Dudley Fisher

Filed under: People, Cartoonist, Layout Artist, Photographer,

Full Name:

Dudley Fisher

Occupation / Title:

Cartoonist, Layout Artist, Photographer

Date of birth:

1890

Date of death:

1951

Biography

Dudley Fisher was born in 1890 in Columbus, Ohio. He attended the Ohio State University, attempting an architecture education. He soon dropped out in order to be a layout artist at the Columbus Dispatch newspaper. During World War I, he worked as a photographer. In 1919, he resumed working for the Dispatch. It was here that he developed the nationally syndicated strips, “Jolly Jingles” (in 1924), and “Right Around Home” (in 1937). Fisher worked for the Dispatch, and as a cartoonist, until he died, in 1951.

Family and early life

Dudley Fisher came from a family of engineers, professors and teachers. As a child growing up, Fisher drew often, and displayed an early potential for being a professional artist. Instead of following a formal education in art, he decided to pursue an education in architecture.

Career outline

Early in his career (and during World War I), Dudley Fisher worked as a photographer for the Air Force. Later, he worked at the art department of the Columbus Dispatch. Concurrently, he developed several syndicated cartoon strips, including “Jolly Jingles” and “Right Around Home” (later to be renamed “Myrtle”, syndicated by King Features).

Personal style

Influences

Although Fisher never received a formal education (at least he didn’t finish his formal education), his strips and clean line work left a strong impression on strip artists that followed his work.

Honors and awards

Fisher never actively sought syndication, but was rather picked up by King Features Syndicate after his popular work at the Columbus Dispatch. His strips ran up to 1964, 13 years after his death. (These later strips were completed by other artists)

References:

Strickler, Dave. Syndicated Comic Strips and Artists, 1924-1995: The Complete Index. Cambria, CA: Comics Access, 1995