jpg)
Muskogee Daily Phoenix (OK) 10/26/1923
In the 1925 New York State Census, Kiekintveld lived in Manhattan at 141 East 44th Street. She worked in advertising.
The Michigan Alumnus, January 9, 1926, said
Jeannette Kiekintveld, ’18, is living at 141 West [sic] 44th Street, New York City. She is well known as one of the three creators of “Modish Mitzi,” a newspaper fashion strip.
Kiekintveldt was aboard the steamship Transylvania when it arrived in New York on August 16, 1926. The ship had departed Glasgow, Scotland.
On July 21, 1927, “Kiekintveldt” and Leo Moser obtained, in Manhattan, marriage license number 20260. They married on July 30, 1927. Both of them resided at 15 West 9th Street where Virginia Vincent, a witness, had lived.
Kiekintveld has not yet been found in the 1930 census.
Kiekintveld was mentioned in the column “Lights of New York” as seen in the Evening Recorder (Amsterdam, New York), February 17, 1937.
... Jeannette Moser, who used to be a newspaper woman once herself ... But who is now advertising director of one of Fifth Avenue’s largest stores ...
The Evening Star (Washington DC), March 24, 1937, published the column “Answers to Questions” which said
Q. Please name some women who are prominent in the advertising business.—E.R.M.A. Such a list would include Katherine Fisher, director of Good Housekeeping Institute; Mary Lewis of Best & Company; Bernice Fitzgibbon, Wanamaker’s; Margaret Fishback, R. H. Macy; Hildegarde Dolson, Franklin Simon; Jeanette Moser, Stern’s; Pegeen Fitzgerald, McCreery; Mary Moore, Namm’s; Wilma Libman, Gimbel’s, and Virginia Shook, Lord & Taylor.
Kiekintveld’s address in the 1940 census was 353 East 53rd Street in Manhattan. She was a manager who earned $5,000 in 1939.
On April 27, 1942, Kiekintveld’s husband signed his World War II draft card. He lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 5861 Willows Avenue. She was in New York City at 156 East 55th Street.
The New York Evening Post, January 10, 1945 said
Mrs. Moser Gets New PostMrs. Jeanette Moser, advertising manager of Bloomingdale’s for the last six years, has been appointed sales-promotion director of the store, effective Feb. 1. It was announced today by James S. Schoff, president. She will assume her new duties when Ira Hirschmann, a vice president, transfers his activities to the radio and television operations of Federated Department Stores, Inc.
The New York Sun, January 10, 1945 said
Mrs. Jeannette Moser, advertising manager of Bloomingdale’s for the last six years, has been appointed to the newly created post of sales promotion director. She will assume her new duties on February 1, when Ira Hirschman, a vice-president, transfers his activities to FM radio and television for Federated Department Stores, Inc.
An article about advertising and department stores, in the Daily Sentinel (Rome, New York), September 5, 1947, said
... Bloomingdale’s sales promotion director, gray-eyed Mrs. Jeanette Moser, is known as “a diplomat, a good listener, a wonderful person to carry your troubles to.” Co-workers say the day she took her present job, she propped her officer door open and has not closed it since, except during crises. Mrs. Moeser [sic] is a former Detroit reporter who turned to department store advertising. …
The Evening Leader, (Corning, New York), October 10, 1947, published Alice Hughes’ column “A Woman’s New York” that said
Bustles Barge In snd Out of Style Every 50 YearsI don’t like to say “I told you so,” but—I have before me a column I wrote for the N. Y. World Telegram, August 21, 1933, an interview with Mrs. Jeanette Moser, then and still advertising director of a big N. Y. department store. Mrs. Moser sends me this column which reads: “Maybe we are approaching mid-century madness,” suggests Mrs. Jeanette Moser, seeking to explain why the fashion world, though believing itself in an era of practical people, vertical buildings and simpler styles suddenly finds Itself in the midst of billowing skirts, padded bosoms and rounded hips.“It’s not the Mae West influence; it’s the turn of the half-century,” continued Mrs. Moser. For several centuries, as French and English women approached the 50’s of their century, they draped themselves in hippy hoops and bustles. Our own pre-Civil War belles extended in every direction as far as whalebone could carry them. Other women who minced toward the middle of their century gripped by a wasp waistline and waddling in bell-shaped skirts were Queen Elizabeth, Empress Eugenie and Marquise de Pomadour. Centennially, bulges barge into fashion and barge out again.”Those 14-year-old words might easily be describing today. It’s certainly true that the clothes in style today have little relation to the times in which we live. And the turn-of-the-mid-century theory is borne out by history. We’re nearing the 1950 mark. The century is tiered [sic] of thinking up new styles. Why not pull the old ones out again? There are certain hazards that come with long skirts, but they’re not serious. Not so trifling is the wasp waist. Loyal Wolfe, manager of a national corset firm, says that wasp-waist corseting is detrimental to the health of women and nullifies the progress of the corset industry. A smallish waist, yes. But a waspish waist, one that your husband has to help you lace—no! Who wants to be a waist pincher?
The Chicago Sun-Times, October 10, 1948, said
Jeanette Moser has been appointed promotion director of Mandel Brothers, Chicago, it is announced by Col. Leon Mandel, president.From 1939 to 1948 Mrs. Moser was with Bloomingdale’s, New York City, first as advertising manager, later as sales promotion director.
Kiekintveld passed away on October 18, 1949, in Willcox, Arizona. Her death certificate, at Ancestry.com, said the cause was hypernephroma. At the time, her home was in Chicago at 1439 North State Parkway. Information about her was provided by her brother Chester.
Obituaries were published on October 21, 1949. The New York Daily News said
Mrs. Jeanette MoserAdvertising leaderWilcox [sic], Ariz., Oct. 20.—Mrs. Jeanette Moser, 53, for many years a leader in retail advertising circles, died here yesterday. From 1932 to 1939 she was advertising manager of Saks Fifth Ave., in New York City. She then became advertising manager of Bloomingdale’s and from 1946 to 1948 was promotion director of that store.
The New York Times said
Mrs. Jeanette MoserMrs. J. Moser, Known in Advertising Field.Mrs. Jeanette Kiekenfeldt [sic] Moser, who was well known in retail advertising circles, died Wednesday in Wilcox [sic], Ariz., at the home of her brother-in-law, Dr. Robert Hicks, according to word received here yesterday.Mrs. Moser was advertising manager of Saks Fifth Avenue from 1932 to 1939, when she took a similar post at Bloomingdale’s, where she was promotion director from 1946 to 1948. For the last year she was sales promotion director and a member of the executive board of Mandel Brothers in Chicago.Mrs. Moser, who was graduated from the University of Michigan, had been a feature writer for The Detroit Free press. Afterward she came to New York to work on the editorial staff of McCall’s magazine and write a syndicated newspaper feature.Surviving are a son, Alan, a student at the University of Kansas, and a brother, Chester Kiekenfeldt of Grand Rapids, Mich.
Kiekintveld was laid to rest at Sunset Cemetery.
Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Jay V. Jay, Part 2: Virginia Vincent
“Modish Mitzi,” the clever fashion strip ... is the work of three New York girls—two fashion writers and an artist. They are Laura Johnson, who is the artist; and Virginia Vincent and Jeannette Kiekintveld who divide the task of gathering information, working out ideas and writing the stories. “Jay V. Jay” is their triple signature.
Virginia Vincent was born on July 22, 1897 in Newark, New Jersey, according to passenger lists at Ancestry.com.
In the 1900 United States Census, Vincent was the youngest of five children born to Gibson and Albina who was born in England. The family were residents of Boonton, New Jersey on Reserve Street.
The 1905 New York state census said the Vincent family was in Manhattan, New York City, at 356 West 145th Street. Her father was a clothier.
The 1910 census counted Vincent and her family in Manhattan at 413 West 147th Street. Her father was a clothing merchant.
According to the 1920 census, newspaper writer Vincent and her older sister, Emily, made their home at 15 West 4th Street in Manhattan.
In 1922, Vincent visited Europe. Aboard the steamship Berengaria, she sailed from Cherbourg, France and arrived at the port of New York on September 20, 1922.
American Newspaper Comics (2012) said Modish Mitzi began on November 19, 1923 from the George Matthew Adams Service. Writers Jeannette Kiekintveld and Vincent, and artist Laura Johnson were profiled in many newspapers including the Paris Morning News (Texas), March 2, 1924, and the Oakland Tribune (California), August 13, 1926. The trio were included in their syndicate’s advertisement published in Editor & Publisher, August 25, 1928.
Muskogee Daily Phoenix (OK) 10/23/1923
.jpg)
Muskogee Daily Phoenix (OK) 10/25/1923
The 1925 New York state census counted Vincent twice; she lived at 15 West 9th Street, in Manhattan, and was a fashion editor on one sheet and an advertising copywriter on another.
Vincent visited Europe again. From Le Havre, France, she sailed on the steamship Paris and arrived in New York on June 1, 1927.
On July 30, 1927, Vincent witnessed the marriage of Jeannette Kiekintveld to Leo de Courie Moser.
Printers’ Ink, July 1, 1929, said
Biow Agency Increases Staff... Miss Virginia Vincent, formerly with the advertising department of Best Co., and recently with R. H. Macy & Co., has joined the copy department of this agency. ...
Vincent has not yet been found in the 1930 census.
Vincent was mentioned in Ladies’ Home Journal, May 1930.
... A strange deviation from the usual is the comic fashion cartoon Modish Mitzi, edited by Virginia Vincent. It is one of the few humorous cartoon features in which a woman has achieved success. ...
Vincent contributed to Screenland magazine: “Famous Figures”, “Our Cosmetic Urge” and “Hair-Raising Hollywood”.
The New York Evening Post, April 22, 1931, mentioned, I believe erroneously, Vincent as an artist.
Dorothy Dix Guest of Honor at TeaEditors, Publishers, News Writers Invited to Hotel Pennsylvania Fete TodayMrs. Elizabeth Meriwether Gilmer, who is Dorothy Dix to newspaper readers all over the country, will be the guest of honor this afternoon at a tea given for her by the Ledger Syndicate in the Hotel Pennsylvania at 5 o’clock. ...... On the receiving line will be several of Mrs. Gilmer’s fellow contributors to the syndicate, including Ruth Stuyvesant, fashion writer for the Evening Post and other newspapers. Dr. Jane Leslie Kist, garden expert; Lois Leeds, beauty expert; Nancy Carey, homemaking expert; Vivian Shirley, special news writer; Charlotte Brewster Jordan, authority on correct English; Helen Docie writer on etiquette, and Virginia Vincent, fashion artist. ...
Beginning in 1932, Vincent produced the column, Minute Make-Ups, for the Ledger Syndicate. In 1934, Vincent added the beauty column, You Can Be Beautiful.
In the 1940 census, Vincent’s address was 15 West 9th Street in Manhattan. Her occupation was publicity in the advertising field. She had one year of college and, in 1939, earned $4,500.
In early 1945 Vincent was appointed beauty editor of the Ideal Women’s Group. Announcements appeared in The American Perfumer and Essential Oil Review, January 1945; Printer’s Ink, January 12, 1945; and Sales Management, February 1, 1945.
Printer’s Ink, June 1, 1945, printed a photograph of Vincent with actress Virginia Mayo.
Writer’s Digest, March 1946, said Vincent joined the staff of Deb magazine.
Additional information about Vincent has not been found. She should not be confused with actress Virginia Vincent.
Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles
Monday, March 25, 2024
Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Jay V. Jay, Part 1: Laura Johnson
“Modish Mitzi,” the clever fashion strip ... is the work of three New York girls—two fashion writers and an artist. They are Laura Johnson, who is the artist; and Virginia Vincent and Jeannette Kiekintveld who divide the task of gathering information, working out ideas and writing the stories. “Jay V. Jay” is their triple signature.
Laura Johnson was born March 1894 in New York according to the 1900 United States Census. Her parents were Sinclair, a civil engineer, and Sarah. Johnson was the second of four sisters. The family resided in Franklin, New Jersey on Prospect Street.
The 1905 New Jersey state census and 1910 census counted Johnson, her parents and four siblings in Montclair, New Jersey at 127 Gates Avenue.
According to the 1915 New Jersey state census, the Johnson family were Montclair residents at 28 Montclair Avenue. Johnson’s occupation was artist. Information about her art training has not been found.
In the 1920 census, Johnson was the head of the household which included her four sisters. Johnson was a self-employed fashion artist. The sisters lived in East Orange, New Jersey at 35 Shepard Avenue.
1926
American Newspaper Comics (2012) said Modish Mitzi began on November 19, 1923 from the George Matthew Adams Service. Writers Jeannette Kiekintveld and Virginia Vincent, and artist Johnson were profiled in many newspapers including the Paris Morning News (Texas), March 2, 1924, and the Oakland Tribune (California), August 13, 1926. The trio were included in their syndicate’s advertisement published in Editor & Publisher, August 25, 1928.
.jpg)
Muskogee Daily Phoenix (OK) 10/23/1923
.jpg)
Muskogee Daily Phoenix (OK) 10/24/1923
Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office, December 16, 1924, published a trademark application for Modish Mitzi.
Editor & Publisher, 12/19/1925
Advertising Arts and Crafts (1928)
Editor and Publisher, 1/10/1931
The 1930 census said Johnson, as Laura J. Murphy, was a widow and freelance artist who lived in East Orange, New Jersey at 67 South Munn Avenue. Her husband was J. Donald Murphy.
In the 1940 census, Johnson, as Laura Mitchell, moved to New York City after 1935. Her address was 25 Prospect Place. Johnson was a freelance commercial artist whose highest level of education was the fourth year of high school. The census said she was 30 years old at her first marriage. Information about her second marriage has not been found. Living with Johnson was her sister, Helen, a fashion artist.
Johnson has not yet been found in the 1950 census.
Editor & Publisher, October 15, 1960 mentioned Johnson.
‘Katy’s Kitchen’ Goes Foreign, TooClaire Barcher Ackerman, Salisbury, Conn., has signed a three-year contract with another three-year option with the United Overseas Press Syndicate for foreign distribution of her strip, “Katy’s Kitchen,” under byline of “Country Gourmet.”The art work on the strip is by Laura J. Mitchell, creator of “Modish Mitzi,” a style strip which formerly was syndicated by the George Matthew Adams Service and later by the Ledger Syndicate, Philadelphia, for 15 years. Mrs. Ackerman writes the plot and the selected, tested recipes for unusual American and foreign dishes.
Additional information about Johnson has not been found.
The Social Security Death Index said Johnson, as Laura Mitchell, was born on March 12, 1894 and obtained a Social Security number in New Jersey. Find a Grave said she passed away on February 11, 1978, and was laid to rest with her first husband at Mount Hebron Cemetery.
Labels: Ink-Slinger Profiles
Sunday, March 24, 2024
Wish You Were Here, from F.M. Howarth
Another card from the 1906 Hearst hidden picture series of freebies, this one featuring Howarth's characters, Lulu and Leander. Can't help but think that the big reveal would have been slightly more surprising if that banana peel had been part of the hidden portion of the card.
Labels: Wish You Were Here
Comments:
Very seldom, it would seem, did they suss out gags that would work the "Surprise" element very well.
# posted by 
: 3/24/2024 4:55 PM
: 3/24/2024 4:55 PM
I'm grateful for the wisdom and inspiration your blog provides. Share your feedback and suggestions for Aviator on our blog platform.
Post a Comment
