Reading the Comics

Found in a Time Capsule

Once, many years ago, children read comics. Here's a picture of just such a scene, taken from a book called A Nation of Nations by Louis Adamic (1945). Adults read comics, too, of course, although some may have looked upon comics the way this Greek grandfather seems to be looking at his granddaughter and her curious American habits and tastes. 

That's Dick Tracy on the front page and Little Orphan Annie on the back. Both were syndicated by the Chicago Tribune-New York Daily News Syndicate. The paper says "Sunday News." Maybe the paper is in fact the New York Daily News. An assiduous researcher might even be able to figure out the date. I should point out that Harold Gray, the creator of Little Orphan Annie, though born in Illinois, grew up in Indiana and graduated from Purdue University. Few cartoonists in history have had more words written and spoken of him than Harold Gray.

Photograph by Alexander Alland.

Text copyright 2012, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

In the News-Little Orphan Annie

Little Orphan Annie Comes to an End

Originally posted Sept. 15, 2010
After eighty-six years in the comics, Little Orphan Annie, that indomitable chatterbox with the auburn locks, bid farewell in mid-story on Sunday, June 13, 2010. Annie's creator, Harold Gray, was born on Jan. 20, 1894, in Kankakee, Illinois, but lived in Indiana as a child and graduated from Purdue University in 1917. At its height, Little Orphan Annie appeared in hundreds of newspapers and made Gray one of the most well known (and controversial) cartoonists in America. Gray passed away in 1968. His work has been carried on by a number of artists and writers, most recently Ted Slampyak and Jay Maeder. Annie will go on, just not on the comics page. See the full story on the website of the New York Daily News, here.

Text and captions copyright 2010, 2024 Terence E. Hanley

Little Alpha Annie, Tuesday, August 5, 1924 . . .

And Little Omega Annie, Sunday, June 13, 2010.