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THE YELLOW KID
The Yellow Kid, created by Richard F. Outcault (1863-1925), is generally considered to be the first true comic strip. After appearances as a minor
character in Truth magazine in 1894 and in the Hogan’s Alley gag panels in the New York World in 1895, the bald, jug-eared kid in a nightshirt grew in
popularity and, by the beginning of 1896, his nightshirt was yellow. Although Outcault named him Mickey Dugan, readers referred to him as the yellow kid.
William Randolph Hearst hired Outcault for his New York Journal later that year and titled his panels McFadden’s Flats.
The Yellow Kid only appeared in New York City newspapers through 1898. Outcault
dropped the strip in 1898 and went on to other work, but the Kid made licensing
history in promoting a wide range of products such as chewing gum, candy,
cookies, games, puzzles, cigarettes, soap, bicycles, highchairs and whiskey.
George Luks (1867-1933) drew the character for a short period, then went on to
greater fame as a realistic painter in the Ashcan School. Though he no longer
retained any rights to the character, Outcault used the Yellow Kid several times
in his Buster Brown Sunday pages.
From The Official
Price Guide to Pop Culture Memorabilia: 150 Years of Character Toys &
Collectibles by Ted Hake ©Random House, 2008.
Yellow Kid
Memorabilia Available For Sale |
