Comments on: Katzenjammer Kids, comic strip pioneer, turns 110 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/ The source for industry news for the professional cartoonist Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:54:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Larry Levine http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/#comment-67434 Larry Levine Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:11:45 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/#comment-67434 "Continuing the oldest strip as a historical artifact" Artifacts belong in museums, not in newspapers. Rudolph Dirks & Harold Knerr are long gone and the legacy they've created lives on in their original work. “Continuing the oldest strip as a historical artifact”

Artifacts belong in museums, not in newspapers. Rudolph Dirks & Harold Knerr are long gone and the legacy they’ve created lives on in their original work.

]]> By: D.D.Degg http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/#comment-67395 D.D.Degg Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:00:38 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/#comment-67395 Not a big fan of legacy strips, but I find it hard to begrudge KFS' continuation of The Katzenjammer Kids. Continuing the oldest strip as a historical artifact is something I can see as worthwhile; and continuing the Popeye strip to keep a trademark on a valuable licensing product, also makes sense. Giving both to Hy Eisman, who has been in business over 50 years with nearly all of them with King Features, seems to be a Company showing loyalty to a long-time empoloyee. Not something common in today's marketplace. Eisman, who turned 80 earlier this year, gets to supplement whatever retirement income he receives and KFS gets to continue the world's longest published comic strip. Seems win-win. Not a big fan of legacy strips, but I find it hard to begrudge KFS’ continuation of The Katzenjammer Kids. Continuing the oldest strip as a historical artifact is something I can see as worthwhile; and continuing the Popeye strip to keep a trademark on a valuable licensing product, also makes sense.
Giving both to Hy Eisman, who has been in business over 50 years with nearly all of them with King Features, seems to be a Company showing loyalty to a long-time empoloyee. Not something common in today’s marketplace.
Eisman, who turned 80 earlier this year, gets to supplement whatever retirement income he receives and KFS gets to continue the world’s longest published comic strip. Seems win-win.

]]> By: Larry Levine http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/#comment-67387 Larry Levine Thu, 13 Dec 2007 21:45:02 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/#comment-67387 I'm still shocked & saddened that "Bringing Up Father" was retired in 1999. I think legacy strips rule--older the better! I think the 1904 classic "And Her Name Was Maude" is just ripe for a revival. I’m still shocked & saddened that “Bringing Up Father” was retired in 1999. I think legacy strips rule–older the better! I think the 1904 classic “And Her Name Was Maude” is just ripe for a revival.

]]> By: Pab Sungenis http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/#comment-67363 Pab Sungenis Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:24:18 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/#comment-67363 Actually, copyright laws have existed since the early days of the Federal Government. I think what you're referring to, Wiley, are intellectual property laws. Still quite an achievement, though. The Katzenjammer case was cited by NBC in the lawsuit preventing David Letterman from taking his material to CBS. The same decision was reached: NBC owned the trademarks, but he owned the material. Actually, copyright laws have existed since the early days of the Federal Government. I think what you’re referring to, Wiley, are intellectual property laws.

Still quite an achievement, though. The Katzenjammer case was cited by NBC in the lawsuit preventing David Letterman from taking his material to CBS. The same decision was reached: NBC owned the trademarks, but he owned the material.

]]> By: Wiley Miller http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/#comment-67361 Wiley Miller Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:15:23 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/#comment-67361 Does anyone out there know of a paper that still carries the Katzenjammer Kids? I haven't seen it in print since I was a kid. And I'm old. But here's a little factoid... did you know that it was Katzenjammer Kids, and more specifically the number of strips that ripped them off 100 years ago, that led to copyright laws? That's a little example of the power of comics. Does anyone out there know of a paper that still carries the Katzenjammer Kids? I haven’t seen it in print since I was a kid. And I’m old.

But here’s a little factoid… did you know that it was Katzenjammer Kids, and more specifically the number of strips that ripped them off 100 years ago, that led to copyright laws? That’s a little example of the power of comics.

]]> By: Eric Burke http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/#comment-67360 Eric Burke Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:10:54 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/#comment-67360 <i>It would be nice to know if every feature is held to the standard of “The Katzenjammer Kids” when contract renewal time comes up.</i> Do the syndicates consider a 50-paper feature successful, especially one so old? Would a newer feature that stagnated at 50-papers be brought to a premature end by syndicate and/or creator after a few years? Would it be better for an old feature like this to be brought to an end so that the syndicate can promote a newer feature to those 50 clients? With the longetivity of their careers, will <i>The Katzenjammer Kids</i> names show up in todays Mitchell Report??? <i>Hmmmmmm...</i> It would be nice to know if every feature is held to the standard of “The Katzenjammer Kids” when contract renewal time comes up.
Do the syndicates consider a 50-paper feature successful, especially one so old?

Would a newer feature that stagnated at 50-papers be brought to a premature end by syndicate and/or creator after a few years?

Would it be better for an old feature like this to be brought to an end so that the syndicate can promote a newer feature to those 50 clients?

With the longetivity of their careers, will The Katzenjammer Kids names show up in todays Mitchell Report???

Hmmmmmm…

]]> By: Guy Gilchrist http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/#comment-67337 Guy Gilchrist Thu, 13 Dec 2007 04:37:10 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/#comment-67337 A few years ago, I traded art with Hy Eisman and got one of his "Kids" Sunday pages. I treasure it. Also, it is always commented on as it is on the walls at our cartoon Academy. The Katzenjammers are asked about, the kids look them up in the comics history books, parents recall their childhood... Oh,,,and Hy is a real pro. A few years ago, I traded art with Hy Eisman and got one of his “Kids” Sunday pages. I treasure it.
Also, it is always commented on as it is on the walls at our cartoon Academy. The Katzenjammers are asked about, the kids look them up in the comics history books, parents recall their childhood…
Oh,,,and Hy is a real pro.

]]> By: Pab Sungenis http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/#comment-67336 Pab Sungenis Thu, 13 Dec 2007 02:26:11 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/#comment-67336 And now many only-50-paper strips (including Sunday sales) has King Features killed over the past twenty years? It would be nice to know if every feature is held to the standard of "The Katzenjammer Kids" when contract renewal time comes up. And now many only-50-paper strips (including Sunday sales) has King Features killed over the past twenty years?

It would be nice to know if every feature is held to the standard of “The Katzenjammer Kids” when contract renewal time comes up.

]]> By: D.D.Degg http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/#comment-67327 D.D.Degg Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:12:13 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/#comment-67327 "How many papers still runs “Katzenjammer?” Not counting the weekly papers that runs the strip through King’s Weekly Service package." John McWhorter, writing for the N. Y. Sun and datelined July 19, 2007, said, "Only about 50 papers take the Katzenjammer Kids, and it is safe to say that the number of people who eagerly anticipate catching up with Hans and Fritz over their morning coffee these days are few." Those 50 papers would include the Weekly Service papers. “How many papers still runs “Katzenjammer?” Not counting the weekly papers that runs the strip through King’s Weekly Service package.”

John McWhorter, writing for the N. Y. Sun and datelined July 19, 2007,
said, “Only about 50 papers take the Katzenjammer Kids, and it is safe to say that the number of people who eagerly anticipate catching up with Hans and Fritz over their morning coffee these days are few.”

Those 50 papers would include the Weekly Service papers.

]]> By: D.D.Degg http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/#comment-67326 D.D.Degg Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:03:39 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2007/12/12/katzenjammer-kids-comic-strip-pioneer-turns-110/#comment-67326 "I feel very safe in saying that there is NO ONE alive today who read The Katzenjammer Kids as written by its original artist...when originally published.” That would be someone born before March 16, 1913. Hey, famed cartoonist Creig Flessel was born in 1912 and is still with us. So anyone around say 96 years old. Of course they would have had to be very precocious to have READ the strip then. “I feel very safe in saying that there is NO ONE alive today who read The Katzenjammer Kids as written by its original artist…when originally published.”

That would be someone born before March 16, 1913.
Hey, famed cartoonist Creig Flessel was born in 1912 and is still with us. So anyone around say 96 years old. Of course they would have had to be very precocious to have READ the strip then.

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