Winsor McCay lecture to be held at Library of Congress
According to the ComicsDC blog, Swann Foundation Fellow Katherine Roeder will give a lecture at the Library of Congress on…
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Today marks the death of Thomas Nast 104 years ago
Today in cartoon history marks the death of Thomas Nast, who is best known for his cartoons regarding Boss Tweed…
This day in history (Updated)
Here’s your comic history trivia question of the day: When was the first time that Lucy Van Pelt held a…
Andy Capp statue might be coming to Hartlepool England
Citizens of North Hartlepool England will be lobbied for a statue to commemorate cartoon strip character Andy Capp this month. The North Hartlepool Partnership will be leafletting door to door to gauge public interest and if it exists, the partnership will ask the Daily Mirror – where Andy Capp was first published back in 1957 – and ask for a sizable donation. The project has been discussed for several years, but has not gained enough momentum to bring it to realization.
Candorville and Bill Mauldin books announced
Firstly, Darrin Bell’s Candorville will come out with its second collection this September…. The book is published through Andrews McMeel and can be pre-ordered through amazon.comSecondly, Bill Mauldin, a pulitzer prize winning editorial cartoonist and often best remembered for his cartoon characters of Joe and Willie during World War II, will have a series of books published by Fantagraphic according to Editor and Publisher (who cites the Comics Reporter).
Herblock exhibit opens at Library Of Congress
The venerable Herbert Block, best known as Herblock will have his own exhibit with the Library of Congress. The exhibit that opens today is small but only a preview of a much larger exhibit that will open up in 2009 to commemorate his 100th birthday.
DailyINK adds five more vintage comics
King Feature’s DailyINK has added five more comics to their list of features subscribers can subscribers to. The new features are: Beetle Bailey, Bringing up Father, Buz Sawyer, Flash Gordon, and Rip Kirby.
1936 Gallup Poll shows comics more popular than front page news
Over on Arnold Wagner’s blog, he has an interesting clip out of a Gallup poll from 1936.
OSU Cartoon Research Library acquires original Winsor McCay work
Winsor McCay is best known for his “Little Nemo in Slumberland,” but he did have a comic strip before that called “Tales of the Jungle Imps.” The Ohio State University Cartoon Research Library has acquired original McCay hand-colored drawings from that first strip and are now undergoing conservation treatment before going on display to the public starting June 15 through August 31st.
Jeff MacNelly exhibit of Sculpture
From Jim Borgman’s blog comes this pointer to an art exhibit in Virginia that is showcasing Jeff MacNelly’s sculptures that runs May 6th through the 28th in Washington VA. Visit Jim’s blog for more details.You can see some of the artwork online.
Walt Kelly’s ‘Our Gang’ collection released
Before Walt Kelly created the famous and influential “Pogo” he worked for Dell publishing which created comic books based on licensed properties. Fanatagraphic books has released a collection of “Our Gang” – a 59 issue run comic book in which Walt wrote nearly 100 story-lines.
Lynn Johnston receives Special Award of Merit
According to Lynn Johnston’s web site, the “For Better or For Worse” creator was recently honored by the Purina Animal Hall of Fame during a induction ceremony in Toronto…. Lynn and her dog character “Farley” received the special award for “chronicling the bond between people and their pets.”
Milton Caniff to be subject of 2007 Festival of Cartoon Art
This year’s festival will focus on the work of Milton Caniff.From the OSU’s web site:Milton Caniff, known as the “Rembrandt of the Comic Strip” for his work on Terry and the Pirates, Male Call, and Steve Canyon, is one of the most honored cartoonists in history, with awards ranging from two Cartoonist of the Year “Reuben” awards from his peers in the National Cartoonists Society, to the Exceptional Service Award of the United States Air Force. A May 19, 1947 Newsweek cover story about Caniff estimated that the daily readership of Steve Canyon was thirty million people worldwide.Caniff is especially noted for his accurate background research and excellent writing; for his innovative use of graphic techniques in his comic strips; for his unusual public service, especially to the United States Air Force; and for his professional leadership in founding the National Cartoonists Society and the Newspaper Features Council (later named the Newspaper Features Council).Terry and the Pirates provided the vehicle for Caniff’s maturation both as an artist and as a storyteller.
Bil Keane’s Other Big Success
Before Bil Keane made it big with “Family Circus” he had another big hit called “Channel Chuckles” which was a daily cartoon focused on television gags that would run next to the tv listings which were becoming a popular new feature in the newspaper (this is 1954). There are a online exhibit of “Channel Chuckles” on Bil’s web site.Go read Allan Holtz’s Strippers Guide blog for more information.
Actor Gary Cooper was a cartoonist?
I enjoy reading the Stripper’s Guide – a blog focused on comic strip history maintained by historian Allan Holtz. One…