McClure Syndicate
Encyclopedia
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. It turned the marketing of comic strip
s, columnist
s, book serials and other editorial matter into a large industry, and a century later, 300 syndicates were distributing 10,000 features with combined sales of $100 million a year.
In 1886, McClure's college friend, John Sanborn Phillips, joined the Syndicate, and his cousin, Henry Herbert McClure, was also on the staff. Samuel McClure's brother, Robert McClure, was in charge of the London office. Allen Sangree
had a position with the McClure Syndicate in 1892.
.
, who drew Herr Spiegelberger, the Amateur Cracksman beginning in 1903. In 1916, McClure purchased the Wheeler Syndicate from John Neville Wheeler
. Another early comic strip artist with McClure was Percy Crosby
. Commissioned a second lieutenant in the Officer Reserve Corps in 1916 and being called to active service the following year, Crosby was in training at a camp in Plattsburgh, New York. While in training, Crosby created a daily comic panel, That Rookie from the Thirteenth Squad, for the McClure Syndicate, writing and drawing it from the front in France while serving as a first lieutenant in the 77th Division, AEF. The panel was collected into his first two books, That Rookie of the Thirteenth Squad (1917) and Between Shots (1919).
In 1930, Harold Matson was an editor with the McClure Syndicate, and Sheldon Mayer
also joined the Syndicate as an editor in 1936. Some the McClure strips were reprinted during the 1930s in Funnies on Parade
. In addition to comic strips and feature articles, McClure also syndicated books and stories. In 1938, Theodore Sturgeon
sold his first story to the McClure Syndicate, which bought many of his early, mainstream stories before he became known for his science fiction.
In the late 1930s, the company was located at 75 West Street in New York City. In 1952, it was sold to the Bell Syndicate-North American Newspaper Alliance group.
S. S. McClure
Samuel Sidney McClure was a key figure in muckraking journalism.-Biography:He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and emigrated with his widowed mother to Indiana when he was nine years old. He grew up nearly impoverished on a farm and graduated from Valparaiso High School in 1875...
, it was the first successful company of its kind. It turned the marketing of comic strip
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....
s, columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
s, book serials and other editorial matter into a large industry, and a century later, 300 syndicates were distributing 10,000 features with combined sales of $100 million a year.
In 1886, McClure's college friend, John Sanborn Phillips, joined the Syndicate, and his cousin, Henry Herbert McClure, was also on the staff. Samuel McClure's brother, Robert McClure, was in charge of the London office. Allen Sangree
Allen Sangree
- Life :Father: Milton H. Sangree, Mother: Jane E. Hudson. Born around 1878, most likely in the Harrisburg or Steelton Pennsylvania areaAttended Gettysburg College Member of the Sigma Chi Theta fraternity...
had a position with the McClure Syndicate in 1892.
Writers
As America's first profitable literary syndicate, the company bought an author's work for about $150 and then sold the right to print it to a newspaper for $5. The company lost money during its first few years, eventually turning a profit while distributing and promoting such American authors as Mark Twain, William Dean Howells, Joel Chandler Harris and Sarah Orne Jewett. The roster of British writers included Rudyard Kipling, Robert Louis Stevenson and Arthur Conan DoyleArthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger...
.
Cartoonists
One early McClure comic strip artist was Carl Thomas AndersonCarl 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...
, who drew Herr Spiegelberger, the Amateur Cracksman beginning in 1903. In 1916, McClure purchased the Wheeler Syndicate from John Neville Wheeler
John Neville Wheeler
John Neville "Jack" Wheeler was an American newspaperman, publishing executive, magazine editor, and author. He was born in Yonkers, New York, graduated Columbia University , was a veteran of World War I serving in France as a field artillery lieutenant, began his newspaper career at the New York...
. Another early comic strip artist with McClure was Percy Crosby
Percy Crosby
Percy Leo Crosby was an American author, illustrator and cartoonist best known for his popular comic strip Skippy. Adapted into movies, a novel and a radio show, Crosby's creation was commemorated on a 1997 U.S. Postal Service stamp...
. Commissioned a second lieutenant in the Officer Reserve Corps in 1916 and being called to active service the following year, Crosby was in training at a camp in Plattsburgh, New York. While in training, Crosby created a daily comic panel, That Rookie from the Thirteenth Squad, for the McClure Syndicate, writing and drawing it from the front in France while serving as a first lieutenant in the 77th Division, AEF. The panel was collected into his first two books, That Rookie of the Thirteenth Squad (1917) and Between Shots (1919).
In 1930, Harold Matson was an editor with the McClure Syndicate, and Sheldon Mayer
Sheldon Mayer
Sheldon Mayer was an American comic book writer, artist and editor. One of the earliest employees of Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson's National Allied Publications, Mayer produced almost all of his comics work for the company that would become known as DC Comics.He is credited with rescuing the...
also joined the Syndicate as an editor in 1936. Some the McClure strips were reprinted during the 1930s in Funnies on Parade
Funnies on Parade
Funnies on Parade is an American publication of 1933 that was a precursor of comic books.The creation of the modern American comic book came in stages. Dell Publishing in 1929 published a 16-page, newsprint periodical of original, comic strip-styled material titled The Funnies and described by the...
. In addition to comic strips and feature articles, McClure also syndicated books and stories. In 1938, Theodore Sturgeon
Theodore Sturgeon
Theodore Sturgeon was an American science fiction author.His most famous novel is More Than Human .-Biography:...
sold his first story to the McClure Syndicate, which bought many of his early, mainstream stories before he became known for his science fiction.
In the late 1930s, the company was located at 75 West Street in New York City. In 1952, it was sold to the Bell Syndicate-North American Newspaper Alliance group.
Other McClure comic strips
- Batman by Fred RayFred RayFrederic E. Ray, Jr. was an American comic book artist and commercial illustrator best known as the primary Superman cover-artist of the 1940s, whose work helped shape the defining look of the iconic superhero character, and for his more than two decades as artist of the DC Comics feature...
- Beauregard by Jack DavisJack Davis (cartoonist)Jack Davis is an American cartoonist and illustrator, known for his advertising art, magazine covers, film posters, record album art and numerous comic book stories...
- Bobby ThatcherBobby ThatcherBobby Thatcher was an American newspaper adventure comic strip created by the cartoonist George Storm . The central character's name was "Bobbie" in early episodes....
by George Storm - The Bungle Family by Harry J. TuthillHarry J. TuthillHarry J. Tuthill was an American cartoonist best known for his comic strip The Bungle Family.Born in Chicago, Illinois, he grew up in the tenements and worked as a newsboy, quitting when a tough guy muscled in on his corner...
- King ArooKing ArooKing Aroo was a comic strip written and drawn by Jack Kent from 1950 until 1965. The strip was distributed through the McClure Syndicate.-Characters and story:...
by Jack Kent - Once Upon a Time by Walter J. Enright
- Strange as It Seems by John Hix
- SupermanSuperman (comic strip)Superman was a daily newspaper comic strip which began on January 16, 1939, and a separate Sunday strip was added on November 5, 1939. These strips ran continuously until May 1966. In 1941, the McClure Syndicate had placed the strip in hundreds of newspapers...
- Tom Sawyer and Huck FinnTom SawyerThomas "Tom" Sawyer is the title character of the Mark Twain novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer . He appears in three other novels by Twain: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , Tom Sawyer Abroad , and Tom Sawyer, Detective .Sawyer also appears in at least three unfinished Twain works, Huck and Tom...
by Clare Victor DwigginsClare Victor DwigginsClare Victor Dwiggins was an American cartoonist who signed his work Dwig. Dwiggins created a number of comic strips and single-panel cartoons for various American newspapers and newspaper syndicates from 1897 until 1945, including his best-known strip, the long-run School Days.Born in Wilmington,...