Bill Woggon
Encyclopedia
William Woggon was an American cartoonist
who created the comic book Katy Keene
.
Woggon was born the fourth of six children in Toledo, Ohio
, and he grew up there. Fascinated by an art correspondence course that his older brother Elmer Woggon
was taking, he became interested in drawing. At 16, he took a job in a department store
as a commercial artist, and then did the same kind of work at the Toledo Blade, where Elmer worked.
Big Chief Wahoo, which later metamorphosed into Steve Roper and Mike Nomad
. According to the strip's writer, Allen Saunders
, they were unable to keep him as a full-time Big Chief Wahoo staffer.
s.
Katy Keene featured fashionable young beauty Katy (a model with "traditional values"), who had a pestering little sister, a stream of suitors and dreams of becoming an actress. The stories were not overly inspired and mainly served to put Katy through as many successive wardrobe changes as possible in order to show off reader-submitted fashions that Woggon drew and credited to them (a feature adopted by Dixie Dugan as well). Paper doll
s with other outfits for Katy also increased the comic's appeal. It continued through the 1950s in various outlets (Katy Keene Pinup Parade, Laugh Comics
, and Pep Comics
, and Archie Comics
). When it ended in 1961, Woggon turned to other work, such as the Dell
comic Millie the Lovable Monster, ghosting the newspaper strip Priscilla's Pop
and creating the Archie feature The Twiddles.
With the success of Katy Keene, Woggon and his wife Jane moved their family in 1948 to California
, where they bought a spread near Santa Barbara
that he called "Woggon Wheels Ranch," with a stable he converted into a studio. At the same time, Katy also moved from New York City to California.
Woggon was visited by his admirers, including Floyd Norman
, Trina Robbins
and John S. Lucas
. With Woggon's blessing, Lucas was asked by Michael Silberkleit and Richard Goldwater to do the art on the Archie Comics revival of Katy Keene. Katy Keene inspired a generation of serious fashion designers, including Betsey Johnson
. In his later years, Woggon illustrated Christian literature
for children (e.g., coloring books such as Let's Read and Color, 1988).
. He received accolades not only from his fans but also from his family who cited him as "a great dad".
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
who created the comic book Katy Keene
Katy Keene
Katy Keene, a character created by Bill Woggon, has appeared in several comic book series published by Archie Comics since 1945. She is a model/actress/singer known as America's Queen of Pin-Ups and Fashions....
.
Woggon was born the fourth of six children in Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, and he grew up there. Fascinated by an art correspondence course that his older brother Elmer Woggon
Elmer Woggon
Elmer Woggon , who signed his art Wog, was the creator of an early newspaper comic strip that eventually developed into the long-running Steve Roper and Mike Nomad....
was taking, he became interested in drawing. At 16, he took a job in a department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
as a commercial artist, and then did the same kind of work at the Toledo Blade, where Elmer worked.
Comic strips
By 1938, he was assisting Elmer in lettering and then drawing the latter's newspaper comic stripComic 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....
Big Chief Wahoo, which later metamorphosed into Steve Roper and Mike Nomad
Steve Roper and Mike Nomad
Steve Roper and Mike Nomad was an American adventure comic strip that ran under various earlier titles from November 1936 to December 26, 2004...
. According to the strip's writer, Allen Saunders
Allen Saunders
Allen Saunders was an American writer, journalist and cartoonist who wrote the comic strips Steve Roper and Mike Nomad, Mary Worth and Kerry Drake...
, they were unable to keep him as a full-time Big Chief Wahoo staffer.
Comic books
Bill Woggon kept working on his own ideas for a comic book. Inspired by wartime pinup girls, in 1945, he created Katy Keene, beginning in Wilbur Comics and taking advantage of its teen market. It became a success during the next ten years, spawning fan clubs and pen palPen pal
Pen pals are people who regularly write to each other, particularly via postal mail.-Purposes:A penpal relationship is often used to practice reading and writing in a foreign language, to improve literacy, to learn more about other countries and life-styles, and to make friendships...
s.
Katy Keene featured fashionable young beauty Katy (a model with "traditional values"), who had a pestering little sister, a stream of suitors and dreams of becoming an actress. The stories were not overly inspired and mainly served to put Katy through as many successive wardrobe changes as possible in order to show off reader-submitted fashions that Woggon drew and credited to them (a feature adopted by Dixie Dugan as well). Paper doll
Paper doll
Paper dolls are figures cut out of paper, with separate clothes that are usually held onto the dolls by folding tabs. They have been inexpensive children's toys for almost two hundred years. Today, many artists are turning paper dolls into an art form....
s with other outfits for Katy also increased the comic's appeal. It continued through the 1950s in various outlets (Katy Keene Pinup Parade, Laugh Comics
Laugh Comics
Laugh Comics was a comic book produced by Archie Comics in two volumes, from 1946 to 1987 and 1987 to 1991. The showcased some of the early appearances of the "Archie gang." Beginning with issue #145, Josie began making semi-regular appearances , with art by Dan DeCarlo.- Publication history :The...
, and Pep Comics
Pep Comics
Pep Comics is the name of an American comic book anthology series published by the Archie Comics predecessor MLJ Magazines Inc. during the 1930s and 1940s period known as the Golden Age of Comic Books...
, and Archie Comics
Archie Comics
Archie Comics is an American comic book publisher headquartered in the Village of Mamaroneck, Town of Mamaroneck, New York, known for its many series featuring the fictional teenagers Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Reggie Mantle and Jughead Jones. The characters were created by...
). When it ended in 1961, Woggon turned to other work, such as the Dell
Dell Comics
Dell Comics was the comic book publishing arm of Dell Publishing, which got its start in pulp magazines. It published comics from 1929 to 1973. At its peak, it was the most prominent and successful American company in the medium...
comic Millie the Lovable Monster, ghosting the newspaper strip Priscilla's Pop
Priscilla's Pop
Priscilla's Pop was a comic strip drawn by Al Vermeer. Syndicated by NEA, it ran from 1946 until 1983.-Characters and story:The strip featured Priscilla Nutchell, a young girl who was obsessed with the idea of owning a horse, and her parents, Hazel and Waldo Nutchell...
and creating the Archie feature The Twiddles.
With the success of Katy Keene, Woggon and his wife Jane moved their family in 1948 to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where they bought a spread near Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
that he called "Woggon Wheels Ranch," with a stable he converted into a studio. At the same time, Katy also moved from New York City to California.
Woggon was visited by his admirers, including Floyd Norman
Floyd Norman
Floyd E. Norman is an American animator who worked on the Walt Disney animated features Sleeping Beauty, The Sword in the Stone, and The Jungle Book, along with various animated short projects at Disney in the late '50s and early '60s.- Biography :Norman had his start as an assistant to comic...
, Trina Robbins
Trina Robbins
Trina Robbins is an American comics artist and writer. She was an early and influential participant in the underground comix movement, and one of the few female artists in underground comix when she started. Both as a cartoonist and historian, Robbins has long been involved in creating outlets for...
and John S. Lucas
John S. Lucas (comics)
John Sterling Lucas is an American graphic artist, cartoonist, and designer best known for his artwork on the Archie Comics' Character Katy Keene. Lucas became a professional cartoonist after emerging from the world of fandom.- Biography :...
. With Woggon's blessing, Lucas was asked by Michael Silberkleit and Richard Goldwater to do the art on the Archie Comics revival of Katy Keene. Katy Keene inspired a generation of serious fashion designers, including Betsey Johnson
Betsey Johnson
Betsey Johnson is an American fashion designer best known for her feminine and whimsical designs. Many of her designs are considered "over the top" and embellished...
. In his later years, Woggon illustrated Christian literature
Christian literature
Christian Literature is writing that deals with Christian themes and incorporates the Christian world view. This constitutes a huge body of extremely varied writing.-Scripture:...
for children (e.g., coloring books such as Let's Read and Color, 1988).
Awards
In 1981, his work was recognized with an Inkpot AwardInkpot Award
The Inkpot Award, bestowed annually since 1974 by Comic-Con International, is given to some of the professionals in comic book, comic strip, animation, science fiction, and related pop-culture fields, who are guests of that organization's yearly multigenre fan convention, commonly known as...
. He received accolades not only from his fans but also from his family who cited him as "a great dad".