Jimmy Frise
Encyclopedia
Canadian
cartoonist Jimmy Frise was born James Llewellyn Frise on Scugog Island, Ontario
. It was a stroke of fate that Frise would endure in cartooning as long as he did, after maiming his left hand in a munitions accident during the Battle of Vimy Ridge
in World War I
.
His career began during a heated debate in the pages of the Toronto Star
, then later a wager, between a Toronto Star editor and Toronto area farmhand. Frise submitted a cartoon of the editor milking a cow from the wrong side. Though the cartoon immediately captured the attention of the Star editor, Frise had neglected to send along a return address. After responding to a published request for the artist to come forward, Frise was welcomed on staff at the Star.
Frise's first comic strip creation was Life's Little Comedies in 1920, which he renamed Birdseye Center in 1923. Frise was wooed away from the Star by the Montreal Standard in 1947, but the embittered Star maintained all publication rights to Birdseye Center. Unfazed, Frise created the feature Juniper Junction, which featured strongly similar characters and situations. The occasional gag was even borrowed, which Frise argued was his creative property in the first place.
During his stay at the Star, Frise struck up a friendship with columnist Greg Clark
, then illustrated a series of Clark's articles featuring misadventures of the duo. The friendship lasted until Frise's death in 1948. Clarke eulogized that Frise "gave a whole generation of 30 years smiles and laughter and never hurt a soul in all that time".
After Frise's death, a young Montreal cartoonist named Doug Wright
took over the reins of Juniper Junction.
In 1965, Canadian publishers McClelland and Stewart honored Frise by printing a hardcover treasury of "Birdseye Center".
An Ontario Historical Plaque was erected at Scugog Shores Museum in Port Perry, Ontario
by the province to commemorate James Llewellyn Frise's role in Ontario's heritage. In 2009, Frise was inducted into the Canadian Cartoonist Hall of Fame
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
cartoonist Jimmy Frise was born James Llewellyn Frise on Scugog Island, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. It was a stroke of fate that Frise would endure in cartooning as long as he did, after maiming his left hand in a munitions accident during the Battle of Vimy Ridge
Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a military engagement fought primarily as part of the Battle of Arras, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps, of four divisions, against three divisions of the German Sixth Army...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
His career began during a heated debate in the pages of the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
, then later a wager, between a Toronto Star editor and Toronto area farmhand. Frise submitted a cartoon of the editor milking a cow from the wrong side. Though the cartoon immediately captured the attention of the Star editor, Frise had neglected to send along a return address. After responding to a published request for the artist to come forward, Frise was welcomed on staff at the Star.
Frise's first comic strip creation was Life's Little Comedies in 1920, which he renamed Birdseye Center in 1923. Frise was wooed away from the Star by the Montreal Standard in 1947, but the embittered Star maintained all publication rights to Birdseye Center. Unfazed, Frise created the feature Juniper Junction, which featured strongly similar characters and situations. The occasional gag was even borrowed, which Frise argued was his creative property in the first place.
During his stay at the Star, Frise struck up a friendship with columnist Greg Clark
Greg Clark (journalist)
Gregory Clark, OC, OBE, MC was a Canadian war veteran, journalist, and humorist.In 1967, he was made one of the initial Officers of the Order of Canada "for the humour which he has brought to his profession as a newspaper writer and radio commentator".Major Gregory Clark is buried in Mount...
, then illustrated a series of Clark's articles featuring misadventures of the duo. The friendship lasted until Frise's death in 1948. Clarke eulogized that Frise "gave a whole generation of 30 years smiles and laughter and never hurt a soul in all that time".
After Frise's death, a young Montreal cartoonist named Doug Wright
Doug Wright (cartoonist)
Douglas Austin Wright was an English-born Canadian cartoonist. Creator of the long-running comic strip Doug Wright's Family, or Nipper, he is the namesake for the Canadian Wright Awards....
took over the reins of Juniper Junction.
In 1965, Canadian publishers McClelland and Stewart honored Frise by printing a hardcover treasury of "Birdseye Center".
An Ontario Historical Plaque was erected at Scugog Shores Museum in Port Perry, Ontario
Port Perry, Ontario
Port Perry is a community located in Scugog Township, Durham Region, Ontario, Canada. The town is located east of Uxbridge and southwest of Peterborough. Many residents commute to Toronto on a daily basis. Port Perry's municipal website reported a population of just over 9,500 in 2010.Port Perry...
by the province to commemorate James Llewellyn Frise's role in Ontario's heritage. In 2009, Frise was inducted into the Canadian Cartoonist Hall of Fame
Canadian Cartoonist Hall of Fame
The Canadian Cartoonist Hall of Fame, formally known as Giants of the North: The Canadian Cartoonist Hall of Fame, honours significant life-long contributions to the art of cartooning in Canada....
.