157) Smitty…

Smitty by Walter Berndt 7-20-1931

Smitty is a comic strip created by Walter Berndt that debuted in 1922. Berndt continued to write and draw the strip until his retirement in 1973. The comic strip ran for over 50 years, making it a significant part of American newspaper comic history. Smitty centered around a young office boy named Augustus Smith (nicknamed “Smitty”), who worked for Mr. Bailey, a kind and somewhat bumbling businessman. Smitty’s adventures often involved his family, friends, and his dog, Scraps. The strip captured the humor and everyday situations of the time, appealing to a wide audience with its relatable characters and lighthearted storytelling.

The strip pictured above doesn’t seem so peculiar now that many have turned their homes into offices due to the pandemic.

An interesting side note is that the pictured strip is signed to Jim Logan, an assistant animator with whom I worked with at Filmation Studios. Jim was an avid collector of comic strip art. I obtained the Smitty strip at an auction after Jim passed away.

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