Clarence D. Russell
Encyclopedia
Clarence D. Russell was an American cartoonist best known for his syndicated comic strip Pete the Tramp
.
Born in Buffalo, New York
, Russell studied at the Chicago Art Institute and began working as a freelance artist. Just prior to World War I, he arrived in New York City, where he held the position of sports editor for Leatherneck Magazine
.
With the outbreak of WWI, he went overseas with the American Expeditionary Force. When he returned to America in 1920, he began worked for two newspapers, the New York Evening Post
and the New York Evening Mail
.
While contributing artwork to the weekly Judge, Russell often sat in Bryant Park
on 42nd Street and watched tramps as they fed pigeons and approached people to ask for a nickel for a cup of coffee. Soon Russell's work for Judge included cartoons of homeless men, as he recalled, "I started drawing tramps for Judge, the old humorous magazine, and pretty soon Pete began to evolve. He was my escape valve. Pete did the things I always wanted to do. It would make a nice story if I told you I used to be a tramp myself, but I wasn't. Even if some people say I was."
in 1930, Pete the Tramp was launched on January 10, 1932. Russell continued working for King Features for the next three decades, and during that time he created several other strips, The Tucker Twins, Snorky and Pete's Pup, which ran as topper
strips alongside Pete the Tramp. He usually sat at his drawing table working eight weeks ahead of the publication dates.
During World War II, Russell and Otto Soglow
drew their characters at kids' bond rallies in Albany, New York
and elsewhere. Under the auspices of the American Theatre Wing
, Russell and Soglow also did their chalk talk
s in veteran's hospitals during WWII and in the post-war years.
Pete the Tramp ended December 12, 1963, following Russell's death on October 22 of that year.
Pete the Tramp
Pete the Tramp was a comic strip by Clarence D. Russell which was distributed by King Features Syndicate for more than three decades. Howard Eugene Wilson, in the Harvard Educational Review, described the strip's title character as "a hobo with a gentleman's instincts."Russell studied at the...
.
Born in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, Russell studied at the Chicago Art Institute and began working as a freelance artist. Just prior to World War I, he arrived in New York City, where he held the position of sports editor for Leatherneck Magazine
Leatherneck Magazine
Leatherneck Magazine of the Marines is a magazine for United States Marines. It was first published as a newspaper by off-duty Marines at Marine Corps Base Quantico in 1917, and was originally named The Quantico Leatherneck...
.
With the outbreak of WWI, he went overseas with the American Expeditionary Force. When he returned to America in 1920, he began worked for two newspapers, the New York Evening Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
and the New York Evening Mail
New York Evening Mail
The New York Evening Mail was an American daily newspaper published in New York City.The paper was made up of the New York Evening Express, which dated from 1836, and the Daily Advertiser. It was eventually merged with the Evening Telegram, which became the New York World-Telegram in 1927.From New...
.
While contributing artwork to the weekly Judge, Russell often sat in Bryant Park
Bryant Park
Bryant Park is a 9.603 acre privately managed public park located in the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and between 40th and 42nd Streets in Midtown Manhattan...
on 42nd Street and watched tramps as they fed pigeons and approached people to ask for a nickel for a cup of coffee. Soon Russell's work for Judge included cartoons of homeless men, as he recalled, "I started drawing tramps for Judge, the old humorous magazine, and pretty soon Pete began to evolve. He was my escape valve. Pete did the things I always wanted to do. It would make a nice story if I told you I used to be a tramp myself, but I wasn't. Even if some people say I was."
Comic strips
After Russell signed a contract 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...
in 1930, Pete the Tramp was launched on January 10, 1932. Russell continued working for King Features for the next three decades, and during that time he created several other strips, The Tucker Twins, Snorky and Pete's Pup, which ran as topper
Topper (comic strip)
A topper in comic strip parlance is a small secondary strip seen along with a larger Sunday strip. In the 1920s and 1930s, leading cartoonists were given full pages in the Sunday comics sections, allowing them to add smaller strips and single-panel cartoons to their page.Toppers usually were drawn...
strips alongside Pete the Tramp. He usually sat at his drawing table working eight weeks ahead of the publication dates.
During World War II, Russell and Otto Soglow
Otto Soglow
Otto Soglow was an American cartoonist best known for his comic strip The Little King.Born in Yorkville, Manhattan, Soglow grew up in New York City, where he held various jobs as a teenager and made an unsuccessful effort to become an actor. His first job was painting designs on baby rattles...
drew their characters at kids' bond rallies in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
and elsewhere. Under the auspices of the American Theatre Wing
American Theatre Wing
The American Theatre Wing is a New York City-based organization "dedicated to supporting excellence and education in theatre," according to its mission statement...
, Russell and Soglow also did their chalk talk
Chalk talk
A chalk talk was a popular act in vaudeville. A performer used chalk on a blackboard to make changes in a drawing while delivering a monologue. Some performers would do caricatures of audience members. The term also was used to describe an act done with crayons...
s in veteran's hospitals during WWII and in the post-war years.
Pete the Tramp ended December 12, 1963, following Russell's death on October 22 of that year.