Al Smith (cartoonist)
Encyclopedia
Al Smith was an American
cartoonist
whose work included a long run on the comic strip Mutt and Jeff.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Smith was the art editor for the syndication department of the New York World
from 1920 to 1930. He began working on Bud Fisher
's Mutt and Jeff in 1932. Smith drew Mutt and Jeff for 48 years. When Fisher died in 1954, Smith began signing his own name and continued to draw the strip until 1980 when George Breisacher took over for its final two years.
Smith also drew the strips Rural Delivery and Cicero's Cat, the topper
strip accompanying Mutt and Jeff.
Smith served as president of the National Cartoonists Society
and ran his own syndicate, Al Smith Feature Service. In 1980, he retired to Rutland, Vermont.
He died November 24, 1986.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
whose work included a long run on the comic strip Mutt and Jeff.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Smith was the art editor for the syndication department of the New York World
New York World
The New York World was a newspaper published in New York City from 1860 until 1931. The paper played a major role in the history of American newspapers...
from 1920 to 1930. He began working on Bud Fisher
Bud Fisher
Harry Conway "Bud" Fisher was an American cartoonist who created Mutt and Jeff, the first successful daily comic strip in the United States....
's Mutt and Jeff in 1932. Smith drew Mutt and Jeff for 48 years. When Fisher died in 1954, Smith began signing his own name and continued to draw the strip until 1980 when George Breisacher took over for its final two years.
Smith also drew the strips Rural Delivery and Cicero's Cat, the topper
Topper (comic strip)
A topper in comic strip parlance is a small secondary strip seen along with a larger Sunday strip. In the 1920s and 1930s, leading cartoonists were given full pages in the Sunday comics sections, allowing them to add smaller strips and single-panel cartoons to their page.Toppers usually were drawn...
strip accompanying Mutt and Jeff.
Smith served as president of the National Cartoonists Society
National Cartoonists Society
The National Cartoonists Society is an organization of professional cartoonists in the United States. It presents the National Cartoonists Society Awards. The Society was born in 1946 when groups of cartoonists got together to entertain the troops...
and ran his own syndicate, Al Smith Feature Service. In 1980, he retired to Rutland, Vermont.
He died November 24, 1986.