Comic cuts and characters

Press, 27 August 1977, Page 15

Comic cuts and characters

By

ALBERT WATKIN

The English weeklv comic papers, which have abounded this century and reached a circulation peak in the years between the World Wars, had no front cover.

The cover was the first page, the focal point, and much depended on it. In a field which was intensely competitive, an ailing

comic paper could be revived sometimes by the simple means of changing the front-page character.

However, some characters could hardly ever be taken from the front page. They were more important than the comic itself, and there could be no better example than Weary Willie and Tired Tim, who graced the front page of “Chips” for 60 years. They were the creation of one of Britain's leading cartoonists, Thomas Browne

— two lovable tramps, one short and fat, the other tall and thin, who for 60 hilarious years never successfully did a job of any description, were chased by the police, businessmen, housewives, small children, and dogs, and at times chased each other. Quite often they ended an escapade as heroes, and a grateful mayor pinned a medal on to their tattered coats, or better still presented them with a pie, or something else to eat. “Lot ’O Fun,” one of the leading coloured

comics of the Henderson Publishing Co., also plugged the tramp theme in the form of Dreamy Daniel. For years Dreamy Daniel went through a series of heroic, grotesque, weird adventures, with the last picture in the strip always showing him being rudely awakened, in ditches, on the beach, sometimes on the road, preventing a horse and cart from passing.

Dreamy Daniel, never worked, either. He just slept and dreamed. Tramps were a popular theme. The “Joker” gave its spotlight to Alfie, who spent most of his time rendering community service, was an aeronautical marvel in that he was far heavier than his plane was, and also had a pet dog who could fly the plane quite skilfully.

One of the great money spinners of the Amalgamated Press was “Rainbow,” and Mrs Bruin and the Bruin boys held the spotlight there. The undisputed leader of the Bruin Boys was Tiger Tim, and he rapidly became one of the most popular comic characters — so much so that it was considered that a further paper was necessary. Thus "Tiger Tim’s Weekly” was born. The latter, though, never reached the heights of “Rainbow.” Dicky Dough became a frontpage character, and inside

were strips for older readers, such as Pat the Pirate and Len of the Lone Cabin, and some written stories of Tiger Tim and the Bruin Boys. Soon, “Tiger Tim’s Weekly” was amalgamated with '‘Rainbow.” The other big gun in the Amalgated Press’s “coloureds” was “Puck.” The statisticians can tell us that “Rainbow” issued 1898 numbers and “Puck’’ 1867 — both very high on the

list but well short of the “Chips” tally of 2997. “Puck” clung tenaciously to juvenile characters for its front page, Angel and her Merry Playmates tangled frequently with prototypes of the Bruin Boys — minus Tiger Tim, of course. “Puck” was a comic with readers of a wide range of ages, ] and some never stopped to look at the front page. Inside were the adventures of Rob the Rover, the , Trail of Peril, and a written story of Vai Fox, Detective, and his assistants, Mickey the monkey and a talking parrot called Uncle Pat, a trio who solved hundreds of crimes. Among other written stories was the continuing adventures of Rin-Tin-Tin, just breaking into fame on the cinema screen. Two then popular AmalT;

gated Press “coloureds” were “Sunbeam” and “Crackers” (not Cracker). Simple Simon held the spotlight in “Sunbeam” while “Crackers” gave its front page to Wildflower and Little Elf, a charming Red Indian lass and lad. These two had much competition from within, where Terry and Trixie, the Stars of the Circus, ran for years, as did Kitty Clare’s Schooldays, Toni and Tina in Sunny Spain,

and several written stories, including one called “Beyond the Stars,” which looked well ahead of its time. The development of the cinema seemed to lend an impetus to comic paper publishing. As early as 1915 Charlie Chaplin was appearing on the front page of “Funny Wonder,” a paper that went through a bewildering change of titles, such as “Halfpenny Wonder,” “Wonder,” “Wonder and Jester,” “Funny Wonder” and “Jester” until, after 1760 numbers, it ended in 1953. For most of the time Charlie Chaplin held the spotlight, and it is possible that he was just as well known in “Funny Wonder” as he was on the cinema screen. The cinema idea seemed 5"

to be catching on, and in 1920 the A.P. launched its “Film Fun.” In no way would “Funny Wonder” part with Charlie Chaplin, so other characters had to be sorted out — Larry Semon, Mack Swain, Ben Turpin, Slim Summerville, and others were featured. Before long Harold Lloyd fought his way to the front, and Buster Keaton, Lupino Lane, and Jackie Coogan found themselves included. “Film Fun” is best remembered, though, when Laurel and Hardy took over. The backing they received was not particularly strong — George Formby, Abbott and Costello, and, among others, Red Skelton.

Some trouble then developed over the appearance of American film stars in British papers, and so Laurel and Hardy disappeared. There seemed to be little offering in the British film industry. Tony Hancock “assisted (more or less) by his old china Sid James,” took the front spot, along with Terry Thomas and Harry Secombe. Then there were Other modernistic characters who had nothing to do with the film industry. “Film Fun” had started to roll downhill to its eventual demise. When “Film Fun” was intoduced in 1920 it was an instant success, and

within three months a “companion” paper, "Kinema Komic,” had been launched. This was another instant success. Fatty Arbuckle was chosen for the prime spot, accompanied by Louise Fazenda, Chester Conklin, Ford Sterling, Jac!; Cooper, and Polly Moran The famous escapologist, Harry Houdini, was apparently also a bit of a writer, and he wrote weekly of his exploits. All went well with “Kinema Komic” until Fatty Arbuckle became invloved in scandal. This was bad luck in several quarters, but especially for “Kinema Komic,” which dropped him from the paper altogether. Chester Conklin secured the front page and Syd Chaplin, Lloyd Hamilton, Harry Langdon, and Walter Forde were added to the “team.” The paper had not long to live, though, and soon it was amalgamated with “Film Fun.”

Comic papers have always been a fascinating thing, and probably just about everybody “indulged” in them at some time.

Leslie Charteris, creator of the Saint, said recently that his school taught him practically nothing about reading. He taught himself through “Tiny Tots,” “Chicks Own,”- and “Rainbow.”