E.C. Segar, whose full name was Elzie Crisler Segar, was a Jewish American cartoonist born on December 8, 1894, in Chester, Illinois.

He began his career in the arts as a projectionist and a film hand-painter before taking up cartooning. Segar moved to Chicago to study at the Chicago Art Institute and later took a correspondence course in cartooning.

His breakthrough came when he created the comic strip “Thimble Theatre” in 1919 for the New York Journal, a strip initially focused on the characters Olive Oyl, Harold Hamgravy, and Castor Oyl. Popeye, a minor character introduced in 1929, quickly became the star of the strip. The rough-and-tumble sailor with a love for spinach and a distinctive speech pattern captured the public’s imagination. The character’s popularity led to animated adaptations, making Popeye a cultural icon.

Segar’s work was known for its strong character development, humor, and action, appealing to both children and adults. Segar continued to work on “Thimble Theatre” until his death on October 13, 1938, from leukemia. His creation, Popeye, has endured through various adaptations in comics, television, film, and merchandise, solidifying Segar’s legacy as one of the most influential cartoonists in American history. Popeye is one of the greatest and most enduring comic characters ever created. Over the years I’ve had the good fortune to collect a number of original art pieces featuring the one-eyed sailorman. Here’s work by Segar, Zaboly, Sagendorf, London and Eisman.

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