Original Medium: Newspaper comics
Distributed by: Chicago Tribune Syndicate
First Appeared: 1917
Creator: Sidney Smith
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The basic idea for Andy and his family was supplied by Captain Joseph M. Patterson, the Chicago Tribune editor/publisher whose many contributions to the world of comics include "Moon Mullins", "Winnie Winkle" and "Little Orphan Annie". He envisioned a domestic comedy strip about ordinary people - not too bright, not too rich, not too good-looking - and their ordinary adventures. He even came up with the name, "The Gumps", 'gump' being a term he used for a member of the Uneducated Masses. He hired cartoonist Sidney Smith, to write and draw the strip, which began on February 12, 1917. "The Gumps" began as a daily strip in 1917 and as a Sunday feature in 1919 - and Andy and his gang went on to become some of the most popular characters of the '20s. And the '30s. And the '40s. In fact, The Gumps lasted in the strips until 1959, and had plenty of comic books, a radio series, toys, games, sheet music, and even an animated cartoon along the way. Andy ran for Congress in 1922, and for President in practically every election from 1924 until the strip ended in 1959. |