John Liney
Encyclopedia
John J. Liney was an American cartoonist, who drew the daily Henry comic strip
for 44 years.
Growing up in Philadelphia, Liney attended the George C. Thomas Middle School and South Philadelphia High School. He was working as a cartoonist at the Philadelphia Evening Ledger when he began selling gags to Henrys creator, Carl Thomas Anderson
in 1936. He continued as a gagwriter until 1942, penciling the strip for Anderson from 1942 to 1945. When Anderson became ill, Liney took over the daily strip in 1945.
. He also drew the Henry comic books: Dell's Four Color #122 (October 1946) and #155 (July 1947), followed by 65 issues of Dell's Henry from 1948 to 1961.
Anderson died in 1948 and Liney continued drawing the daily Henry. In 1951, Liney was responsible for guiding the career of illustrator Jerry Pinkney
by encouraging him and showing him his studio. Pinkney recalled, "When I was 12 years old, I was selling newspapers on a busy corner in Philadelphia and John Liney was one of my customers. I realized here was a grown man doing the very same thing I loved doing. I saw the seeds of possibility. I knew if I worked hard, there would be some end to the process."
In 1952, Liney contributed to the USS Iowa's Cruise Book, commenting, "We are both proud and happy to contribute to our bit to your Cruise Book. We salute you and your crew, and will always be available for cartoons or anything else we can offer to the Navy. Thanks for thinking of Henry."
in 1968. He spoke that same year at a National Association of Music Merchants sales-management seminar in Dallas and at the MacMorland Center of Pennsylvania Military College (now Widener University
) in Chester, Pennsylvania
.
Liney's strips were reprinted internationally, including the Swedish Serie-pressen #12 (1972).
Poor health forced Liney to retire in 1979. He was succeeded by Jack Tippit
. The Henry Sunday strip
was drawn by Don Trachte
.
During 1981, Liney was a resident at the Redeemer Village retirement community in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
. He died on January 29, 1982 of a heart condition at the Ridge Crest Convalescent Center in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, survived by his wife Rosa, his daughter Muriel Liney Zerba (who died October 21, 2006) and his sister Ruth O'Connor.
from March 12 to August 29, 2010. The exhibit included "over 210 cartoonists, illustrators, animators, and fine artists who work with the spirit and power of iconographic languages. With creators young and old, historic, currently famous and soon-to-be-famous, the exhibition is also about the community and legacy of iconographic art and its ability to productively influence the world."
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
for 44 years.
Growing up in Philadelphia, Liney attended the George C. Thomas Middle School and South Philadelphia High School. He was working as a cartoonist at the Philadelphia Evening Ledger when he began selling gags to Henrys creator, Carl Thomas Anderson
Carl Thomas Anderson
Carl Thomas Anderson was an American cartoonist best remembered for his comic strip Henry. Readers followed the pantomime adventures of the mute, bald-headed Henry in strips which he signed with his familiar signature displaying an enlarged "S": Carl AnderSon.-Background:Carl Thomas Anderson was...
in 1936. He continued as a gagwriter until 1942, penciling the strip for Anderson from 1942 to 1945. When Anderson became ill, Liney took over the daily strip in 1945.
Comic books
During the 1940s, Liney taught cartooning at Temple UniversityTemple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
. He also drew the Henry comic books: Dell's Four Color #122 (October 1946) and #155 (July 1947), followed by 65 issues of Dell's Henry from 1948 to 1961.
Anderson died in 1948 and Liney continued drawing the daily Henry. In 1951, Liney was responsible for guiding the career of illustrator Jerry Pinkney
Jerry Pinkney
Jerry Pinkney is an American illustrator of children’s books, and winner of the 2010 Caldecott Medal. He has received a Caldecott Honor citation five times, the Coretta Scott King Award five times, four New York Times Best Illustrated Awards , four Gold and four Silver medals from the Society of...
by encouraging him and showing him his studio. Pinkney recalled, "When I was 12 years old, I was selling newspapers on a busy corner in Philadelphia and John Liney was one of my customers. I realized here was a grown man doing the very same thing I loved doing. I saw the seeds of possibility. I knew if I worked hard, there would be some end to the process."
In 1952, Liney contributed to the USS Iowa's Cruise Book, commenting, "We are both proud and happy to contribute to our bit to your Cruise Book. We salute you and your crew, and will always be available for cartoons or anything else we can offer to the Navy. Thanks for thinking of Henry."
Lectures
In 1965, he contributed to The Cartoonist's Cookbook (Hobbs, Dorman & Company, 1966). He sometimes lectured on cartooning, delivering his "What's Funny about the Funnies" talk for the Women's Club of Morgantown, PennsylvaniaMorgantown, Pennsylvania
Morgantown is a populated place in Caernarvon Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with a zip code of 19543. It is at an elevation of 597 ft at 40° 9' 18"N and 75°53' 23"W.-General History:...
in 1968. He spoke that same year at a National Association of Music Merchants sales-management seminar in Dallas and at the MacMorland Center of Pennsylvania Military College (now Widener University
Widener University
Widener University is a private, coeducational university located in Chester, Pennsylvania.Its main campus sits on 108 acres , just southwest of Philadelphia...
) in Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, with a population of 33,972 at the 2010 census. Chester is situated on the Delaware River, between the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware.- History :...
.
Liney's strips were reprinted internationally, including the Swedish Serie-pressen #12 (1972).
Poor health forced Liney to retire in 1979. He was succeeded by Jack Tippit
Jack Tippit
Jack Tippit is an American cartoonist whose work includes the comic strip Amy, which he produced from 1964 through 1991. He received the National Cartoonist Society Newspaper Panel Cartoon Award for the strip for 1970. He also received their Gag Cartoon Award for 1963 and 1966...
. The Henry Sunday strip
Sunday strip
A Sunday strip is a newspaper comic strip format, where comic strips are printed in the Sunday newspaper, usually in a special section called the Sunday comics, and virtually always in color. Some readers called these sections the Sunday funnies...
was drawn by Don Trachte
Don Trachte
Donald Trachte was an American cartoonist. He graduated from Madison, Wisconsin's Central High School, attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison and later served in World War II as a lieutenant....
.
During 1981, Liney was a resident at the Redeemer Village retirement community in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
Huntingdon Valley is a village, as well as a suburban mailing address located in Lower Moreland Township, Upper Moreland and Abington Township all in Montgomery County, and in a small section of Upper Southampton Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania bordering the Fox Chase section of...
. He died on January 29, 1982 of a heart condition at the Ridge Crest Convalescent Center in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, survived by his wife Rosa, his daughter Muriel Liney Zerba (who died October 21, 2006) and his sister Ruth O'Connor.
Exhibitions
Liney's work was included in Keith Mayerson's NeoIntegrity: Comics Edition exhibition at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon ArtMuseum of Comic and Cartoon Art
The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art is an American not-for-profit arts organization devoted to the production and history of comic books, comic strips and other forms of cartoon art. Located at 594 Broadway in New York City, MoCCA was founded by Lawrence Klein in October 2001.In 2007, MoCCA hired...
from March 12 to August 29, 2010. The exhibit included "over 210 cartoonists, illustrators, animators, and fine artists who work with the spirit and power of iconographic languages. With creators young and old, historic, currently famous and soon-to-be-famous, the exhibition is also about the community and legacy of iconographic art and its ability to productively influence the world."