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Li’l Abner loomed large in cartoon world

Alan Gardner72 mins

The Daily Review has a story about the success and impact of Li’l Abner by Al Capp.

Last Saturday was Sadie Hawkins Day, created by Capp as a role-switching race in which females become the aggressors in the dating game (something unheard of at the time) and which launched a once-a-year series of girl-asks-boy dances all over the U.S. every November.

I can’t recall any other comic strip ever launching a nationwide “day.”

WHEN HE was 9 years old, Al Capp tried to hitch a ride on a trolley car, slipped beneath the wheels and lost a leg. Restricted in his ability to compete in sports, he turned to drawing as a pursuit and became so good at it that 10 years later, at the age of 19, he became the youngest syndicated cartoonist in America.

“Li’l Abner” ended up in newspapers with a circulation exceeding 60 million readers, and in addition to Sadie Hawkins Day launched such best-selling toy icons as the Shmoo and the Kigmy. The strip was so popular that when Li’l Abner finally married Daisy Mae, the wedding made the cover of Life magazine.

7 thoughts on “Li’l Abner loomed large in cartoon world”

  1. TODAY I THOUGHT ABOUT THE LITTLE GUY IN AL CAPP’S LIL ABNER CARTOONS. THE GUY ALWAYS HAD A BLACK CLOUD OVER HIS HEAD WHEREVER HE WENT. FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I CANNOT RECALL HIS NAME, AND EVEN ASKED AROUND TO OTHER OLD-TIMERS. CAN YOU HELP? I THINK HE HAD A DOUBLE NAME. THANKS FOR ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN SUPPLY—IT’S DRIVING ME CRAZY.

    YOURS TRULY,
    PATRICIA FITZPATRICK
    ANGELFITZ@AOL.COM

  2. TODAY I THOUGHT ABOUT THE LITTLE GUY IN AL CAPP’S LIL ABNER CARTOONS. THE GUY ALWAYS HAD A BLACK CLOUD OVER HIS HEAD WHEREVER HE WENT. FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I CANNOT RECALL HIS NAME, AND EVEN ASKED AROUND TO OTHER OLD-TIMERS. CAN YOU HELP? I THINK HE HAD A DOUBLE NAME. THANKS FOR ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN SUPPLY—IT’S DRIVING ME CRAZY.

    YOURS TRULY,
    PATRICIA FITZPATRICK
    ANGELFITZ@AOL.COM

  7. That is a really good tip especially to those fresh to the blogosphere. Simple but very accurate information? Appreciate your sharing this one. A must read article!

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