Saturday, November 01, 2014

 

Herriman Saturday


Friday, August 28 1908 -- My gosh, it must be a month or more since Herriman did a cartoon ridiculing poor Hen Berry, manager of the Angels. Either Hen had the patience of a saint to take all this mockery, or Herriman was bigger than him. Me, I woulda taken a poke at Garge by now.

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Friday, October 31, 2014

 

Sci-Friday starring Connie


Hmm. Funny how this week's Wonder-land picture of the cosmic accumulator looks totally different from last week's. Is the NSA at work here?

Connie, May 16 1937, courtesy of Cole Johnson. 
Follow the Connie story every Friday here on Stripper's Guide.

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Thursday, October 30, 2014

 

Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: M.F. Neale


Millard Francis Neale was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 13, 1885. The date is from Neale’s North Carolina death certificate. His birthplace was found on his World War I, New York military record and mentioned in his obituary which was published in The Bulletin (Augusta, Georgia), November 29, 1947. However, the death certificate said he was born in St. Mary’s County, Maryland.

Information regarding Neale’s early education and art training was not been found. The 1895 New Jersey State Census recorded Neale as the second of four children born to Frank and Catherine. The family resided in East Orange.

In the 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Neale’s family lived in Manhattan, New York City, at 15 West 22nd Street. His father was a broker and he was a student.

According to the 1905 New York State Census, the family remained in Manhattan but at a different address, 25 Manhattan Avenue. Neale was a clerk.

American Newspaper Comics (2012) said Tootsie and Her Cat, Smilax was Neale’s first comic strip, which ran in the New York World from December 27, 1907 to January 23, 1908. Smilax was followed by Dolly Doo Does Her Dad. The Bulletin said he produced cartoons for Puck and Judge magazines.


New York World, 1/6/1908

In 1910, Neale’s mother, a widow, was head of the household which included all of her children. They lived in Manhattan at 56 West 104th Street. Neale’s occupation was artist.

The Bulletin said:

...Neale attended Spring Hill College [1911–1912], Mobile, Ala., and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md. He was ordained in New York by the late Cardinal Hayes in 1933. 
He was stationed at St. Peter’s Church, Greenville, N.C., and at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh. During the latter appointment he served as secretary to Bishop William Hafey and as vice-chancellor of the Diocese.
Neale’s World War I service began September 27, 1917 at Fort Slocum, New York.

He has not been found in the 1920 and 1930 censuses. Raleigh, North Carolina, city directories for 1934 and 1936 said he lived at 5 North McDowell and was an assistant pastor.

The 1940 census recorded Neale at St. Leo’s Hospital, Summit Avenue, in Greensboro, North Carolina. He was the chaplain.

Neale passed away October 17, 1947, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The cause of death was bronchogenic carcinoma. He was buried at Bonnie Brae Cemetery in Baltimore.

—Alex Jay

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Wednesday, October 29, 2014

 

Obscurity of the Day: Dolly Doo Does Her Dad




Y'know, when I'm confronted with a title like this, it is awfully hard to keep my mind out of the gutter, and make some snide comment about how there was a movie by the same name very popular in the Times Square theatres of the mid-1970s.

I mean, what kind of sicko pervert brain must I have to land there. After all, this lovely little series by M.F. Neale, which ran three times in the New York Evening World from March 12 to April 9 1908, is a model of innocent fun. Here we have daddy and his curiously grown-up looking little girl, no mother anywhere in evidence, and this little darling girl is just doted on by her loving papa. He loves her so much, in fact, that he'll submit to any domination she pleases. In fact, he seems to revel in any humiliation she can think up, including dressing him up like a baby and taking him out in public. Does papa get mad? Of course not. He must keep playing the baby role until his mistress, I mean his daughter, tells him otherwise. What a wonderful docile and well-trained papa. He is a willing and happy slave to her every whim. What a heartwarming example Mr. Neale has given us of innocent familial bliss.

I want to apologize to you, dear readers, for my behavior. I'm a bad boy for having expressed such awful thoughts. I really should be severely dressed down for my transgression. Perhaps even corporal punishment is necessary to set me back on the straight and narrow path ...

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My Great Uncle was Eric Gustav Michelson, who was born in Boston, Mass., in 1893. His parents were from Sweden. He was married to Hester ne Cowan, in Los Angeles in 1919.
As an artist and graphic artist, he studied at the Boston Normal Art School, the Vesper Georges School and studied painting under Hanson Puthuff. He attended Industrial Design under Joe Sinel, Posters under Prof. Glass (Munich) At one time had a permanent exhibit at West Point and New Delhi. He also worked for the Army and I believe the Corps of Engineers.
I'm only listing a partial list of his accomplishments as we are compiling a more comprehensive biography. He died in Paradise, CA in 1977. The family has several of his prints and paintings. My father, Ralph, lived with them after his mother passed. She had four sons, and my dad went to California (From Worcester, Mass)with "Uncle" Eric.
"Rick" Michelson (San Diego)
 
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Tuesday, October 28, 2014

 

Ink-Slinger Profiles by Alex Jay: Gustav Michelson


Gustav Erhard Rudolph Michelson was born in Riga, Latvia, on February 4, 1884. His full name and birth information were found on his World War I and II draft cards and naturalization petition at Ancestry.com. According to the U.S. Federal Censuses, his family emigrated in 1893 and resided near Boston. There is no record of him residing in California. Coincidentally, there was an Eric Gustavus Michelson* (1893–1977) who was born in Boston. He was a designer who moved to California around 1919. Eric G. Michelson was confused with Gustav E.R. Michelson in the book, Artists in California, 1786-1940: L-Z (2002).

In the 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Michelson was the youngest of three sons born to John, a wood carver, and Louisa. The enumerator spelled the family name “Michaelson”. They lived in Arlington, Massachusetts (near Boston) at 301 Massachusetts Avenue. The New York Times, March 8, 1964, said Michelson attended the Boston Latin School. He may have submitted a drawing to the children’s periodical, St. Nicholas, October 1901.

A 1904 Arlington city directory listed Michelson as an artist boarding at 299 Massachusetts Avenue. In the same year, a Boston directory listing had artist Michelson at 76 Summer. He worked in the editorial department, presumably of a newspaper, at 268 Washington, according to the 1905 Boston directory. The Times said he was with the Boston American.

On June 27, 1906, Michelson married Cora Louise Hull in Somerville, Massachusetts, according to a Massachusetts marriage record at Ancestry.com. The 1907 Somerville directory said their address was 110 Boston Avenue. Before the end of the decade, Michelson was a staff artist on The World in New York City; some of his drawings appeared on December 11, 1908; December 17, 1908; December 22, 1908; and December 29, 1908. The World also published his strip Mrs. Neighborly on January 30, 1909 and February 5, 1909.

In 1909 Michelson switched to the Hearst publishing organization. According to American Newspaper Comics, his strip The Wonder Girl’s Diary had a short run from March 11 to May 28 1909.

The 1910 census recorded Michelson and his wife in Brooklyn at 224 88th Street. He was a newspaper artist. The Times said Michelson attended the Art Students League. In the 1915 New York State Census, Michelson had remarried to Kathryn and they had a two-year-old daughter. The family resided in the borough of Queens on Edgewater Place. A 1916 New York city directory listed him in Manhattan at 245 Fort Washington Avenue.




Motor Print 2/1916

Michelson was a regular contributor to a number of magazines including McCall’s (April 1913) and Motor Print: November 1915; December 1915; January 1916; and March 1916.

Hearst used Michelson on the covers of Harper’s Bazar (April 1914 and February 1917), and inside Puck magazine, which it bought in 1917.

Michelson illustrated the book Jinks and Betty which was published in 1916.

On December 13, 1917, Michelson became a naturalized citizen. His address was 677 West 204 Street. The same address was on his World War I draft card which he signed on September 9, 1918. The self-employed artist’s description was medium height and build with gray eyes and brown hair.



Sheet music cover art, 1919

“August E. R. Michelson” was the name recorded in the 1920 census. His wife and three children lived in Queens, New York at 30-32 Gardiner Street. A fourth child was named in the 1925 New York state census. At Ancestry.com, there are Boston city directories, from 1922 to 1930, that list artist “Gustav Michaelson” at “276 E Cottage Dor[chester]”. It’s not clear if this Boston artist was the same New York City artist.

In the 1930 census the family remained in Queens but at a different address, 3634 Gardiner Avenue. Michelson continued as a self-employed artist.

They remained at the same location but the street was renamed Corp Kennedy Street in the 1940 census. The census statistics said he completed two years of high school, and in 1939, worked 26 weeks and earned $1,700. Michelson signed his World War II draft card April 27, 1942.

Michelson passed away March 7, 1964, in Elmhurst, New York. His death was reported in the Times, the next day, and Long Island Star-Journal (Long Island City, New York) on March 9 (below).

Gustav Michelson
Artist 
A requiem mass for Gustav Michelson, 80, of 160-15 7th avenue, Beechhurst, will he offered in the Roman Catholic Church of St. John and Mary in upstate Chappaqua at 11 A. M. tomorrow.
Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Mount Pleasant, N. Y. 
Mr. Michehson died Saturday in City Hospital, Elmhurst.
A native of Boston, he was an artist and illustrator. He attended the Boston Latin School and the Art Students League in Manhattan and had been a courtroom artist with the Boston American, the old Morning World and other newspapers.
A cover artist for leading magazines, he had painted posters of movie stars for several major companies.
Retiring as an illustrator 15 years ago, Mr. Michelson continued to he active as a portrait painter.
He is survived by a son, Theodore, and three daughters. Sheila, JoAnn and Kathleen.
The Edward A. Cassidy Funeral Home of Mount Kisco. N. Y., is in charge of arrangements.

—Alex Jay

**********

*Eric Gustavus Michelson
Selected information from Ancestry.com

Massachusetts, Birth Records, 1840-1915
Erick G Michaelson born June 27, 1893, Boston, Massachusetts
Charles Michaelson, father; Hedvig, mother

1900 United States Federal Census
Eric Michealson, born June 1893 in Massachusetts
Arlington, Massachusetts
Swedish emigrant parents

1910 United States Federal Census
Eric G Michelson, Artist / Designing
26 Granite Street, Worcester, Massachusetts

World War I Draft Card
Eric Gustavus Michelson
26 Granite Street, Worcester, Massachusetts
Draftsman, F.W. Dunbar Company, Boston

1920 United States Federal Census
Eric G Michelson, Designer, Outdoor Advertising
West Pico, Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles City Directory 1920
Eric G Michelson, commercial artist, Foster & Kleiser

1930 United States Federal Census
Eric G Michelson, Designer
Hester, wife
2544 Hermosa Avenue, Montrose, California

1940 United States Federal Census
Eric G Michelson, Draftsman, Airplane Factory
Hester, wife
2544 Hermosa Avenue, Glendale, California

California, Death Index
Eric G Michelson, Social Security #570-14-7743
born June 27, 1893, Massachusetts
died December 1, 1977, Butte County, California

Additional Information

The Worcester Directory 1916
“Michelson Eric G artist bds 26 Granite”

The Worcester Directory 1920
Michelson Eric G rem[oved] to Los Angeles Cal”

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The April 1914 Harper's Bazaar cover linked near the top is quite wonderful...as is the Motor Print...great learning about 'new' artists. Thanks!
 
Nice article on a sadly forgotten talent! Gustav Michelson was responsible for a ton of poster and ad art for the Pathe company throughout the 1920s. This included Mack Sennett posters of Harry Langdon, Ben Turpin, Billy Bevan and others; Hal Roach comedies of Stan Laurel, Charley Chase, Our Gang, Harold Lloyd, and more; as well as Paul Terry's Aesop Fables cartoons and more. When signed, most of his art was simply inscribed "M". Some of his prettiest art was for Laurel & Hardy's "Flying Deuces" of 1939.
 
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Monday, October 27, 2014

 

Stripper's Guide Bookshelf: Retail Year One


Retail Year One: This is so Bogus My Head Hurts!
by Norm Feuti
ISBN 978-1-304-65379-6
Softcover, self-published (available through Lulu), $16.95

It used to be that the publication of a collection of a current comic strip wasn't a particularly newsworthy event. Until the early 2000s, most any comic strip with a decent fan following was available in reprint form at your local bookstore.

Well, with the slow but steady demise of those local bookstores, and the advent of comic strips archived on their syndicate websites, those collections are becoming rarer and rarer.

Of course, being a troglodyte, me wantum comic strips on paper. So I was delighted to find that one of my favorite current strips, Retail, has been given  the reprint book treatment. Unfortunately, creator Norm Feuti apparently never got the call from Andrews-McMeel, which seems to have less interest in comic strip reprints these days, so he had to publish on his own through POD website Lulu.com.

I wonder in this age how many fans of Retail never actually get to see the strip printed on a newspaper page. I know I haven't. I developed a taste for the strip online, even though I really dislike reading comic strips in that milieu. Feuti's strip about a group of Grumbel's department store employees just seems to hit all the right notes. It is just a bit edgy, but nevertheless warm. There are no heroes and villains in his cast, which would be the easy way to play this game. Everyone at Grumbel's is just trying to make their way; some doing a better job than others, some more likeable than others, but no one is labelled BAD or GOOD. Dilbert, another successful workplace strip, takes the opposite tack and makes it work, but that strip is ultimately hitting the same few notes all the time, whereas Retail endeavors to use the whole keyboard. This approach limits the belly-laugh potential, but it makes you care enough about the characters to want to visit with them every day.

This book collects the first year (2006) of the strip, and works as a superb introduction to an excellent feature. Feuti was still finding his way at the time, but the strip was a good one right out of the gate. Not only is the strip funny, but Feuti's polished art is also a delight. It never calls attention to itself, but the spot-on expressions and body language always serve the gags perfectly.

So ignore, please, the awful hackneyed title of this collection (it really is the only klunky part of the whole package) and give Retail a try. If you've ever worked in retail, and who among us has been lucky enough not to, I think you'll become a fan of the strip.

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One of my favorite strips. I hope more follows!
 
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Sunday, October 26, 2014

 

Jim Ivey's Sunday Comics


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Can you believe I've got 30 years in and could retire? My plan is 6 more years and then scoot a chair next to yours!!
 
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