Bob McCay
Encyclopedia
Robert Winsor McCay was an American
cartoonist
during the golden age of comic books
. He worked professionally under the names R. Winsor McCay, Winsor McCay Jr., and Bob McCay. He was the son of cartoonist and animator
Winsor McCay
, and served as his model for the elder's comic-strip character Little Nemo
.
in order to work for the New York Herald
. Bob was enrolled in Erasmus High School but failed to graduate when he ran away at the age of 17.
At age 19, McCay was enrolled as an art student at The Pratt Institute
when he and friend William “Thorp” Adams enlisted with the New York National Guard, 1st New York Cavalry. They were stationed in Texas
as part of the border patrol during the Pancho Villa Expedition
. Following the withdrawal in 1917, both men were discharged and returned home, and Bob became engaged to Theresa “Tedda” Munchausen.
Three weeks after their discharge, the United States
entered the First World War, and the 1st Cavalry, now under the 27th Division, recalled both men back into service with the American Expeditionary Force
. The 27th Division was sent to the Western Front
in 1918, and was involved in the Hundred Days Offensive
which successfully broke the Hindenburg Line
. During that period, McCay was shot, gassed, and eventually suffered from shellshock. For his service, he was awarded the British Imperial Military Medal and the Distinguished Service Cross
.
Having attained the rank of sergeant, McCay returned home and was honorably discharged in spring 1919, marrying Tedda in 1921. A daughter, Janet, was born in 1922, and a son, Winsor Robert, in 1928.
McCay worked as an art assistant for his father, doing the inking, lettering and detailing work on a number of cartoons. He received sole credit for several, including an animated film. He continued working as an assistant on various projects until his father's death in 1934.
to produce Nemo in Adventureland, a new version featuring the characters as adults and ran until 1936. He also made political cartoons for the syndicate during the 1930s, and again during the early 1950s.
1n 1937, Harry “A” Chesler created a newspaper syndicate, signing McCay to produce a new version of Little Nemo, as well as a daily featuring Impie. Production continued on both after the syndicate was closed in 1938, being utilized in various comic books including Cocomalt Comics and Blue Ribbon
, published by MLJ Publications (later Archie Publications). Chesler closed his shop (the first of several times) around 1940. Street & Smith ran Little Nemo in 1942 in Shadow Comics. In 1945, McCay was again with Chesler’s shop, producing Little Nemo in Adventureland for Red Seal and Punch Comics until 1947, when the shop closed done for the final time.
, and would continue until about 1945. He was a background illustrator and inker
at the Jack Binder Studio
, working on the Fawcett
character Bulletman, and Street & Smith’s
Ajax the Sun Man and Blackstone the Magician.
Bob eventually worked as an illustrator in Training Aids/Special Services for Fort Ord, California
. He died of cancer 21 April 1962.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
during the golden age of comic books
Golden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...
. He worked professionally under the names R. Winsor McCay, Winsor McCay Jr., and Bob McCay. He was the son of cartoonist and animator
Animator
An animator is an artist who creates multiple images that give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequence; the images are called frames and key frames. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, video games, and the internet. Usually, an...
Winsor McCay
Winsor McCay
Winsor McCay was an American cartoonist and animator.A prolific artist, McCay's pioneering early animated films far outshone the work of his contemporaries, and set a standard followed by Walt Disney and others in later decades...
, and served as his model for the elder's comic-strip character Little Nemo
Little Nemo
Little Nemo is the main fictional character in a series of weekly comic strips by Winsor McCay that appeared in the New York Herald and William Randolph Hearst's New York American newspapers from October 15, 1905 – April 23, 1911 and April 30, 1911 – July 26, 1914; respectively.The...
.
Early life
Robert McCay was born to Winsor and Maude Mccay on 21 June 1896. A sister, Marion, was born the following year in 1897. In 1903 Winsor moved the family from Cincinnati to New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in order to work for 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...
. Bob was enrolled in Erasmus High School but failed to graduate when he ran away at the age of 17.
At age 19, McCay was enrolled as an art student at The Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute School of Architecture
The Pratt Institute School of Architecture is ranked in the top ten best Architecture schools in the nation. Alumni include Pritzker Prize Winner Peter Zumthor. Within the Brooklyn campus, the school of architecture is located a block from the main campus in Higgins Hall...
when he and friend William “Thorp” Adams enlisted with the New York National Guard, 1st New York Cavalry. They were stationed in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
as part of the border patrol during the Pancho Villa Expedition
Pancho Villa Expedition
The Pancho Villa Expedition—officially known in the United States as the Mexican Expedition and sometimes colloquially referred to as the Punitive Expedition—was a military operation conducted by the United States Army against the paramilitary forces of Mexican insurgent Francisco "Pancho" Villa...
. Following the withdrawal in 1917, both men were discharged and returned home, and Bob became engaged to Theresa “Tedda” Munchausen.
Three weeks after their discharge, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
entered the First World War, and the 1st Cavalry, now under the 27th Division, recalled both men back into service with the American Expeditionary Force
American Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF were the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces...
. The 27th Division was sent to the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
in 1918, and was involved in the Hundred Days Offensive
Hundred Days Offensive
The Hundred Days Offensive was the final period of the First World War, during which the Allies launched a series of offensives against the Central Powers on the Western Front from 8 August to 11 November 1918, beginning with the Battle of Amiens. The offensive forced the German armies to retreat...
which successfully broke the Hindenburg Line
Hindenburg Line
The Hindenburg Line was a vast system of defences in northeastern France during World War I. It was constructed by the Germans during the winter of 1916–17. The line stretched from Lens to beyond Verdun...
. During that period, McCay was shot, gassed, and eventually suffered from shellshock. For his service, he was awarded the British Imperial Military Medal and the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
.
Having attained the rank of sergeant, McCay returned home and was honorably discharged in spring 1919, marrying Tedda in 1921. A daughter, Janet, was born in 1922, and a son, Winsor Robert, in 1928.
McCay worked as an art assistant for his father, doing the inking, lettering and detailing work on a number of cartoons. He received sole credit for several, including an animated film. He continued working as an assistant on various projects until his father's death in 1934.
Illustrator
In 1935, McCay signed with King Features SyndicateKing Features Syndicate
King Features Syndicate, a print syndication company owned by The Hearst Corporation, distributes about 150 comic strips, newspaper columns, editorial cartoons, puzzles and games to nearly 5000 newspapers worldwide...
to produce Nemo in Adventureland, a new version featuring the characters as adults and ran until 1936. He also made political cartoons for the syndicate during the 1930s, and again during the early 1950s.
1n 1937, Harry “A” Chesler created a newspaper syndicate, signing McCay to produce a new version of Little Nemo, as well as a daily featuring Impie. Production continued on both after the syndicate was closed in 1938, being utilized in various comic books including Cocomalt Comics and Blue Ribbon
Blue Ribbon Comics
- Volume 2 : Archie Comics :The second series to carry the Blue Ribbon Comics name was initially published by the Archie Comics imprint Red Circle Comics. It ran for 14 issues cover-dated November 1983 to December 1984...
, published by MLJ Publications (later Archie Publications). Chesler closed his shop (the first of several times) around 1940. Street & Smith ran Little Nemo in 1942 in Shadow Comics. In 1945, McCay was again with Chesler’s shop, producing Little Nemo in Adventureland for Red Seal and Punch Comics until 1947, when the shop closed done for the final time.
Inker/colorist
Around 1939, McCay began working for DC Comics as a coloristColorist
In comics, a colorist is responsible for adding color to black-and-white line art. For most of the 20th century this was done using brushes and dyes which were then used as guides to produce the printing plates...
, and would continue until about 1945. He was a background illustrator and inker
Inker
The inker is one of the two line artists in a traditional comic book or graphic novel. After a pencilled drawing is given to the inker, the inker uses black ink to produce refined outlines over the pencil lines...
at the Jack Binder Studio
Jack Binder (comics)
Jack Binder was a Golden Age comics creator and art packager. A fine artist by education, Binder had a prolific comics career that lasted from 1937–1946, then continued from "semi-retirement" until 1953. He was the creator of the original comic book Daredevil, for Lev Gleason Publications...
, working on the Fawcett
Fawcett
Fawcett may refer to:*Fawcett City, a fictional DC Comics city*Fawcett Comics*Fawcett Publications*Fawcett Society*Fawcett Stadium*Fawcett Street, Sunderland*Fawcett...
character Bulletman, and Street & Smith’s
Street & Smith
Street & Smith or Street & Smith Publications, Inc. was a New York City publisher specializing in inexpensive paperbacks and magazines referred to as pulp fiction and dime novels. They also published comic books and sporting yearbooks...
Ajax the Sun Man and Blackstone the Magician.
McCay-Richardson Syndicate
In 1947, McCay attempted to release a modernized version of his father's Little Nemo and formed the McCay-Richardson Features Syndicate with distributor Duke Richardson. McCay took his father’s original drawings and cut individual frames out, pasting them to fit into a half-broadsheet page format, providing new dialogue and colours. The McCay-Richardson Syndicate distributed this version from approximately March to December 1947.Bob eventually worked as an illustrator in Training Aids/Special Services for Fort Ord, 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...
. He died of cancer 21 April 1962.
External links
- McCay, Bob at Bails, JerryJerry BailsJerry Gwin Bails was an American popular culturist. Known as the "Father of Comic Book Fandom", he was one of the first to approach the comic book field as a subject worthy of academic study, and was a primary force in establishing 1960s comics fandom.- Early life :Jerry G. Bails was born June...
, and Hames Ware, Who's Who in American Comic Books 1929-1999 - Women of Ward (Bill Ward official site). WebCitation archive.
- Amash, Jim. "Quality Control: A Conversation with Gill Fox - Artist, Writer, and Editor (1940-43) of Quality Comics Group", Alter Ego vol. 3, #12, January 2002. WebCitation archive.