J.P. McEvoy
Encyclopedia
Joseph Patrick McEvoy also sometimes credited as John P. McEvoy or Joseph P. McEvoy, was an American writer whose stories were published during the 1920s and 1930s in popular magazines such as Liberty
, The Saturday Evening Post
and Cosmopolitan
. Many of his stories were adapted to movies during this period, including It's a Gift
(1934) starring W.C. Fields. McEvoy also had a hit play, The Potters (1924), contributed to the Ziegfeld Follies
and wrote a number of novels, including Show Girl (1928) and Hollywood Girl (1929). These two novels were adapted into the movies Show Girl (1928) and Show Girl in Hollywood
(1930), both starring Alice White.
McEvoy is perhaps best known as the creator and writer of the popular newspaper comic strip Dixie Dugan, based on Show Girl, which had been serialized in a national magazine with illustrations by John H. Striebel
, who continued on as the illustrator of the comic strip. With the title character resembling actress Louise Brooks
, the strip was distributed by the McNaught Syndicate
and had a long run from 1929 to 1966.
McEvoy was the originator of the quote often attributed to Mark Twain
: "Whenever the impulse to exercise comes over me, I lie down until it passes away". He also is credited as the originator of the phrase, "Cut to the chase", in 1928.
During the 1940s and 1950s, he was a regular contributor to the Reader's Digest
.
McEvoy had four children: Dorothy and Dennis with his first wife, and Patricia and Margaret with his third wife, New York journalist Margaret Santry.
Liberty (1924-1950)
Liberty was a weekly, general-interest magazine, originally priced at five cents and subtitled, "A Weekly for Everybody." It was launched in 1924 by McCormick-Patterson, the publisher until 1931, when it was taken over by Bernarr Macfadden until 1942. At one time it was said to be "the second...
, The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post is a bimonthly American magazine. It was published weekly under this title from 1897 until 1969, and quarterly and then bimonthly from 1971.-History:...
and Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan (magazine)
Cosmopolitan is an international magazine for women. It was first published in 1886 in the United States as a family magazine, was later transformed into a literary magazine and eventually became a women's magazine in the late 1960s...
. Many of his stories were adapted to movies during this period, including It's a Gift
It's a Gift
It's a Gift is a 1934 comedy film starring W. C. Fields, considered by film historians to be one of Fields' best and funniest films.It concerns the trials and tribulations of a grocery store owner as he battles a shrewish wife, an incompetent assistant, and assorted annoying children, customers,...
(1934) starring W.C. Fields. McEvoy also had a hit play, The Potters (1924), contributed to the Ziegfeld Follies
Ziegfeld Follies
The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air....
and wrote a number of novels, including Show Girl (1928) and Hollywood Girl (1929). These two novels were adapted into the movies Show Girl (1928) and Show Girl in Hollywood
Show Girl in Hollywood
__notoc__Show Girl In Hollywood is a musical comedy/drama film with Technicolor sequences, starring Alice White. It was adapted from the novel Hollywood Girl by J. P. McEvoy.The film only survives in black and white...
(1930), both starring Alice White.
McEvoy is perhaps best known as the creator and writer of the popular newspaper comic strip Dixie Dugan, based on Show Girl, which had been serialized in a national magazine with illustrations by John H. Striebel
John H. Striebel
John H. Striebel was an American illustrator and comic strip artist who was best known for the newspaper strip Dixie Dugan, which was scripted by J. P. McEvoy...
, who continued on as the illustrator of the comic strip. With the title character resembling actress Louise Brooks
Louise Brooks
Mary Louise Brooks , generally known by her stage name Louise Brooks, was an American dancer, model, showgirl and silent film actress, noted for popularizing the bobbed haircut. Brooks is best known for her three feature roles including two G. W...
, the strip was distributed by the McNaught Syndicate
McNaught Syndicate
The McNaught Syndicate was an American newspaper syndicate founded in 1922. It was established by Virgil Venice McNitt and Charles V. McAdam. Its best known contents were the columns by Will Rogers and O. O. McIntyre, the Dear Abby letters section and comic strips, including Joe Palooka and...
and had a long run from 1929 to 1966.
McEvoy was the originator of the quote often attributed to Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
: "Whenever the impulse to exercise comes over me, I lie down until it passes away". He also is credited as the originator of the phrase, "Cut to the chase", in 1928.
During the 1940s and 1950s, he was a regular contributor to the Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
.
McEvoy had four children: Dorothy and Dennis with his first wife, and Patricia and Margaret with his third wife, New York journalist Margaret Santry.
