John Neville Wheeler
Encyclopedia
John Neville "Jack" Wheeler (April 11, 1886-October 13, 1973) was an American newspaperman, publishing executive, magazine editor, and author. He was born in Yonkers, New York
, graduated Columbia University
(which holds a collection of his papers), was a veteran of World War I
serving in France as a field artillery lieutenant, began his newspaper career at the New York Herald
, and became managing editor of Liberty
. He is known primarily as the founder of several newspaper syndicates, of which the largest was the North American Newspaper Alliance
(NANA), and through which he employed some of the most noted writing talents of his day.
. That same year his Wheeler Syndicate contracted with pioneering comic strip artist Bud Fisher
and cartoonist Fontaine Fox
to begin distributing their work. Fisher is reported to have received an annual guarantee of $52,000, an unprecedented amount at that time. Journalist Richard Harding Davis
was sent to Belgium as war correspondent and reported on early battlefield actions, as the Wheeler Syndicate became a comprehensive news collection and distribution operation. In 1916, it was purchased by the McClure Syndicate
, the oldest and largest U.S. news and feature syndicate.
Immediately upon the sale of the Wheeler Syndicate to McClure, Wheeler founded another, the Bell Syndicate
which soon attracted Ring Lardner
, and was joined by cartoonists Fisher and Fox. In 1924, Wheeler became executive editor of Liberty, and served in that capacity while continuing to run Bell Syndicate.
In 1930, he became general manager of NANA, established in 1922 by 50 major newspapers in the United States and Canada which absorbed Bell, both continuing to operate individually under joint ownership. NANA continued to acquire other syndicates, including the McClure Syndicate
. Wheeler's autobiography, I've Got News for You was published in 1961.
By the time he sold NANA in 1966 to the publishing and media company, Koster-Dana, had employed many of the most influential writers of his time, including Grantland Rice
, Joseph Alsop
, Dorothy Thompson
, Pauline Frederick, Sheilah Graham and F. Scott Fitzgerald
. It was Wheeler who hired Ernest Hemingway
to cover the Spanish Civil War
, who inscribed for him a copy of For Whom the Bell Tolls, "To Jack Wheeler, who gave me the chance to go to war."
When he died on October 13, 1973, in Ridgefield
, Connecticut
, at the age of 87, his obituary in the Ridgefield Press described him as one who "never quit newspapering, permanently, until his death."
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, graduated Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
(which holds a collection of his papers), was a veteran of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
serving in France as a field artillery lieutenant, began his newspaper career at the New York Herald
New York Herald
The New York Herald was a large distribution newspaper based in New York City that existed between May 6, 1835, and 1924.-History:The first issue of the paper was published by James Gordon Bennett, Sr., on May 6, 1835. By 1845 it was the most popular and profitable daily newspaper in the UnitedStates...
, and became managing editor of Liberty
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...
. He is known primarily as the founder of several newspaper syndicates, of which the largest was the North American Newspaper Alliance
North American Newspaper Alliance
The North American Newspaper Alliance was a large newspaper syndicate that flourished between 1922 and 1980.Founded by John Neville Wheeler, NANA employed some of the most noted writing talents of its time, including Grantland Rice, Joseph Alsop, Michael Stern, Lothrop Stoddard, Dorothy Thompson,...
(NANA), and through which he employed some of the most noted writing talents of his day.
Wheeler Syndicate
In 1913, while still a sportswriter for the Herald, Wheeler formed the Wheeler Syndicate to specialize in distribution of sports features to newspapers in the United States and CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. That same year his Wheeler Syndicate contracted with pioneering comic strip artist 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....
and cartoonist Fontaine Fox
Fontaine Fox
Fontaine Talbot Fox Jr. was an American cartoonist and illustrator born near Louisville, Kentucky.Fox is best known for writing and illustrating his Toonerville Folks comic panel. It ran from 1913 to 1955 in 250 to 300 newspapers across North America.The cartoons are set in the small town of...
to begin distributing their work. Fisher is reported to have received an annual guarantee of $52,000, an unprecedented amount at that time. Journalist Richard Harding Davis
Richard Harding Davis
Richard Harding Davis was a journalist and writer of fiction and drama, known foremost as the first American war correspondent to cover the Spanish-American War, the Second Boer War, and the First World War. His writing greatly assisted the political career of Theodore Roosevelt and he also played...
was sent to Belgium as war correspondent and reported on early battlefield actions, as the Wheeler Syndicate became a comprehensive news collection and distribution operation. In 1916, it was purchased by the McClure Syndicate
McClure Syndicate
McClure Syndicate , the first American newspaper syndicate, introduced many American and British writers to the masses. Launched in 1884 by publisher Samuel S. McClure, it was the first successful company of its kind...
, the oldest and largest U.S. news and feature syndicate.
Immediately upon the sale of the Wheeler Syndicate to McClure, Wheeler founded another, the Bell Syndicate
Bell Syndicate
The Bell Syndicate, launched in 1916 by editor-publisher John Neville Wheeler, was an American syndicate which distributed columns, fiction, feature articles and comic strips to newspapers for decades...
which soon attracted Ring Lardner
Ring Lardner
Ringgold Wilmer Lardner was an American sports columnist and short story writer best known for his satirical takes on the sports world, marriage, and the theatre.-Personal life:...
, and was joined by cartoonists Fisher and Fox. In 1924, Wheeler became executive editor of Liberty, and served in that capacity while continuing to run Bell Syndicate.
In 1930, he became general manager of NANA, established in 1922 by 50 major newspapers in the United States and Canada which absorbed Bell, both continuing to operate individually under joint ownership. NANA continued to acquire other syndicates, including the McClure Syndicate
McClure Syndicate
McClure Syndicate , the first American newspaper syndicate, introduced many American and British writers to the masses. Launched in 1884 by publisher Samuel S. McClure, it was the first successful company of its kind...
. Wheeler's autobiography, I've Got News for You was published in 1961.
By the time he sold NANA in 1966 to the publishing and media company, Koster-Dana, had employed many of the most influential writers of his time, including Grantland Rice
Grantland Rice
Grantland Rice was an early 20th century American sportswriter known for his elegant prose. His writing was published in newspapers around the country and broadcast on the radio.-Biography:...
, Joseph Alsop
Joseph Alsop
Joseph Wright Alsop V was an American journalist and syndicated newspaper columnist from the 1930s through the 1970s.-Early years:...
, Dorothy Thompson
Dorothy Thompson
Dorothy Thompson was an American journalist and radio broadcaster, who in 1939 was recognized by Time magazine as the second most influential women in America next to Eleanor Roosevelt...
, Pauline Frederick, Sheilah Graham and F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was an American author of novels and short stories, whose works are the paradigm writings of the Jazz Age, a term he coined himself. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Fitzgerald is considered a member of the "Lost...
. It was Wheeler who hired Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
to cover the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, who inscribed for him a copy of For Whom the Bell Tolls, "To Jack Wheeler, who gave me the chance to go to war."
When he died on October 13, 1973, in Ridgefield
Ridgefield
-Places:United States*Ridgefield, Connecticut**Ridgefield Playhouse, a theater located in Ridgefield*Ridgefield, New Jersey*Ridgefield Park, New Jersey*Ridgefield Township, New Jersey*Ridgefield, Washington*Ridgefield Township, Huron County, Ohio...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, at the age of 87, his obituary in the Ridgefield Press described him as one who "never quit newspapering, permanently, until his death."