Beetle Bailey
Beetle Bailey, which started as a college-themed strip in 1950, debuted inauspiciously in 12 newspapers. After six months, it had signed on only 25 clients, and King Features Syndicate considered dropping it. The Korean War was heating up at that time, so Mort Walker decided to have Beetle enlist in the Army. He quickly picked up 100 newspapers. Mort redesigned the cast and a Sunday page was added in 1952. After the Korean War was over, Army brass wanted to tighten up discipline and felt that Beetle Bailey encouraged disrespect for officers. The strip was banned in the Tokyo Stars and Stripes, and the sympathetic publicity rocketed Beetleâs circulation another 100 papers. When Mort won the National Cartoonist Societyâs award as the best cartoonist of the year for 1953, Beetle Bailey had become a certified success, with licensed products and a growing list of clients. From 1954 to 1968, the circulation of Beetle Bailey grew from 200 newspapers to 1,100, and many new characters were added to the cast. Today, after more than six decades, Mort Walkerâs creation is still one of the most popular comic strips in the world.
Description
Beetle Bailey, which started as a college-themed strip in 1950, debuted inauspiciously in 12 newspapers. After six months, it had signed on only 25 clients, and King Features Syndicate considered dropping it. The Korean War was heating up at that time, so Mort Walker decided to have Beetle enlist in the Army. He quickly picked up 100 newspapers. Mort redesigned the cast and a Sunday page was added in 1952. After the Korean War was over, Army brass wanted to tighten up discipline and felt that Beetle Bailey encouraged disrespect for officers. The strip was banned in the Tokyo Stars and Stripes, and the sympathetic publicity rocketed Beetleâs circulation another 100 papers. When Mort won the National Cartoonist Societyâs award as the best cartoonist of the year for 1953, Beetle Bailey had become a certified success, with licensed products and a growing list of clients. From 1954 to 1968, the circulation of Beetle Bailey grew from 200 newspapers to 1,100, and many new characters were added to the cast. Today, after more than six decades, Mort Walkerâs creation is still one of the most popular comic strips in the world.
Awards and Distinctions:
1953: âCartoonist of the Year,â National Cartoonists Society (“The Reuben”)
1955: Banshee Award, Silver Lady, âOutstanding Cartoonistâ
1966: âBest Humor Strip,â National Cartoonists Society
1969: âBest Humor Strip,â National Cartoonists Society
1972: Il Secolo XIX Award, Italy
1975: Adamson Award, âBest International Cartoonist,â Sweden
1977: Power of Printing Award
Elzie Segar Award, âLifetime Achievementâ
1978: âFourth Estate Award,â American Legion
1979: The Jester, Newspaper Features Council
Inkpot Award, San Diego Comic Convention
1980: Faculty Alumni Award, University of Missouri. Scholar in residence
1981: Doctor of Letters, William Penn College
1987: âMan of the Year,â Kappa Sigma Fraternity
1988: Adamson Award Platinum, Sweden
1990: U.S. Army Certificate of Appreciation for Patriotic Civilian Service
1999: Golden T-Square, National Cartoonists Society â 50 years of service, Only second ever to receive award.
1999: Order of Chevalier, French Minister of Culture and Communication
1999: Elzie Segar Award
2000: The Decoration For Distinguished Civilian Service
2010: The Sparky Award, The Cartoon Art Museum
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