United Media
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (October 2015) |
Company type | Print syndication |
---|---|
Founded | 1978 |
Founder | E. W. Scripps |
Defunct | 2011 |
Headquarters | United States |
Parent | E. W. Scripps Company |
United Media was a large editorial column and comic strip newspaper syndication service based in the United States, owned by the E. W. Scripps Company. It syndicated 150 comics and editorial columns worldwide. Its core businesses were the United Feature Syndicate and the Newspaper Enterprise Association. The Newspaper Enterprise Association once presented awards in professional and college football.
History
E. W. Scripps started his newspaper career in the 1885, and owned 22 newspapers by 1910. In 1897, he created two companies, the Scripps-McRae Press Association and the Scripps News Association. In 1907, he combined a number of news providers into United Press Associations as a rival to Associated Press.
On June 2, 1902 the new Newspaper Enterprise Association, based in Cleveland, Ohio, started as a news report service for different Scripps-owned newspapers. It started selling content to non-Scripps owned newspapers in 1907, and by 1909, it became a more general syndicate, offering comics, pictures and features as well. It moved from Cleveland to Chicago in 1915, with an office in San Francisco. NEA rapidly grew and delivered content to 400 newspapers in 1920 and about 700 in 1930.[1] At that time, it had some 100 features available.[2]
United Feature Syndicate was formed in fall 1931 from Scripps' acquisition of the New York World, which controlled the syndication arms of the Pulitzer company: Press Publishing Corporation and Metropolitan Newspaper Service (which unlike other syndicates were owned by the paper rather than being separate entities). An April 1933 article in Fortune described United Feature as one of the "Big Four" American syndicates (along with King Features Syndicate, Chicago Tribune Syndicate, and the Bell Syndicate).[3]United Features and NEA both became successful distributors of newspaper comics in the 1930s.[4] Boyd Lewis became the executive editor of NEA Service in 1945.
From 1936 to 1954, United Features published their own line of comic books, using their comic strip features as characters. After ending the line in 1954, most of their comics would be continued by St. John Publications.
In May 1978 Scripps merged United Feature Syndicate and NEA[5] to form United Media Enterprises.[6]
In 1994, Jim Davis's company, Paws, Inc., purchased the rights to Garfield (including the strips from 1978 to 1993) from United Feature. The strip is currently distributed by Universal Press Syndicate, while rights for the strip remain with Paws.
On June 3, 2010, United Media sold their licensing arm, along with the rights to Peanuts, to Iconix Brand Group.[7][8]
On February 24, 2011, United Media struck a distribution deal with Universal Uclick for syndication of the former company's 150 comic strip and news features, which became effective on June 1.[9][10]
Syndicated comic strips before June 1, 2011
- Alley Oop by V. T. Hamlin
- Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson
- Betty by Gary Delainey and Gerry Rasmussen
- Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce
- The Born Loser by Art Sansom
- Brevity
- The Buckets
- Cow and Boy
- Drabble
- F Minus
- Family Tree
- Ferd'nand
- Frank and Ernest
- Frazz
- Get Fuzzy
- Graffiti
- Grand Avenue
- The Grizzwells
- Health Capsules
- Herman
- Jump Start
- Kid City
- KidSpot
- Kit 'n' Carlyle
- The Knight Life
- Little Mary Mixup
- Lola
- Luann
- Marmaduke
- Moderately Confused
- Monty
- Nancy
- 9 Chickweed Lane
- Off The Mark
- Over the Hedge
- Pearls Before Swine
- Prickly City
- Reality Check
- Red Ryder
- Rip Haywire
- Ripley's Believe It or Not!
- Rose Is Rose
- Rudy Park
- Shortcuts
- Soup To Nutz
- Tarzan
- Uncle Art's Funland
- World of Wonder
NEA Christmas strip
From 1936 to 2010, NEA produced an annual Christmas-themed daily comic strip for its subscribing newspapers as a holiday bonus.[11] They typically ran for three-four weeks before Christmas, with the concluding installment on December 25 or a nearby date. Strip historian Allan Holtz notes over the years these strips have featured regular NEA characters, adapted classic Christmas stories, and original stories with single-appearance characters. The 1942 strip, "Santa's Victory Christmas," had a WWII-era theme of conserving raw materials to further the war effort and was drawn by Superman ghost artist Leo Nowak.[12] The 1967 entry, Bucky's Christmas Caper, was written and drawn by famed comic book creator Wally Wood.[13]
Discontinued UFS comic strips
- Abbie an' Slats by Al Capp and Raeburn Van Buren [14]
- Alice in Wonderland by Edward D. Kuekes and Olive Ray Scott (based on the Lewis Carroll book)[15]
- Berry's World by Jim Berry
- Billy Make Believe by Harry E. Homan (begun 1934; end-date uncertain)[16] [17]
- Buffalo Bill by Fred Meagher [18]
- Bugs Bunny by Chase Craig, Roger Armstrong, Ralph Heimdahl, Brett Koth and Shawn Keller. [17]
- Casey Ruggles by Warren Tufts [19]
- Committed by Michael Fry
- Cynical Susie by Laverne Harding and "Becky Sharp" (Helen Sharp) [20]
- Dilbert by Scott Adams, moved to Universal Uclick
- The Doodle Family (later Frankie Doodle) by Ben Batsford[17]
- The Dropouts by Howard Post [19]
- Ella Cinders by Bill Conselman and Charles Plumb.
- Eyebeam by Sam Hurt
- Funny Side Up by Abner Dean
- Gamin and Patches by Mort Walker [21]
- Garfield, moved to Universal Press Syndicate
- Gordo by Gus Arriola [22]
- Grin and Bear It by George Lichty
- Hap Hopper, Washington Correspondent by Jack Sparling, William Laas, Drew Pearson and Robert S. Allen .[23]
- It's Only a Game by Charles M. Schulz and Jim Sasseville [24]
- Jim Hardy by Dick Moores [25]
- John Carter of Mars by John Coleman Burroughs[19]
- Judge Wright by Robert Bernstein and Bob Fujitani [19]
- Li'l Abner by Al Capp [26]
- Long Sam by Al Capp and Bob Lubbers [27]
- Mr. and Mrs. Beans (later retitled Buster Beans) by Robert L. Dickey [15]
- Mitzi McCoy (later titled Kevin the Bold, then Up Anchor) by Kreigh Collins [17]
- Oh! Margy by John Held Jr.
- Ophelia and Jake by Heidi Stetson [28]
- Peanuts, moved to Universal Uclick
- Race Riley of the Commandos by Milburn Rosser [19]
- Rudy by William Overgard [28]
- Skylark by Elmer Woggon
- Strange as It Seems by John Hix [24]
- Spunkie by Loy Byrnes [19]
- Suzie View by Tauhid Bondia and Erik McCurdy
- Tailspin Tommy by Hal Forrest [29]
- Tubby by Doc Winner
- Twin Earths by Oskar Lebeck and Alden McWilliams [19]
- Up Front by Bill Mauldin [24]
- U.S. Acres (AKA Orson's Farm or Orson's Place) by Jim Davis [30]
- Wee Pals, moved to Creators Syndicate
- Wright Angles by Larry Wright
Discontinued NEA comic strips
- The Affairs of Jane by Chic Young
- Ben Casey by Neal Adams and Jerry Capp
- Benjy by Jim Berry
- The Bicker Family by R.W. Satterfield
- Biff Baker by Ernest "East" Lynn and Henry Schlensker
- Brenda Breeze by Rolfe Mason
- Boots and Her Buddies by Edgar Martin
- Chris Welkin—Planeteer by Art Sansom and Russ Winterbotham
- Eek & Meek by Howie Schneider
- Flapper Fanny Says by Ethel Hays
- Freckles and His Friends by Merrill Blosser
- Herky by Clyde Lewis
- J. Rabbit, Esquire by Bill Holman
- The Little People by Walt Scott
- Mom 'n Pop by Loron Taylor and Wood Cowan [19]
- Morty Meekle (later Winthrop) by Dick Cavalli
- Myra North, Special Nurse by Charles Coll and Ray Thompson[19]
- Our Boarding House by Gene Ahern [31]
- Out Our Way by J. R. Williams [19]
- The Outbursts of Everett True by A.D. Condo and J.W. Raper
- Priscilla's Pop by Al Vermeer
- Robin Malone by Bob Lubbers [27]
- Salesman Sam by George Swanson [19]
- Short Ribs by Frank O'Neal
- Star Hawks by Gil Kane and Ron Goulart [32]
- The Story of Martha Wayne by Wilson Scruggs [19]
- Vic Flint by Ernest "East" Lynn and Ralph Lane [33]
- Wash Tubbs and Captain Easy by Roy Crane [3]
Syndicated editorial cartoons
- Robert Ariail
- Bill Day
- Bill Schorr
- Ed Stein
- Mike Lester
- Henry Payne
- Jerry Holbert
- Rob Rogers
- Jeff Stahler
- Matt Bors
Web features
These are published on GoComics:
Syndicated columns
- Miss Manners by Judith Martin
- NextSteps by Jan L. Warner and Jan K. Collins
- Sense & Sensitivity by Harriette Cole
- Among Friends by Tad Bartimus
- Byron York
- Cokie Roberts and Steven V. Roberts
- Diana West
- Dick Kleiner
- Donald Lambro
- Gene Lyons
- Harper's Magazine
- Kathryn Jean Lopez
- Mary Mitchell
- Morton Kondracke
- The New Republic
- Salon
- Sweet Land of Liberty by Nat Hentoff
- From Consumer Reports
- Harvey Mackay
- Smart Money by Bruce Williams
- Talking Money with Jean Chatzky
- workplace911 by Bob Rosner
- Ask Mr. Know-It-All by Gary Lee Clothier
- Starlight
- Tune in Tomorrow by Nancy Reichardt
- Tune in Tonight by Kevin McDonough
- World Almanac Databank
- You Be the Critic by Bob Habes
- Soap Opera Review by Nancy Johnson (columnist)
- Desperation Dinners by Beverly Mills and Alicia Ross (columnist)
- Cook Well, Eat Well by Dana Carpender
- Eat in and Save by Marialisa Calta
- On Nutrition by Ed Blonz
- The Aces on Bridge by Bobby Wolff
- NEA Bridge by Phillip Alder
- Dr. Gott by Peter Gott
- The Harvard Medical School Adviser
- Astro-Graph by Bernice Bede Osol
- Your Birthday by Stella Wilder
- Your Stars This Week by Stella Wilder
- Frugal Living by Sara Noel
- First Aid for the Ailing House by Henri deMarne
- The Housing Scene by Lew Sichelman
- The Village Idiot by Jim Mullen
- A+ Advice for Parents Helping Your Child Succeed in School by Leanna Landsmann
- Parent-to-Parent by Betsy Flagler
- Parenting by the staff of Parenting Magazine
- Animal Doctor by Michael Fox, D.V.M.
- On Religion by Terry Mattingly
- Win, Lose & Drew
Other
Syndicated puzzles
Licensed properties
Discontinued features
- Mary Margaret McBride
- Herblock (1933–1943)
- John Fischetti (1951–1962)
- Washington Merry-Go-Round by Drew Pearson and Jack Anderson
- My Day by Eleanor Roosevelt
NFL awards
Beginning in 1954 the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), under the guidance of Murray Olderman,[34] began to poll NFL players and award what became known as the Players' All-Pro team. In addition, the NEA awarded a Rookie of the Year, a Most Valuable Player (since 1955), and a Defensive Player of the Year (George S. Halas Trophy; 1966–96). All were accepted as official and were published in the NFL Record and Fact Book alongside the Associated Press, United Press International, and the Pro Football Writers Association All-Pro teams and awards. The NEA last announced awards in 1997 and last had an All-Pro team in 1992, ending a 34-year tradition of the "Player's All-Pro Team". (The NEA list's successor, the Sporting News All-Pro team, currently polls players along with coaches and managers for its teams.) From the early 1980s the NEA All-Pro team was released in the World Almanac which was an NEA publication.
The NFL MVP award was called the Jim Thorpe Trophy and began in 1955 (not to be confused with college football's Jim Thorpe Award). The Defensive Player of the Year was named after Chicago Bears founder George S. Halas and its inception was 1966, the Rookie of the Year award was named after NFL commissioner Bert Bell and began in 1964. In the early 1960s the NEA began awarding the Third Down Trophy that symbolized each team's MVP. That began in the American Football League and included the NFL after the 1970 AFL-NFL merger and ran through 1979. Currently[when?] the Jim Thorpe Trophy is still awarded, through the Jim Thorpe Association of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[citation needed] It is awarded to the NFL Most Valuable Player and is voted upon by members of the NFLPA.
Olderman, the driving force behind the Players' All-Pro teams and awards, was also a fine artist and cartoonist. When the NEA news service released its stories on the annual NFL awards they were accompanied by artwork provided by Olderman to illustrate the stories.
College football awards
NEA was the selector of All-America teams, a practice that ended in 1992.
References
- ^ Monmonier, Mark S. (1989). Maps with the news: the development of American journalistic cartography. University of Chicago Press. pp. 80–83. ISBN 978-0-226-53411-4. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
- ^ Hudson, Frederick; McClung Lee, Alfred (2000). American journalism, 1690–1940, Volume 4. Luther Mott, Frank. Routledge. pp. 589–590. ISBN 978-0-415-22892-3. Retrieved August 28, 2009.
- ^ a b Jeet Heer, "Crane's Great Gamble", in Roy Crane, Buz Sawyer: 1, The War in the Pacific. Seattle, Wash. : Fantagraphics Books, 2011. ISBN 9781606993620
- ^ Ron Goulart, The Adventurous Decade. Arlington House, New Rochelle, N.Y. 1975. ISBN 9780870002526 (p. 26-7,93-5).
- ^ Cavna, Michael (July 1, 2011). "RIP, UNITED MEDIA: A century-old syndicate closes its historic doors". The Washington Post.
- ^ "News Features Services Merge As United Media". United Press International. May 19, 1978. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
- ^ PR Newswire (press release): "Iconix Brand Group Closes Acquisition of Peanuts", June 3, 2010.
- ^ Global License!: "Iconix Forms Peanuts Worldwide", June 7, 2010.
- ^ Universal Uclick to Provide Syndicate Services for United Media, PR Newswire, February 24, 2011.
- ^ United Media Outsources Content to Universal Uclick, Editor & Publisher, April 29, 2011. [dead link]
- ^ The Magic Christmas Tree Part I In the comments section Allan Holtz notes "Last year [2010] was the final one offered by NEA (another reprint). This year, Universal, which now owns the syndicate, said they wouldn't be issuing one. And I very much doubt they'll change their mind in coming years".
- ^ "Santa's Victory Christmas," Hogan's Alley, 2012 Archived December 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Santa's Secret's Day One"
- ^ Abbie and Slats at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on July 28, 2017.
- ^ a b Dave Strickler, Syndicated comic strips and artists, 1924-1995 : the complete index, Cambria, Cal. :Comics Access, 1995. (p. 150, 172)
- ^ Billy Make Believe[permanent dead link] at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on August 27, 2015.
- ^ a b c d Ron Goulart, Encyclopedia of American Comics. New York, Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 9780816025824 (pp. 33-4,37,57,73-74,106,262-263)
- ^ Maurice Horn, Comics of the American West. South Hackensack, N.J. : Stoeger Pub. Co. ; Chicago. ISBN 9780883170489 (pp. 50-1)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Ron Goulart,The Funnies : 100 years of American comic strips.Holbrook, Mass. : Adams Pub., 1995. ISBN 1558505393. (pp.66 72,117,148-9,159,176,189,194-5,211)
- ^ Trina Robbins and Catherine Yronwode,Women and the Comics. New York, Eclipse Books, 1985. ISBN 9780913035023 (pp. 71-2).
- ^ Gamin and Patches at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on July 20, 2017.
- ^ Moira Davison Reynolds, Comic Strip Artists in American Newspapers, 1945-1980. McFarland, 2003. ISBN 9780786415519 (pp. 126-7)
- ^ Hap Hopper at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived 2015-03-08 at WebCite from the original on July 29, 2017.
- ^ a b c Stephen D. Becker, Comic Art In America. New York : Simon and Schuster, 1959, (p.159,326,327,366)
- ^ Jim Hardy at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on July 28, 2017.
- ^ Looking Back at the Class of ’34, Hogan's Alley #1, 1994
- ^ a b Heintjes, Tom (February 28, 2014). "The Life (and Death?) of Robin: Bob Lubbers' Robin Malone". Hogan's Alley (19). Bull Moose Publishing. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017.
{{cite journal}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b Jeff Rovin, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Cartoon Animals, New York,Prentice Hall, 1991 (p.30, 283).
- ^ CollectAir: "Hal Forrest and Tailspin Tommy"
- ^ Ray Banta, Indiana's Laughmakers : The Story of over 400 Hoosiers : Actors, Cartoonists, Writers, and Others. Indianapolis, Ind. : PennUltimate Press, ISBN 9780929808000 (pp. 58-64)
- ^ Horn, Maurice. 100 Years of American Newspaper Comics (Gramercy Books : New York, Avenel, 1996), ISBN 0-517-12447-5, ISBN 978-0-517-12447-5. Our Boarding House entry, pp. 230-231
- ^ "An Interview with Gil Kane", The Comics Journal #38 (February 1978), pp. 39-41
- ^ Maurice Horn, The World Encyclopedia of Comics, Chelsea House, New York, 1976. (p. 686)
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20070703050832/http://www.jewishsports.net:80/BioPages/MurrayOlderman.htm