Monday, December 18, 2017

From the Dick Buchanan Files: Hank Ketcham Gag Cartoons 1944 – 1952

My friend Dick Buchanan has reached into his tremendous archive of magazines from the golden age of gag cartoons and shares with us some early Hank Ketcham gag cartoons. A good number of these are pre-Dennis the Menace. Some wonderful line work here by a master cartoonist!



Take it away Dick! And thanks very much for sharing these!


HANK KETCHAM GAG CARTOONS


1944 – 1952




Hank Ketcham achieved world wide acclaim as the creator of the syndicated newspaper panel Dennis the Menace which debuted March, 1951 and is still going strong more than six decades later. But before his blockbuster panel appeared, Hank Ketcham was one of the leading gag cartoonists of his era.


Ketcham started at the top, when Half Hitch, his diminutive sailor cut-up was published in The Saturday Evening Post. It ran from 1943 to 1945. Ketcham caught on immediately and his cartoons began appearing in all the leading publications of the day, Collier’s, American Magazine, Liberty, True and even The New Yorker.


Here a few examples of Hank Ketcham’s gag cartoons from 1944 to 1952.






1. An early cartoon by Hank Ketcham before his distinctive style was developed. American Magazine January 1944.






2. Another early Ketcham. From the beginning, Ketcham had solid gags. Collier’s February 12, 1944.



3. Half-Hitch was briefly revived as a syndicated comic strip in the 1970’s. The Saturday Evening Post c.1945.



4. Collier’s October 19. 1946.


5. Liberty June 1, 1946.


6. By 1946 Ketcham’s impeccable work had reached the high level he would maintain for the remainder of his career. The Saturday Evening Post c. 1946-1947.


7. Collier’s November 22, 1947.



8. Collier’s August 9, 1947.


9. American Legion Magazine September 1947.



10. Collier’s December 18, 1948.


11. Collier’s September 4, 1948.


12. True Magazine August, 1949


13. True Magazine March 1949.




14. American Magazine September 1951.



15. Saturday Evening Post January 13, 1951.



16. This post Dennis cartoon was a classic. True Magazine July, 1952.   


Want more? Try some of these great vintage gag cartoon selections from Dick:


From the Dick Buchanan Files: Hank Ketcham Roughs

From the Dick Buchanan Files: Holiday and Winter Cartoons 1948 - 1960

Dick Buchanan's Cartoon Files: More Cops and Robbers Gag Cartoons 1947 - 1968

Dick Buchanan's Favorite Gag Cartoons 1946 - 1964





From the Dick Buchanan Files: Even More Color Cartoons 1940 - 1956

From the Dick Buchanan Files: "Captions? Who Needs 'Em?" Wordless Gag Cartoons 1947 – 1970

From the Dick Buchanan Files: Orlando Busino Gag Cartoons 1956 - 1966

From the Dick Buchanan Files: CARTOONYFELLERS’ DIGEST, "a 1955 rag for cartoonists by cartoonists"

From the Dick Buchanan Files: Magazine Cartoons from Life and Judge 1931 - 38

From the Dick Buchanan Files: June 1953 Cartoonist's Market Newsletter

Dick Buchanan's Cartoon File: More Mid-Century Gag Cartoons 1946 - 1964

Dick Buchanan's Cartoon File: Color Gag Cartoons 1946 - 1956

Dick Buchanan's Cartoon Files: Cops and Robbers Gag Cartoons 1945 - 1968

Dick Buchanan's Cartoon Files: Gahan Wilson: Early Gag Cartoons 1954 - 1964

Dick Buchanan's Cartoon File: Inkyfellers' Gagzette

Dick Buchanan's Cartoon File: The Years of Al Ross - 1947 – 1968

Dick Buchanan's Cartoon Files: New Yorker Cartoonists Abroad 1966-1968

Dick Buchanan's Cartoon File: 1945 - 1962

From the Dick Buchanan Files: "How I Create Humor" from 1950s - 60s Gag Cartoon Insider Journal "The Information Guide"

Dick Buchanan's Cartoon File: 1950s Color Magazine Gag Cartoons

Dick Buchanan's Cartoon File: Funny Vintage Magazine Gag Cartoons 1946 - 1963

Dick Buchanan's Cartoon File: Wordless Gag Cartoons 1944-1964

1953 George Booth Drawings for American Legion Magazine

Dick Buchanan: Winter/Christmas/Holiday Gag Cartoons 1940s-60s

Dick Buchanan: Some PUNCH Magazine Cartoons 1948-1963

Dick Buchanan: Gag Cartoon Clip File 1946-64

Dick Buchanan: Gag Cartoon Clip File 1947-62

Dick Buchanan: Some Favorite Magazine Gag Cartoons 1940-60s

Dick Buchanan: Gag Cartoon Clip File 1931-64

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