The city of Woodstock has declared Feb. 22 Chester Gould Day to honor the Dick Tracy creator. Chester’s family moved to Woodstock in 1936 where Chester lived until his death in 1985. For those in the Chicago area, a documentary will air on WTTW-Channel 11 called “Chester Gould: An American Original”.
The documentary tells of Gould?s move to Chicago in 1921 with a portfolio and $50 in his pocket.
For 10 years, he sent strip suggestions to the Chicago Tribune. All were rejected until Dick Tracy, originally called ?Plain Clothes Tracy.? Gould received a note back saying, ?Your ?Plain Clothes Tracy? has possibilities,? the comic strip creator recalled in an interview taped before his death and featured in the documentary.
?I broke out in a cold sweat. I got the chills,? he said at the time. ?I just went all to pieces.?